Cirque Du Soleil - #Corteo

School ended this week, and we decided that a family outing would be a great way to celebrate.  When I was contacted by Cirque du Soleil and offered tickets to opening night in Ottawa, it seemed like the perfect fit.

A photo of the stage from our seats!

Hubby and the kids had never been to a Cirque performance before.  I have seen one, although it was many years ago.  When we arrived, I picked up our tickets from the box office and we headed to our seats.  We were sitting in the 2nd row of the 100 level. The view was great.  I did not know exactly what to expect from the show. I had read the description (which is below for you to read) but I did not realize just how funny it was going to be.  There was so much comedy and laughter through the night.  I looked over at my boys and husband a few times to see huge smiles on their faces, and sometimes surprise. Some of the performances had me holding my breath with worry....but definitely was not needed. Everyone did such a terrific job. And laughter, so....much....laughter!

A night out at Cirque du Soleil Corteo really was an amazing way to celebrate the end of school and start of summer  vacation.  If you have a chance to go, do it! It is great for all ages, young and old! Family outing, date night, with friends or even by yourself!  I was too engrossed in the show to worry about photos, but I did snap one.  A highlight of the event was the interactive portion with Valentina!

Valentina! A delightful surprise during the show

Some tips for those that are going or considering it:

- Parking is $20

- Doors open 1hr prior to the show start

- Arrive slightly earlier than planned to get through security. Bags are only allowed if they meet the size guidelines, and will be searched. Also, phones and keys and belts or anything with metal need to be removed before walking through the scanner.

- The show runs for approximately 2 hours, with a 20 minute intermission

- No flash photography is allowed

- Drinks, snacks, and food are available for purchase, but are expensive. Also, Canadian Tire Center is cashless now, so you will need a debit or credit card to make your purchase

Corteo is in Ottawa until July 2nd, and tickets can be purchased here. Corteo will also be in Kingston from July 6-9, and those tickets are available here.

I would love to here from you if you have seen any Cirque du Soleil shows before! The kids were a little hesitant about going (they really did not know much about it) but both were very glad they came, and would love to see more shows!

For 7 performances only,

Cirque du Soleil’s festive and theatrical show

CORTEO

in OTTAWA, from June 28 to July 2, 2023, at the Canadian Tire Centre!

 

“Corteo, which means cortege in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. Combining acrobatic feats, comedy and acting, the show plunges spectators into a theatrical world of fun and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.

 In a carnival atmosphere, the clown pictures his own funeral taking place, watched over by quietly caring angels. Juxtaposing the large with the small, the ridiculous with the tragic and the magic of perfection with the charm of imperfection, the show highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as well as his wisdom and kindness, to illustrate the share of humanity within each of us. The music sometimes turns lyrical, sometimes playful, carrying Corteo through a timeless celebration in which illusion teases reality”

Tales of Mommyhood Camping Adventure - Part 3

Tales of Mommyhood Camping Adventure - Part 2


When we woke in the morning, we did the usual morning routine. Then Mr. K and I went on a short hike (we had started one the night before, but we did not finish the trail, and we both wanted to). It was so peaceful.

what I look like when I wake up after such little sleep

Back at camp, breakfast preparations were underway. Pancakes, bacon and fruit.  While this was happening, we took down our tent and packed up the car. I cannot recommend the pop up tents enough - seriously. 10 minutes, and that included the time it took me to fight with the thing to get it zipped up in the bag (the longest part of take down). Once we were packed up, we sat on a bench looking out at the lake.  We had breakfast with friends, and when breakfast was over, we cleaned our dishes and then the 2 of us found our way down to the beach. It's not a HUGE area, but it is lovely.

Tales of Mommyhood Camping Adventure - Part 2

READ: Tales of Mommyhoods Camping Adventure - Part 1

Once the tent was set up, we were able to relax and enjoy the afternoon. We spent some time looking at the water, chatting with the other campers, and Mr. K enjoyed spending some time whittling a stick (he earned his knife permit a few weeks ago, and wanted to put it to the test). Unfortunately, one of the other campers had a minor incident and ended up needing a few stitches :(

Summer Fun With Evolve Camps

 

School is almost out, and the kids will be home all summer long. As a stay at home parent, I always enjoyed having them home with me, but found that 9 weeks together was a little too long. I liked to break it up with a week of camp each month.  It gave us all a break from each other, and got them out socializing with kids their own age.

