August pictures

Here's the latest batch of pictures https://picasaweb.google.com/107184376695639310597/August2013?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIGmu7Db5oypMg&feat=directlink

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An update on what's been going on

Let's see, where to begin -- as it's been four months since my last update.

Alexandra
Alex's Junior Kindergarten year is done and in September, she'll be switching to the same French Immersion school that Austin goes to. She did very well in school this year and is progressing well with reading and writing. She's looking forward to being at the same school as Austin in the fall but, at the same time, isn't excited about it -- she's quite sad to be leaving her JK teacher (who she would've had again in SK had she stayed at the same school) and her friends. But we know she'll be fine once she settles in and we're certain that she'll quickly make new friends.

One of the things about switching to the French Immersion school is they still offer only half-day Kindergarten (she was in full-day Kindergarten for JK). So she'll be going to the school in the morning and then to a nearby Montessori school for the afternoons.

Aside from school, Alex is playing soccer this summer and loving it. And her ballet finished up with a recital in mid-June. She very much enjoyed dance and we've already registered her at the same dance school in the fall.

On June 1, Alex completed her first triathlon. Her age group was an untimed event, however she asked Ryan to time her anyway. She completed a 15-metre swim, 600-metre bike ride and 150-metre run (all with a small (and I mean small) amount of assistance from mom) in about 7 minutes and 24 seconds.

For most of the month of July, both kids were in day camp. Alex went to the Kindercamp in the same centre where she attended preschool. She loved it there -- the camp director was the same woman who taught her preschool and many of her school friends were in camp with her.

Austin
Austin is done Grade 1 and he too did very well in school this year -- all A's and B's for him on his final report card. In September, it's on to Grade 2 (hard to believe!).

Hockey wrapped up in April with a final tournament. And he loved learning to play so much that he's already registered for house league in the fall. Early Saturday morning games are in our future starting October 19!

With hockey done, it was just a short break before soccer started. He's playing house league in that this summer as well....and is loving it too!

On June 1, Austin also competed in the same triathlon as Alexandra. For his age category, he had to do a 25-metre swim (for which he did backstroke), a 1.5 km-bike ride and a 500-metre run. He finished in 14:03...which put him 12th out of 78.

And one week later, on June 9, Austin ran his first 5K race with me. He's been watching me train for, and run, races since he was 3 years old and last year, while I was training for the half marathon, he decided he wanted to run with me. So, last November, I took him out for a run -- not knowing how far he'd be able to go. Well, he ran 2.5K on that first outing! And so, we trained together off and on throughout the spring and on June 9 we ran the Toronto Challenge (which went from King and University, up to Wellesley and then back down Bay Street.). Finishing time: 45:01! We're all so proud of him! (And he's already asking to run another 5K with me!)

Like Alexandra, Austin spent most of July in camp. He was at a different centre than Alex (which made for a lot of driving for me) but it was well worth it. He very much enjoyed the camp -- and came home exhausted every day. They played sports, went swimming every day and went on big field trips once a week (one of the trips was to Centre Island!).

Other happenings and events in the Spring.
Trip to Montreal
Over Victoria Day weekend we went to Montreal. Unfortunately, the reason for the trip wasn't a happy one -- my grandma passed away a few days earlier and we all travelled back to Montreal for the funeral. But, to put a bright side on a sad situation, it was a nice excuse to see all of the family who came from far away and many extended family who we hadn't seen in years.

On the evening after the funeral, the grandparents offered to babysit all of the children so that the 'kids' could go out for the night in Montreal. And so, Ryan and I, Ali and Billy, Suzie and my two cousins went out for a few drinks in downtown Montreal. And then we ended up playing bubble hockey in the old Montreal forum!

It was a nice evening and it would've made my grandma smile to know that we were all together.

The kids also had fun in Montreal. They got a chance to play with their cousins Teddy and Julian for a couple of days (of which I managed to take no pictures of) and they got a chance to get to know their second-cousin Carson (my cousin, Neil's son). And so, on the Saturday, after we checked out of the hotel, the four of us spent the day wandering around Old Montreal with Neil, Carson and Eric.

Hanging out in Old Montreal with Carson.

It was a beautiful afternoon and everyone had fun. After that, we introduced the kids to Schwartz's smoked meat before finally getting on the road to head home to Toronto around 6 p.m.

Mmmmmmm....smoked meat

Canada's Wonderland
We made our annual trip to Canada's Wonderland for the PCL Family day on June 15 but this year we didn't get to take advantage of the early entry passes. That's because Alex's ballet recital was the same day. So she did her recital in the morning, she made a quick change in the car afterwards and we were walking through the gates at Wonderland at 1:30 p.m.

It was quite busy but we still managed to make it on quite a few rides (and we didn't leave until about 8 p.m. to make up for getting there so late!). Both kids are now roller coaster monsters. Alexandra went on all the ones she was tall enough for and Austin went on quite a few adult roller coasters. In all, a good day for all!

Sally!

Canada Day camping weekend
On June 28, the day after school let out, we packed up and headed out of town for a three-night camping trip with our friends Rob, Vone, Lilo and Isla. This year's trip was to McRae Point near Orillia. In all, the weather was fairly decent -- in fact it was pouring rain as we drove to Orillia but by the time we arrived, it hadn't even rained there and even though there was a 70% chance of rain, it never did that day. It did cool off a bit by Sunday, but overall (compared to some of the rainy camping trips we've had) the weather wasn't something we could complain about on this trip.

The Canada Day camping crew.

Actually, there was nothing to complain about on this trip. Now that the kids are all getting older, they can enterain themselves for longer periods of time and don't need to be hyper-supervised as much either. Both of this meant that there was more relax time for us parents! The kids ran around the campsite, biked around the campground, and generally ran themselves until exhaustion. So, in all ... a good camping trip!

Yes, they're all jumping.

Other fun July events
What else? In early July, I took the kids strawberry picking where we picked WAY TOO MANY strawberries. But that's ok, because there's now 23 jars of strawberry jam on my shelf so we should be good until next June!

Trip to the Zoo
On a hot Sunday in July, we took the kids to the zoo to see the Giant Pandas. Unfortunately, we ended up standing in line for an hour and a half to see them -- but the kids were good and the Pandas were pretty cute. After that, we checked out the Gorilla climbers that went up last year. They loved it and probably spent close to 45 minutes climbing the structure.

Ok, that's it for now. Coming up next time...our two weeks at the cottage and Suzanne and Mo's wedding.

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July pictures

More pics...from Canada Day camping weekend and the rest of July.
If the slideshow doesn't work, you can find the pictures here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/107184376695639310597/July2013?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMTpw8aLodOWRg&feat=directlink

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