Hazel's Baptism Weekend

Friday, September 2
We started the weekend with a trip to Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, Ontario. We met Emily, Holden, Lauren and Hazel and explored!

The Inn/Tavern is one of the places I remember going when I visited with Ken 14 years ago.

Ken and I didn't try milking the cows, but everyone else did. It was quite the experience for everyone!

We missed Milo, and were slightly irritated to see dogs everywhere when we arrived! We totally could have brought Milo. Ah well. He had fun at Doggy Daycare.

Saturday, September 3
It was Hazel's actual birthday today so the day started with the giving of gifts! 

Then we went to this really cute farmer's market. I miss going to farmer's markets!

Then it was taco bar preparation time. 

And then it was baptism time! The baptism was beautiful! I played the piano. Emily's Mom spoke about baptism. Holden spoke about the Holy Ghost and Fiona and Alice did a musical number. 

After the baptism we enjoyed the taco bar and visiting with friends! I'm so glad that Sonia and Ben were able to come to the baptism. It was so nice to visit with them.

I'm so glad that we were able to come be with Hazel for her baptism. 

Sunday, September 4

Not having church until noon has it's benefits! The girls were able to have some more play time. Every minute counts with these two!

It's a good thing we left right after sacrament meeting. There was a crazy fire at a warehouse along the 401 and the traffic wasn't great, but thankfully we were able to pick up Milo before the doggy daycare closed for the night.

Good friends are such a blessing! We really did have a wonderful weekend with the Lim-Anderson's. 

Eleven Half Birthdays!

August 21, 2011 - the first half birthday!

August 21, 2012

August 21, 2013

August 21, 2014

August 21, 2015

August 21, 2016

August 21, 2017

August 21, 2018

August 21, 2019

August 21, 2020

August 21, 2021

August 21, 2022

I love you Alice Rena!! You just keep getting better and better. I'm so grateful I get to be your Mom!!!

Four Days, Four Sunsets, Four Loves

 

It started on Tuesday. When I drove Fiona to gymnastics, the sky looked so cool. The clouds looked amazing. After I dropped Fiona off, I drove to Kinsmen park so I could capture the sky. When I picked Fiona up, the school still looked really pretty so I decided that we needed to go to this spot at Rotary to take a pic. 

Kinsmen Park

Rotary Park

On Wednesday I told the girls that if they walked down to the lake with me I'd buy them blizzards.

Paradise Beach

Paradise Park

When Kate and I were driving to DQ we went up Westney because I wanted a frozen lemonade from Tim Horton's, and the sky looked amazing. So I decided to take a detour and I took Kate to the same spot as the night before to take a pic of the sky.

Rotary Park

The pics made me so happy, and they're so beautiful, but then I thought, hey wait. ALICE! Thursday will be Alice's turn. So it was.

Rotary Park

And I thought it was complete, but then I thought KEN! So Friday was his turn, even though he was exhausted and didn't want to walk around.

Rotary Park

I'm so grateful for my loves, for my Kate, my Alice, my Fiona and my KEN! Happy Friday!

Sentimental Mood

Sometimes I'm just struck with a pervasive feeling of sentimentality. Maybe a little bit of melancholy? It's almost the end of the summer and I'm feeling a bit sad today. I love my summer's off and I mourn the end of the season, even if it makes me feel a little greedy.

This week has been pretty quiet - no big stuff, lots of little things, and we still have two weeks of holiday in front of us - including a visit from Auntie Wendy from England, and cousin Brian Miller too. But today I feel it, the transition, the end of one season and the beginning of another.

The tree is going to turn soon! I think the top of it looks a tiny bit golden aready.

I enjoyed the way the sun was hitting my hair on the walk with Milo this morning.

I looked at the school yard, so quiet and still today. In two weeks it will be bustling!

And I put a penny in the coin jar, but not before feeling slightly sad that they aren't made anymore.

So far today, I've spent too long doing my French on Duolingo, walked the dog, cleaned my desk, and I've texted and messaged a few people.

And now I've been planning the Peterborough trip!

I'm glad that there's summer left. AND I'm grateful for my good girls. They've done chores and creative stuff this last week. They've been kicked off computers a bunch and it hasn't always been gentle, but they've done stuff! Kate made an awesome stop-motion movie. Alice has stretched, and stretched some more - her splits are crazy cool, Fiona created a beast of a duplo house today. They've been helpful, they've played (they've also whined and complained) but they've been great!

Oh and Ken. I love that he works from home. I love that we have lunch together, and chat, and walk the dog together (most mornings and some evenings). I'm so grateful for summers. I'm so grateful to be a teacher and have these summers with my girls!