I prefer to enroll my kids in camps that keep them outdoors and active, and there is no shortage of options that meet my criteria.

March Break 2019

March break 2019 has come to an end, and the kids are all set to head back to school. This break was filled with video games, kids fighting, a visit to the sugar bush, dessert before dinner, a couple of trips to shoot pool, time with cousins, sleepovers, more video games, more fighting and lots of fun!

fun at the sugar bush

some shots from our trips to play pool

In addition to the stuff listed above, the kids also got to try out Jiu Jitsu. The dojo Mr. J does karate at has just started offering a jiu jitsu program as well. They both did a 10 day trial and really enjoyed it. Mr. J is starting it now, and Mr. K will be starting in the summer, once his activities end.

I hope that you had a lovely March Break - whether you stayed home or traveled. We haven't taken a trip over march break before. I would like to take the kids somewhere warm one of these years....maybe 2020 will be the one!

The Importance of Family Photos

photo credit: Mondays With Mac Photography

Many months ago, I wrote a post about preparing a chemotherapy package for a loved one. What I didn't mention at the time, that the reason I put it together was that my father in law had just been diagnosed with cancer.

As the months went on, I remembered that my in laws had talked about wanting to have some family photos done. It didn't end up happening at the time, but in the summer I spoke with my mother in law to see if she wanted to do them now.

North Star Award

Last year, Mr. K joined Beavers. He started a little bit late, but he knew one of the other kids, and 2 of the scouters. He really enjoyed the activities that they did (participating in the Santa Claus parade, fun at the meetings, hikes, museum tours etc).

Effects of a Tornado, and Realizing We Need To Be More Prepared

(photo taken by my husband a few months ago, not from September 21)

Living in the Ottawa area, I have always felt pretty safe in terms of natural disasters. The part of the city we live in isn't near water, so flooding isn't likely to happen. We get the odd earthquake, but nothing super big and damaging. There has been a random tornado warning over the years, but other than a little bit of high wind and hail, no touchdowns or real damage.

Until now. Last Friday, there were tornado warnings for our area. Late afternoon saw some pretty high winds and rain, and a tornado touched down just a bit North of us - 20 minute drive away. It was categorized as an EF-3, and it touched down in 3 areas (Kinburn, Dunrobin and Gatineau). A little while later, an EF-2 touched down about 15 minutes east of us.

Many areas of the city were without power for hours (some for less than 8, and others 48hours +). We were "lucky", and only out for about 22 hours. Other than some minor inconvenience, we were totally fine.

Seeing the footage of the areas hit by the tornadoes is heartbraking. Knowing that people lost their homes, vehicles, and pets. Hearing about the people that were hospitalized with injuries (thankfully, I haven't heard of any deaths yet, but there are some pretty serious injuries) - is absolutely devastating.

Many I have spoken with felt the same type of security as I did, and likely did not take the tornado warnings as seriously as we should have.

It has also made me realize just how important it is to be prepared.

We had lots of propane for the BBQ, so were able to make breakfast on the side burner Saturday morning, and boiled water for a neighbour so they could make tea.

We had lots of non-perishables that we could eat (crackers, bread, cereal, peanut butter, potatoes, rice). May not be the most nutritious meals, but food to keep us going. We made sure to not open the freezer, so that hopefully all the meat and food we had in it would stay frozen.  The fridge, we didn't open until the next morning, when we knew most items would have to be tossed anyways. Our eggs were still super cold, and the butter was still fine too.  We tossed the pepperoni, cheese and a few other items that we were worried about.

We were able to use our phones as flashlights, and since we had gas in our vehicles could power up to make sure we didn't lose charge.

What I do need though, is an emergency preparedness kit. I plan on putting together a small bin with flashlights, extra batteries, first aid kit, some bottled water (our water supply was fine, but depending on what happens, it might not be), blankets, matches or lighter).

If you want to contribute to those that have been affected by the recent events, you can donate to the redcross.

As hard as it is being without power (when we are so used to it), it really is just a minor, minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things. The hydro workers and first responders worked so hard this weekend to get things cleaned up and power restored. It does NOT go unnoticed or unappreciated. I am sure that their families were missing them, and also worried for their safety while they were trying to get things restored for the rest of the city.

Beach Day!

