Our beach adventure

After being stuffed up in the house most of the weekend from heaps of rain (except for one super fun cocktail party where Bryce and I actually had a night out together!), Emily and I decided we needed an outdoor adventure on Monday.
Our friends Cheryl and Mia joined us and although our adventure was pretty mild by most standards, it was refreshing to be outside in the sun for a couple of hours. Emily and Mia had fun playing on the beach with the shells, sand and driftwood, until....Emily found her shadow. She was curious and a bit intimidated that she couldn't get away from it, unless she hid in Mommy's shadow, of course.

Em and Mia at the Beach from Candace K on Vimeo.

and here's the pic of Bryce and I on our first date since November (we think?).

Winter Cyclocross

Went along to the start of the winter Cyclocross series today, great fun in the mud. We call this pose - "bring it on, motha nature"

We suited Emily up in her Rain Suit and rubber boots, along with her woolen beanie/"toque" and gloves/"mitts". She was a bit slow to move at first, as I remember being as a young child in all my snowsuit clothing getting prepared for the Canadian outdoors. Em's curiosity and love for puddles overcame the confines of the rubber attire and she explored her surroundings. Unfortunately for her, she fell several times and managed to use her face to brace the fall. She seemed to enjoy "eating dirt" though, which pleased her father and inflated further his dreams for her future as a professional mountain biker. The many spectators of the race, became Emily spectators; and she had a few onlookers and a few cheers after a fall, when Emily was stood up again, fully smiling, amidst the wet mud, on her face.

Bryce decided to do the short race (30 min + a lap, vs 45 min + a lap) as he hadn't been training much and had been sick for the past few weeks. His attempt to "blow it all out" worked and his cold seems to be lessened post-race. He came 2nd in his race, so I think he was pretty happy with his efforts.

The course got slashed with rain the day before the race, so the bikes and riders got covered in mud. Not that seemed to effect the outcome at all. We had hoped to see some muddy carnage with cyclists sliding off their bikes on each corner, but most riders were pretty lucky.


Emily enjoyed watching all the bikes riding together and kept calling out "dada" which is her name for bike. She didn't get much dirtier than this after almost 2 hours in the mud, which was pretty good for the cleanup at the car. What was really cool, was after taking off all of her muddy gear and getting her nice and warm and eating in the back of the car, she cozied right into my down jacket and looked like she was ready to fall asleep. I have always loved being outside, and playing in the cold weather, but the most awesomest thing about doing that is the feeling of warmth you get after you come back inside and get into warm clothing. It was beautiful to watch our daughter learn to appreciate one of the awesome things in life. Next step: introduce hot chocolate and marshmallows to that moment. She will flip.

NYC Bike lane entertainment.

This is too good not to share.

Rain + picnic + 3 toddlers = ADVENTURE

I decided that it might be fun to go for a walk with some friends and have a picnic in the park. What I hadn't envisioned or (maybe more appropriately worded) "forecasted" was the extreme downpour we might encounter on our outing.

Everybody was in the right mood for an adventure in the rain though, and we found a spot in the forest to throw down a tarp and shelter under some trees for our picnic.

Emily playing in the puddles after the rains stopped, which coincidentally ended once we got back to our cars.

We had her rubber boots in the car, but she was in the puddles, up to her ankles before we could switch her shoes for boots. She loved it though, and I think she liked the squishy feeling in her shoes from all the water.

Fun and Friends

Donal and Emily reading a story together.

Emily's new look, fauxhawk with sweet and sour meatball sauce for extra hold.

Emily and Grandy, sharing a joke

Nanny, Grandy and Emily

Old age...

You know you are getting old when...
1) You wear your shirt inside out for most of the day before you notice. And even then, you decide, "meh, it can stay that way".
2) You get really excited to use your new can opener, because it is all ergonomic and magnetic and makes the chore of opening cans a breeze.
3) You enjoy listening to the Solid Gold Hits radio station because the hits of yesterday are all songs you know the lyrics to.

Of course, I am not old yet and am only sensitive to these geriatric indicators because my spouse is getting on in years.