Weekend Musings
We helped WonderBaby celebrate her first birthday yesterday. WB looked smashing in her animal print frock. She generously shared her toys with a dozen other babes. They exchanged sippy cups and crackers. We all ate cake. I think Cakes made it through the party without hitting anyone. Good times. Unfortunately, I was too busy gabbing and chasing Cakes to get any pictures. I do suspect Catherine will have one or two though.
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Last night I finally watched the first two episodes of Gray’s Anatomy on DVD (I know, I’m so behind the times). I’m hooked already. However, I must say, you guys have built up McDreamy a little too much. I was a little underwhelmed. He’s OK, but he’s no Michael Scofield.
Who knows, maybe I’ll change my tune after a few more episodes. Does McDreamy have any tattoos?
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I fucking hate winter. Cakes was up early this morning. She always seems to get up early on Sunday, the one day there is absolutely nothing to do, especially early in the morning. BP had a busy night at work, so he had to sleep. All the other parents are doing family things. We decided to go to the park (I can’t stand staying in for long). It was cold and there wasn’t another soul there. Cakes was all bundled up—she could barely climb anything in her winter boots. She tried to play in the sandbox, but couldn’t hold a shovel with her mittens. We had to play hide-and-seek to stay warm. It was pretty fucking lame.
Anyone have any good ideas for things we can do in the cold weather? Anyone else married to a shift-worker and looking for Sunday play dates?
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Don’t forget to vote please! First round ends Tuesday and I don’t want to be first off the island!
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We decided to skip the Santa Claus parade this afternoon. We figure Cakes is still a little young. Plus, I hate crowds. And the cold. And being around too many kids at once.
Anyone have any good tips for next year? Where are the best spots to catch the action? What time does it start to go by Yonge and Queen? At what age did you start taking your kids? Please share your wisdom.
Labels: flotsam and jetsam
posted by metro mama @ 2:17 PM
21 Comments:
Just returned from the parade. We thought Gracie was way too young, but I love parades so we bundled up. She had a ball. She squealed at all the other kids. And the balloon she got from Far Coast made her day!
We are losers. Santa Claus Parade is spent parked in front of the TV with hot chocolate and popcorn while everyone else fights off the alpha dogs to get a glimpse of Santa.
Museum is great for kids anyday, but it is great to fill those long weekends as well. We have had a membership for years.
I'm discovering that cold weather is going to be really tough with an active 18 month old. I like to be inside where it's warm.
Sigh.
Something Blue has a great Cakes shot from the party up at her site - all of my shots of the kids in action turned out blurry...
We skipped the parade, too. WB probably would have liked it, but without a good spot staked out, seemed to challenging. (Save any tips you get for a pre-parade column for MBT for next year!)
We're not doing the parade yet eiter. It's a long time standing or even sitting for a little one for another few years, IMO.
We'd do Sunday play dates even without shift work! Brunch at out place soon, maybe?
When the hubs is out of town or stuff like that when the kiddo was little, we spent ALOT of time at Target. He was content to ride in the cart and I'd just walk around killing time. SOmetimes we'd spend an hour there only to buy a box of tissues and milk...
Or go to McDonald's and eat some b-fast...
We did the parade thing this year and last. Both years I spent an hour holding The Boy up so he could see. Very heavy. And this year it was verrrrry cold! I would recommend going to Queen's Park - good view and room to run around. The Boy liked it a lot, and I suspect he would have like it more if he was warmer. We didn't stay to the end.
The Husband is doing a show and rehearses Sunday afternoons, so the Boy and I are free for playdates. And once the show's over, I rather think he'd like the afternoon "off", so count me in!
OK, I feel totally guilty for feeling desperate to think of rainy day activities. I wasn't even thinking of snow and colder weather!
Our daughter is a few months older than yours, but we took her to the local parade this year (actually blogged about it this morning). She enjoyed it, but in more of a "this is really strange... wait, music: gotta dance... OK why are all these people waving?" kind of way, if you get my drift.
As for independent outdoor winter activities, until the snow hits you're S.O.L. What about indoor play areas at the malls? Or, you could try preparing for toboggan season by hurtling her downhill in a wagon... or maybe not.
mcdreamy...ah...swoon.
love him.
Yeah I skipped the parade too, for all the same reasons.
Big daddy was working all weekend too,
damn we could have tried for a play-date.
we ended up at Indigo in the kid's book section,
where lulu played with the Thomas the Train station along with the other fifty kids whose parents didn't let them see Santa either..
Stuff to do in the winter? If you have room, an inflatable pool filled with balls is a great place for a little fauz-swimming.
I was hoping no one noticed when Strawberry came up behind me and lifted my skirt! It would have been even worse if someone caught it on film and shared it on their blog! Nothing scarier than my behind however it isn't a party until there is some flashing.
The crowds are always insane at the parade but the excitement in the air is intoxicating. (As is Michael Scofield.)
We spent yesterday at Toys R US pushing The Boy around in a big plastic car that I was too afraid to buy. But he loved it and I realised that TrU is like an all hours kindergym. I have a feeling any rainy or snowy days will be filled in its aisles...
Do you have any indoor play areas around you, like a mall play area or a children's museum? We spend our Ohio winters in the mall play area and in the play area at the local children's museum.
We also do storytime at the library and one of the hospitals here offers an indoor play area for a small donation twice a week.
Welcome to the GA bandwagon... and yeah, I haven't really gotten the McDreamy thing either.
And I just posted today about how I don't really like the Santa Claus parade thing (granted I don't live in TO, where I imagine the parade is more exciting). I think Crazymumma has the right idea.
I'm a Grey's newbie, too. I think McDreamie does get better. Hot-tie! I love me some Wentworth, too, though ;).
We took our daughter to our Santa parade this weekend. She is 19 months old and LOVED it! She even stayed in her stroller the entire time--something she typically wouldn't do, trust me!
I would love to check out the T.O one next year--just wasn't that brave this year, but it is SO much better :)
I hate the Santa Claus parade. Sorry. But I do. We've gone a few times - with my son at 1, 3 and 4 and with my nephews who are older. Never liked it. People are cranky, cold, its hard for the little ones to sit still. So we resolved to watch it only on TV.
But I hate winter more. However here are our haunts: Science Centre (Kid Spark is good for even the little ones), Museum, AGO, Library, Bowling Alley, Malls, Indoor Playgrounds, and the movies. Course my guy is older but I've been doing most of that since he was about 2.
In the winter my man travels ALOT so we are often lonely on the weekend ... let's let my 5 year old watch your one year old and we can drink a bottle of wine ... kidding ... well only partly. I am having one of those days. You know the kind when you hijack your friend's comment section. I better stop commenting on blogs now and try again tomorrow :)
Hi Julie - first time posting here.
Um, things to do in Toronto - am a bit out of touch (as I have lived in Perth for 10 years now!!) but I know when there is "nothing" to do here in winter, I take the kids to an indoor play place or to the mall, God forbid. Or we do something like have a pj party and watch movies (your daughter might a bit young for that, I suppose)
McSteamy is way hotter than McDreamy. Change your focus! Maybe try to find a re-run of the episode where he comes out of the shower in Addison's hotel room.
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