WINTER/SPRING HIGHLIGHTS

So, what have we been up to since Christmas? Lots. Where to start...

Most of the family came home after Christmas so we had our annual "String Game" at Nana's. We did change things up a bit this year and had Italian food instead of Chinese.

 

TRICKY BUT FUN

 

BRADE'S HARD AT WORK TOO

 

BRYNN'S READY TO OPEN HERS

 

A NEW MONSTER TRUCK SHIRT AND CONSTRUCTION TRUCKS

In January we went to "Welcome to Kindergarten" night at the school. It went quite well. The first activity was cutting, which is a favorite pastime, so that was a good one to start with.

 

INTENT ON THE STORY

 

YAY! CUTTING!

 

THEY MADE THEIR CROWNS

 

 We went to Harbour Station in February for a Timbit Hockey day. The best part was, of course, the actual timbits. It was very crowded and confusing but the littles were great at being patient. They all got a medal afterward.

 

HAVE TO STAY ON THE RUBBER

 

EVERYBODY WAITS

 

 FUN DOING HIS OWN THING

 

 

 We didn't get anywhere on March break this year. Between lots of sickness and Sherman fishing, things didn't work out. Brady was home though, and we celebrated his birthday.

 

TRADITIONAL BRADY BIRTHDAY SUPPER

 

LASAGNE, ROLLS, CAESAR SALAD

 

AND PEANUT BUTTER PIE

 

THE LITTLES

My parents celebrated their 45th anniversary and mum's 65th birthday by taking our family and my brother's family away for the weekend. We had a great time together. There was swimming, eating and some shopping and it was a wonderful weekend.

 

HANGING OUT IN NEENIE AND PA'S BED

 

BIRTHDAY/ANNIVERSARY SUPPER AT MONTANAS

 

MR. PERSONALITY

 

 Easter was fun. They couldn't have the annual egg hunt here because of the outlandish amount of snow in the park, so it was postponed. We had fun with family though. Everyone helped make cookies and dye eggs at Nana's house. There was lots of good food and Easter Bunny stuff and it was a really nice weekend.

 

MAKING EASTER COOKIES

 

EVERYBODY IN ON THE EGG ACTION

 

FULL BELLIES AFTER A BIG SUPPER AT NANAS

 

CHECKING IT OUT EASTER MORNING

 

A BREAK FROM HUNTING TO CRACK OPEN AN EGG AND TEST THE CHOCOLATE

 

MORE EGG HUNTING

 

EASTER MORNING BREAKFAST OF FRITATTA AND CINNAMON ROLLS

 

MAYBE BUGGING A LITTLE?

 

LOVE THESE BOYS!!!

 

 

 

 On the long weekend in May they had the annual Grand Manan Easter Egg Hunt. It was a lovely day. There were lots of families out for it and the 10 000 eggs were grabbed up before they melted. Better late than never.

LOTS OF EGGS BY THE SLIDE

 

BRYNN'S A BIG HELP

 

ENOUGH WORK, TIME TO PLAY...

 

AND PLAY...

 

AND PLAY SOME MORE!



PRIZES IN THE BIG EGGS INCLUDED FREEZIES, JUICE, CHIPS AND GLOW STICKS

 

 

Today, June 3, was "A Day At Kindergarten" for the pre-K kids.  He wasn't overly excited about it but he was excited about the whole lunchkit thing and we got some special things to put in it. He was happy about going to school with me though, instead of the Club for a change. We got to hang out for an hour before the other kids arrived (thanks to my great supervisors!) in my room and that was pretty fun.

The day went well. I checked in three times and he didn't really want me to leave each time but was really fine. He got to ride on a bus, play on the playground and eat in the cafeteria. Lots of big things for a little boy. Then after my mum picked him up, he got to ride in and help control a backhoe operated by the road crew. It was a pretty good day!

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A FEW EXTRA ODDS AND ENDS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waiting for Christmas

We've been pretty busy in the last little while. November saw us having to go to Moncton to have a tooth out. It was pretty quick and painless and now he has a cute little gappy smile. We went a couple of days early to spend time at my brother's. We saw the Santa Claus parade there and also a giant gingerbread house. Brady came and spent one night with us. On our way home the weather got pretty windy and they cancelled the ferry crossing that night. The tooth fairy had to come to a hotel in Saint John instead of home.

 

 

We also went to the library to participate in the gingerbread house decorating night. It's been a few years since I've been there and done that. We had a great time. He worked so carefully on his house that we were the last ones to leave.

