It's the most wonderful tiiiiiiiime of the year! Oh yes, if you're a parent you know that I'm not talking about Christmas, I'm talking about back to school time!
Now don't get me wrong here. I love my kids and summer and the freedom to travel or sleep in, the beach, camping and all that sunshine. However, I am a creature of habits and by mid August I'm jonesing for my routines back. I missed having days to myself where I can be lazy if I want or go for coffee, grocery shop in peace, hit the gym....all those things that are far more difficult with the little people are home every day.
Standard bedtimes, getting and keeping the house in order, after school activities and all those other things that come with the school year are back and I'm thrilled! My poor house has been seriously neglected over the summer so the housework schedule is back in place and it's starting to look like civilized human beings live here. My weight loss journey is back on track now that it's easy to get to the gym when kids are in school all day. Life is back into routine and though we have had an amazing summer, it's refreshing to be back into homework and packed lunches and weekend birthday parties and sports and art classes.
This year Cole is in middle school. I was far more nervous than he was. He makes me so proud. He's embracing this new chapter full force and he's thriving on his increased independence. He loves the different types of classes that he gets to take now and especially that he has a locker. The teachers in grade 6 are fantastic at making the transition a smooth one for the kids and the parents. He was more concerned with leaving Madi behind in elementary school but nothing gets that kid down. She's thrilled with the teacher she has and the kids in her class. Grade 4 is great she says but she's not happy at the lack of homework.
Activities start up over the next couple weeks too. They are both back in catechism (Sunday school), Madi starts Girl Guides tonight and is back in her art classes in a few weeks. Cole decided he didn't want to swim this year and instead is going to be starting Tae Kwon Do next week.
Fall always feels like a fresh start. Moreso than the new year in my eyes. I don't know why, but it always seems like anything is possible in September and I'm excited to see what this "year" has in store for us!
Adventure is out there!
Love The McDonnells
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Friday, July 8, 2016
PEI June 25-July 4...PEI National Park Cavendish & Twin Shores
It's the first week of summer vacation and our annual trip to Prince Edward Island! This year we decided to make it a double long trip and check out PEI national park in Cavendish before heading to our absolute favorite camping spot...Twin Shores.
The National park layout is not what we are used to. It's not one solid piece of land for you to explore but rather several little pockets of park land spread out along the coast. We weren't sure what to expect for scenery and trails but we were definitely pleased by the beach located in our campground a few minute walk from our campsite. The kids practically had the place to themselves as most people flock to the bigger Cavendish beach down the road but we were happy to be where we were.
I had printed a crossword puzzle from the park website that had us exploring to find the answers to the clues. It was kind of a neat way to see the park. I really like when they put out activities like that especially when you don't really have a game plan of where to start your adventure. The game took us around Cavendish and North Rustico but we didn't end up finishing because the rest of the clues were in the far end of the park quite a ways away from us. Regardless we did get to see some nice scenery and explore a few trails.
No trip to Cavendish is complete without a visit to some of the Anne of Green Gables sites. We toured Green Gables historic site and hiked Lovers Lane trails, visited the grave of L.M Montgomery and saw the homestead where she grew up. Madi fell in love with the story of Anne and asked for the book so she's been working away at that and obsessing over all things Anne.
We also walked around the old rainbow valley site and tried to visit Avonlea Village only to discover that the acting of the Anne story is no longer there and the entire village has been turned into a shopping and eatery destination. Such a disappointment!
June 30th we packed up and said goodbye to Cavendish and hello to Twin Shores! This was our 4th year in a row coming to this little slice of heaven and it never disappoints. This campground is more like a resort for campers and you certainly want for nothing. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and nestled between two beaches. Children are everywhere playing at the playground or biking around and taking advantage of the daily activities that range from candy bar bingo to daily crafts to make your own sundaes to bike rodeos and so much more. The campground boasts a fresh fish market with a mussel boil on the beach every Saturday, a fully equipped camper store that has just about everything you could need, a canteen where you can get pizza or ice cream,a cafe that has delicious baked goods and coffee, a movie theatre for rainy day fun, an arcade, pedal car rentals, a dog park (with doggy washing station), a gym, laundry, shuffleboard, basketball, tennis and on and on.
My personal favorite is the beach. 3km of red sand and ocean waves. You just can't beat it. Mom and Marty camp with us and this year they bought the kids boogie boards for passing in school and it was the best thing ever! They had such a blast playing in the waves on those things we could hardly haul them out of the water!
This year we were at Twin Shores for Canada Day so we headed over to the bayside for the fireworks and they certainly did not disappoint. What an amazing show!!!
It was really hard to say goodbye when we left that Monday but we are already all booked back in for next summer for year 5. We just can't get enough!
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
The National park layout is not what we are used to. It's not one solid piece of land for you to explore but rather several little pockets of park land spread out along the coast. We weren't sure what to expect for scenery and trails but we were definitely pleased by the beach located in our campground a few minute walk from our campsite. The kids practically had the place to themselves as most people flock to the bigger Cavendish beach down the road but we were happy to be where we were.
I had printed a crossword puzzle from the park website that had us exploring to find the answers to the clues. It was kind of a neat way to see the park. I really like when they put out activities like that especially when you don't really have a game plan of where to start your adventure. The game took us around Cavendish and North Rustico but we didn't end up finishing because the rest of the clues were in the far end of the park quite a ways away from us. Regardless we did get to see some nice scenery and explore a few trails.
No trip to Cavendish is complete without a visit to some of the Anne of Green Gables sites. We toured Green Gables historic site and hiked Lovers Lane trails, visited the grave of L.M Montgomery and saw the homestead where she grew up. Madi fell in love with the story of Anne and asked for the book so she's been working away at that and obsessing over all things Anne.
