Our flower pots are filled to overflowing with floral goodness!
Blur. May was a blur of activity.
- Mother's Day was celebrated at "The Big Smoke" which is a new BBQ restaurant. It replaced our much beloved Mixed Grill. The kids loved their southern ribs and pulled pork. Me? I loved my favourite roasted beet salad and crab cakes. Yum!
- Many many scrapbook projects were underway! I completed my Week in the Life project; LOAD and Scrapapalooza 6 where I was on the design team this time around. Such a wonderful month filled with creativity.
- Claire spent many hours practising singing with Marley as they were entered in a competition up in Milton, mid-month. They did very well, but I don't think Claire will be doing it again. It was a great experience - once.
- We had our introduction to elite hockey at the OTTF Spring Classic tournament at the start of the month. So wonderful to get to know the parents from our new team and a few more people too! Even better? A treat to have my dad come out and watch Cole.
- While at the OTTF Tournament in Downsview we took a bit of a trip north to visit Pro Hockey Life. I'd never heard of it before and I have to say WOW, was it impressive. A 'big box' all-hockey store. Amazing. We will continue to do most of our purchasing at CLP Sports, a small business in Clarkson, but WOW, Pro Hockey was overwhelming!
- Chloe's choir season wound down with one last performance over at Clearview Church on the 29th. She had such a great year and thoroughly enjoyed singing and learning theory. She has a rich and strong alto voice which will only get better in time and with practice.
- Mother's Day was celebrated a week late so that my step-sister Andrea and her family could join in the festivities. She and her family moved back to Canada from Chicago mid-month. I'm thrilled they've decided to settle here in Oakville.
- While we were at Mother's Day Redux in Toronto, Louis and Cole were at the FINALS of the Bauer Pro Hockey Shoot Out at the Westwood Arenas where Cole's BTNL team, against all expectation, won the whole thing! They managed to make it to the house to say "hi" to everyone and stay for a while.
- Caden makes us all smile. He lives in the land of happy. Never too serious for too long. He is a good student, just not a serious one. He is a good athlete, just not a serious one. He is a good kid, just not a serious one. Love him to bits :)
- The month was filled with logistic conflicts with Cole holding integral roles as lead in the school play (High School Musical); 8th man on the rugby team; 1st string linebacker on his football team and defenceman on his hockey team. Seasons starting and ending. I don't know how he manages to do it all so well.
- Chloe continues to grow out her hair - we need it to be long enough to cut off 10 inches and still leave some hair on her head! It could be a long wait this summer.
- Caden is on a summer 3on3 team over at Joshua Creek and continues to be the player covered with the most snow at the end of the game. Every game.
- The latest debacle in the Gulf, and the reaction, just further solidifies my belief that Obama is incompetent and out of touch.
- Claire came home from her first rugby practice referring to it as her "calling". She loves everything about it: the tackling, scoring tries, drop kicking. She came home and peeled off her new cleats and socks to reveal major painful blisters. Not a word of complaint. She couldn't wait to go out again. Rugby? Who knew?
- Cole thoroughly enjoys his training at BTNL and we can really see a change in his physique. He's growing up too fast! It is becoming more noticeable with every passing week.
- I found this brilliant idea for keeping these review posts ... with photos ... in an album. I'm going to try my hand at an 8.5" x 11" version as a nice challenge! Kind of incorporating both the 365 Project idea and make them tangible, hold-in-your hand-able. With some ephemera tossed in for fun!
- The G20 summit is to be held in Toronto. Chaos has already started. Expensive chaos.
- 100%. That's what Claire got on her song writing assignment. I love her passion.
- The Habs had a good run.
- Caden still insists on wearing white sweat socks - pulled up to his knees. Clearly some kind of fashion statement - devoid of any fashion sense!
- I love that Chloe is forever friends with Olivia. Things are a bit different now that we don't live five doors away from each other, but every weekend Chloe asks to play with her friend.
- Starting the Tuesday after Victoria Day, Claire was fully involved in ASCENT. I am so proud of her and her focus, determination and drive. Part of ASCENT includes Guidance and Service. Her service day took her and a group of kids to do yard work for the Kerr Street Ministries. She was covered in dirt from head to toe. She looked great and you could tell she was proud of a successful, and physically exhausting, day.
- Self-control and patience are not my strongest characteristics. But, I did forego purchase of an iPad when they went on sale in Canada on May 28th.
- HOT and STEAMY is what it's been like around here for the last half of the month. Auntie Andrea kindly invited us to their new pool to cool off a bit. Chloe, our mermaid, was more than thrilled. She's not a fan of the lake - too cold!
- Caden turned 10. I have no babies left!
- Cole and his Titan team had their very first football game. We all went into Toronto as a family to cheer the team as they played St. Mike's.The Titans beat the Argos 28-0 and Cole was recognized for his contribution.
- Gardening has been a primary focus: a half dozen cedars are ready to be planted in the back yard; hours have been spent weeding; and we're still deciding whether or not to bring down the I-think-it-might-be-dead blue spruce in the front.
- Between hockey games, football games, rugby games, I took over 10,000 photos this month.
- We still have no cleaning ladies. I'd give us, as a family, a C+. Maybe next month there will be more time to focus on the house rather than our habit of drop-and-go.
- I'm still working on the Boost Energy portion of my Happiness Project. I will using June to continue my efforts. Who says I have to do the project "by the book", right?
- Reality TV comings and goings. Goodbye Survivor, American Idol, Amazing Race and Dancing With The Stars. Hello Bachelorette, So You Think You Can Dance and Hell's Kitchen.
Since just about everything wound down in May, I anticipate very little activity in June. Or, less demanding, scheduled, intense activity. I'm thinking of buying a couple of kayaks so when olders get out of school (June 18) they can spend time on the lake. I'm planning a few picnics under the big tree. Taking the youngers to the park. Bike rides through the neighbourhood and down to the harbour. Playing with my camera and writing, a lot! All of those things will be part of our summer "schedule". Wonderful. The slower pace is welcome.