 

 

 

 

 

On December 1st we found a new Christmas book (The Polar Express), a chocolate advent calendar and Elf on the Shelf waiting for us on the counter when we got up. The countdown was on...

 

 

 

 

December 5 - 7 Brady came home for the first annual "Danielle Park Memorial Basketball Tournament". Organizers sold the 250 shirts they had made up, plus they've had to order more. Dani's dad Michael spoke about her as a person and her love for basketball. The 8 teams attending the tournament all lined up while her jersey was raised and hung on the gym wall. The gym was packed with people. It was a lovely and highly emotional tribute to an absolutely wonderful girl.

 

We trimmed our tree that Saturday night. The boys each got their new ornament - hockey skates. We watched a movie, had tons of food and tried to make a little bit of normal out of a very emotional weekend.

 

 

 

The next weekend was the Santa Claus parade. He was invited to be on two floats - the Boys and Girls Club one and the church one. We gave him the choice and he wanted to go with all his daycare friends. He had lots of fun. When we were going over what was involved in being on a float, he told me he planned on waving and then when it was over we could pick him up and hold hands and skip :)

 

 

 

Next came the church concert. He chose to be a donkey. He said he doesn't really like lambs and cows much. He did a good job with the actions to the songs and there was cake after so it was all good.

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Eve meant opening new jammies and eating our gingerbread boys and leaving one out for Santa. Unfortunately our boy wasn't feeling great and he couldn't eat his supper or his cookie, and he fell asleep at 5:30. He was up a lot between 9 - 12:00 coughing. We actually thought we might have to make a trip to the hospital for a mask but things settled down eventually and we got a few hours of sleep in. Christmas Day he felt a lot better but had a really long nap.

He was very happy with Christmas, not crazy excited really, but just happy. He enjoyed every minute of it. We took our time and even stopped for a big breakfast in the middle of things and then went back at it later. He loved the whole season and everything he was a part of. He loved the tree and the lights and making cookies and watching Christmas specials and learning songs and making crafts. He just really enjoyed his whole Christmas and it was special.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Santa came through and brought everything on his list - a digger, a real toolbox and lego. He also got new hockey socks, jacket and stick, plus train bedding for his bunkbeds and some special construction books he wanted. Lots of other people knew he loved construction equipment because he has enough now to open his own company and he couldn't be happier. He got some Jake and the Neverland Pirates things which he loved too, as well as other fun things to play with and some cute clothes. I've had to rearrange and thin out to make room for everything. 

Tomorrow night we go my grandmother's for an Italian-themed supper and our annual "string game", which ends in another gift. All the kids (ages 19 - 3) look forward to that.

Thank-you to everyone who sent gifts! He/we really appreciate them. We hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and wish you all the best for 2015. God Bless.



HALLOWEEN

Halloween was fun. We carved our pumpkin a few nights before so we could light it up and watch it glow.

 

 

 

We made sugar cookies and cut them out - pumpkins, witches and owls. There were two parties to go to, so that was fun. He was pretty tired after the second party and he fell asleep on our way home from daycare (about a 4 minute drive), so he was good-to-go for trick-or-treating. This little dino went out with a roar - literally! When I put him to bed that night he said, "Dat was fun. Wets do it gain amorrow."

 

 

 

 

Big success today! We had our EYE-DA (kindergarten) testing today and even though they don't tell you the results right away, we got to see two of our old intervention workers. It was nice to have a little visit with them both. Then it was off to hockey. And... he took a couple of steps on his skates without the skate-buddy. YAY! He fell down, then he got himself up on his skates and tried again!!! Down. Up. Down. Up. Down. Lay on the ice for a while. Make snow angels. Roll around. Sit on bum and talk to a friend. Lay back down for another rest. Then up again. Repeat entire sequence. He did end up with a skate-buddy after a bit but he stayed on the ice for the entire hour-long practice and was very pleased with himself. Keely's dad Chris let him blow the whistle to end the practice. We were all so proud of him. It was a great day of accomplishments!

 

Brady's coming home tomorrow until next Tuesday. He has three days off from school. Someone here misses his brudder and doesn't want him in the "Mirchi" so it will be good to have him home for a few days. He will help Sherman set the first load of traps Tuesday morning and then head back. 

The two of us will go down the wharf at 6:30 and watch them go out. We're already talking about it because he remembers doing it last year and he loved it. I won't have to go to work right after we get back home this year. It means we won't have to rush around and that will be nice.