We also walked around the old rainbow valley site and tried to visit Avonlea Village only to discover that the acting of the Anne story is no longer there and the entire village has been turned into a shopping and eatery destination. Such a disappointment!
June 30th we packed up and said goodbye to Cavendish and hello to Twin Shores! This was our 4th year in a row coming to this little slice of heaven and it never disappoints. This campground is more like a resort for campers and you certainly want for nothing. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and nestled between two beaches. Children are everywhere playing at the playground or biking around and taking advantage of the daily activities that range from candy bar bingo to daily crafts to make your own sundaes to bike rodeos and so much more. The campground boasts a fresh fish market with a mussel boil on the beach every Saturday, a fully equipped camper store that has just about everything you could need, a canteen where you can get pizza or ice cream,a cafe that has delicious baked goods and coffee, a movie theatre for rainy day fun, an arcade, pedal car rentals, a dog park (with doggy washing station), a gym, laundry, shuffleboard, basketball, tennis and on and on.
My personal favorite is the beach. 3km of red sand and ocean waves. You just can't beat it. Mom and Marty camp with us and this year they bought the kids boogie boards for passing in school and it was the best thing ever! They had such a blast playing in the waves on those things we could hardly haul them out of the water!
This year we were at Twin Shores for Canada Day so we headed over to the bayside for the fireworks and they certainly did not disappoint. What an amazing show!!!
It was really hard to say goodbye when we left that Monday but we are already all booked back in for next summer for year 5. We just can't get enough!
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
Fundy National Park - June 17-19, 2016
The week before school let out for the summer was our first trip to Fundy of the season. We had a beautiful weekend exploring the park and enjoying the sun and the breeze. The playgrounds were being upgraded so the kids were mostly stuck with us but they didn't mind too much.
We decided to take part in a 100km hiking challenge the park was putting on. The idea is you hike 100km in the national parks in a season with 10km being in Fundy and you are eligible to receive a special pin.
We hiked a few trails we had never hiked before and found more red chairs that we have never found. We checked out Laverty Falls and the hike was a little too challenging for me but I managed to finish. I can't wait for things like that to be easier for me. Love had a fantastic time playing in the water at the base of the falls.
Madi wanted to go into Alma for our tradition of sticky buns from Kelly's bake shop. They're so popular you have to take a number in order to get a box but boy oh boy there's nothing nicer than sinking your teeth into a sweet, sticky still warm from the oven ball of cinnamon goodness!
We decided to take part in a 100km hiking challenge the park was putting on. The idea is you hike 100km in the national parks in a season with 10km being in Fundy and you are eligible to receive a special pin.
We hiked a few trails we had never hiked before and found more red chairs that we have never found. We checked out Laverty Falls and the hike was a little too challenging for me but I managed to finish. I can't wait for things like that to be easier for me. Love had a fantastic time playing in the water at the base of the falls.
Madi wanted to go into Alma for our tradition of sticky buns from Kelly's bake shop. They're so popular you have to take a number in order to get a box but boy oh boy there's nothing nicer than sinking your teeth into a sweet, sticky still warm from the oven ball of cinnamon goodness!
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Cole's Grade 5 Graduation
This milestone happened in the blink of an eye. I swear it was just yesterday that we stepped through the doors of Royal Road for the first time and left our precious 5 year old in the care of a total stranger in a room full of tiny chairs with tennis balls on the legs.
Now here we are 6 years later and we watched our almost-as-tall-as-me 11 year old walk across the crowd and accept not only his grade 5 diploma but also a very special award for being recognized as the compassionate, kind hearted boy he is. He received the Mckenzie Carr Memorial Friendship award for being the epitome of a good friend and a good person. Recognition for academic and athletic achievements are wonderful but being awarded because you possess the qualities of kindness, empathy, and compassion is something more.
Jeff and I were so proud of Cole. We knew he would be receiving the award, but we had no idea of the significance of it. Once the speech was made we were completely blown away. It's moments like this that make you realize you really are doing an ok job with your kids after all and maybe, just maybe, by raising your children with kindness, compassion and empathy towards others as part of their everyday life that they will grow up and make changes in the world or because of them and how they treat someone someday it makes a positive change in that person's life.
I don't expect we will ever see a Nobel peace prize hanging on his shelf but I hope this recognition stays with him and these qualities stay ingrained in him. We need more people like him in this world. So please, help your children foster these qualities. Have the hard conversations when you see injustice in the world around them and use those examples to teach them why it's wrong. Enrich their lives and show them the beauty in the differences of people everywhere from different races, genders, religions, sexual orientation, abilities, and cultures. It's important. Teach your children love and acceptance before someone else can teach them to hate. Spread the love! It comes back to you tenfold. My heart is full right now and I couldn't be more proud of the young man my little boy is turning out to be.
Now here we are 6 years later and we watched our almost-as-tall-as-me 11 year old walk across the crowd and accept not only his grade 5 diploma but also a very special award for being recognized as the compassionate, kind hearted boy he is. He received the Mckenzie Carr Memorial Friendship award for being the epitome of a good friend and a good person. Recognition for academic and athletic achievements are wonderful but being awarded because you possess the qualities of kindness, empathy, and compassion is something more.
Jeff and I were so proud of Cole. We knew he would be receiving the award, but we had no idea of the significance of it. Once the speech was made we were completely blown away. It's moments like this that make you realize you really are doing an ok job with your kids after all and maybe, just maybe, by raising your children with kindness, compassion and empathy towards others as part of their everyday life that they will grow up and make changes in the world or because of them and how they treat someone someday it makes a positive change in that person's life.
