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As I sit here and type while hearing the rain pound upon our roof dissipating the remaining snow, I’m happy to report Leah has made friends with the snow. If the forecasters are correct, Leah will have at least a few more opportunities to enjoy the festive white over the winter.

Once the temperatures rose (up to -3.5 from -10) and the wind had calmed, we discovered beach toys make great snow toys. We made snow castles and threw snow around with shovels.

Leah and her buddy also discovered they could help clear the driveway by using their shovels. When we were done clearing our driveway, Morgan went to help a neighbour clear her driveway. Leah’s buddy wanted to go and help, which I thought was so sweet, so we went across the street and offered our assistance.

The snow seems to make life slow down and the world a brighter place. Neighbours visit while shoveling driveways, walks are taken and children engage spontaneously in snow play with no prior arrangements. It is all the more enjoyable when you have nowhere you need to go.

I’m glad the really cold weather comes in small doses so I can still take the kids out on a regular basis to get their energy out and we all don’t feel so housebound. Even though I’m not a fan of the early dark nights and the cold weather when we don’t go outside, it makes me appreciate the spring so much more.

Leah and I were waiting in the Doctor’s office a few weeks ago, doodling on a notepad I brought along for her to colour on. She recently learned how to write a the letter ‘o’. It’s big and messy but it is an ‘o’ and she is proud. I was writing out her name and she asked me to write an ‘o’. I explained that she does not have the letter ‘o’ in her name. She was sad about this realization so I told her she does have an ‘a’ which is an ‘o’ with a line on the side. She was still disappointed about the lack of an ‘o’ in her name, even after I told her I like her name just the way it is.

She is quite the character. Just look at this face, I can’t help but smile too.

Last week I was looking at the garden while the kids were playing outside and I was amazed at how much colour there was for being close to the end of fall. I was surprised to see a rose still in full bloom.

This tree has all different shades of green that looks like it should be springtime with new growth.

Alongside the flowers are signs winter is coming with barren trees and varying shades of brown overtaking what was once green and vibrant.

I pulled out my sad looking pumpkin/squash vines that only produced very mini watermelons except for one that was mini pumpkin size. I let Leah and her buddy play with it and they had a blast carrying it around the yard and pushing it down the slide.

This weekend we were surprised with snow. I heard the forecast but never fully believe them, especially when it comes to snow. Leah isn’t too fond of the snow and would rather be carried than walk through it. I took her for a small sled ride up and down our street but the unsteadiness of the sled because of the ruts in the road made for one unhappy girl. Next time we will have to stick to the yard.

I know it is past Halloween but these cookies just make me smile. They seem to have such personality… for being a pumpkin cookie.

I was looking through my early childhood resources so I could do some new and exciting activities at circle time. Almost everything is geared towards children 3-5 so I adapt where I can and create some new, age appropriate material where it is lacking. All the children I look after seem to be fascinated with fire trucks and everything that goes along with them. While the kids were playing, I was hand stitching up these guys. Now I need to find some great firefighter songs and rhymes.

Last but not least, a little dress for a beautiful, brand new baby girl. Baby girls have been in abundance lately so dresses abound.

On Remembrance Day we headed out to Vancouver to participate in their ceremony at the cenotaph. Leah was having a hard morning that day so I tried to help her mood by explaining what we were going to do. I told her about seeing marching bands, listening to trumpets and riding on the skytrain. Leah, being hesitant about riding on trains because they can be quite loud when stopping and starting, said maybe later we will ride on a train. I had to laugh a bit as when Leah suggests something that we aren’t going to do immediately that she is excited about, I respond with maybe later.

Turns out, she loved the skytrain. She helped get the tickets out of the machine and put them in her pocket. The skytrain is real quiet so Leah had no fears about getting on.

We arrived shortly before the ceremony began and found some great seats on the side of the road. We brought a blanket to sit on and patiently waited.

It was pretty cold out but we bundled up and stayed warm. I was very impressed at how well Leah sat through the singing and speeches. During the two minutes of silence, a few formations of planes flew over. In the midst of this somber remembrance, Leah yelled out with a few other children, “planes mommy, look at the planes” in a joyful tone. I just smiled to myself, while so grateful that when we hear planes go overhead I have no fear or need to rush my family into a bomb shelter.

Near the end of the ceremony Leah was asking to go. By this point, I was getting cold and feeling the same way. Fortunately the marching bands along with the parade of cadets and soldiers were next. While sitting on the roadside with the chill of the November day on my face as it started to rain, I thought about why Remembrance Day should be held in a warmer month of the year. But as my thoughts turned to why we participate, I thought the chill, rainy day is suitable for a day like Remembrance Day. While I’m so thankful for the peace in which our country lives, many soldiers fought in rainy trenches for weeks and months on end, fearing for their lives in the midst of horrible conditions so others may enjoy what I take for granted everyday. An hour or two with cold feet is nothing in order to honour their great sacrifice.

As we walked away, Leah on her daddy’s shoulders with an umbrella keeping her dry, I prayed for peace in our world and thanked God Leah has her daddy and I have my husband with me. I don’t think I will ever grasp the sacrifice made by those who left to fight and those who stayed home so that others could have a better life. I will remain thankful and that is why we will bring our family out in the chill for a couple of hours on a somber November day.