Weekend in St. John's

I had a course for work in town on the weekend, so we decided to spend a few nights and really enjoy St. John's. We arrived on Friday around supper time, and went straight to the bookstore to stock up on books, then supper at Eastside's. We love that place because they have a decent gluten-free menu. 

(gluten-free pizza- so happy) 

We stayed at Signal Hill Gate Hotel, which we love for the kitchen and separate bedroom, and also the sweet location close to downtown. We tend to get a few groceries at the nearby corner store/grocery store so we can do snacks and breakfast at the hotel. Cohen's favorite part: the elevator. Second favorite part: the television. 

While I was at my course all day Saturday, Jon and Cohen went out for breakfast, went swimming, and went to the playground. I was so happy to meet back up with them Saturday afternoon. We fed Cohen beans and rice for supper (he loves it!), then had sushi after he went to bed.

(huge bathtub) 

On Sunday morning we did Cora's for breakfast, then went to Bannerman park to play with the million other kids whose parents had the same idea. Then we went to the Geo Centre, which was just as awesome as the first time we went. A quick trip to the mall to really try to tire Cohen out, then we were back on the road to head home.

(Geo Centre fun)

Cohen has recently grown out of his travel crib, but he is still kind of little to have his own double bed in hotels. This time we took the mattress off the sleeper sofa and laid it at the foot of our bed. We made a cozy little bed for Cohen there, and he happily slept there for the two nights. 

Pictures of April snow

These are pictures from last Thursday morning after the big snowfall. At the exact same time that Cohen was making a snowman, his cousin Graycie was playing with her water table outside in the hot sun in New Brunswick. I have to admit, we had a good time playing in the snow one last time though. 

(making a snow monster) 

(making tracks) 

(happy boy) 

(the next morning-rain drizzle fog) 

(pulling the wagon)

Winter 2.0 and some recent Cohen pics

It is a full-blown blizzard out there right now. We are expecting 35 cm, which seems crazy in late April, but really it's the norm around here. We had a few days above zero last week, which was awesome. I am so ready for Spring, though! I am still holding a bit of a grudge that we never actually got a summer last year (close to freezing temperatures for the entire month of July (also June)), and I'm kinda scared it's going to happen again. 

(Homemade gluten-free playdough (I have made this recipe twice, and find it really easy). He plays quietly for 1 hour plus. Awesome.)

(Squeezing in a few bike rides when it's not too cold.) 

(Revisiting playgrounds we haven't been to since fall.) 

(Snacks on a bench.) 

(More playground time.) 

(Grocery shopping as a way to tire Cohen out. I made him pull the cart. He wanted to) 

(Making forts. Takes me back. I remember then requesting a snack to eat in the fort)

In other news, at 2.75 years old, Cohen is over naps. He went from sleeping a few hours each afternoon, to nothing. I missed the nap for one minute, but now I kinda love that we don't have to plan around a nap, and I spend the whole day with him on my day off. 

Parental advice...

(unrelated pic of my two favorite people)

Is everyone else still obsessed with This American Life? Jon and I definitely are. Every time we listen, we end up talking for hours about whatever theme they are doing that week. The latest: Parenting and advice. Jon and I were talking about how the last thing a kid wants to hear is, "You'll understand when you are older" or, "It's God's plan" or "Your life is so easy right now, just enjoy it." Now that we have our own kid (though he is still a tiny toddler), I really see how smart kids are.

We were talking about our own childhoods, and I remembered the time I was 7 years old and we moved to Germany, where we started school midway through the school year. It's so hard to be the new person in school, especially as an introvert. The worst part of the day is lunchtime, where you are expected to socialize. I used to wish I could just take a math class during lunch. No joke, I would have so preferred that. Anyway, mom's advice? She told me to bring my modeling clay to school and bring it out at lunch and maybe some of the other kids would be interested and come talk to me. So much more valuable than her saying, "It'll get better, just give it time." And it worked. A few quiet girls came and asked me what I was doing, and I ended up with a few friends, which is all you need for a successful grade two lunch hour. I have been the new girl so many times in my life, and mom never minimized it, and she also never victimized it. I never felt bad for myself. It was just a problem to solve.

I actually think this applies to adults too. If I have a problem in my life, and I am telling a friend about it, the absolute last thing I want to hear them say is, "Don't worry about it, it'll be fine." So not helpful. Much better to say, "That sucks, that sounds hard, maybe I can help you figure it out."

Nothing makes you think about how good your parents are like becoming a parent yourself.

April snow

Somehow it always comes as a shock when we get a snowstorm in April, which we always do. We got maybe 20 cm last night, and I may have let my son eat an icicle off our deck while I shoveled the driveway. He was so happy.

It's Friday!

It's the end of a busy week, and we are spending the weekend here in sleepy Clarenville, which means we will be doing some (serious) baking and selfies, and of course, throwing rocks in the water. 

We are hoping for the warmer temperatures so we can bring the bikes out of winter storage. We are also in the midst of some big huge life decisions and changes that remind me that being an adult is awesome and also really hard.