I don't expect we will ever see a Nobel peace prize hanging on his shelf but I hope this recognition stays with him and these qualities stay ingrained in him. We need more people like him in this world. So please, help your children foster these qualities. Have the hard conversations when you see injustice in the world around them and use those examples to teach them why it's wrong. Enrich their lives and show them the beauty in the differences of people everywhere from different races, genders, religions, sexual orientation, abilities, and cultures. It's important. Teach your children love and acceptance before someone else can teach them to hate. Spread the love! It comes back to you tenfold. My heart is full right now and I couldn't be more proud of the young man my little boy is turning out to be.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Mactaquac Provincial Park - June 10-12
Located about a 15 minute drive from our home is Mactaquac Provincial park. The park consists of the campground, a golf course, some hiking trails and a beach on the shore of the head pond.
We set up camp at site 120 with a beautiful view of the head pond. It took quite a few tries for Jeff to get the camper in the right spot and even more to level it off but we got all situated in enough time to have supper and for the kids to make rock spears and invent a survival game down by the water.
Later in the evening we had a campfire then Madi wanted to watch her new movie The Descendants before we settled for bed. It was a chilly night so the heated beds came in very handy that night.
In the morning we were treated to what seems to be a rarity these days...sunshine! The kids played around outside with a friend they found while Jeff and I just enjoyed the nice weather. After lunch we dropped Madi off at a birthday party and headed back to finish out the day with Cole.
We played a couple rounds of ladder ball, took Love for a walk and watched Cole play a huge game of "grounders" at the playground with a group of kids. The evening was beautiful and warm and I was nursing a well deserved sunburn by the campfire making s'mores and popcorn. We were sad to not have Madi there but she phoned to say goodnight and was having an absolute blast with her friend.
In the morning it was gloomy as if the world was mad my vacation got denied (ha! As if) but it did make it a little easier to roll out of bed at an ungodly hour, get my scrubs on and pack my sleepy son into the car so Jeff could drop me off at work.
I don't know that Mactaquac would be on our must do list. It it is nice and convenient for a mid week quick get away when one of us still has to work while the other is off.
Stay tuned for this week's adventure when we head to Fundy National park for hiking and more red chair hunting!
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
We set up camp at site 120 with a beautiful view of the head pond. It took quite a few tries for Jeff to get the camper in the right spot and even more to level it off but we got all situated in enough time to have supper and for the kids to make rock spears and invent a survival game down by the water.
Later in the evening we had a campfire then Madi wanted to watch her new movie The Descendants before we settled for bed. It was a chilly night so the heated beds came in very handy that night.
In the morning we were treated to what seems to be a rarity these days...sunshine! The kids played around outside with a friend they found while Jeff and I just enjoyed the nice weather. After lunch we dropped Madi off at a birthday party and headed back to finish out the day with Cole.
We played a couple rounds of ladder ball, took Love for a walk and watched Cole play a huge game of "grounders" at the playground with a group of kids. The evening was beautiful and warm and I was nursing a well deserved sunburn by the campfire making s'mores and popcorn. We were sad to not have Madi there but she phoned to say goodnight and was having an absolute blast with her friend.
In the morning it was gloomy as if the world was mad my vacation got denied (ha! As if) but it did make it a little easier to roll out of bed at an ungodly hour, get my scrubs on and pack my sleepy son into the car so Jeff could drop me off at work.
I don't know that Mactaquac would be on our must do list. It it is nice and convenient for a mid week quick get away when one of us still has to work while the other is off.
Stay tuned for this week's adventure when we head to Fundy National park for hiking and more red chair hunting!
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Madi Turns 9!
June 5th our little lady celebrated her 9th birthday.
Her day started with a BBQ at the church to celebrate the end of religious formation classes for the year and a visit from Auntie Debb and Grampy. I had to sleep all morning to prepare for a night shift so unfortunately I had to miss the BBQ and the visit.
After lunch Jeff took her to the Dollarama to get some supplies to make treat bags for her party and we were off to Kingswood!
We didn't get a big crowd of kids. A couple were sick and a couple couldn't come but her closest friends were there and they all had a good time bowling and playing laser tag so that's what counts! Jeff and Cole challenged the girls to laser tag and I'm not quite sure who had more fun, but I bet you can guess!
Fast forward a couple of days and my shifts at work are all done and we can finally get Madi out for her birthday supper. She chose East Side Marios because she loves to spin the prize wheel and then she wanted to spend some of her birthday money. She came home absolutely thrilled with her purchases of a few new stuffy friends, some tsum tsums, a book and a Descendants doll.
I can't believe how time has flown by. This is my baby girl's last year in the single digits. She is growing into such an independent, unique young lady. She's her own person that's for sure with a very interesting personality. You just never know what she's going to come out with next! She makes me laugh everyday, her creativity never ceases to amaze me, she's a good friend, has a huge heart and still loves to curl up with mom for a cuddle. She keeps us on our toes and does not give in when she doesn't want to do something. That stubbornness is going to pay off for her one day!
Happy birthday, little one. We love you!
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
Her day started with a BBQ at the church to celebrate the end of religious formation classes for the year and a visit from Auntie Debb and Grampy. I had to sleep all morning to prepare for a night shift so unfortunately I had to miss the BBQ and the visit.
After lunch Jeff took her to the Dollarama to get some supplies to make treat bags for her party and we were off to Kingswood!
We didn't get a big crowd of kids. A couple were sick and a couple couldn't come but her closest friends were there and they all had a good time bowling and playing laser tag so that's what counts! Jeff and Cole challenged the girls to laser tag and I'm not quite sure who had more fun, but I bet you can guess!
Fast forward a couple of days and my shifts at work are all done and we can finally get Madi out for her birthday supper. She chose East Side Marios because she loves to spin the prize wheel and then she wanted to spend some of her birthday money. She came home absolutely thrilled with her purchases of a few new stuffy friends, some tsum tsums, a book and a Descendants doll.
