Capital Kids and Car Shows

By Kamerine Have a kid who loves cars? You're in luck: Ottawa hosts two car shows every spring. My lucky little guy got to go to both this year!

The first was the Ottawa Gatineau International Auto Show downtown. We had planned a family outing but were derailed when my daughter got sick in the car on the way there. I dropped of my 3.5 year old son and my husband and took my sickie home.

The boys had a great time exploring at the car show but the highlight for my son was actually the bus ride home. It was his first time on a city bus and he loved it.

The show itself lasts from Thursday to Sunday and has special events like a cruise night, family day and fun day. So many cars to look at including concept cars which are always so sleek.

The second show was the Ottawa Classic and Custom Car Show at the new Ernst and Young Center. This time the whole family made it. This show is smaller but has some really interesting custom cars with funky displays.

The big highlight were the Batmobiles, two of them, and a Batman statue that the kids loved. I loved seeing all the little kids dressed up like Batman. Coming in a close second was being able to sit in a police car and multiple race cars.

While not a typical outing, the car shows were adventures for my little family. We will definitely be back next year.

If you went I would love to hear what you thought!

Kamerine is mom to 3 year old Little J and 1 year old Baby K.  She documents her life with two toddlers, a husband and a cat at followk.blogspot.ca.

Giveaway Closed: Go Green with terra20

While some of you (lots of you, hopefully) have already heard of Canada’s first eco-friendly department store, we’re hoping that in the very near future many more will recognize the name terra20 and will want to experience the strength of their commitment to both the consumer and the environment.

These days, many of us are trying to live a bit more mindfully and shop a little greener. That means thinking about where the products we use come from, how they impact the environment and whether the products support fair trade initiatives by sourcing products made with fair trade ingredients. Living mindfully means thinking about where to shop and how and what to buy in order to leave the world in a bit better shape for our children and grandchildren. That’s where terra20 comes in.

Upon entering their store, you’ll be amazed by their warm and welcoming layout, with easy to understand logos and labels on all of their products to let you know what you are getting from an item. But even more than that, you’ll be wowed by their friendly and knowledgeable staff who are more than willing to answer any question you may have, no matter how basic it is.  You can chat with their resident eco-parenting blogger, stay for in-store demonstrations and take a visit to their huge eco-bar.  In fact, we’re so sure that your experience will be a great one that the folks at terra20 are giving two lucky Kids in the Capital readers a $50 gift card to help them start making more eco-friendly choices in their daily lives.

Giveaway Guidelines

In order for your entry to qualify you must answer the following questions in the comments below:

• Have you ever experienced terra20? If yes, what brought you into the store?
• If you haven't visited terra20 yet, why not and what would encourage you to do so?

One entry per household please. We want lots of families to have the opportunity to win. The winner must pick up the gift card at terra20 in a timely fashion. If it’s not picked up within 14 days we will draw again and choose a new winner.  The winner will be drawn randomly on Friday, May 30th, 2013

Saluting the Sun and Climbing the Walls

  A little while ago my daughter saw me doing yoga at home. I have a DVD that I pop in occasionally and she was very interested in what I was doing. The next day we looked up some videos online, but I wanted to take her to a real class and I got the opportunity when my friend Amanda told me about a Little Lotus Yoga parent and preschool class at a new location in New Edinburgh.

When I asked her if she wanted to go she got very, very excited and made sure to ask when it was happening.

When it was finally time to leave the house she wanted to carry the yoga mat.

We got there early and settled in as the other moms and kids arrived. The instructor, Nicole was excellent with all the kids. I was worried that my daughter wouldn't be able to stay still for the class, but quickly found out it didn't matter, the kids were allowed to roam and invited to talk. The first portion of the class when we played a game called Huckle Buckle got my daughter into the class. She had been shyly hanging on to me, but when we were told to get ourselves belly to belly I took the opportunity to pick her up by her feet and hold her upside-down to do it.

After that, when she was given the opportunity to be a butterfly, a spider on the wall and a starfish on my back she went for it.

Yoga is something that I need to do for myself more, and it was wonderful to be able to do it together. It didn't have quite the same calming effect, but I like to think it's something we'll grow into together.

Closed: The Ottawa International Children's Festival Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed

The Ottawa International Children’s Festival is an annual 5 day celebration of the best in live performing arts for children ages 4 to 15. For over 25 years, the OICF has been attracting award-winning artists from around the globe. THe OICF is made up of free and charged events for all children. Events, shows and activities take place both indoors and out, so it goes on despite the weather! As usual, the lineup this year looks fabulous. Some of the scheduled shows, programs and events taking place in the 2013 festival are:

• A Sonatina
• Where the Wild Things Are
• Medicine Bear
• Ghosts and Ladders
• Family Games Pavillion
• Kromatik
• Long and McQuade Instrument Petting Zoo

The Festival is also jam-packed with tons activities and attractions for the whole family, complete with an interactive play-space designed by YOWlab, the 100 Watt Earth Stage, the Baobab Community West African hand drum workshop, circus workshops and so much more! And don’t even get me started on the face painting. When we went a few years ago, the face painting was not only amazing, it was a truly interactive experience as well!

The Festival runs from May 28-June 2 at LeBreton Flats Park and the Canadian War Museum. Showtimes vary so be sure to check out their website for more information.

Giveaway Details:

We’re so excited about the Ottawa International Children’s Festival that we’re offering tickets to one awesome show at the festival.  In addition to the show, you will have access to all the other activities and programming.  To enter just leave a comment below telling us you’re interested and what you’re looking forward to doing.  Giveaway ends May 24th at 8pm.

MWF Seeking New Friends

I am not good at making friends. Before Twitter I just had a small group of friends, but connecting online has brought me into a whole community. The problem is that the majority of the community I built as a mother lives across the city from me. (Stittsville–Orleans is not always doable, and once the kid starts school we're screwed).

It was easier when we lived a bit less west, but a year ago we moved into Stittsville, which makes even meeting centrally difficult when there pick-ups and drop-offs to manage as well.

And so I am trying to find a way to make friends, and find friends for my daughter and I feel like a stalker at the park.

Any time the kid talks to another child or seems to get along with them I have to try to find out a name, push myself out of my comfort zone and try to talk to the mother, and I've gotten friendly with a couple of parents, but then it's time to leave and I just can't seem to, as they say, close the deal.

After gymnastics last weekend my daughter ended up playing with another little girl while I talked to her mom. The girl is in the same class and we had exchanged pleasantries waiting for them to finish over the three classes they've had so far. It was thrilling to see my daughter play so nicely with someone, making up games, building sand castles and swinging. Behind me my husband kept hissing "Get her number!" – A West end play date! A friend!

In the end I suggested that next week my kid could bring her sand toys and maybe they could play again, hoping to build up a relationship and move things forward.

Meanwhile, my daughter invited the girl over to our house to play on her play structure.

So how do you do it? How do you 'date' friends for your children?

Amy is mom to two year old Maggie and a 6 year old schnauzer named Henry. You can read her blog at amyboughner.ca where she writes about motherhood and anything else that’s on her mind. She also shares a blog with her husband at boughner.ca where they talk together about parenting a daughter.