COUSIN FUN - Day 1 - African Lion Safari

Day ONE!!  The cousins are here (the Bacon ones)!  We have been looking forward to this for months and it is finally here!  Today's plan, meet at African Lion Safari, and then dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's.

African Lion Safari is far.  I can't remember exactly how long it took, but it was over an hour and a half.  We (Kate, Alice, Fiona and I) caught up to Grandma and Grandpa and the cousins as we were exiting the 401.  We then followed Grandma to the Safari.  Grandma paid for us to go in (thanks Grandma !) and then there was a very happy reunion in the parking lot!  After the hugs we all transferred into Grandma's van to travel through the game reserve.  The kids tripped over each other a little and there were one or two falls, and although it was a little squishy, we all had so much fun in the same van looking at the animals!

There were a few animal highlights.  The first was the ostrich.  It came right up to the window and pecked and pecked and pecked.  Lovey screamed so loudly at first.  But then all the kids were just laughing.  The kids giggled at the baboons.  Seth loves rhinos, and we stopped for a minute but then Grandma got nervous because one of the rhinos looked at the van, so that made me giggle - sorry Mom.

Coolest though was when we happened upon this deer and her fawn.  We think it must have just been born.  There were several clues to support this theory.  The Mom was licking her fawn and if we're right we watched the fawn take its first steps.

After the animals in the game reserve, we went through the Kenya Gate into the park.  We had lunch and then went on for more fun.

We saw a little bit of the Parrot Paradise show.  Then part of the Birds of Prey show.  That one ended when one of the owls flew off.  

Grandma and Grandpa then decided to go back to the van - Dad was done walking, while we went to the Elephant Round-Up show, which in my opinion is the best show.

After the show all the kids wanted to ride an elephant.  I was kind of done and wanted to go.  I suggested to the kids that they could pick something out at the gift shop instead of an elephant ride.  All the kids thought this was a great idea except Lovey.

Other funny things.  Marcus and Seth wanted to push the strollers around, and mostly they did.  When we first saw Lovey when we got there we asked her what she wanted to be called.  I wish I had recorded her answer.  "LOVEY!"  Lovey is quite excited that even though she's younger, she's taller than Kate.  I'm not sure Kate is very excited about this. Oh and final note.  The drive home was intense.  There was a wicked rainstorm.  We had a nice dinner at Mom's and then we all went our separate ways!

Here's to more fun tomorrow!  Oh and here is Kate and her new baby ostrich - Olivia.  (Dina is very proud to be a Mama!)

Kate's Last Day of Junior Kindergarten

The official last day of school is Friday, but with cousin fun starting tomorrow, Kate's last day became today!

It was the perfect last day too.  There was a special kindergarten tea this afternoon for all the parents to come in and see the kids, see the classroom, and say thanks and goodbye. The kids had work on display, the class performed a song, and we parents all brought treats to share.  It really was lovely. 

We took pictures with each of her teachers.  First with Ms. Gertzbein the DECE (Designated early childhood educator.)  In her card, Kate said "I love that you are very smart and kind", in my opinion the highest praise!

 

Then with Mrs. Lee (the one day a week teacher while Mrs. Broerse was doing her literacy thing) and cool thing, we met her while we were part of Cookstown Ward, that's right, one of Kate's teachers is a member of our church!

 

And finally with Mrs. Broerse, Kate's amazing homeroom teacher.  I can't say enough of good about this woman!  She is intelligent, organized, kind, caring, her communication was amazing.  What a blessing for Kate to have such a wonderful teacher for junior kindergarten!  More about the communication.  Everyday Kate came home with a TODAY WE.  The half/full piece of paper started out TODAY WE, and then it listed in bullet points all of the things that they did.  Then it had ASK ME, at the bottom and included points for discussion and further inquiry and reinforcement with your child.  And there were often notes about extra things and upcoming events that we as parents needed to know tacked on at the end.  I loved feeling so connected to what she had done while she was out all day.  I can't remember when, but at some point in the year, Kate started reading them to me, and that became part of our routine after school.

Kate's teacher is leaving Tottenham to go teach in Alliston in the fall.  It's great for her - she lives in Alliston, and more importantly, she'll be teaching at her daughter's school which runs on a slightly modified calendar.  And, exciting for their family, she's expecting a baby in November! 

Oh and Kate received her report card today!  She's at or beyond level in all areas of development, except social.  She will continue to work on navigating social relationships - really, social relationships are always tricky, and solving problems independently is challenging.  I am proud of Kate and I am so happy that she loves learning!

Sunday

It was beautiful out today and I wanted to take pictures of the girls, mostly because Fiona was wearing her birthday dress from Grandma, and also just because!

And then after dinner we went to the park!

Minet Point Park

Today was hang out with the Grandparents Day.  I wanted to go to the beach.  The forecast called for Thunderstorms, and showers.  I wanted to ignore the forecast.  It would seem that today wasn't one of the days that you could actually ignore the forecast!

We drove up to Barrie, got to the beach, and it started to pour!  Grandma and Grandpa pulled in a few minutes after we did.  We decided instead to go play inside at McDonald's.  The girls had lots of fun!

The rain finally cleared up and even though we knew it would be wet, we decided to head to the beach. Grandma built sand castles for Alice.  The girls played, Fiona walked around everywhere and wanted to climb everywhere.  Kate desperately wanted to put her bathing suit on, but I said no.  All in all, it was a very fun day!

Father's Day - Part Two

Parenthood in the McCartney household is a little intense these days.  Sometimes there is way too much crazy.  But through it all,the bliss and the not, there is no one I could imagine sharing this with then my Ken.  I'm so thankful that my daughters are being raised by a father who loves them, and who is so in love with them!

Father's Day - Part One

Pops!  Teddy Bacon.  Dad.  Grandpa.  Jon and I went in together and got Dad three funny sweatshirts for Christmas.  I feel like I might have blogged about one of the shirts before... check complete.  I did in fact post the Bacon - meat candy sweatshirt.  These are the other two...

I love my crazy Daddy.  I love that he wears the silly sweatshirts I buy him with such pride.  

On Facebook I wrote the following: Every daughter should be raised by a father who thinks they are the most beautiful and intelligent girl in the whole world! I love you my sweet Daddy! Happy Father's Day!