I can't believe how time has flown by. This is my baby girl's last year in the single digits. She is growing into such an independent, unique young lady. She's her own person that's for sure with a very interesting personality. You just never know what she's going to come out with next! She makes me laugh everyday, her creativity never ceases to amaze me, she's a good friend, has a huge heart and still loves to curl up with mom for a cuddle. She keeps us on our toes and does not give in when she doesn't want to do something. That stubbornness is going to pay off for her one day!
Happy birthday, little one. We love you!
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Jeff Turns 35!
Yesterday was Jeff's 35th birthday! He was adamant that all he wanted was to go out for supper and a movie with the kids and I...so that's what we did!
We were hoping that he would be able to get off work a little early but that didn't pan out so the kids and I headed over to the south side to pick him up when he was finished work.
(I wasn't feeling too hot but thought I would try and tough it out anyway...I ended up thankfully being ok by the time the movie rolled around!)
Jeff's pick for supper was Swiss Chalet for chicken and ribs. I got the 1/4 chicken breast dinner, Madi got mini hamburgers and Cole got chicken wings and perogies....he didn't like the wings too much as he found them a little spicy but Jeff was more than happy to step up to the plate and help him out. The kids each got special drinks and Jeff and I stuck to our usual...you'd kinda wonder whose birthday it REALLY was based on how much fun the kids were having but hey!
After dinner we went over to Cineplex for Jeff's movie choice: Captain America Civil War. We brought the kids with us but they were the only children in the theatre. This made me a little uneasy at first but I thought well, they've seen all the other Avengers movies sooooo....there were a few parts I made Madison turn her head but other wise it was a pretty (older) kid friendly action movie and they really liked it. The big kid did too!
When the movie was finished and Madison had her 3rd bathroom trip of the hour (tiny bladder on this one...) we drove down to the Smythe Street Tim Hortons to participate in Camp Day where the proceeds from all coffee purchases go towards sending underprivileged children to summer camp. My coffee was horrible, but at least it's for a good cause right??? The kids got braided camp bracelets too.
All in all a good evening and a low key birthday which was just what Jeff wanted.
Happy Birthday, Jeffy! We love you!
We were hoping that he would be able to get off work a little early but that didn't pan out so the kids and I headed over to the south side to pick him up when he was finished work.
(I wasn't feeling too hot but thought I would try and tough it out anyway...I ended up thankfully being ok by the time the movie rolled around!)
Jeff's pick for supper was Swiss Chalet for chicken and ribs. I got the 1/4 chicken breast dinner, Madi got mini hamburgers and Cole got chicken wings and perogies....he didn't like the wings too much as he found them a little spicy but Jeff was more than happy to step up to the plate and help him out. The kids each got special drinks and Jeff and I stuck to our usual...you'd kinda wonder whose birthday it REALLY was based on how much fun the kids were having but hey!
After dinner we went over to Cineplex for Jeff's movie choice: Captain America Civil War. We brought the kids with us but they were the only children in the theatre. This made me a little uneasy at first but I thought well, they've seen all the other Avengers movies sooooo....there were a few parts I made Madison turn her head but other wise it was a pretty (older) kid friendly action movie and they really liked it. The big kid did too!
When the movie was finished and Madison had her 3rd bathroom trip of the hour (tiny bladder on this one...) we drove down to the Smythe Street Tim Hortons to participate in Camp Day where the proceeds from all coffee purchases go towards sending underprivileged children to summer camp. My coffee was horrible, but at least it's for a good cause right??? The kids got braided camp bracelets too.
All in all a good evening and a low key birthday which was just what Jeff wanted.
Happy Birthday, Jeffy! We love you!
Monday, May 23, 2016
Kouchibouguac National Park - May 20-23
Camping season has officially begun!
This long weekend we kicked off our 2016 camping season at Kouchibouguac National Park. This park holds a ton of childhood memories for both Jeff and I seeing as the park is about 45 minutes away from our hometown of Miramichi. This was where my grandparents always camped and where we would go to the beach and I spent several girl guide camps here!
The campground was packed and the weather was gorgeous so it made for a fantastic kick off weekend. We stayed in the South Kouchibouguac campground at site 306...great location but only had electric service so it made for a little planning for water conservation and having to use the park facilities for the most part. Not ideal, but we made it work! We were thankful to at least have electricity since the nights did get chilly enough we had to put the heated beds on.
We arrived Friday evening after supper and set up pretty quickly. We broke in the oven and made pizza for the first time ever in the camper...and set the smoke alarm off. Oops! The kids roasted some marshmallows over the fire and we got ourselves all settled in. Danny had the lot right next to us and some of our friends were scattered around the park too so we saw a few friendly faces around.
Saturday we took the kids on a bike ride and scavenger hunt the park was putting on. It was so hot it felt like July so we didn't do more than 6km before taking a lunch break and finishing the further away clues by car. There were a few things we needed to get so we took a drive into Richibucto and found a Tim Horton's before heading back to the awards announcement for the scavenger hunt. We ended up winning a deck of cards and laughed at the poor announcer trying to pronounce our names (apparently McDonnell looks a lot like Mitchell on paper).
Sunday was a little cooler and a little more laid back for us. We lazed around the campsite reading and napping while the kids played an endless game of monopoly before hiking the osprey trail in search of the red Adirondack chairs Parks Canada hides around the national parks in very picturesque locations for visitors to find. Unfortunately we discovered why we had never done this trail before and why it's not one of the more popular ones. It was 5km of rougher trail through the woods hiking with not a whole lot to see and no fun information stops along the way. And...no red chairs. Madi thought the forest was very mysterious and both kids learned a lot about different kinds of trees from their grandfather before we finished up and headed back to camp.
