Out and About

Since we are in the city for a limited time we've been enjoying walking around to see the nearby sites. That and the parking garage is super tight and our new car is basically a tank so I'm terrified to drive it in and out.

We found a local playground and Will thoroughly enjoyed his first ride in a swing.

Sitting outside the NGA at a hot dog cafe.

Ottawa also has its own Notre Dame.

Jack is currently very into coins-both monetary and awards. So we stopped at the Canadian Mint to see what sort of coins they had. Below were my favorites.

Ben Coin

Jack Coin

Dino John Coin

Dino Ashley Coin

Another Moose sighting. They are everywhere!

Mounty Moose

On another occasion we went to Parliament to check out the changing of the guard ceremony. The boys thought it was Big Ben at first. We didn't stay long as it ended up being so hot and crowded. And then the cannons started going off. It was so loud we decided to leave, which ended up being the best decision as the baby got hungry not 10 minutes after we left.

In front of Parliament.

A train ride through Byward Market. Not pictured: John enjoying a drink in the shade with Will.

We have just over 1 week left before we say goodbye to city life and move into our rental in the suburbs. 

Ben gets a Bump

I think it was our third day in Ottawa. We had gone out for some supplies and were splitting up- John was going to take the boys back to the hotel and I was going to pick up Chipotle for everyone. I made it back to the hotel just a few minutes after the boys. From the hallway I could hear screams, which is pretty much a constant in our house. I figured the boys were wrestling but as I got closer I could tell it was worse. I heard Ben crying which again isn’t unheard of because he often screams when he’s hurt in the slightest or in trouble. Of course I didn’t have my key so I was knocking and then banging on the door as no one answered and the screams continued. Finally Jack opened the door. I walked in to find the baby crying on the floor and Ben lying in the hallway while John applied a bloodstained towel to his head. What I thought was maybe just a small cut turned out to be a good sized gash. Poor Ben had been playing with a balloon, rolling on it and somehow managed to roll right into the edge of a shelf. We decided to call 911 and soon the paramedics arrived. Luckily Ben was still conscious, just a bit gray from the trauma. He and John geared up for Ben’s second ambulance ride in his 2 years of life.
John probably has much more to add and certainly a more traumatic experience as he was there when it happened. But it seems the hospital was fine, the paramedics reassuring. They had to irrigate the wound which required Ben to be swaddled in order to hold him down. After that it was glued and taped. And then he was running around again and his normal self. Apparently it’s hard to keep a 2 year old down.   In about a week we won’t have to worry about it too much but for now we’re trying to keep him from running around and getting injured again. It seems Ben has inherited my clumsy nature coupled with John’s above average head size- not a great combination. It’s a good thing Harry Potter is popular and that chicks dig scars.

The scene I walked in on

Bandaged up at the hospital

Taking it easy the next day

We've Arrived!

After quite a few delays we have finally arrived in the Great North. We are living it up in a hotel in the city while our rental gets a few things fixed. We managed to snag a house before we even moved which is amazing, but more about the house later.

While John gets adjusted to being back at work the boys and I have been doing some exploring. It's nice to be back in a walkable area, but it's definitely not the same as Cheltenham. It's a much larger city and much more diverse. Still, it has lots to offer. We are staying in a hotel called, Les Suites. So naturally, Jack asked if it smelled good and if it had lots of sweets. Thank goodness there was a small box of chocolates to welcome us otherwise he would have been quite disappointed.

Our first few days have been full of logistics- calling schools, seeing the house, meeting the landlord, trying to find a new dentist, trying to find a new doctor, and numerous appointments at the embassy. Amidst the endless tasks we've managed to have some fun as well.

Playing with a Nintendo Switch at the nearby mall

Exploring the local parks

First trip to IKEA

Moose sighting!

Ice cream

Our first few days have included several encounters with Maman, the giant spider sculpture outside the National Gallery of Art.

Hotel living isn't always easy with 3 active boys, but it's also never boring.

Ben & Will