It Has Come to This...

A place for friends and family to get a sense of what our daily life is like... Well, almost ;).

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Noah suggested we drive up to Morin Heights today and hike around the mountain. Both of the kids learned to ski here, as I did. I like the idea of that.

My grandmother had a home in Morin Heights, just a few kilometres from the hill. We visited most weekends when I was very young and I remember struggling to stay awake for the 1hr. drive.

My parents actually moved our family to Morin Heights for a year. We lived in a large house with 2 other families that we were very close to. The husbands all made the daily commute to their jobs in Montreal. The house was then known as the “Watchhorn Farm”. The house is now a bed and breakfast called Le Clos Jolie. I’ve stayed there with friends.

When we all moved out, one of the families we lived with either bought or rented a cottage just down the road from the hill. Behind their house there was a path that led to some falls where we would swim in the summers.

My own family began skiing at Morin Heights when Noah reached an age where lessons could be considered. It was never easy. It takes a lot to get a 6yr. old to the hill every Saturday morning for 10 weeks. When Claire reached the age for lessons she came along and further complicated our Saturday adventures. Mel also joined and occasionally skied, but mostly she’d snowshoe until we all met up at lunch after the kids lessons. We occasionally made weekends of it in rented cottages near the hill and also spent a few consecutive March Breaks in the area.

As kids do with most things, they eventually outgrew the mountain. The memories I have of my youth in Morin Heights are certainly a blend of fact and fiction. I don’t want to know what I may have wrong with the images that I have in my head. I am very fond of how I remember everything about that period. I wonder how my kids will look back on Morin Heights, our days spent skiing, cottage rentals with friends, or these early exercises of looking back on memories and hopefully realizing that they represent a model for creating a life worth living.

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Summer of Claire

There are other pics from the time we spent at a cottage this past week, but I think these photos of Claire convey her impression of the week best. To say that Claire made the most of our stay is an understatement. 

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State of the garden after being away a week. Lost two herbs in the flower pots (coriander), but otherwise things look good and yields are hard to keep up with.

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Champions!

Claire’s team took 1st place today in the final playoff game of the season. 

Claire has never had the drive that separates participants from athletes. In the inevitable dense scrums that take place in most soccer games that 8 year olds play, Claire will gladly differ to someone else to elbow their way out with the prize. This is what made the circumstances surrounding today’s win a delightful surprise. 

At the end of regulation the score was 2-2. The ensuing penalty shots were also even at 2 a side when Claire, UNEXPECTEDLY, walked up as the FIFTH and FINAL player to take a shot. Mel and I were in separate areas of the field and although I could not see her, I knew we were sharing the same anxiety about what was about to play out. With players and parents watching, Claire struck a clearly deliberate ball to the left of the keeper just out of her reach for the win!!! Claire’s FIRST GOAL of the season was the last her team needed to clinch the game!

The only thing more surprising than the outcome, was the casual manner in which Claire turned to her team behind her and celebrated what appeared to be the only result she had considered.

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The Pool @ Playa Pesquero, Holguin, Cuba.

Shenanigans at the pool.

Pool Shenanigans in Cuba.

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Cuba_Beach_S

Some of the snorkeling Mel, my Dad/Ken (86yrs. old?!), Noah, and I did in Cuba.

Snorkeling shenanigans in Cuba.

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We’ve had a few weeks to reflect on our trip to Playa Pesquero, in Holguin. Cuba was a welcomed distraction from a tough Montreal Winter.

We were fortunate to have Ken (my dad) and Rita (Mel’s mom) join us and the kids. Traveling with a large party has its challenges but having all of our rooms in our own area of a second-floor building made things that much more manageable. Our rooms were also close to the pool, beach, restaurants, and nightly entertainment venues.

We settled into a routine of leisurely breakfasts followed by, either spending the morning at the beach snorkeling or playing in the pool. We managed to avoid the buffets for lunch and instead ate at the various venues that are dotted throughout the resort. In the afternoons, we’d flip to the other water option. Regardless, we always returned to the pool, at the lively end near the bar, to catch the last of the afternoon sun. Before dinner, everyone showered and took some time to relax. Dad and I usually enjoyed a beer on his balcony and watched the early crowd head out for dinner. Everyday day of our trip was a variation of the day before. It may not be for everyone, and honestly, I can see how it could get old, but we probably timed our stay a little shorter than we would have liked. We all left wishing we had a few more days.

We are grateful to have been able to go on a trip like this with the kids and their grandparents. Looking forward to the next one!

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Santa and the Tooth Fairy

Claire recently lost her two top front teeth within a little over a week of each other. The day after she lost her first, Mel and I instinctively started to sing “All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth” at dinner. Claire thought we were making it up until we finally played it for her on the stereo. We both immediately regretted doing so, as it was the only sound Claire made that night until bed and sleep eventually silenced her. The tooth fairy visits are met with excitement and relief. Occasionally, the reward left by the tooth fairy gets knocked to the ground under her bed while she sleeps. The empty space beneath her pillow is noticed even before Claire is fully awake. She is genuinely hurt, not by the missing reward, but by the thought that the visit did not occur. 

Every year we struggle with what to buy Claire for Christmas. It’s further compounded by the following factors:

Family members, both near and far, who also make inquiries about gift ideas for her.

Struggling to keep some kind of fiscal sibling parity with her brother who starts his wish list in JUNE.

Fortunately, Claire’s experiences at this age are genuine. She does not question her beliefs and they are not yet burdened by any anxiety over being gifted items she is hoping to receive. Christmas morning she will come downstairs, look at the presents under the tree, and regardless of what awaits her beneath the wrapping paper, she will be content with the knowledge that Santa came to her house.

