Havana is an incredible city.  Our day there was the highlight of this trip.  The architecture; restored in the touristy areas and crumbling into disrepair everywhere else.The old cars, still running due to Cuban ingenuity.The street art - unbelievable.The nightlife (apparently - we didn't … [Read more...]

Well we had an amazing time.  This was our first family vacation with all six of us and it was grand.  Everyone loved the resort and our excursions.We went to Havana (which will be a separate post, so much to see).We swam with dolphins - I still have mixed feelings about that as they are … [Read more...]

Ever since I became a teacher I've been thinking about how children behave.  One theory is like Pavlo's dog, that rewards and punishment drive our behaviour.We learn in Teacher's College that classroom management is partially about a system of rewards and punishment. Of course the first job … [Read more...]

To Cuba.  Here are some of the places we are planning to go.First up is our hotel, The Blau Varadero.  Highly recommended by Sara.  We stayed at the Blau Colonial in Cayo Coco last year and loved it.There are so many excursions to do we are having a hard time deciding what to do. … [Read more...]

And it wasn't even Christmas Day yet!  I wish I had a recording device built into my body so I could record my girls in an instant.  They say the cutest and the funniest things.  Really.  But by the time I go and get my phone or camera to record them, the conversation is over. … [Read more...]

Tonight is the Winter Solstice, the day the sun stands still.  Solstice comes from latin, read the etymology here.  (How geeky is it that I LOVE etymology and did a happy dance when I found the etymology online dictionary).Tonight we celebrated the Winter Solstice with other families in … [Read more...]

This will be the first Christmas since Dad died.To be honest he hasn't been present at Christmas for years.  Oh, he usually showed up, (but not always-sometimes a binge prevented him from coming) but he wasn't present.  His alcoholism had progressed too far.So, I probably won't miss him … [Read more...]

...they'll get this year is life.This post is inspired by Rachael's post "Do You Care?" and tonight's final number on Glee.Remember this from 1984?  I was so inspired by it when I was 14.  I still am. I do what I can to help in small ways.  Donate to the local food bank.  Make … [Read more...]

We did not vaccinate our children.  Whew.  That's hard to say.We did not make the decision lightly.  I did a lot of research.  I'm not saying my interpretation is the only one, or that it's correct, but we made our decision based on research that I did.I was very uncomfortable … [Read more...]