- Auntie Andrea with Uncle Steve and their little people moved to Oakville! We were so happy they joined us at Cole's performance as Chad in High School Musical. I was so thrilled to have them willingly attend! Cole was awesome as were all the other students.
- Chloe had her re-audition for the Oakville Children's Choir and she can't wait to get started again in September. Claire will also be auditioning to join the senior choir next year since she has no room in her school schedule to take music.
- Right after Cole "blew" his french exam, his word, we received a note from the school suggesting that he be evaluated to go into another class - the advanced course, for next year. I hope he blew all of his exams like that!
- I received an invitation to participate someplace wonderful. But it's a secret. I'll let you know all about it as soon as I'm allowed!
- Claire went to Lake Tamagami with a group of classmates. A week of wet, bugs and having to "pee in a hole" - judging from her photos on Facebook she had a wonderful time. She shared lots of stories and I have no doubt the best ones will be those we never hear :)
- Creativity Boot Camp was a wonderful experience. It was two intense weeks of virtually-meeting new people and learning new things. My brain is spinning with possibilities! Love me a good creative kick in the pants.
- Chloe had her last recording session at the Appleby College chapel - guess what everyone is getting next Christmas? :)
- Cole and his BTNL team played in the Ronald McDonald tournament in Toronto. So wonderful the experience of the boys playing with other elite teams. A joy to watch all of the boys.
- Caden had a project to do. Dugongs. What is with my kids and their love of marine mammals? He really wanted to do his project on Narwals but Ryan "stole" his idea.
- Claire and Cole really enjoy their new kayaks and I really enjoy watching them teach Chloe and Caden how to be comfortable in them on the water. It is so nice to know they can get along!
- I am enjoying a whole new hockey experience. Cole is thriving and learning. That's all I ever wanted.
- People who create jealous and petty children are really dangerous, not just to their kids, but to mine as well. Just give your head a shake, stop and grow up. Set a better example for your children.
- Cole is enjoying football. I'm just enjoying that his schedule has been reduced now that there is no rugby or play rehearsal through June. He is making the rounds - linebacker to half back to corner back. He misses being a linebacker - too much running and not enough hitting at corner!
- Chloe turned 11 mid-month. I still can't believe it.
- We finally celebrated Caden's birthday, better late than never! The original plan was to go to Marineland, but we didn't want to risk the weather, so we took the kids to Cora's for breakfast then on to the movies. Karate Kid for the youngers and the A Team for the olders.
- Louis accompanied Cole and the Titan team to Sarnia on a wet and windy day - well, wet and windy here, not there, thank goodness! Our team was "schooled" and lost a painful 55-14 trounce.
- Chloe enjoyed a full day at Canada's Wonderland with her forever friend Olivia. Olivia was celebrating her birthday and asked Chloe along. It was the day after Chloe's birthday and she was delighted to go. It turns out she is a roller coaster girl, a real daredevil, and loves the Behemoth!
- Marianas Trench is a favourite band in this house. Claire and her friends took themselves off to the Sound of Music Festival in Burlington where Cole met up with them after his football practice. A wonderful night.
- The commencement ceremony at Appleby was long and hot and fruitful. Claire finally earned her Optimates (honours) after much hard work and dedication; Cole didn't just win the Athletics award but the Arts award as well. We are so very proud of them both.
- Alex Corrance was a minor hockey player who died of a heart problem while on the ice at the age of 17, this was in 2006. BTNL sponsors a ball hockey tournament held in the parking lot at Ice Sports in support of his memorial fund. Cole and members of his hockey team participated this year. Cole's group was knocked out in the semi finals. All of the boys followed up the tournament with a pot luck and swim party at the Song's house. The perfect end to a wonderful day!
- I really do not like gossips, they really are unkind.
- Our friends opened their shop in downtown Oakville. Gorgeous stuff!
- Father's Day was spent with Louis taking Cole to hockey lessons then off to watch Cole in Barrie playing football, I stayed in Oakville taking Caden to 3on3 and Claire to rugby. We then joined friends at the pub for a Father's Day dinner, fun!
- Claire played host to a number of friends at a Slip 'n' Slide party in our back yard. The kids were great and it was a fun afternoon with lots of water, lots of music, lots of voices and laughter ... oh and pizza, freezies and ice cream! And rain, but you know, wet is wet.
- Claire enjoyed her first rugby game, a total departure from playing baseball.
- We posted the "House Rules" after some negotiation. I finished reading "35 Things Your Teen Won't Tell You, So I Will" by Ellen Pober Rittberg. Scary stuff! With fingers crossed I hope I'm on the right path.
- Our gorgeous 3-storey blue spruce which was dead the top 10-12 feet was removed, and stumped. According to Chloe, who counted the rings, it was 28 years old. The thing with removing one problem is that it creates a whole new set of issues. We had the tree guy come in and they're going through the whole property to remove and prune. We'll see what's left in the fall!
- The G8 and the G20 were held in the GTA and area. It was a tense and distressing few days. I'm happy for anyone able to get themselves out of town and relieved that we have no reason to go to Toronto or cottage country.
- Report cards came through and the kids are all doing well with very strong marks. We are so proud of all of them. They really do represent four points on a compass and I'm always feeling like I'm going in different directions. They just choose different routes to their As and Bs.
- It was so nice to have Wimbledon tennis on during the day. And the US Open Golf at Pebble Beach? The best!
- Claire closed off the month taking care of Nicholas for 3 days. He is a lovely autistic boy, a child of a friend of ours who needs some help while she's a way and her husband is in charge.
- Louis spent his 48th birthday at a MOHA meeting where he raised his hand and is now the senior convener for Minor and Major PeeWee divisions. He has 2 years left on the board and he's already got it jam packed with stuff to do!
- As for me? Pick a project! Between Dream Lab, Project Photography, Frogs, Red Strings and 70-Days, my creative life has not slowed down. Indeed, it has picked up steam!
As I mentioned in this post a couple of days ago, I'll be slowing down the blog a bit in order to spend some time with the kids, and turn our massive "to do" into a big "ta da"! I'll pop in now and again when the mood - and time - strikes. In essence, the blog will slow, but life will not!
