Van Ruleduinens 2

More wonders of the RBG

noreply@blogger.com (Dennis) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:17:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Dennis) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:53:00 +0000

GIANT BUGS!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Dennis) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:46:00 +0000

Easter Egg hunt at the Blaines

noreply@blogger.com (Dennis) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:44:00 +0000

Assortment of costumes

noreply@blogger.com (Dennis) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:42:00 +0000

Rachel - defined in four photos

noreply@blogger.com (Dennis) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:33:00 +0000

Elliot - defined in four photos

noreply@blogger.com (Dennis) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:30:00 +0000

St. Patrick's Day Parade

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:52:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:48:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:41:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:37:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:34:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:28:00 +0000

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.
Can you see the happy post-pancake glow on these kids? It ain't just the syrup folks - those pancakes are made with love (see above picture).

Elliot winking.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:15:00 +0000

Unlike Rachel, Elliot can't wink yet. Although he will try.
When asked to show his smile this is what you get.

Rachel winking.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:14:00 +0000

After some practice, Rachel has recently acquired the skill of winking.
If you ask her how to do it, she will say "Keep one eye open and the other eye closed."

Playing out on the ice.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:12:00 +0000

What you don't see in this picture is when I turned around two minutes later, Elliot had his feet and was splashing in the icy pool (Sean had cut a hole in the ice to get water - and to see how thick the ice was). It certainly cut our play time short!

Playing out on the ice.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:10:00 +0000

Enjoying the snow.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:08:00 +0000

Playing in the snow with the Blaines some more...

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:07:00 +0000

Playing in the snow with the Blaine cousins

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:05:00 +0000

A snowy version of Spamalot?

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:04:00 +0000

You silly ka-nig-gits.
I stick my tongue out in your general direction!

Completed snow fort!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:02:00 +0000

Out on the ice.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:00:00 +0000

Interestingly, Elliot was not as interested in riding in the toboggan as he was in pulling it.

Playing out on the ice.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:58:00 +0000

There had been some rain in the days before we came and some significant melt. Then a bit of a flash freeze. So the ice on the lake was smooth - good enough to skate on almost. We had a lot of fun sliding around.

Grandpa reading

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanette Rule) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:55:00 +0000