Sugaring Off

One of the big events that is currently happening here in Quebec is Sugaring Off! It is a Quebec tradition to go to a cabane a sucre or a sugar shack to see how maple syrup is made and to take part in sleigh rides, traditional Quebec food, song, dance and maple toffee on the snow.

Arabella a field trip today where we went to the Morgan Arboretum where we learned all about maple syrup - where it comes from & how it gets so yummy! It was a cold and overcast day, with some snow flurries (gulp, isn't almost April??), so we had to bundle up to stay warm. Arabella loved the tractor ride we took, all the kids did! It was so cute to hear them answer the questions the guide asked about the trees, sap and syrup. Arabella was so cute answering so many questions - and she had the answers correct! I am amazed at how much information she retains - I can't even remember all of it, but she is one smart cookie!


Learning about how the Indians discovered maple syrup.


The sugar shack!
Maple toffee...everyone had some but me! It is too much maple for me to enjoy!
Arabella loves it and was so excited! Look at the smile!

Christmas in Clarksville

This year we spent Christmas in Ohio. Arabella was so excited to get there, she even hid in one of the suitcases while I was packing! The night before we left, we had freezing rain and everything turned to ice...Jay had to run out to pick up a few last minute things and when he got home, he could barely walk up the driveway! It was funny to see him take a step and then slide right backwards! You can kind of see how glassed over everything is in this picture... I was surprised how easily we made it through security and customs and our plane even left on-time considering the weather outside wasn't the greatest.
The runways covered in ice and snow...
Arabella and Ted passing the time on the plane playing on my iPhone!
I took this picture out the plane window, I thought the clouds looked amazing.

After a few delays in DC, we finally made it to Columbus, Ohio. However, after we got all our luggage and the taxi, it took us 1 hour and 45 minutes to get from the airport to Clarksville...it was raining pretty hard and there was a decent amount of traffic in Columbus. We ended up taking a Dublin taxi, which I thought was pretty funny since we used to live in Dublin!
Arabella took no time catching up with her cousins as soon as we arrived. The kids we gone playing before we even said our Hello's!

While Arabella played and Jay caught up with his brothers, I tackled the pile of boxes in our closet... It is so much easier to buy gifts online than to pack them in suitcases!

Jack, Arabella's elf found us in Clarksville! He was there with his cousin, Lucy, who came all the way from California! Those elves sure are sneaky!
And Jack, following last years tradition, left Arabella a note and a gift on Christmas Eve. She was so excited when she saw him!



Arabella enjoyed breakfast with Blix and even learned what a finger bowl is...now that is how she wants to clean for fingers after she eats!

While Arabella's cousins, who were still on California time, slept, Arabella got to open some packages from Uncle Mike, Grammie and Auntie Lori! She loved all the gifts and fun things that everyone sent to her...Thank You!


Before long it was time to take the Christmas family picture...
Then we had a delicious Christmas Eve dinner and then open presents. The kids were so excited and they were not even presents from Santa!


Soon chaos ensued from the pile of presents...





And the aftermath...
Before long it was time to put out the reindeer food,

make sure the stockings were hung,

leave a note, cookies and milk for Santa,


and say goodbye until next year to Jack. Arabella couldn't sleep she was so excited and when I tucked her in, I told her to listen for Santa's sleigh bells. I just love this time with her, it is so special and she is so sweet and in awe of it all. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Special Christmas Ornaments & Artwork

Arabella was very busy at preschool this past month - she made some very special artwork and ornaments that now hang on our Christmas tree.


However, I think that the most special one is the one she painted on their field trip. I also love that it is dated and has her handprint on it. Thank you so much for the very special gift and ornament Little Bean!

Message from Jack

This morning when Arabella woke up and went to look for Jack she also found a surprise from him...a note on the bathroom mirror...

He found her paint (a/k/a mom's red lip gloss) and a paint brush and wrote her the special message. She was so excited!