Van Ruleduinens 2

More wonders of the RBG

Rachel looking up at one of the local samples of un-charismatic mega-fauna.

This is Elliot looking thoughtful after eating a chocolate-covered locust.

Mmm.

We spent quite a while watching the goldfish, and the water, and the spiderweb.

More Hamilton photos

GIANT BUGS!!!!

Easter Egg hunt at the Blaines

Assortment of costumes

Rachel - defined in four photos

Elliot - defined in four photos

St. Patrick's Day Parade

We went to see Papa in this year's St. Patrick's Day parade. Doesn't he look great in his outfit?

The kids say hello to the Ottawa paramedic mascot.

We were lucky to have a beautiful sunny day to watch.

Cyndi Lauper and Billy Idol

The kids had crazy hair day at school recently. Rachel told me exactly how she wanted her hair - a pony tail on the side like in Robert Munsch's Stephanie's PonyTail.

I decided to try putting blue food colouring into Elliot's hair. On the blonde it turned a bit of a green colour (St. Patty's day anyone?) I figured if the colouring didn't come out, we could always shave his head (which is why I did not try it on Rachel first!)

It took about three days for the colour to come out. Since then though, we have caught Rachel trying to "colour" Elliot's head with a marker. We've had to wash out various shades of pink and purple.

Sucking Hammers Bonspiel 2009

For the past couple of years, the combined Ultimate teams Sucking Vortex and the Hammers have come together to throw a few rocks. This year, Dennis and I both joined in on the fun. Here are the two teams from our sheet.

Note the look of complete concentration on Dennis' face. There are no pictures of me (they were all burned in a mysterious fire), but had there been, they would have been of me falling over.

Last snowman standing

Here is our last snow man of the season. We created him on a dreary day in late February. The next day it rained all day and he completely packed it in.

Porch hockey

A new Canadian tradition! Porch hockey! The kids received hockey sticks for Christmas, so we have been playing quite a few games over the winter. Our porch is perfect for hitting a ball around.

We used to use a tobbogan, but we now have a wooden plank just the right size. And because we're on the porch, we never have to make way for oncoming traffic.

Elliot is particularly hockey crazy. Prior to getting his hockey stick, he used to take a paper towel roll and whack it on any small size object and yell "hockey!" When we play he often says "I play hockey!" "I shoot!" "I score a GOAL!" Usually after about an hour I have to drag him inside, literally screaming and kicking for dinner or whatever.

Pancake Tuesday

Each year our church holds a fund raising pancake supper on, you guessed it, Pancake Tuesday. And not just any old pancakes, but 100 percent organic pancakes, syrup, sausage and ham. This year there was also hummus on the table which made for an interesting taste sensation. Next year, the church is considering going 100 mile as well - it is that kind of church. Here we are getting ready to have a feast of pancakes.

Dennis did his bit by flipping some jacks. I did my bit by stuffing the children with pancakes, taking some pictures and just doing general child care.