The next chapter

Hard to believe that 4 years has passed since I last stepped foot at 'work'.

I had so many ideas of what I was going to accomplish in my time off, reorganizing the house, painting, decorating, building a garbage shed, cleaning the basement, etc...

Instead, I took my girls to school and pick them up every day.  I got to spend time in their classrooms, go on field trips, bake for the class, run events at the school, play with so many of their friends.

Tomorrow starts a new chapter.  It will be nice to be in a new head space, bring home a little more money, and take on new challenges.

I have been home with them for almost 8 of the last 10 years, I think we've had it pretty good.  I hope they've had fun too!  They are pretty fantastic little girls!

Summer 2013 wrap-up

This post is mostly for our own recollection.

Mid August, after a great visit with their cousins from Calgary, Natasha exclaimed "We haven't done ANYTHING all summer!"

So here is a summary, what do you think?

July
Vowle's cottage -  friends' cottage stay.
Strawberry picking
Perth Farm Party  - Bonnie and Cathy biked out to Perth and joined the rest of the families for a nice party week-end, river float, bobbing for apples, stringing donoughts, dance party, singing by the bon fire.
Long Sault Parkway bike ride.  Family ride from Upper Canada Village towards Cornwal.  Beautiful!
Cottage getaway - 5 days at our neighbour's cottage rental in the Kawartha's.  We are spoiled!
Mont Tremblant - beaching and gondola rides!
Kingston week-end of biking.  Wolfe Island and Kingston Waterfront.
And daily swims.  We have two houses most of the summer, our's and our vacationing neighbours.  It's a hard life!

August
Girls and Dad week-end, while Bonnie and Kathleen biked Kingston to Prince Edward County for a long week-end of riding.
Iona and Flan visit for a week, from Calgary.  Highlights were Peace Tower, Byward Market, shopping and
Sandbanks - rolling down sand dunes with cousins, and riding the waves at the beach.
Bon Echo - Joe Perry Lake.  3 days of canoeing and peace.
ROAD TRIP!!!  - 8 days - North Conway, Mount Washington, Boston, Gloucester, Cape Ann and Lake Placid.

Add to the list, pool parties, dinner with friends and lots of soccer.

I think we had a pretty awesome summer!

Going back in time

One morning last week, Jaida and I were talking about toddlers.

Jaida explained the reasons why she wasn't a toddler anymore.
Then proceeded  say:

"If you go back in time a few years, I would be a toddler.  Before that I was your baby.  And before that I was God!"

This girls has high self esteem!

White fluffy stuff....

We had our first 'full' family cross country ski in Gatineau park Saturday afternoon.

It was dreamy.

The snow was so nice, fluffy,it had fun written all over it!!

The girls were having so much fun, they didn't want to leave.  

At one point Natasha turned to me and said "I'm really hungry"

I told her I didn't have any food left on me, we could turn around and head back to the car.

She said "No, I want to keep skiing!"

Maya did "mini dudes" down the hills..

Jaida was swinging her arms so proudly, got so many smiles and felt like a super star!

It was so so delightful.

She's still 8!!

A long long time ago, Maya had her birthday!

Maya

She loves to swim.  She LOVES to read.  She is game for just about anything.

She is so so naughty and quite funny.

She has her father's wit.

She loves her sisters and is incredibly good to them.

Just when you think she`s working too hard, she`ll be the goofiest person ever!

She is kind, gentle, helpful, considerate and so thoughtful.



She is wise beyond her age.  She was meant to be the eldest child.



She told me she is going to stay 8 for as long as she can.  She knows it makes me sad that she is growing up.

She is a dream.  How did we get so lucky?