Canada Day Holiday - Day 1

For Canada Day this year we decided to head to the capital & join the festivities on Parliament Hill.  We are spending 3 nights in the capital & we are hoping it'll be relaxing but with just the right balance of fun, entertainment & Canadian history & culture.

I got up early this morning to do some last minute packing. The girls got up around 7:30 and by 8:15 we were on our way.  There was a bit of traffic getting out of the city since it was still a regular workday but once on the highway it was smooth sailing.  Our first stop was about an hour & half into our 4 hour trip.  Nice rest stations all along the main highway with a good selectIon of  (expensive) food but that was to be expected.

When we finally got to the capital & checked into the hotel it was already past lunch time.  Hoping to get a tour of the Parliment buildings in before the end if the day we rushed over only to find out that all the tickets for the day were completely sold out.  Hopefully we will get an early start on Saturday morning and will be able to get tickets for our preferred time.

By now it was approaching 3:00pm & the kids were ready to eat.  We walked 15minutes to the Byward Market and amongst the food stalls and artists stalls we found a nice Italian restaurant, Vittoria Trattoria, where we could cool off inside.  The late lunch turned out pretty good!

By the time we finished lunch & walked back to the hotel we were all ready for a nap.  It had been a sweltering 30 degrees and we all just needed a rest - although M3 was insisting we go swimming in the hotel pool.

After a short nap M2 & M3 were ready for some swimming (although I'm sure the Big Oh would have rather slept more).  Unfortunately the water in the pool was so cold the kids could only stay in for 10 minutes.

So after washing up we headed out for a late dinner.  Being fans of the Food Network I had done some research on local restaurants.  The restaurant I wanted to try was a diner called The Elgin Street Diner which just happened to be on the same street as our hotel (about a 20 minute walk).  Unfortunately the restaurant did not impress us. The one bonus though, was we passed by a small bakery called Boko Bakery and we picked up some fancy cookies which made for the perfect dessert.

By the time we got back to the hotel it was well past 10 and we were all ready for bed.  Looking forward to a busy Canada Day!

Y.C.

My School Year

The school year ended on Wednesday June 29 and it was a half day until 11:50.  This year I was in grade 4 and it was an amazing year!! This was the first year I had a male teacher and it was pretty cool. We did lots of different things this year. One thing that I really enjoyed was Track and Field. I got 8 ribbons and I was really happy about it because I wasn't really expecting to get that many ribbons. After we did Track and Field at school I made it to Areas for 400 meters and high jump. After that at high jump I got first at Areas and got to go to Regionals!! At Regionals I got third and didn't make it to Provincials. Although I was still really happy that I made it that far!! Moving on to the next subject...This year I made a lot of new friends because I was never in their class before. Now we like to work together and be in the same field trip groups. And speaking of field trips, this was my first year going to a museum. My class went to the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum). It was a fun trip and there were lots of things to see like Ancient Civilizations, Dinosaurs, and Rocks and Minerals. My favourite subject this year was Math. I liked it because when we did a probability unit we got to make our own board games that involved probability. I also like it because I am good at doing all the operations in Math. Another big thing that happened this year was that it was my first year to learn French. I really enjoyed doing French this year. We did a lot of different things in French class like learning lots of beginner French words, and we played games to help us learn too. One last thing I'm going to say is that we do a reading log race and whoever read it the most and handed it in the most gets a prize. I honestly thought it was going to be something cheap from Dollarama but it was actually a $10 Indigo gift card!! After all that information is very surprising but the most surprising thing was that I won the $10 Indigo gift card!!! After all this explaining I realized that I had an amazing grade four year.


                                                     M2

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE 

Yesterday I went to watch the movie Central Intelligence with my friends H.M, C.L, A.T, and D.L. My mom also came to chaperone. It was a great movie, and it was even better that I got to watch it with my friends! My favourite actor in that movie is Kevin Hart. I liked his character because the character (Calvin) said and did a lot of funny things. He was also the kind of puny looking compared to "The Rock" Johnson, who was also playing a main role in the movie. I enjoyed watching the movie yesterday and I think A.T. enjoyed it the most, because all I could notice was her laughing.

