Misc Ramblings – Page 32 – a hippie with a minivan

Hallowe'en 2009…

It was raining all day yesterday and the boys were feeling pretty let down by the weather… We talked about it and it was decided that we would hit just a few homes and then come back home and give away candy…

Just as we were about to head out it was still drizzling but was stopping…. the boys were excited and we all headed out to go Trick or Treating and walk around the neighbourhood while the weather permitted…

King Colin, Sir Xavier and Fire Chief Khéna

Once we got outside the rain stopped… and suddenly the sky started clearing up as the sun went down, giving us a beautiful sunset and our neighbourhood started to be flooded with kids…

We walked through the neighbourhood, the air was cool but not cold in the least and the smell of leaves and autumn filled the air… we took a similar route that we take every year which brings us to a little dead end street hidden away that not many know about (unless they live in the area)… all the homes there have elaborate decorations and are all open to trick or treaters…

We didn’t go as far as we usually go but after about an hour of walking around and gathering candy, Colin wanted to head home… and I was willing to follow because I can’t seem to walk far these days without my pelvis getting the best of me…

So we headed home and the boys got excited to hand out candy…

The minute we got in I put all the candy together that they had recieved and separated what they could eat (which ended up not being much)… a few other peices went into a bag for us parents and the rest went into a bag to give away to the kids that came to our door… we went outside and waited and though we got a few kids we didn’t get many…but the few who came got tons of candy and glow bracelets… and Colin made sure that the parents got a few pieces also…

The boys were a bit disappointed at the turnout at the end, but it was soon forgotten… we watched a movie and hung out until we all headed to bed and once we were there Xavier and Colin took turns telling us some scary stories…

It turned out to be a great evening…

Apple picking…

Took a while to get this post up but I guess it is better late than never…

Last Thursday we went apple picking at an orchard on Mont-St-Gregoire, south of Montreal. It was an activity with the Homeschooling group but it was supposed to be on Wednesday and was cancelled because of rain and then put for Thursday as a non-official outing which ended up being nice because we were a smaller group then intended and it was nice to be able to talk to people more…

The day turned out to be gorgeous and the kids got to play in the park and eat their lunch while us mom talked and shared until we decided to buy our bags and head out to the Orchard on the tractor ride…

We were let off of the tractor in the orchard where there was another park and we were able to go pick apples and the kids played and we talked more…

Xavier didn’t stay long to pick apples.. but he did pick a few…

Colin and Khéna though loved it and I sat on the ground and they filled up the bag completely…

When it was time to go the kids didn’t mind at all because it meant another tractor ride and they were getting tired from a day full of playing and fresh air… a quick stop in the shop and a few purchases and we headed back home…

This is what we ended up with…

A BIG bag of apples… I don’t know how much exactly but at least 30 lbs, probably more… A few pounds of plums, Local Blueberry blossom honey and some Apple Ice Cider for Simon…

Over the weekend a few pounds of the plums and apples got made into some yummy treats… and I still have a lot to do…

Last day…

Today is the last day of Simon’s vacation, it is raining so we are having a quiet day at home…

I am really happy with the time that was spent while he was home.. we got out often, did quite a few things but didn’t wear ourselves out… Of course it would be great if he could have a little more time off but he is keeping two of his weeks to take a bit later in the year or add to his parental leave when the new babe comes…

On Thursday night Amy left a message on the post I wrote about 6TZEN saying that she had contacted them in Montreal and that they would be meeting her for a picnic on Friday… I couldn’t pass up on the possibility of meeting the family again so on Friday morning we went to Montreal t meet up with all of them…

I am so happy that we did… the kids played, the parents talked and it was amazing to find out how much we all have in common.. In Normandy, Estelle gives workshops on Nonviolent Communication, teaches babywearing, is a homebirther and helps moms breastfeed, … though the system is set up differently there and there is less educational freedom they believe in life learning and non-coersive parenting and are in no way helicopter parents… Arnaud commented to Simon that it is amazing to things that we come from half a world away but that we have so much in common…

After a few hours of talking and get to know each other and the kids playing in the park and the water feature it was time to say good bye… It is probably the last time that we will meet but I don’t think it will be the end of communication…

Here is the family (taken in Jeanne Mance Park in Montreal)

Saying goodbye!

After we said goodbye we did a few more things in Montreal…and I loved seeing in what ways they are making the city a bit greener…

The BIXI bikes are good example… with a subscription you can grab a bike from any BIXI station to ride to your destination… then you just park it again at any BIXI station… the first 30 min are free and then there is a small fee after… not only is it a great idea but it is also widely used based on the amount of people I saw on them…

Another little thing that I saw while walking were lane ways that used to look all dingy now making people smile…sometimes it is the little things that make a difference…

6TZEN…

As we were leaving the Chambly Fort yesterday some bikes caught our eyes…

I asked if I could take pictures and then we started to talk to the family…

Last month in June this beautiful family of six arrived from Normandy and started on a 10 month journey that started in Quebec city and will end in South America. Each bike holds 3 people and all of them can peddle except for the youngest.

The largest bike in front holds Noé who is four, Arnaud (Dad), and Nathanaël, 11.
The other bike has Gabriel (9), Mom (Estelle) and 2 year old Eva…

They try to bike at least 30km a day and they never know where they will be sleeping that night. I wish we would have lived closer, or at least in the direction that they were headed so that we could have had them over and been able to talk more…

What a beautiful Family and amazing journey they are taking…

Though their site is French, please check them out at 6TZEN.org

There is a link to their blog (in the section “SUIVEZ NOS GUIDONS”) and Maybe if you keep a tab on their journey and they pass near you you might be able to send them a message and offer them a place to stay for the night 🙂

wow… the house is quiet…

My mom came over last night and left early this morning with Xavier and Colin to head to the cabin for 2 nights… they were so excited to leave! Xavier even wanted to sleep in the clothes that he would be wearing today so that he didn’t have to get dressed in the morning… We got up and the boys came upstairs to wake up my mom and after a quick breakfast and a shower for my mom, they were gone…

The house is so quiet though and I can see that Khéna is feeling a bit bored not having his brothers around to play with, follow around and bug…

When I told my mom that I am expecting, she extended the date she was going to be leaving from the end of July to the beginning of October and she would like to take the boys a few times before she leaves. Honestly, I think that it will be nice once in while. The cabin is a really nice place to hang out at and they plan on heading to the local beach and heading to a bigger beach also and hanging out at the cabin, walking and exploring and making fires etc…

Here are some pics that I took from the road on the way to the cabin last week….

Corn Fields