Wanderlight Alpaca Experience - Kate's Birthday Part One

What better way to celebrate Kate's upcoming 14th birthday, than go to a farm and take an alpaca for a walk?! Ken's internet searches prove fruitful and this experience was no exception.

We travelled to Lakefield which is just north and east of Peterborough. The forecast was calling for rain, but thankfully the rain held off for most of our adventure. We met Katie (Jackson) who owns and operates the experience from her parent's farm and we met the alpacas!

It was amusing watching the alpacas eating hay and hanging out in their barn. She introduced them to us, and told us a little about them. 

 

Ken picked Joker.

Kate picked Q (Quiet Storm)

Alice picked Cartwright.

Fiona picked Puck.

And I picked Heaven.

We were each given a bag of alpaca food and off we went.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their alpaca time, even if Fiona was a bit grossed out after getting the alpaca food all over her hand.

After the delightful walk we headed to Dairy Queen for Kate's lunch of choice - blizzards and french fries. And then it was back home. Happy Birthday Kate - Part One!

A Bakery Adventure

I had been craving a gluten free muffin for a little while, and when our plans changed, I had a free afternoon and with Ken's encouragement, Fiona and I were off for an adventure.

Buddha Belly Bakery in Newcastle makes yummy cookies, muffins and other treats. Our first stop was the library in Ajax to pick up a Dork Diary book for Fiona, but then we were off across the 401 for points east. Fiona was a good sport considering that she didn't quite understand that she was going to Newcastle which is about a half an hour.

We popped into the Bakery and I picked up two muffins, four cookies and a dairy free hot chocolate - yay! Then we popped into Tim Horton's for a treat for Fiona, and then we headed south to the lake. I've been to the bakery a few times, but we never went down to the lake, until today.

Just south of Newcastle is the historic village of Bond Head. There was a little marina, and a cute little beach covered in ice, snow and geese.

It was a quick little adventure with my Fiona. I love getting to hang out with them one on one which I don't do often enough, but cherish when I get the chance!

Fiona Climbs!

This afternoon, Ken took Fiona to redeem her climbing gift certificate. It was an exercise in patience for Ken and pushing yourself for Fiona. Fiona loves to climb, but she gets afraid. She wants to go up high, but then freaks out. She kept climbing up a short ways, about five feet, and then chickening out and going back down. Finally after much cajoling and a promise of Mr. Puffs ( a kind of donut hole), she climbed about 12 feet up the wall.

Hair Cuts!

My visit to John Lanzi was for grade 8 grad in 2008. I've never enjoyed having my hair cut more. He is so good at what he does. This summer I took Kate to see him and when she asked to get her haircut over the Christmas break, she wanted to go see him again. So off we went.

Before...

After! Look at how happy she is! So cute!

I forgot to take a before shot, so this is my before...

And here's the after. So sleek, so lovely!

McCartney Family Christmas 2022

This year it was New Year's Christmas. It was supposed to be Boxing Day Christmas but the weather didn't cooperate. I was actually really happy that it had to be rescheduled. We had been going, going, going, and I wasn't looking forward to having plans on Boxing Day after having plans every day for a few weeks in a row. 

The girls and I went to church, Ken didn't quite budget enough time for food prep on New Year's Eve/Day, so he watched church online at home and finished up and then came back to pick us up. Church today was exciting for Alice - she went to Sunday School class for the first time, and had a temple recommend interview!

Another blessing of today, the roads were empty and the weather was fantastic for traveling. We got to Port Colborne at 3:00 and we were the last to arrive. I didn't take very many pictures. But I took a few. It was us, Ken and Christine, Lisa's Family, and Laura's Family and of course Bonnie.

I think we all had fun, everyone seemed to enjoy chatting. It was a relaxed hang out with family affair, and that was nice. I can't remember exactly what time we left. But the roads were pretty empty on the way home too. It was such a relaxing day to travel to the Niagara area, and for that I was very thankful! Ken and I didn't open our presents from Chris until we got home. I was gifted these insane piggy socks! I think they're kind of like slipper socks. So fun! Merry Christmas McCartney Family!