Monday morning we got up a little late and had a big breakfast before making the trek home. Madison fell asleep before we even left the park and Cole was out somewhere between Doaktown and Fredericton. Even the dog is sleeping off her adventures!
All in all it was a wonderful weekend and a great start to the season with awesome weather, great company and a chance to work out a few kinks getting back into the swing of things! Our next adventure keeps us close to home while we check out Mactaquac Provincial Park in June!
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
This long weekend we kicked off our 2016 camping season at Kouchibouguac National Park. This park holds a ton of childhood memories for both Jeff and I seeing as the park is about 45 minutes away from our hometown of Miramichi. This was where my grandparents always camped and where we would go to the beach and I spent several girl guide camps here!
The campground was packed and the weather was gorgeous so it made for a fantastic kick off weekend. We stayed in the South Kouchibouguac campground at site 306...great location but only had electric service so it made for a little planning for water conservation and having to use the park facilities for the most part. Not ideal, but we made it work! We were thankful to at least have electricity since the nights did get chilly enough we had to put the heated beds on.
We arrived Friday evening after supper and set up pretty quickly. We broke in the oven and made pizza for the first time ever in the camper...and set the smoke alarm off. Oops! The kids roasted some marshmallows over the fire and we got ourselves all settled in. Danny had the lot right next to us and some of our friends were scattered around the park too so we saw a few friendly faces around.
Saturday we took the kids on a bike ride and scavenger hunt the park was putting on. It was so hot it felt like July so we didn't do more than 6km before taking a lunch break and finishing the further away clues by car. There were a few things we needed to get so we took a drive into Richibucto and found a Tim Horton's before heading back to the awards announcement for the scavenger hunt. We ended up winning a deck of cards and laughed at the poor announcer trying to pronounce our names (apparently McDonnell looks a lot like Mitchell on paper).
Sunday was a little cooler and a little more laid back for us. We lazed around the campsite reading and napping while the kids played an endless game of monopoly before hiking the osprey trail in search of the red Adirondack chairs Parks Canada hides around the national parks in very picturesque locations for visitors to find. Unfortunately we discovered why we had never done this trail before and why it's not one of the more popular ones. It was 5km of rougher trail through the woods hiking with not a whole lot to see and no fun information stops along the way. And...no red chairs. Madi thought the forest was very mysterious and both kids learned a lot about different kinds of trees from their grandfather before we finished up and headed back to camp.
Monday morning we got up a little late and had a big breakfast before making the trek home. Madison fell asleep before we even left the park and Cole was out somewhere between Doaktown and Fredericton. Even the dog is sleeping off her adventures!
All in all it was a wonderful weekend and a great start to the season with awesome weather, great company and a chance to work out a few kinks getting back into the swing of things! Our next adventure keeps us close to home while we check out Mactaquac Provincial Park in June!
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
Sunday, May 15, 2016
A Miramichi Weekend & Camper Prep
It was a busy, busy weekend for the McDonnells! We travelled to Miramichi to get our camper ready for the season and to celebrate Debb's 30tn and Alex's 1st birthdays.
We were pleased to find that our camper didn't suffer through the winter aside from a little rust on hinges and chains that's normal for every year in winter in Eastern Canada. We aired everything out and took some measurements for some extra storage options and installed some vent covers so we can open the ceiling vents in the rain and not get wet. Lists for packing and groceries were made and the fridge is being chilled right now. We made sure we had enough propane and tested the battery and the brake and turn signal lights. Our little home on wheels is all ready to go in a few more days!
Saturday evening we found ourselves at Ben's Lunchroom downtown for the simplest yet most delicious burgers and fries..a staple in Miramichi and a must do for us every visit home. I was so excited and trying to get the camera put away after Madison was vlogging that I dumped my fries all over the car floor! Cole thought maybe the car was clean enough that we could save some, but I disagreed and decided I would put in a Mommy sacrifice and let Jeff and the kids eat the rest. Lucky for me there were more than enough fries to go around. We had a nice visit with Nana and Love got to visit with Shelby who was less than impressed to have another dog in her house. Love could care less and drank all her water anyway.
Debb's friends were hosting a surprise birthday party for her 30th so we headed over there to wait and surprise her. In true Miramichi fashion we were greeted at the door with drinks, the kids were handed pop and cupcakes and Cole was promptly taught how to play flip cup (and he wasn't half bad!). Debb was taking too long to get over to the house according to Madi and was given a 4 minute time limit to show up and be surprised or she was leaving! Luckily Debb met the deadline and was super happy to see the kids there waiting to surprise her.
Sunday morning I was awakened to an empty bed, a text promise of Tim Horton's coffee and the sound of my dear sister in law being attacked by my children trying to get her out of bed by stealing all her blankets and shooting her with Nerf guns. The poor girl convinced them to give her 10 more minutes and she didn't get one second more before they were at her again but she's a good sport and got up and played with them anyway before putting them to work helping make Alex's birthday cake.
Alex had a lovely little birthday party with all his family, an adorable cake and lots of sweet gifts. I can't wait to see him riding around on the tricycle we got for him! The kids had a blast playing with their cousins and getting a good sugar buzz on before we had to head home in the rain to get ready for another week at work and school.
It's going to be a busy week here getting things ready for our first camping trip of the season on Friday, putting our camper and storage organization ideas into play, meal planning and finding this momma a new bicycle!
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
We were pleased to find that our camper didn't suffer through the winter aside from a little rust on hinges and chains that's normal for every year in winter in Eastern Canada. We aired everything out and took some measurements for some extra storage options and installed some vent covers so we can open the ceiling vents in the rain and not get wet. Lists for packing and groceries were made and the fridge is being chilled right now. We made sure we had enough propane and tested the battery and the brake and turn signal lights. Our little home on wheels is all ready to go in a few more days!