I am always grateful for gifts like these that my children continue to provide.

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Luck or Intervention?

I am not exceptionally well travelled but, I am now old enough that by sheer luck, I have seen sights that would take anyone’s breath away. For example, I have sat in a hot tub in Burwash Landing in the Yukon on the night before my sister Tracy was married. In the glow of a dinner party anticipating the events that were to come the next day, I stepped out briefly to get some air. The view over Kluane Lake drew me further out on the deck of the motel’s restaurant and the appearance of a hot tub had me shed my attire and slip into the water. It was bold and uncharacteristic, but paid immediate dividends. In a quiet space between wilderness and celebration, I witnessed a full moon rise between two peaks that oversaw the summers of my childhood in the North. It was a moment that could almost make me believe in the notion of a creator.

Tuesday night, I witnessed an event that, although drastically different, required an equal measure of luck or intervention. Noah has been playing soccer this summer, like every summer since he became of age. He is good, but has never excelled. His greatest asset is being able to see a play evolve from a ball on his foot to a teammate decreasing a deficit or adding to a lead. He is conservative, unselfish, and wise on the field. He’d never get cut from a team, but he wouldn’t make the cut as an all-star either. On our way to the game, a match that could determine his team’s fate as the best of the season, he told me he would score. It’s not uncommon for him to score goals, but for him to “point his bat to the fence in left field” and declare his intention was unprecedented. He and his teammates were down 2 early goals at the end of the first half. Although they managed to tie it up late in the second half, with little time left, it looked as though they would have to be content with a tie. Moments later, from my vantage point behind the opposing team’s goal, I saw my son, who on this night I can liken to the “Babe Ruth of NDG soccer”, settle a pass on his right foot and put it into the top right corner of the goal. Within seconds of the goal, the sideline celebrations were interrupted by a whistle announcing the end of the match. At 10 years old, goal celebration rituals are often imitations from the European leagues. Noah’s was unconventional by those standards; he walked directly over to me with a broad smile on his face and, after an unspoken exchange, I rewarded him with a kiss and a hug before he posed for this photo.

 Life is beautiful.

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WINTER COTTAGE WEEKEND - INSIDE SHOTS

Thanks again Marissa, Pat, and JJ for a great weekend at your lovely rental!

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Winter Cottage Weekend - Outside Shots

I spent most weekends of my early youth at my Grandmother’s in Morin Heights. I have a spotty memory of those early years, but I am very fond of the memories I have. We are lucky enough to know quite a few generous people who have access to a cottage. Each year we make a point of accepting any invitations our friends extend. The kids (and parents) always come home spent from pursuing outdoor activities of one kind or another. I know these weekends are making a lasting impression on how my kids will remember the winters of their youth. Thank you Marissa, Pat, and JJ for hosting us this past weekend!

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West Visits East

Elliot, my niece Aliesha’s finance, paid us a visit for a few days last week. He was in Ottawa participating in a conference and arranged to extend his stay to come to Montreal. My nieces and nephew are exceptional people. In Elliot, Aliesha has found an equally exceptional man to be her husband. Mel and I cannot wait to attend their nuptials this July in B.C. 

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Gift from the Rentmeister Cousins

I bought Noah a hockey net last year and it has seen so much use in the last 12 months that we actually had to replace it this year. Aliesha, Eliott (Aliesha’s fiance), Charlotte, and Tristan bought this beauty as Noah’s Christmas gift. If you look closely behind the mask, you can actually see him beaming. He could not be happier.

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Lazy Winter Days

The last few days have been quieter in our hood as neighbours, and their kids, have travelled to parts elsewhere to celebrate New Year's. We’ve been somewhat  lazy, but we have still managed to venture out to do a few things with the kids (ski, skate, toboggan, and play some hockey). The weather has provided us with a pretty backdrop to spend some time outside.

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Claire’s First Christmas Concert 

Last night Claire's school put on their annual Christmas concert. It's involves performances by grades K through 3, individual students, and the choir. It's a wondrous combination of chaos, kitsch, talent and emotion. At two hours in length, it's a commitment by students, teachers, siblings, and parents. Mr. Nick, the music teacher, opens the show with a brief request: "Please stay until the end of the show! Admission is free, but leaving early will cost you $20!" I am sure the thought has crossed the mind of every parent trying to get their family ready and there on time. "We'll just stay until <insert child's name> performs and then sneak out". But you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who regrets staying when it's all said and done. As families collect their respective performers the sound of genuine praise is equal, if not greater, than any of the evening's Christmas carol performances.

FYI - Claire is under the first “E” in “NEED”. :)

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More shenanigans from the skate park on the weekend.

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A Tale of Two Smiles

I enjoy seeing my kids attempt things that push them out of their comfort zones. When they try it, like it, and then dedicate themselves to doing it better, even if only for a short while, it pleases me to see them reap the rewards of the effort they have made. Sometimes the pursuits lend themselves to injury and watching your child deal with those consequences is ... well... difficult. Most of these photos of Noah and Ben (our neighbour) were taken at a local skate park this weekend. The last photo was taken Monday evening in the ER. While trying to get better, Noah took a tumble. The net result of which involved the suturing of a deep 4cm gash and some pending dental work on his two top ADULT front teeth. Given my initial expectations when I first got the call (concussion, broken limbs, unsalvageable teeth, etc..) this is among the best possible outcomes we could have hoped for. I suspect this is simply the latest, rather than the last, of these types of events. The urge to prevent him from attempting pursuits with some degree of inherent risk is hard to ignore right now. I'm hoping that simply acknowledging it and moving on will get us both back to the skate park, or whatever comes next.