Centre of attention

Before my daughter's fourth birthday a couple of weeks ago we started talking about what kind of party she wanted to have and she declared that she wanted the exact same party she had last year – An hour of play at the Ottawa Gymnastics Centre followed by time in their party room. I booked it immediately, because it's a great place to have a party. The kids get an hour with an instructor in a completely padded room jumping on trampolines, swinging on rings and ropes, climbing and getting worn out by all the activities.

Both years we had a couple of kids who were a bit nervous and wanted a parent with them and the instructor didn't have any problem with having them out on the floor.

Then an hour in the party room to have snacks and cake, with plates, cups and cutlery provided.

If she asks for the same thing next year, I will have no hesitation to do it again!

A little running around

I'm enamoured with the new Richcraft Community Centre in Kanata. It's not too far a drive from our home in Stittsville and the pool is nice and warm. I signed my daughter up for swimming lessons there and we discovered that right as her lessons end there is open gym time for kids up to 6 years. Now that's our plan for Tuesdays – swimming lessons followed by open gym time. The open gym is $2.25 for us but free for members, and well worth the cost for an hour of running around, playing with balls and ribbons and everything else the staff pulls out for fun and games.

Richcraft is not the only community centre to offer the open gym time, you can check the city website to see when your local community centre has some time for play.

We're going to be inviting some friends for next week!

Family Day Roundup

Not sure what to do on Family Day Weekend? If you're like us, you haven't planned anything yet and are looking for ideas! Check out some of these great activities in and around Ottawa

1) Children's Wish FUNGANZA - Monday the 17th

2) NAC English Theatre Family Day - Monday the 17th

3) Vanier Winter Carnival - Saturday the 15th

4) Last weekend of Winterlude!

5) Valentine's Party at the Humane Society - Saturday the 15th

6) Free Pancake Breakfast (Monday the 17th) with Phil McNeely: 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. at 1825 St. Joseph Blvd, Community Pentecostal Church. A magician will be in attendance!

7) Portobello South Winter Family Fun Day (Monday the 17th) from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. at Portobello Park in Orleans. Free horse-drawn sleigh rides, snow games and hot chocolate! Bring your skates!

Did I miss anything?

A Poem for Ty

I met Rachel online through a local Facebook group. Her posts are always touching, and often hilarious. I convinced her to publish something here at Kids in the Capital. This is a poem she wrote for her son...get the kleenex!

A Poem for Ty, With Love from your Mummy

Make time for me mummy Slow down your pace You know what I need Life isn't a race

Let me feel your touch Breathe in your scent Let me lay with you The way babies were meant

Let me run my hands Up and down your arm Let me snuggle and cuddle Safe from all harm

Make time for me mummy I'm not little for long Take me for walks Sing me a song

Let me be carefree Let me set the pace Let's sit here for a while Let me memorize your face

Make time for me mummy I don't need money or stuff Make time for me mummy Your love is enough

In a time when the world Is running around Make time for me mummy The time can be found

We may have less in terms of material things But you'll soon see what joy The time alone with me brings

Painting and laughing Giggles, a book This is how My childhood should look

I won't remember the house The nice cars or eating out But I'll remember the time spent Of that there's no doubt

So make time for me mummy Because when I get old The memories we're making I'll cherish like gold

Rachel Gill is a local Ottawa photographer and mother to 3 year old Ty. For examples of her work or to contact Rachel please visit her Facebook page  or email her at rachcameron@hotmail.com

Bal de neige

I grew up in Ottawa, I have the requisite pictures of little kid me being pushed around the canal on a sled, I've eaten a fair number of Beavertails in my life and I have fond memories of being privileged enough to grow up walking distance from the canal. But the fact is that I haven't been to Winterlude in years, except for a very short journey with the stroller a few years ago – while putting on my new skates I realized that I had not in fact skated in over a decade. When the kid had a day off school and the weather was forecasted to be just about perfect, the kid and I made the trek to Jacques Cartier Park to see what Winterlude looks like these days.

How was it? In the words of the kid: "Awesome."

We walked through the gate and she saw the ice covered slides and immediately was ready to go. We had barely come to a stop in our inner-tube at the bottom of a hill when she asked to go again.

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(The guy they had at the top pulling those tubes down was awesome, truly, and really seemed to be enjoying himself).

A combination of fresh air, exercise, fun and tasty treats made it a great day.