The Little Paper

• Saturday
• Saturday & Sunday
• Sunday

Recently, I was starting to feel like a kind of satellite of love, orbiting my daughters with purse and pockets full of tissues, snacks, lip balm and sippys; delivering explanations, juice, stories, hugs, squabble mediation, undivided attention and under-doggies with an immediacy the patrons of a five star hotel would envy.

Frankly, it was becoming a bit of a thankless and exhausting mobius loop. I mean, wait a second. I’m supposed to be in charge here. So why was I doing everything but salaaming as I backed out of the living room with their babybel wrappers in my hand?

Well it finally looks and feels like winter out there and the girls are clambouring to go sledding but I'm afraid I'll be inside all weekend finishing up the March Edition of The Little Paper. We've got March Break Events, Camps and a special Library section, Easter activities and the full Parks & Rec Summer Camp listing as well. (Registration is just a couple of weeks away - don't worry, we'll send a reminder).

Speaking of camps and registrations, the beloved Susan Blersh of Garrison Creek Art Education Centre is running a week of Travel the World programming for those of you with an extra week of March Break. I think there are a couple of spaces left as of this afternoon so, if you are interested, please let her know. Both my girls have thoroughly enjoyed the programming and with Leah Salomaa in residence  – all the better. 

Also, I'd like to say thank you to all the moms and dads who wrote to us this week. We were really, really chuffed to hear from you.  We'll have Max and Ruby tickets to give away next week so stay with us! And if you haven't been to the new website yet, please do! – Vicki

• Saturday
• Saturday & Sunday
• Sunday

 The new website is up and running with a ton of new content: tweets, tips, props and the latest blog entry tomorrow. We've archived the Shameless Recommendations and made it a lot easier to find and use the guides. Do you twitter? We've been sending out an insider tip everyday and would love to have you follow along. Totsapalooza Alert, Tipsheet & more...

Family Day, Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year! Oh, My!
February is a great month to do-it-up family style. Just look at the line-up… a long weekend, cards, chocolates and cookies and unconditional mama-love. Throw a giant paper dragon or two, board games, skiing, sledding and skating into a month custom-made for coziness, comfort food, reflection, relaxation and you’ll probably find yourselves discovering what you’re really into as tribe. How does your family roll?

Here’s a sampling of what we’ve found inspiring, motivating and interesting this month…

We are looking forward to the launch of the new Little Paper website tomorrow morning and we hope you'll come visit! In the meantime, this is one weekend when you won't be able to say there's nothing going on. Checkout our comprehensive Family Day Guide on the website or Christina's Top Picks below. We're very sorry that we'll have to miss our friends Ryan and Lisa from The Centre For Art and Soul on Monday when they appear at The Great Hall with Sho, Mo and the Monkey Bunch . My Pip has been taking drama classes at the centre this winter and loving it so we're very happy they'll be joining us at Totsapalooza on the 21st. Tix are available online and we hope to see you there too! 

• Saturday
• Saturday & Sunday
• Saturday, Sunday & Monday
• Sunday
• Sunday & Monday
• Monday

I never liked Valentine's Day much as a grown up but, now that there are littles in the mix, I actually like it a great deal. Baking sugar cookies, scattering pink and red jellybeans on the breakfast table, making and receiving valentines with my girls and, more recently, helping my elder daughter navigate grade school be-mine-etiquette all combine to make it a pretty lovely little mid-winter holiday.

Balance is a constant parenting quest, and blessed are the few who swing it on a consistent basis. So here’s hoping 2010 brings you not only the oft wished-for prosperity, health and happiness, but also fewer harried mornings, longer bouts of laughter and more moments of bliss. We’ve tracked down some resolution-worthy endeavors to launch you into a simpler, more mindful decade.

Once again, this December, The Little Paper has offered local business owners the opportunity to tell you about their products and services in our regular Celebrate the Street feature. While this is in no way a comprehensive list, it is an excellent round up of neighbourhood businesses that deserve your support this season. And it’s a great place to get started exploring and supporting the little cities within our vast metropolis.