Saturday evening we found ourselves at Ben's Lunchroom downtown for the simplest yet most delicious burgers and fries..a staple in Miramichi and a must do for us every visit home. I was so excited and trying to get the camera put away after Madison was vlogging that I dumped my fries all over the car floor! Cole thought maybe the car was clean enough that we could save some, but I disagreed and decided I would put in a Mommy sacrifice and let Jeff and the kids eat the rest. Lucky for me there were more than enough fries to go around. We had a nice visit with Nana and Love got to visit with Shelby who was less than impressed to have another dog in her house. Love could care less and drank all her water anyway.
Debb's friends were hosting a surprise birthday party for her 30th so we headed over there to wait and surprise her. In true Miramichi fashion we were greeted at the door with drinks, the kids were handed pop and cupcakes and Cole was promptly taught how to play flip cup (and he wasn't half bad!). Debb was taking too long to get over to the house according to Madi and was given a 4 minute time limit to show up and be surprised or she was leaving! Luckily Debb met the deadline and was super happy to see the kids there waiting to surprise her.
Sunday morning I was awakened to an empty bed, a text promise of Tim Horton's coffee and the sound of my dear sister in law being attacked by my children trying to get her out of bed by stealing all her blankets and shooting her with Nerf guns. The poor girl convinced them to give her 10 more minutes and she didn't get one second more before they were at her again but she's a good sport and got up and played with them anyway before putting them to work helping make Alex's birthday cake.
Alex had a lovely little birthday party with all his family, an adorable cake and lots of sweet gifts. I can't wait to see him riding around on the tricycle we got for him! The kids had a blast playing with their cousins and getting a good sugar buzz on before we had to head home in the rain to get ready for another week at work and school.
It's going to be a busy week here getting things ready for our first camping trip of the season on Friday, putting our camper and storage organization ideas into play, meal planning and finding this momma a new bicycle!
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
Thursday, May 12, 2016
It's Camping Season!
It's officially spring and that means the McDonnells are ready and eager to kick off camping season 2016! We have a busy, fun filled season planned with some old favorites and new adventures.
This weekend we are heading to Miramichi where our camper is being stored to get things aired out and ready for our first camping trip of the season next weekend. We have a few storage modifications we want to test out and some plans to make the teeny tiny bathroom feel just a little roomier.
Our season is going to consist of mainly exploring national and provincial parks and the line up includes:
Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick
Fundy National Park, New Brunswick
Mactaquac Provincial Park, New Brunswick
New River Beach Provincial Park, New Brunswick
Anchorage Provincial Park, New Brunswick
Cavendish National Park, PEI
Twin Shores, PEI
Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia
It's going to be a busy, jam packed season and we can't wait to kick it off!
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
This weekend we are heading to Miramichi where our camper is being stored to get things aired out and ready for our first camping trip of the season next weekend. We have a few storage modifications we want to test out and some plans to make the teeny tiny bathroom feel just a little roomier.
Our season is going to consist of mainly exploring national and provincial parks and the line up includes:
Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick
Fundy National Park, New Brunswick
Mactaquac Provincial Park, New Brunswick
New River Beach Provincial Park, New Brunswick
Anchorage Provincial Park, New Brunswick
Cavendish National Park, PEI
Twin Shores, PEI
Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia
It's going to be a busy, jam packed season and we can't wait to kick it off!
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Happy Mothers Day!
Happy Mother's Day!
Mother's Day is the time of year to celebrate the special women in your life...mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, friends, "like a mom to me", fathers who have to play both roles, babysitters....the list goes on and on.
We are fortunate to have all these special people in our lives so here's to you!
My mom is my best friend. She's always been more of a friend than a mom to me and she's always got my back no matter what. I can laugh with her, cry with her, just hang out or fight like cats and dogs but ultimately she's my rock and the one I turn to when something good, bad or in between happens in my life, she supports my crazy ideas and shares my obsession with all things Disney. I honestly don't know what I would do without her.
My Nana has always been like a mom to me with that special twist only a grandmother can provide. She's looked after me when I was home sick from school, she made sure I had the comforts of home when I moved into my first apartment on my own, she and my Grampy took me on many a camping trip and she's always been my biggest support. She's stubborn and sassy and the definition of strength. I think I may have inherited just a little bit of that from her.
My aunt Linda...mom2 for this "rent a brat" was the confidant I needed when I just couldn't talk to my mom about something, the one who introduced me to a wide variety of music and the one who took me on adventures as a child and the yard stick we all measured our height against (haha!).
Not only are we lucky enough to have these three women to love us and support us but we also have Nora Ann...Jeff's aunt who stepped in to provide a mother's presence and support after his mom passed away. She is the rock of the family, the one everyone turns to when they need a little love and support and the woman who is my stand in mother in law when I didn't have the privilege to know my own.
All the aunts on Jeff's side have stepped in to try and fill a little bit of the loss of Jeff's mom. Carmel, Sheila, Valerie, Maureen, Debbie...you are all unique and special women we are so very lucky to have in our lives and we love and appreciate you so much.
My special babysitter as a child did so much more for me growing up than just making sure we were clean and fed and safe...she gave me a second family and a whole lot of amazing childhood memories and experiences. Thank you Karen for loving me like I was your own.
Cole and Madison are so fortunate to have had amazing babysitters who cared for them, comforted them and helped us raise them when we had to be at work. Stay at home moms are awesome, but so are working moms with the help of ladies like Sophie, Tara and Amy. Our kids love you all so much and we appreciate the care you provide to our kids more than you could possibly know.
