My beautiful Aidan...as I take your hand, and we walk through the garden of life, may I be ever open to seeing the world through your eyes...full of innocent wonder, delight and joy. As you take my hand, and we walk through the garden of life, may you be ever open to seeing the world through my eyes...full of gratitude, wisdom and peace. May we be blessed on our 'ramblings' together. Love, Nana

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Where did summer go?

It's hard to believe my last 'ramblings' here were in April!  As forecast in my last post, it was indeed a busy summer, but not quite the one I had planned.  Having to deal with some 'family stuff' left little time to do all the things I had planned for Aidan and I this year, but we did manage to get most of what was on our 'to do' list done.

We had a fun trip to Toronto, meeting up with my sister, Aidan's 'Nana Carol' and her grandson, Emmet, to take in the amazing stage production of 'The Lion King', followed by dinner at 'The Old Spaghetti Factory'.

Aidan & Nana at 'The Lion King'

Aidan & Emmet at 'The Lion King'

Nana Carol with Aidan & Emmet at 'The Lion King'

Once again this year, Aidan donned his work gloves to help Nana and Papa in the vegetable garden...
Aidan planting tomatoes
 
 At Easter time we had a fun family gathering which, of course, included painting eggs and the annual Easter 'egg roll' for Aidan and Emmet to participate in.
Painting eggs for the 'egg roll'

Lots of money & treats to win
 
Summer days spent at the beach this year were wonderful.  Not too hot, but plenty of sunny days allowed us a fun time in the sand and happy hours throwing rocks into the lake, along with a little 'beach yoga'...
Bending this way...

Bending that way...

Phew, I'm exhausted!
 
Early summer found Aidan and Nana making our first fairy garden...
Aidan's fairy garden

 ...complete with a bench for our resident fairy to relax, enjoy the birds in their nest, and sip on some 'fairy tea'.
The fairy garden
 

Aidan celebrated his seventh birthday with several of his classmates joining him for games and hot dogs, and of course...
Yummy Birthday cake with sprinkles!

We did manage to get away for a few days to Nana Carol's cottage, where Aidan caught his first fish, with a little (actually, a lot!) of help from Papa. .. 

Fisherman Aidan and his 'helper'

...it was a Bass, which Aidan insisted we cook up to "feed his family".  It made a delicious side dish along with the hot dogs we had for dinner that night.
Mmmm...hot dogs and fish!


 A canoe ride with Nana Carol and Opa Harry topped off a fun-filled weekend.
Ready to go!
Off into the Wild!
August brought us to Blueberry Season once again!  An annual tradition now, we made several treks to the blueberry farm again this year.  Aidan's friend Rhiannon was delighted to join him on one expedition for berries.
Ready to go!


Look at all those berries!


One last day trip before going back to school...


...a visit to the new Ripley's Aquarium in Toronto.  Followed by dinner at 'The Old Spaghetti Factory' of course!

So that's where summer went!










 

Monday, April 14, 2014

My, how time flies!

I can't believe my last blog post was September 2013!  It's not like the little love of my life and I haven't been busy!  I have no excuse other than I've been one very busy nana!  So, time to play a little 'catch up'...

Aidan's 'Halloween' Tree
Before we knew it, summer was just a memory, and October had arrived.  Out came the 'Christmas' tree, now transformed into the 'Halloween' tree, with orange lights, pumpkin garland, and thirty one little treat bags, one for each day of the month.

Aidan and the Scary Pumpkin
The pumpkin's carved and one excited little boy has an afternoon snack on his very own Halloween placemat, (made by nana, of course!)...

Aidan's Scary Halloween Place Setting
Well, at least I didn't have to make a new costume.  Aidan so loves his 'Toothless the Night Fury Dragon' costume I had made for him earlier in the year, he decided he had to wear it on Halloween night...

Aidan the Scary Dragon
We had a little time to enjoy the beautiful fall leaves...

 
 
And spend some time in the garden feeding the birds...
 
 
 
Before the 'Ice Storm of 2013' arrived just one week before Christmas...
 
 
Luckily, a lot of the ice melted before Christmas Day arrived.  Aidan was very excited to receive some games and an air hockey table from his nana and papa, as well as a stocking full of treats from Santa.  All dressed for the festivities...
 
Santa Nana & Rudolph Aidan
Aidan got to sing...'All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth (well, sort of)...
Our very own 'Toothless'
It was a long, icy cold winter.  Once the snow arrived in early December, it stayed until early April.  We tried as best we could to feed the birds as they huddled for shelter from the snow and wind  in the branches of the pine and cedar trees.  Much to our surprise and delight, on one of the coldest days of the winter, we were blessed with a visit from five robins perched in one of the cedar trees.  They had come to eat what berries were still on the tree...

Beautiful Robin!
Before we knew it, it was February, and time to think about St. Valentine's Day, and all that yummy chocolate.  Out came the 'Christmas tree' transformed once again with white lights, garlands of hearts, and fourteen treat bags, one for each day, until Valentine's day arrived...

Where's the chocolate, Nana?
Aidan's great-nana came to stay for a few weeks before moving into a retirement home nearby.  They enjoyed spending time together playing tiddly-winks...
The 'Tiddly-wink' Champs!

Aidan and great-Nana

The next celebration to come along was St. Patrick's Day!  Of course, the little love of my life had to come to nana's house for a special St. Patrick's day supper!  We all donned our fancy socks, and enjoyed a dinner of green potatoes and peas, washed down with green water and followed with shamrock cookies and mint chocolate chip ice cream. (Of course, nana got to have a wee dram of Jameson Irish Whisky, to help her sleep, of course!)...
 
An Irish Leprechaun!

Yummy Green Potatoes!

And so here we are.  The snow finally melted (almost!) and the warmth of the sun returning once again.  The spring-like weather becons us outdoors, and so what better place to spend a sunny afternoon than the nearby wildlife sanctuary...


   Aidan loves to feed the birds that swoop down from the trees and take the birdseed out of his hand...




What a joy to be alive, to feel the warmth of the sun, breath the fresh air, see the world come alive all around us...


 As we await the warm, sunny days of summer, we make plans for all the things we hope to do together.  Days at the beach throwing rocks into the lake will likely take up most of our days, but plans are in the works for time at Nana Carol's (my sister) cottage, as well as taking in the production of 'The Lion King' (both with cousin Emmet) Nana can't wait! And maybe a trip to Niagara Falls.  A busy summer is in the forecast!

And a promise from nana...I'll be back here soon with lots more 'ramblings'!