The plot of the movie is that there is a "puny looking" guy named Calvin Joyner (Kevin Hart) who is an accountant, who was really popular in high school. Then, there is a guy who is really muscular named Bob Stone, ("The Rock" Johnson) but known as Robbie Weirdick in high school, who went to high school with Calvin, but was bullied because of being obese. After high school he starts to work out, and eventually joins the CIA. Bob finds Calvin and asks him to help him on a mission because he needs Calvins "super sweet accounting skills" to find the last piece of the puzzle. The mission is that there is a bad guy named "The Black Badger" who is selling     to this other dude. I don't want to spoil it for you, so you're going to have to watch the movie yourself! But, if you really want to know what happens in the movie, go look it up on Google. 

                              M1

GRADE 6 

This past year in grade six was one to  remember. My teacher Ms. K was probably my favourite and best teacher I've ever had. She helped my classmates and I so much throughout the year, and not just help with schoolwork, she taught us life lessons. Even though sometimes she would get really and I mean REALLY mad at us, she would always make it up to us. Ms. K if you're reading this, I want you to know it was a pleasure being in your class this year, and PLEASE teach grade seven! I can't wait to see what is waiting for me in grade seven.

I also want to acknowledge my friends in grade six who were always there for me and who made me laugh. H.M. is my best friend. We've been best friends since we started school, so now it's been 8 years! He's always been there for me and to make me laugh. I can't wait to see where our friendship takes us in life!  Another one of my friends is I.Y. I've only known her for 2 years but she feels like a sister to me! Not that I don't like my real sisters. A.T. is a friend that I just made this year. And I've got to say for one year, I've gotten to know you well. We've also had good times together with I.Y.! C.L. Is a friend I've know since kindergarten , although I had never considered her as friend, just a peer. This year has been great with her from her bad jokes to our amazing friendship. E.A. is someone I just met this year and she is always there to help me with anything if I ask. I hope she is in my class next year! D.L. was one of my cousins friends in grade 4, and I just met him this past year. He always makes me laugh, and I really hope we're in the same class next year, so you can tell me jokes so I don't have to suffer from C.L's. B.F. is also a friend I met this year and she has been there for me this whole year, and I have been there for her. And I'd like to name some of my other friends from this year, S.H., C.K., V.L., C.N., D.R.,E.S., and L.Y. I'd also like to thank my dance team for being there for me. D.C. S.C. J.R. P.H. L.C. A.S. T.A. E.C. M.V. Thanks for everything!

                             M1

Thank You Teacher

Yesterday I was at my daughter's school around 9:30 to drop off something the little one forgot at home.  I was in the office waiting for her to be called down when I saw my oldest daughter's teacher come into the office to do some photocopying.  Now, I know how much teachers hate to be ambushed by parents - but I did it anyways.  I said, "Excuse me Ms. K, I am M1's mom and I just want one minute to ... (and I could almost see her 'Really? Now?' look forming on her face) ...let you know what a great year M1 had in grade 6.  And to thank you for being an amazing teacher."

I told her that when my girls leave for school I make sure they leave happy to start their day & I only want them to return happy with stories to tell me.  M1 has come home with many stories of her class, friends, and teacher.  I told her how much I appreciate her teaching M1 not only what was in the curriculum, but also about being respectful, being age appropriate, talking about friendships/relationships, and just going beyond what is required in the textbooks.  Even when M1 comes home & has had "The worst day ever!" she always has something to tell me that makes us laugh or smile.  Ms. K literally took my hand and thanked me.  She told me she was having a difficult year personally and hearing that meant so much to her.  She said I was going to make her cry - I could see her tearing up & I warned her not to, otherwise I would be bawling too!