Summer is almost over, and with soccer taking up so much of our time in July and early August, I wanted to make sure we made the most of the last 2 weeks of summer. We headed to Brockville at the beginning of last week, and I planned a beach day with some friends for later in the week.

Summer Fun Day Trip

This summer has been so busy with camps and soccer, that we didn't really have time to do a lot of fun stuff. We swam, the kids played with friends (Mr. K had a number of nerf fights over the last 8 weeks), there were sleepovers, and lots of time with grandparents.  With school starting back after Labour Day, I wanted to make sure we got in at least one fun day trip.

A Mama Necklace From Tiny Feet Creations

When my kids were really small, I was gifted a hand stamped necklace with their initials on it. I wore it all the time, but one day I realized that the pendant was missing. I am not sure how or when it fell off, but it made me sad.  I never replaced it.

Recently, I was gifted a hand stamped necklace from Kamerine at Tiny Feet Creations. It's a metal washer, with the boys names on it - and added in are gemstones to represent their birth months. I was given the choice of 2 different fonts, and the gems were optional, which I chose to have included.

When I received the finished product, I was very happy with how it turned out.

Kamerine makes many different products. They would make a great gift for your mom, your wife, or any new mom in your life. You can see them on her facebook page or on her etsy page. Don't be afraid to approach her with an idea either, she does sometimes make custom pieces.

Ottawa-Gatineau International Auto Show {giveaway}

Auto Show Family Pass Giveaway Courtesy of Ford of Canada

Do you have an auto lover in your life? My hubby loves vehicles, and my kids are no different.  Hubby took Mr. J to his very first car show when he was in kindergarten, and Mr. J loved looking at all the different makes and models, and enjoyed having the chance to sit in some of them as well.

Mama Mobile Massage Therapy

I received a complimentary massage in exchange for this post. 

All opinions are honest and belong to Tales of Mommyhood. 

Your experience/opinion may vary.

As a mom it can be hard to find time for yourself. I am always trying to take care of things for others (the kids, hubby, the house, etc) and I put off taking care of me. I discovered massage therapy in high school after a car accident. When my treatment period was over, I continued going for relaxation massages once a month for a couple of years.  As time passed, we bought our house and money for that type of thing was rare, so I eventually gave it up.

It has taken me a long time to realize that I need some time for me. Making sure I am taken care of helps me have the energy to take care of my family.  Having that time to relax and unwind and let the stress melt away from my body is something that I need to prioritize.

When I learned about Mama Mobile Massage Therapy, I knew that I needed to give it a try.  Sarah Rennick, RMT, focuses on pregnant women and busy moms.  An RMT with doula certification, she has the knowledge for pre-natal and post-natal care.  She also realizes that it's not always easy to fit in a visit to a clinic for a treatment, so she comes to you. Arranging babysitters isn't always possible - how about a massage while the kids are napping?  Sounds good to me. I wish Mama Mobile had been around when my kids were small - I may have gone back to massages sooner.

I made my appointment last week, and Mr. J ended up being home from school with a sore tummy the day of. No problem since Mama Mobile comes to the house. If I had an appointment in a clinic, I would have had to cancel.  With being done in home, Mr. J was able to lay cuddled up in front of the tv upstairs while I had my massage in the living room.

What To Expect

The day before treatment you will receive an intake form by email. You will provide all the necessary information to help Sarah provide the best treatment for you.  You will fill in your name, address and phone number. There are areas on the form to specify any injuries you may have suffered; health issues you have; family history and specific areas of concern.

The day of treatment, Sarah will arrive with her folding table and set up is very quick. She will ask any questions she has about your intake form and injuries. Once the table is set up and covered with sheets, she will excuse herself to wash her hands while you have the chance to lie on the table and cover up.

Let the relaxation begin

You may think you are missing out by not going to a massage clinic, but you aren't. Soft music, scented oils, and Sarah's gentle but firm touch will have you relaxing in minutes. It has been almost 10 years since my last massage and I had forgotten how wonderful they are. It didn't take long for my mind to clear.  When the massage was over, I was shocked that 60 minutes had gone by. I honestly didn't realize how tense my shoulders were until AFTER the massage was over and they felt so loose. My whole body felt great.

Services offered

Pre-natal, post-natal and therapeutic massage appointments are available for either 60 or 90 minutes. Fee may be paid by cash, cheque, debit or credit at the time of appointment. Insurance receipts are available and will be emailed within 24 hours of your appointment. Fee's are listed on the website. HST is extra.

