Saturday, May 14, 2011

The San Rafael Swell: Goblin Valley and Temple Mountain

The Goblin Valley...

got a new Goblin

A nice goblin

Up and over rises, in the labyrinth of monsters.

Smiles all around.

The valley is on the south side of the Swell, with views of the snow-capped Henry mountains to the south.

We camped down the Temple Mountain road, right in the San Rafael Reef formation.

S'mores technology advance: flat, square marshmallows that fit better in the graham cracker sandwich.

Her first Smores---despite advances in s'more technology, they still make a perfect mess. 

This is why you don't give your kids the keys.

Walking away from the wreckage...






Friday, April 1, 2011

Birthday and other milestones


Imogen, Jack, Lilly, and Ben's leg: quite a party.

First ride in the bike trailer. We went to the coffee shop down the street.


This helmet is supposed to be for one-year-olds but is comically large and probably does nothing for safety.




Friday, March 4, 2011

Imogen and the Mountain

We went to the park. Imogen spent a lot of time staring at the mountains. She digs 'em.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Skiing with a Baby

We bought our Chariot stroller about two weeks before Imogen was born. We were super bored and anxious with all the waiting for her to arrive, so we burned some time, and dropped about 1100 dollars on the full Chariot package: stroller + infant sling + bike trailer hitch + jogger front wheel + ski trailer set up. 


The Winters of Ottawa are long, cold, and dark, and with a baby, you don't get out as much, which can give you major cabin fever. We figure the ski-trailer is the best money we've ever spent on any baby stuff. After being cooped up for several days, getting out in the open air, kicking and gliding on the groomed tracks in the Gatineaus is a revelation. Imogen likes it too.


We try to get out twice a week. Sometimes to the Gatineaus, sometimes to other wooded preserves around town.


Sometimes the frozen Ottawa river....


The best place though is skiing in the Gatineau hills to one of the many public cabins. Imogen loves looking at all the people and getting cozy by the fire. We always bring a picnic of tea and snacks. We all come away caring a little less about all the day-to-day tedium that can get to you in the cold cold north of Ottawa.



Sunday, January 30, 2011

CAKE!!!

Lily had her first birthday today, as well as a party yesterday where she got to devour cake.

Mmm. Cake.