creativelykate

The whole gang in Niagara Falls, Ontario We spent the final few days of Hudson's spring break in Niagara Falls, Ontario.  This was our first vacation as a family of five, so it was also a huge learning experience for the hubby and me.  We were extremely grateful to Jord's parents who planned this mini-vacation for all of us.  The kids absolutely love spending time with Nana and Opa...and Mommy and Daddy really appreciate the extra help!  Although, we had a great few days...we definitely learned what works well when planning a family trip - and what doesn't! Things we as parents (and grandparents) did really well: Our trip began on the last day of Spring break so Hudson had to miss a couple days of school.  Fortunately I'm on mat leave so this worked out for all of us.  It felt like we had the hotel and much of Niagara Falls to ourselves.  We never waited in line-ups, the hotel pool was usually empty and we never had to deal with crowds of people when visiting

My family on Race Day at the Ugly Sweater Run . Just the title alone gets me excited!  For those who don't know me, running is one of my greatest joys.  As a teenager I played every team sport imaginable...including cross-country and track and field.  However it wasn't until I turned 25, that I was introduced to running as I do it today.  I was at the finish line when my Aunt Joanne finished a 10k race on her 60th birthday.  Something about that day...the energy coming from the sidelines, the excitement and anticipation of her finish and the sheer look of accomplishment, gleaming from her face as she crossed the finish line!  I had to experience more.  That winter I began training...running 2kms was a challenge for me, but within 5 months I finished my first 10k race.  Following the race, I had what some might describe as a "runners high" - and I wanted more!  I looked into other races and set my goals high.  I decided I was ready for a half marathon.  And so t

This year marks Hudson's first real March Break!  As a teacher I've always had the week off, but this year is special because I get to spend it with all 3 kids (and my hubby has some time off too!).  I feel as though this will be our last time together before I head back to work in a couple months - it's crazy how time flies!  In previous years, March Break was always when Jordan and I would head south for a couple weeks...more recently it's been financially difficult.  Not to mention a lot of work!  Traveling with a family of 5 plus a dog - I'm happy to wait a little longer.  We look forward to those days returning, but for now we're excited to stay local and make the best of our more budget friendly week together! Here are some of the things we have on the agenda... 1. With Easter just around the corner we'll be taking a few hours to make some of these fun crafts!  Crafting is something I've always had a passion for, and I have so many fond

  My oldest son started school this past September and I couldn't wait to start making his school lunches.  In August I did a lot of shopping around and asked other friends and parents what they used for their kids.  Everything from lunch bags to food storage, what type of beverages they sent and most importantly what types of food.  I also joined a group on facebook that was created in order for parents to share their meal creations and ideas.  All the info I gathered guided me in the right direction when it came time to make my purchases.  Here are some of the things I purchased and why (including a brief review of each product). Food and Beverage Storage: Yumbox https://cutekidstuff.com/collections/yumbox  - this is the box we chose for both Hudson (he's 4) and Georgia (she's 2).  We went with the container that has 6 separate storage units.  I loved this box because it allowed me to provide several different food options for my kids.  This is something I