At this time, Mama Mobile Massage offers services to The Glebe, Lansdowne, Centertown and Old Ottawa East areas of the city. Appointments are also available in Brockville twice monthly.

Now that you know all about this great service, what are you waiting for? Check out the Mama Mobile facebook page and website to book an appointment -  make sure to tell her I sent you :)

5 Family Oriented Day Trips Near Ottawa

If you are planning on visiting Ottawa this summer, or live here and are wanting to plan a few day trips, then this post is for you. There are many options for day trips in the Ottawa area, these are five that I think are fun. All of these are within 90 minutes or so of downtown.

1. Upper Canada Village - fun for all ages. I went many times growing up, and have been twice with the boys. Plan to spend 3-5 hours at the village to see everything and immerse yourself in what life was like in the 19th century. Pack a picnic and enjoy their picnic area, or purchase food from the cafeteria, cafe or restaurant.

2. Parc Omega - we haven't had the chance to visit, but everyone raves about it. (You can read what Becky from A Little Bit Of Momsense thought and if you want to read in french, you can check out Entre 2 Escales for their thoughts) Stock up on carrots (costco is a good place to go) and feed some of the animals as you drive along.

3. Saunders Farm - outdoor family fun! Splash pad, jumping pillows, mazes, tractor ride and play structure.  Pack a picnic (or purchase food onsite - cash only) and spend the day. Remember to reapply sunscreen or you may come home with a burn. We always have a blast when we visit.

4. Mill of Kintail - I haven't been here since I was in elementary school, it's a popular place for field trips. Hike the trails or visit the museum and see works of art from Canadian artists. Just a short drive West from Ottawa.

5. Go hiking - Gatineau park is a great place to put on your hiking shoes and get out in nature. A short drive from Ottawa. In addition to hiking, you can bike, camp or check out the Mackenzie King Estate.

Hey Ottawa, Join Pedalheads This Summer

PLEASE NOTE: The free preview day that was supposed to take place May 20th in Kanata has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. We are deeply sorry for any inconvenience.  Please check the website for more information on Pedalheads and to register for camp this summer.

Pedalheads bike camps are back for another year in the Capital, and have expanded to 5 locations now.  There are camps in different areas of the city to make it convenient for families:

• Alta Vista
• Orleans
• Rockliffe
• Ottawa West (Nepean)
• Kanata

World Prematurity Day - No Baby Unhugged

November 17th is World Prematurity Day. It helps to bring awareness to the high rate of premature births.  .

Mr. J - approximately 36 hours old

Ten years ago, when  I was pregnant with Mr. J, I never expected that I would be separated from him immediately after his birth.  I dreamt of holding him in my arms, nursing him and just being mesmerized by the little life that had grown inside me.  Unfortunately, my dream was not the reality. He was born early and had difficulty breathing, so he was whisked away to the special care nursery. I could visit him, but I couldn't hold him as he needed to kept in the oxygenated incubator.

At 20 hours old, the doctor told me he was not getting better, and they needed to transfer him to a hospital with a higher level of care nursery.  That hospital ended up being the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO).

He spent most of the next 10 days drugged and hooked up to all sorts of monitors.  All I wanted most of all was to be able to hold my son.  I held him once when he was a few days old (it was a big production to get him transferred to my arms - he had a chest tube they didn't want to disturb - and then another big production to transfer him back to his isolette . Because of the chest tube, most of the nurses wouldn't even attempt moving him out of the isolette) and I wasn't able to hold him again until he was 8 days old.

We made sure to touch his hand, his face, his arms so that he knew we were there. I would talk to him and sing to him, but he didn't get to be held.  Now, at 9 years old, he STILL craves physical contact, and I often wonder if it's because he didn't have it when he was brand new.

We were lucky to live only 25 minutes from CHEO and were able to spend quite a bit of time with him while he was there.  He was our first child, so we had no other kids at home to worry about.  That is not the case with everyone though, and not all babies in NICU's can have their parents with them so often.

Huggies knows how important human touch is for babies and has started the No Baby Unhugged program.  This helps to ensure that ALL babies in the NICU get hugs, even when their mom or dad cannot be with them. They have provided more than $50,000 in funding to 2 Canadian hospitals to get this program up and running, with more locations planned.

