Great start to the summer holidays

Thursday was the last day of school and great fun was had. First at the Grade 4 class party and then seeing a terrific production of Cats with another family from school (who we hope to visit in Amsterdam when they move there in the New Year!)

Our lovely dancing crossing guard had freezies for all

Meeting Old Deuteronomy

3 happy theatregoers

Why Sophie's lips ended up grey!

Closing circle

Last Day of School !!!! (and work for some)

Seb's class sings the Teddybear song for the school's closing circle in their pyjamas.

I have a lovely version of it that I will try to send out individually.

Pyjama day for Sophie's class too - note the fancy French PJs.

And a certain someone wore his "loudest" shirt to work today as a not-so-subtle message that he is clearing his desk at work and nothing much else. 13 months of leave are calling loudly.
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Update : Someone wanted a shot of the "loudest" shirt, so here it is recycling his desk (so to speak)

and here is a shot of the boys in Seb's class - all 5 of them, which can make it a bit tough. 

One less next year.

Wrapping up the school year

Seems like every class has a party within school hours and another outside of school hours; the after-school program threw a bash today; the school had its annual solstice day in the park; there are the summer birthdays that need to be celebrated early; throw in a "Year will go by in a blink of an eye" party for Sophie and 6 friends, plus a trip to see the musical Cats with another family and it is an exhausting last week of school (especially when you factor in that parents need to attend student-led conferences, closing circles and concerts, volunteer at special events and provide special snacks, etc).

But it's been fun!

Singing at Summer solstice

Our wonderful hippy school celebrating the sun

More chemicals = less allergens

Not sure what my excuse is for her...

After-school programme - guess which one is Seb...

Dedicated readers

Volume 3 of the Grimm Sisters

Sophie is working her way through the 9 volume series!

Meanwhile, Sebastian placed a hold on a library copy of the 3rd instalment of his series but after 2 1/2 weeks his patience wore out and he spent his saved allowance to buy it (hardback and all!).

Blooms of abundance

Too bad I taught the kids to remember their name by remembering "Pee on knees". Sigh.

Dinner date on Danforth

Saganaki - Sophie exclaimed every time it was lit on fire on the patio

The loveliest of dinner dates

Post-dinner bookshop stop

Happy Father's Day, Darth Vader and Princess Leia

Compliments

I took Sophie shopping at a big mall this weekend. The following exchange took place at the cash register:

Cashier to Sophie: I like your dress.

Sophie to cashier: Thank you. [pause] I like your earrings.

Cashier to Sophie: I like your manners.

Me to cashier: Thank you. 

We enter a whole new world of parenting

On 17 June 2013 08:53, Seb wrote

From: Seb XXXXX

To: Joanna YYYYY

Re: here it is!

thanks for the account mum. I shall tell my friends to tell their parents to contact you about my e-mail

love seb

On 17 June 2013 08:51, Joanna wrote:

Dear Seb

Here is your first email. I will send you many more over the years.

I love you

me

PS remember to always write politely back to your mother.

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He will only start to use the account once we arrive in France, but he wanted to set up so he could give the address out to his classmates.

Lovely evening in the park

Friday night supper at Dufferin Grove with friends (plus lovely 2 year old neighbour Ollie who kept stopping at our picnic blanket to taste all our food).

We were back at the park this morning to welcome new families to our community school with crafts and games and baked goods and button-making.

Then off in separate directions for a birthday party, Middle Eastern lunch, some shopping, a massage - you name it - before meeting up for Ethiopian dinner and some play time with another family (we have started the month-long round of farewells).

Found my camera!

Actually Sophie found it for me. Too bad it doesn't have any shots of the kids living their awesome childhoods. But it does have these lovely snaps of Singapore and its orchids...

Notes from the heart

Our dear neighbour and friend, John, had to have a little surgery for a hockey injury. The kids sent him these lovely get-better-soon notes.

What we missed

You all missed this terrific event on Saturday. Turned out that I missed it too - downed by a migraine. :(