Spring?

Seems winter isn't giving up this year. Time to make the best of it.

#snowballs

Kinder Hearts

February is cold in Canada. Sure, it is the month of love, of hearts and valentines, but it is still pretty darn cold.

This year especially.

While we might scoff at the "hallmark holiday", we find it is really worth the time and effort to set aside a bit of time from the daily grind around Valentine's Day to truly acknowledge the loves in your life. Ontario has recently made that easier by adding the Family Day holiday!

We took full advantage, heading out West to Alberta to visit with family and friends.

A few days spent in Edmonton and a few more in Jasper were great for our family to connect, play together and have some fun.

Skiing.
Snowshoeing.
Mountains.
Indoor playgrounds.
We made the most of truly Canadian February.

I do have to admit that some kinder treats helped along the way, particularly with those long plane and car rides! In fact, we parents probably could not have survived the 15 hour travel day on the way home without some chocolate and surprises. Granted we did have clean up some smeared chocolate, but most of it ended up in their bellies. More than dinner often does. But the peace was well worth it. I think I know about 100-odd Air Canada passengers who would agree.

  

DISCLAIMER DISCLOSURE: I’m a #KinderDad who is part of the KINDER® Canada influencer team; as part of my affiliation with KINDER® Canada, I am provided with special perks and products. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#tbt winter is coming here

Great White North - Redux

Despite it being March, the clocks having sprung forward and the need to sip a pint on a bright sunlight patio, it is still deep winter here in the Great White North. Spring is approaching, at least it says so on the calendar.

Canadians are famous for talking about the weather. It's true. Part of our national blandness, but also partly is that is affects so much of what we do, or put another what we can do. The darkness, the frozen skin, the road made impassable by massive windrows. The hours spent shovelling. The slippery sidewalks. The broken water mains. The frozen pipes. No wonder for this year's Olympics we chose an appropriate hashtag: #WeAreWinter. Turns out Norway may be a bit more winter than us, but it still dogs our national consciousness.

And when that winter becomes a doozy like this year, it becomes the thing of legend. Yes kids, minus 30. Uphill both ways.

At least we get to play in the snow.

#MaxLoco

Hidden from the camera is that this cute capture is mid-tantrum. Those gloves are meant to keep your hands warm. Don't blame me if you don't want to wear them!

Winter

This has been a doozy. A good old fashioned Canadian winter - snow, ice and frigid temperatures. We've had an ice storm, trees losing limbs and impassable roads. Power's gone out, water's frozen and momma got some frostbite.

Old man winter.

Boys are loving it though.