Not only are we lucky to have all these amazing ladies in our lives but we are also blessed to have guardian angels watching over us...Jeff's mom, Jeff's grandmother and my great grandmother are all up there looking down on us smiling, laughing, tsk tsking and sometimes just shaking their heads I'm sure.
So happy Mother's Day to all of you ladies. We love you and we are so thankful to have you in our lives and our children's lives. Because of you, life is so much sweeter. Enjoy your special day! Xoxox
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
Mother's Day is the time of year to celebrate the special women in your life...mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, friends, "like a mom to me", fathers who have to play both roles, babysitters....the list goes on and on.
We are fortunate to have all these special people in our lives so here's to you!
My mom is my best friend. She's always been more of a friend than a mom to me and she's always got my back no matter what. I can laugh with her, cry with her, just hang out or fight like cats and dogs but ultimately she's my rock and the one I turn to when something good, bad or in between happens in my life, she supports my crazy ideas and shares my obsession with all things Disney. I honestly don't know what I would do without her.
My Nana has always been like a mom to me with that special twist only a grandmother can provide. She's looked after me when I was home sick from school, she made sure I had the comforts of home when I moved into my first apartment on my own, she and my Grampy took me on many a camping trip and she's always been my biggest support. She's stubborn and sassy and the definition of strength. I think I may have inherited just a little bit of that from her.
My aunt Linda...mom2 for this "rent a brat" was the confidant I needed when I just couldn't talk to my mom about something, the one who introduced me to a wide variety of music and the one who took me on adventures as a child and the yard stick we all measured our height against (haha!).
Not only are we lucky enough to have these three women to love us and support us but we also have Nora Ann...Jeff's aunt who stepped in to provide a mother's presence and support after his mom passed away. She is the rock of the family, the one everyone turns to when they need a little love and support and the woman who is my stand in mother in law when I didn't have the privilege to know my own.
All the aunts on Jeff's side have stepped in to try and fill a little bit of the loss of Jeff's mom. Carmel, Sheila, Valerie, Maureen, Debbie...you are all unique and special women we are so very lucky to have in our lives and we love and appreciate you so much.
My special babysitter as a child did so much more for me growing up than just making sure we were clean and fed and safe...she gave me a second family and a whole lot of amazing childhood memories and experiences. Thank you Karen for loving me like I was your own.
Cole and Madison are so fortunate to have had amazing babysitters who cared for them, comforted them and helped us raise them when we had to be at work. Stay at home moms are awesome, but so are working moms with the help of ladies like Sophie, Tara and Amy. Our kids love you all so much and we appreciate the care you provide to our kids more than you could possibly know.
Not only are we lucky to have all these amazing ladies in our lives but we are also blessed to have guardian angels watching over us...Jeff's mom, Jeff's grandmother and my great grandmother are all up there looking down on us smiling, laughing, tsk tsking and sometimes just shaking their heads I'm sure.
So happy Mother's Day to all of you ladies. We love you and we are so thankful to have you in our lives and our children's lives. Because of you, life is so much sweeter. Enjoy your special day! Xoxox
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
Friday, May 6, 2016
Kids Can Cook!
The cook in our house certainly isn't me...but every now and again I get it in my head that I probably should especially when I'm on my days off. But...ya know, being lazy sometimes wins out. It's a work in progress. Sometimes there's some blunders that make my husband laugh and sometimes I do something awesome and delicious. Sometimes we just make sure it's edible.
Today was one of those days where being lazy lost and I actually had an idea what I wanted to make for supper (meal planning! Gotta get on board with that) and Cole wanted to help. He's 11 so I figure he's old enough to be trusted with some chopping under adult supervision so we made supper together.
No fingers were lost in the making of this photo
On the menu tonight we have roast turkey breast seasoned with sage, rosemary, garlic and salt and pepper, carrots a la Cole and Cole's favorite...Stove Top stuffing. I swear this kid can eat a whole box himself!
Cole was excited to be helping out in the kitchen and asked if he can do it more often. Oddly enough he is much more enthusiastic about this task than cleaning his room. Go figure...
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
Thursday, May 5, 2016
May the 4th - Star Wars Day
It's no secret that the force is strong with this family. We love Star Wars! May the 4th is one of Jeff's favourite days and we make it a point to watch at least one Star Wars movie on this day. The kids are very well versed in the old vs the new movies and which they are supposed to enjoy best but by far their favourite is The Force Awakens.
I like this one because it show cases a strong female lead in Rey where the others focus more on Luke and Han Solo. Sure Leia is in there but she's never the central focus like Rey is. Gotta show those boys that girls are just as tough! And really, who doesn't love BB-8! That thumbs up scene cracks me up every time!
This year Star Wars day also fell on McHappy Day which we also partake in. $1 from select items from McDonald's menu goes towards local Pediatrics units. Yes, we are one of "those families" that lets our children eat McDonald's and no, we don't feel one lick bad about it. Life is all about balance, is it not? And frankly, sometimes it's just plain old easy to swing through a drive through between activity drop offs or on the drive to Grampy's.
We had a nice family movie night and highly recommend exposing your kids to the wonders of Star Wars...it's really something all ages can enjoy together and makes for a fun challenge to try and watch all 7 especially on these rainy, gloomy days.
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
I like this one because it show cases a strong female lead in Rey where the others focus more on Luke and Han Solo. Sure Leia is in there but she's never the central focus like Rey is. Gotta show those boys that girls are just as tough! And really, who doesn't love BB-8! That thumbs up scene cracks me up every time!
This year Star Wars day also fell on McHappy Day which we also partake in. $1 from select items from McDonald's menu goes towards local Pediatrics units. Yes, we are one of "those families" that lets our children eat McDonald's and no, we don't feel one lick bad about it. Life is all about balance, is it not? And frankly, sometimes it's just plain old easy to swing through a drive through between activity drop offs or on the drive to Grampy's.
