General June and July update

I know, I know, I’m way behind in giving you all an update. At least I managed to put pictures up a few weeks ago. Now here’s what happened in June and July.

Visit with cousins

On June 8, Ali, Billy, Theodore and Julian arrived for a week’s visit. They stayed with my parents in Brampton and we spent almost every day with them. Julian – who was just 4 months old at the time – is just adorable and Austin and Alex loved playing with Teddy every day.  They all get along so well.

Unfortunately, it was during this visit that my mom went into hospital for bleeding on the brain (she’s fine now, by the way) but it was a pretty scary five days while she was in the hospital. So while visiting with Ali and her family, we also took turns going to the hospital or staying home with all the kids while the other went to the hospital.

When we weren’t at the hospital, we took the kids to the park, to Downey’s Farm (in Brampton) and spent one day visiting at our house (where Teddy could check out all of Austin’s trains!)

After a busy week, my mom was released from hospital and Ali and Billy left for Ottawa for the rest of their Canada trip.

Canada Wonderland
On June 16, we took the kids to Canada’s Wonderland for the annual PCL day. We arrived just after 9 a.m. – because part of deal we get is entry one hour before the park opens – and headed straight for the Beheomth roller coaster. Ryan rode it first, while I sat with the kids, and then I (reluctantly) rode. After that, we realized that Austin was tall enough for the nearby Stunt Coaster, so Ryan took him on that. And then on the Minebuster. By 10 a.m., we were almost roller coastered out!

It was on to the kids area for awhile after that, and then off to the group area for lunch. After lunch, we decided to hit the waterpark. It was packed but an afternoon well spent. And as it turned out, Alex was tall enough by a hair to go on all of the waterslides. And we quickly converted her into a waterslide monster. She loved every one she rode, yelling ‘more, more’ when we’d get to the bottom.

When the waterpark closed at 6, the kids insisted that they wanted to go on one more ride. So I took Austin on the Fly roller coaster and Ryan took Alex for her second trip on the Ghoster Coaster (oh yeah, she’s a roller coaster monster too!). It was 7:30 by the time we left Wonderland .

Canada Day Camping
For the first time in 3 years, we went camping over Canada Day weekend. We had given up on that weekend a few years ago, after having bad luck with the weather. This year, there was no bad luck – as it was hot and sunny every day we were there.

We went with our friends Rob, Vone, Lilo and Isla to Emily Provincial Park. We spent the three days hanging out at the campsite, riding bikes, swimming at the beach, watching movies by projector under the stars and roasting marshmallows. In all, a great weekend!

Blue Jays Game

On July 14, Ryan took the kids to a Blue Jays game. They both had a blast, although didn't last in their seats for the entire game. Ryan says they watched the first few innings, then wandered over to the kids area to play games, get temporary tattoos, etc. and then headed back to their seats around the seventh inning. 

The highlight of the game? The kids got to run the bases afterwards!

July in general

Both Austin and Alex are playing soccer this summer – Austin on Wednesday nights, Alex on Monday nights (and with a practice on Wednesday nights). They both seem to be enjoying it.

In early July, the kids and I took a big TTC adventure downtown to meet auntie Suzie for lunch. It was 36C that day (plus humidity) but we still had a great time. We had lunch, and then since Suzie was only working a half day (it was a Friday), we wandered around the Eaton Centre, checked out Ryerson campus and 'visited' the fountains at Dundas Square.

Because the kids were just a little wet after their 'visit' to the fountains, I called Ryan and rather than taking the bus and subway home, he met us after work and we then wandered over to Nathan Phillip Square with the kids and then went out for dinner. In all, a fun, but hot, day.

They both took swimming lessons for the first two weeks of summer (I love the every morning lessons in the summer, because the kids turn into fish!). And then for the third and fourth week of July they were both in camp. Alex was in a half day camp and Austin was in an all day camp at the same centre. They both had a lot of fun – Austin even going on 2 day trips, one to the movies and one to a carnival.

I think that’s about it for now. Now (since I wrote this in Word while at the cottage) you’re up-to-date.