It made me think that if I didn't run into her yesterday would I have taken the time to leave her a message or write her a note?  Would it have had the same effect? Maybe, maybe not.  I'm just glad I did say something to her.  People generally rant above negative experiences way more than great ones.  Everyone knows what an amazing feeling it is to receive a compliment, positive feedback, or just a pat on the back.  But you know what?  It feels pretty good to be the one giving out the compliment too.

Y.C.

Happy Father's Day

Yesterday was Father's Day.  The Big Oh took the 3M's to The Wonderland water park.  By himself.  I got to stay home & have a quiet rest day.

It was a perfect water park day.  A scorching 30-plus degrees out there.  They started the day early hoping to get some play time in before it got really crowded.   It was the first time we let M1 & M2 go off on their own for a few rides while The Big Oh hung around the kiddie area with M3.  Our rules are simple - stay with each other in the water park & meet at the agreed upon designated time & place.  I am proud to say my girls didn't disappoint us. They may be the only kids to get to the meeting place 20 minutes EARLY!

After about 4 hours of play they left to have lunch at a nearby shopping mall.  If you know The Big Oh, you know  there's no way he'll pay for food at Wonderland - and for $24 bucks for a pepperoni pizza, who can blame him!

The kids thoroughly enjoyed their Father's Day & I'm sure The Big Oh did too.  I probably don't say this enough - but thank you for being the most amazing dad our girls could ever have!

Y.C.

Six More Months To Catch Up

I just realized my numbers show I have been really slacking off this year.  I have lots of excuses - kid's dance schedule too hectic, so many weekly & monthly appointments/check-ups, and I'm just plain tired!  But writing is cathartic and it does calm me & puts a lot of things in perspective once I see it in black & white, so I really should make it a weekly, if not a daily, exercise!   My blog posts for 2014 (from June - Sept) showed a whopping 41!  For the entire 2015 a respectable 34 - that's still at least 2-3 a month.   It is now halfway thru 2016...and I've done 7! Not only that, I think only M3 is the only daughter that has contributed anything this year.

And I'm about to change that (hopefully)....

I was inspired last night by a blog from another local mom. Check it out...

https://hipteachermama.wordpress.com/

Sometimes there is so much on our plates we live in almost a bubble.  We are so focused at our jobs, our children, our families, we think we are so alone in our experiences and what we do.  Well, we are not.  There are tons of people out there who can relate, share, empathize with us.  We just need to take the time to stop, look, & listen (read).

Y.C.

Making The World A Little Less Scary

"Risk builds confidence. They don't have to be big risks. Just something that was a little scary or hard to do before it happened".

I read this in an article today.  It was written by a mother who wants to be the opposite of a "helicopter" parent.  This mother writes that she is teaching her children to "confidently navigate independent situations".  And I couldn't agree more.  As I am writing this, my 11 year old is at a friend's house doing a project for school.  She walked there after school with a couple of friends (without adult supervision) and we agreed that she would walk home at 5:30 on her own.  Even though it is a short 3 blocks in a suburban residential neighbourhood, I know for certain there would be more than one grade 6 parent who would question my judgement for allowing my child to do this.

The decisions I make regarding how much responsibility & independence I allow my children is based on my child's level of maturity and my own personal experiences and expectations.  Walking home from school or to a friend's house, placing an order at a restaurant, navigating around the library & checking out books, and taking care of younger siblings at the park are all tasks I expect my 9 & 11 year old to be responsible enough to do on their own.  As well, I expect them to ask for help in situations where they feel they cannot handle.  And only by allowing them to try will they get practice at all of the above.

Recently a good friend of mine had a very dangerous situation happen between her 8 year old child & a stranger in a public restroom.  The incident left our group friends questioning the safety in our community and vowing not to let our children out of our sights until they reach adulthood.  But is that really the best way to react.  No. Realizing the absurdity in our initial knee-jerk reaction, I decided to talk to my children about safety in public places like shopping malls, parks, and community centres and what to do when approached by strangers who they feel uncomfortable being around.

I know there are a lot of scary things in the world that I must protect my children from.  But I think rather than protecting them from everything I possibly can, I'd like to give them the tools so that are confident & find this world a little less scary.

YC