Last Day of Work

It has been a really great school year. Very busy, but very fulfilling professionally. I produced two concerts, a talent show, I was evaluated, and I taught and reported on 457 students.  I'm really blessed with an awesome work family.  We had new administrators this year and with weird working conditions in the fall - we were in a legal strike position - the school year didn't start out the way it should have. But we more than made up for it.

I spent today meeting with colleagues, and then cleaning up my classroom. It was a good day.

Earlier this week I was chatting with my principal - Brian Fisher in the hallway about saying goodbye to a DECE that had worked with my kids for three years. I mentioned that we were moving, he asked why the DECE wasn't following us, and I said that Ajax is kind of far. He then got serious, and asked about me leaving the school. I said that next year I would be looking to move east. He then proceeded to tell me that I was irreplaceable, and that he didn't want me to go, but that he would help find a new position. He told me to come talk to him in February, and that he used to work in the east.

Today when I hugged Brian and Amalia Lucas (our VP) goodbye and wished them well, Brian remarked about the many good chats that we'd had. I feel like that was something that happened many times this year. I had many good chats with colleagues of both a professional and personal nature.

I am really thankful to say that I love my job. It wasn't always so. There were many Septembers that I looked at job ads in panic thinking anything but teaching. It was so overwhelming in the beginning! I am so thankful that I persevered and I am so blessed that I ended up at Blue Willow P.S. I am so thankful to be a music teacher.

Selling the House

The MLS listing went live tonight! My prayer is that we get our asking, and that it sells quickly. Keeping the house clean and Alice safe are important!

Ken's done so much, I've done some, we had someone clean the house on Monday, Kathy Goldthorp from our ward washed walls on Monday, the Lalonde family came Monday night to make the gardens look pretty. The photographer came on Wednesday, and Maureen put up the listing Thursday evening.

It's crazy, but not crazy that we're selling. It's all happening really quickly, but it just feels so right. Here's to hoping we can sell fast, and then find a new place to call home!

Gardening

I like the idea of gardening in theory. In practice it turns out that I don't like gardening. I don't even like sitting in my own yard. I like sitting in other people's yards, but I don't know. This whole owning a yard is strange, so when Erin asked on Sunday what they could do to help and I said I don't know, and then she said what about your yard... DONE!

Erin, Rene, Amelia, Evelyn, Audree, Lucienne and Norah all came and much was done. Vision, an eye for all things decorating - even if it is decorating a yard, this is not something that comes naturally to me. It is not a talent that I tried to develop. I think at this point the idea of having yard people is pleasing to me. (Landscaping, right, that's what it's called!)

Erin and Rene, they saw rocks and they saw possibilities. I just saw rocks. I wished I'd taken before and after shots, but I didn't. They were so awesome. And it was so hot. We said thank you with ice cream.

Notice Alice with wet hair in her jammies...

 This was the "before".

To say that Alice keeps things interesting is an understatement at times! She and Lucienne sat in the backyard by the house and dug a hole in the dirt, and well, you can see what else they did. And of course today was the day we paid someone lots to clean our house. This house sale thing better go down fast!

Thank you Lalonde family. I don't know how we would have figured out the yard without you!

Father's Day

I am so blessed by my sweet Ken. My girls are so blessed to call him Dad!

And I am so glad to have a great Dad. Thanks to my sister for finding this fun pic of us with our Dad.

The BIRTH day for real

And just because, here are some pictures of Fiona on the actual day she was born!

Happy birthday Fiona, we love you!

Fiona's One Day Early 3rd Birthday Photo Shoot

I love taking pictures of my girls. Fiona was pretty cute and let me take lots of pictures!

Fiona - Birthday Questions - 3 Years Old

1. What is your favourite color?

            Blue and purple and red

2. What is your favourite toy?

            Paw patrol

3. What is your favourite fruit?

            Grapes

4. What is your favourite tv show?

            Bo on the Go

5. What is your favourite thing to eat for lunch?

            Cupcakes

 6. What is your favourite outfit?

            Points to dress (the dress Auntie Wendy gave her)

7. What is your favourite game?

            Candyland

8. What is your favourite snack?

            Cupcakes

9. What is your favourite animal?

            Pandas, zebras, penguins, leopards and kitty cats

10. What is your favourite song?

            Shake It Off

11. What is your favourite book?

            Paw Patrol Book

12. Who is your best friend?

            Izzy from preschool

13. What is your favourite cereal?

            Cinnamon life cereal

14. What is your favourite thing to do outside?

            Play

15. What is your favourite drink?

            Apple juice

16. What is your favourite holiday?

            Weekend

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?

            Lamby

18. What is your favourite thing to eat for breakfast?

            Cupcakes

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?

            Alfredo

20. What do you want to be when you grow up?

            Mom (Do you want to be a Mom or do you want to be me? I want to be you.)

It was so cute. She giggled and did such a good job answering all the questions. She didn't really need any prompting - except for the song. Her answer from #16 needs an explanation. Every Saturday and Sunday when she wakes up the first thing she asks is "Is it the weekend?" and when I say yes she giggles and hugs me. We both live for the weekends when we get to be together all day long!

Fiona Turns Three

I feel a little bit like a mean Mommy. When Kate was three she had her Dora party. (It was an outstanding affair, my first real friend party.) When Alice turned three she had a party. As Fiona's birthday approached I asked her if she wanted to have a party with friends or a party with her family. She choose her family. I was thrilled. I didn't want to do a party. I felt a little guilty, but not really. She doesn't really have any friends of her own, she's still mostly afraid of people, so I shouldn't really be guilty...

We left the house planning to go to Orangeville to the indoor play place Jungle Oasis, but then we turned left instead and went to Downie's Farm. We had so much fun! I'm so glad we didn't do the play place. They have the trampoline pillows now - the farm we went to last year for Fiona's 2nd birthday had them - the girls love to bounce! The animals were fun, the wagon ride, the park, it was all great. The only stressful thing, was that it was a hot day and we didn't bring any sunscreen with us. I tried to buy some but they didn't sell any. One of the people who worked in the store had some, and let me apply some on the girls.

After the fun at the farm we drove to Grandma and Grandpa's. Fiona opened some presents, we went for a swim, ate pizza and had cupcakes. Fiona had so much fun! She loved her presents. I think she absolutely loved her family birthday party!

Birthdays are so fun. Fiona had a great day. We all did! Happy Birthday Fiona, we love you so much!