March Break - Day One - Geocaching

This morning Katrina was dropped off as Brade was picked up and we got to hang out together for the day.  We started off the day watching "Barbie in Thumblina" while Mommy had a shower and got ready and then we took off for the day - GEOCACHING!!! 

The first find was one that we needed to walk through the bush and try not to get poked, but it was fun.  Katrina was proud because she found the very first cache of the morning - first time ever doing this - good job Katrina!!!

We then stopped for a cupcake snack (that Katrina and her sisters had made the night before and brought to our place) and then it was off to the next one.

As you can see, we found it.  Katrina manuvered the GPS and Emma discovered it up the tree - great teamwork!

We were only a bit from McDonald's so we stopped there for lunch (a bit before the rush would be there) and had a bite to eat and some playtime and then off again to the last cache of the day - it was in Manotick, on our way home.  

We parked, followed the GPS, but alas, it wasn't to be.

I even called Brade for him to check the website and see if I entered something wrong, but nope - it just wasn't to be.  The kids didn't want to give up the search, but with the promise that we'd come back when the snow had melted a big more they agreed to not give up, but rather say "we'll be back!" - lol!  So we went to the bridge and watched the ducks and then it was back to the van and by the time we got home it was almost 2:30 - pretty good for a day not really going anywhere, but having a blast doing it!!!

Notice the ducks in the background - the kids wanted the pic done because of them!

(yep - Kaleb's face is kinda not at a full smile, but not at a frown either - hehehe!)

I can't believe I filled up for this much!?!?!?

I just thought that I'd let you all know that as I was coming back from the pumpkin farm (without a pumpkin because I couldn't find the fat and short one that I was looking for) I filled up with gas for . . . $0.97.5!!! Yep - I could hardly believe it, but it felt nice to fill up for under a dollar . . . it's been a while - a long while!!!

(the kids just had to take a picture with the guy who got stuck in the pumpkins. we figured that it would be a better picture than the guy that was stuck underneath a crate full of pumpkins!!!)

Oh - and I just had to show you a picture of two of the apple pies that I have made. If you know me at all you'll know that cooking isn't something that I jump up and down for - not even smile all that much about! Coralie, you would be proud of me!!! But, I'm going to save them for Thanksgiving Dinner with our friends out here and try to not sample them earlier - yikes - that's going to be hard! And, the apples in the background are all that's left of the 30lbs from 6 days ago. 3 apple pies, 1 apple crisp, a double batch of "sunshine" muffins and they're almost gone!!!

A Trip to Home Hardware

This past weekend we had to run to a building supply store for a few things for around the house. We didn't feel like driving the 20 minutes to Rona so we thought we'd just jump into the little town of Manotick, 10 minutes away. There was a Home Hardware there that would have what we needed. Needless to say the kids were upset that we were going shopping at another "boring" store and complained pretty much the entire way to the store.

Well, on the drive home I quickly told Braden to turn off of Mitch Owens Rd onto this pretty much going-no-where road. The kids were still complaining - until they saw it . . . we had driven over a bridge and were at the side of the river by Watson's Mill, where we could see the water rushing over the little waterfalls there. The kids took off running and suddenly they weren't upset about going shopping - hmmmm. We walked to the bridge that went across the river to the Mill and a kind family gave the kids some bread to feed the baby ducks with and then we looked down and saw a huge turtle crawling at the bottom of the river. We watched it until it was getting out - the kids LOVED it!!!

The turtle climbing up the river bank

The very greedy ducks and ducklings waiting for more bread!

We went for a walk down at the river's edge and Emma commented on how much fun this was. Wow! Who knew that going to the hardware store could be fun!!! It's pretty cool to just pull over and hang out by the river for a few minutes before heading home from somewhere that wasn't that enjoyable for the kids. Anyways, I just had to share the pics with you.

Heading back to the van