Emily Cordonier

Between our family moving, driving out west in an epic road trip, moving in and getting ready for a new school year, I have found it really difficult to find the time to sit down and write. I also realized as we got in the car to start our cross Canada road trip that we were not prepared for the drive. After a rough start, Ellie received the Most Improved Traveller award on day 2 as she napped like a champ and was just overall a joy in the car despite how long we drove for. The kids are about to start their new school, we are getting to know our new neighbourhood, Leo is getting comfortable working in a new hospital and most importantly we have been soaking up the time with our family here on the west coast.

It looks like most of the local farms will be going ahead with u-pick strawberries, just be prepared that there will be some restrictions in place. Most of the local farms expect to open for strawberries by this upcoming weekend of June 20-21, but check their websites/facebook pages before going to be sure they are indeed open. Located in the east end of Ottawa, Proulx is a year round farm with a sugar bush and pumpkin patch. They expect u-pick strawberries to begin this weekend June 20-21 but be sure to check their website/social media before going.

I went out of my way to try new things, visit new places, hike new trails and especially experience those quintessential Ottawa elements that were so foreign to a Vancouverite like me (sugar shacks and skating on the canal to name a few!). While I always knew my husband’s medical residency would eventually end (even when it felt like it never would), and that he would look for a job back out West, I certainly never foresaw our final months in Ottawa playing out like this. While the world is certainly not ending, my blog is and it feels like I will not get to close it out in the way I would have wanted. every Christmas, the Northern Lights show projected agains Parliament, the coffee and play area for kids at Wild Child Coffee, the great wading pools in the city parks, visiting a sugar bush, hiking in Gatineau Park, grabbing an ice cream cone at the Beachconers and then working off that ice cream at my favourite Mommy Bootcamps, exploring all of the amazing museums the capital has to offer…

But I love birthdays and I love celebrating my kids, so I have tried my best to make these days extra special for them even though it has meant having to cancel planned birthday parties with their friends. The rest of Ellie’s first birthday (in between naps) was spent with dance parties, a few small gifts (I did a curbside pick-up with Indigo for some books and bath toys) and her first taste of cake! I will say, it is important to try and limit the number of FaceTime chats on the actual day, or instead try to arrange a group virtual hangout, otherwise you can spend all day long answering the phone and trying to hold a screen up for relatives to chat (and that gets to be a bit much). In all, celebrating these covid-time birthdays has actually been a great reminder that children don’t need too much to have a great day.