We had a nice family movie night and highly recommend exposing your kids to the wonders of Star Wars...it's really something all ages can enjoy together and makes for a fun challenge to try and watch all 7 especially on these rainy, gloomy days.
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Meet the McDonnells!
Welcome to our family blog! If you're here you either stumbled upon us via social media or you already know us and are here to keep up with what we are up to (hi mom!). If you're the former, welcome! And here's a little bit about us...
We are a family of 4 from a small town on Canada's east coast in Fredericton New Brunswick. We love to travel with our kids and explore and try new things. Our favourite places to visit together are Walt Disney World, Great Wolf Lodge and any campground that hosts some beautiful things to see and fun things to do. We like to watch Disney movies, go geocaching and generally just spend time together. We love long road trips and some of our fondest memories come from driving along together or being cozied up in our camper. We love to laugh and sometimes find ourselves in some rather humorous scenarios!
So who is a part of this fun loving family you ask? Well here's the line up of our key players:
The Mom - Cindy is the mom and generally the instigator of these adventures. She's a busy lady who works full time as a nurse and firmly believes that quality family time is more important than quantity. She lives by the rule of make the most of the time you have! She loves Lush and reading and is on a journey for weight loss and improved health to set an example for her kids. She's a mediocre cook, not too shabby of a crafter (especially loves to knit), NOT a morning person and an avid planner and list maker always seeking out new and fun dreams to follow. Spoiler alert! She's also who will be writing this blog.
The Dad - Jeff is the dad, the human taxi cab, the killer of bugs, the reacher of high things, the problem solver and the goof ball. He's an engineer who works full time as well and is always game for Cindy's crazy plans and even starts some of his own. He loves all things Disney, Star Wars and Indiana Jones related (watch for him in 'the hat'), an avid biker (bicycle, not Harleys!) and has the absolute best laugh there is. He's the cook, the fixer upper and the one who keeps everything in balance.
The Son - Cole is the first born McDonnell child. He's an animal lover, Nerf gun collector and video game pro. He loves all things furry and techy. He's an excellent swimmer with a big heart and a kind soul always concerned about the well being of everyone around him. He's also the goof ball, a spitting image of his father and the best big brother any kid could ask for.
The Daughter - Madison (Madi for short) is the second born McDonnell child. She's a dreamer and an artist and the definition of a happy go lucky kid. She loves her kitty and her stuffed animals and anything she can create something with. She loves her art classes and going to Brownies or running around outside with her many friends. She's our big hearted, loud little girl and like her mom, also not a morning person which makes Jeff and Cole just shake their heads.
The Dog - Love is her name and being crazy is her game! Last but not least our furry friend is usually along for the ride in our adventures. Love is a 7 year old yellow lab mix who hasn't quite figured out she's a middle aged dog and is still very much a puppy at heart. She loves everyone and everything (hence the name) and has been a part of our family since she was a pup. She loves going for walks on any terrain and especially loves being in any kind of water.
Thanks for joining us!
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
We are a family of 4 from a small town on Canada's east coast in Fredericton New Brunswick. We love to travel with our kids and explore and try new things. Our favourite places to visit together are Walt Disney World, Great Wolf Lodge and any campground that hosts some beautiful things to see and fun things to do. We like to watch Disney movies, go geocaching and generally just spend time together. We love long road trips and some of our fondest memories come from driving along together or being cozied up in our camper. We love to laugh and sometimes find ourselves in some rather humorous scenarios!
So who is a part of this fun loving family you ask? Well here's the line up of our key players:
The Mom - Cindy is the mom and generally the instigator of these adventures. She's a busy lady who works full time as a nurse and firmly believes that quality family time is more important than quantity. She lives by the rule of make the most of the time you have! She loves Lush and reading and is on a journey for weight loss and improved health to set an example for her kids. She's a mediocre cook, not too shabby of a crafter (especially loves to knit), NOT a morning person and an avid planner and list maker always seeking out new and fun dreams to follow. Spoiler alert! She's also who will be writing this blog.
The Dad - Jeff is the dad, the human taxi cab, the killer of bugs, the reacher of high things, the problem solver and the goof ball. He's an engineer who works full time as well and is always game for Cindy's crazy plans and even starts some of his own. He loves all things Disney, Star Wars and Indiana Jones related (watch for him in 'the hat'), an avid biker (bicycle, not Harleys!) and has the absolute best laugh there is. He's the cook, the fixer upper and the one who keeps everything in balance.
The Son - Cole is the first born McDonnell child. He's an animal lover, Nerf gun collector and video game pro. He loves all things furry and techy. He's an excellent swimmer with a big heart and a kind soul always concerned about the well being of everyone around him. He's also the goof ball, a spitting image of his father and the best big brother any kid could ask for.
The Daughter - Madison (Madi for short) is the second born McDonnell child. She's a dreamer and an artist and the definition of a happy go lucky kid. She loves her kitty and her stuffed animals and anything she can create something with. She loves her art classes and going to Brownies or running around outside with her many friends. She's our big hearted, loud little girl and like her mom, also not a morning person which makes Jeff and Cole just shake their heads.
The Dog - Love is her name and being crazy is her game! Last but not least our furry friend is usually along for the ride in our adventures. Love is a 7 year old yellow lab mix who hasn't quite figured out she's a middle aged dog and is still very much a puppy at heart. She loves everyone and everything (hence the name) and has been a part of our family since she was a pup. She loves going for walks on any terrain and especially loves being in any kind of water.
Thanks for joining us!
Adventure is out there!
-The McDonnells
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