There have been studies done that show the many health benefits of skin to skin contact for babies - brain development, oxygen levels and more.  You can be a No Baby Unhugged Mom, and Huggies will send you a free package of diapers for your little one!  Hugs may not make everything better, but they certainly help to reassure us - and all babies deserve to have that.

Saunders Farm Pass #giveaway

Are you looking for a great gift for your family this year? Why not gift them a pass to Saunders Farm for 2017?  It's something the whole family can look forward to either in the summer or at haunting season!

Saunders Farm has offered up one Family Pass (4 people) for me to giveaway to one of my lucky readers - valid during the 2017 season.

Entering is simple - fill out the form below ensuring you have completed all actions required.  This will run until November 25th at 1159pm EST. Giveaway is open to Ottawa residents (or Canadians that are willing to travel at their own expense)18+, excluding Quebec. Must be able to get to Saunders Farm (located just outside of Ottawa)

Entry-Form

*Pass will not be available until early 2017 - you will not receive it before Christmas*

Give The Gift Of Experience This Christmas #2016GiftGuide

I am sure I am not the only mother out there that feels their home is drowning in STUFF. That stuff seems to multiply every day until I am overwhelmed.  The kids even get overwhelmed with all the gifts they receive, and tend not to play with or use the items they are gifted often.  This is not to say that we don't give our children toys (we do), but when gifting to others (friends/family), I try and stay away from toys and clutter.

If you have children or families to buy for this year, why not consider gifting an experience instead of toys or other items that take up space?

You might be wondering what type of experiences you can gift, and I have put together a list for you below. These are especially helpful if you (or the person/family you are buying for) are local to Ottawa. If not, it still might give you some ideas.

1. Season pass to Saunders Farm.  This is great for families with little ones that are looking for summer outings, but also great for families with older children that love Halloween.  There is lots to do. My kids absolutely love going in the summer, and this is our first year taking them at Halloween. So much fun.
2. Museum Membership.  Check out a local museum to see what kind of memberships they have. Some memberships may even have reciprocal privileges with museums in other cities.
3. Local Play Center. You could gift a membership to a local play center if you have young children to buy for. It gives the family something to do, and can come in handy during the cold winter months or rainy days, when kids go a little wild being cooped up at home.
4. Tickets  to a sporting event, concert or show.
5. Passes for an escape room or paint night
6. Lessons (skating, swimming, skiing, martial arts, singing, cooking and so many other options). The City of Ottawa recreation department has many different types of classes you can register in, and they are pretty affordable.
7. A weekend away or a staycation.  We love taking the kids to The Brookstreet hotel. It's a great place to spend time as a family, away from the usual distractions at home.
8. Movie passes - you can get them at Costco for certain theaters and it makes it quite affordable.

What type of experience gifts would your family like?


How would you like to WIN a Family Pass to Saunders Farm

#OTTAWA Indoor Trick or Treating Locations For Halloween 2016

When my kids were small, I always loved hitting up the local mall with them on Halloween.  It was so much fun to see all the little kiddies dressed up in costume, going store to store with their buckets or goodie bags.

Here is a list of local places that hold indoor trick or treating for 2016

Help Erika and Mason Fundraiser October 22nd #Ottawa

Hey guys - I am posting this on behalf of a mother in my community that is looking for a little bit of help.  If you are seeking something fun for the family on October 22nd, think about joining in the activities for this fundraiser. Chapters Rideau will also be donating a portion of sales on October 20th.

"I am a single mother of the most amazing, resilient and happy little toddler anyone knows. My son is 20 months old and was born with a rare congenital heart defect called hypo-plastic left heart syndrome. Basically, he was born with the left side of his heart critically underdeveloped. The left side is responsible for providing oxygenated blood to the extremities and he doesn't have a lot of strength to fight normal childhood illness like other children.

He has already undergone two open heart surgeries that only improve his quality of life. They aren't a cure. He needs one more surgery next year and more down the road. Despite having undergone so many awful procedures and living most of his life in and out of the hospital at Sick Kids in Toronto, he still has the courage to smile and play like healthy happy boy. The only thing is, I need help. It is extremely difficult going through this alone emotionally but financially. Next year when he has the last palliative option, there is a high chance we will have to stay in the hospital a while. I hope that you will support us by attending!"

Erika 

You can find out a little more information by checking out the eventbrite link or if you cannot make it, consider donating here