Our growing duo

If they can still squeeze on, they do. :-)

More of that splendid gal

As I post this, our goofy gal is in Alberta enjoying a special trip with her Gramps and Nana. I am sure there will be loads of snaps from their 4 days - but until then, I hope you enjoy these.

Sophie, her own skis and her own cheering squad

goofing around at the shops

eating a treat

He seems to be fitting in nicely at middle school

Our busy weekend

Our annual jog around High Park for a fantastic cause

If you want to sponsor Sophie through her school run later this week, click here.

The kids in motion (yes, that girl really does smile that much)

Chatting with her best buddy in France, whilst her brother had 3 different friends over to play in 2 days.

I forgot to take a snap of us at Mary Poppins (a fabulous production at a small theatre) but we did get out to the annual Polish festival that takes over our high street every September.

Enjoying the late night buzz (and lots and lots of peirogies)

Taking the festival by storm

He spent much of it in the closet - putting in an organizer system

Sophie the splendid

Growing up fast and fabulously 

Meeting a colour-coordinated mosaic public art pig in Bath!

Dancing to her own inner rhythms 

At home in the woods

La rentree 2015

And so, the summer holidays have come to a close. 

After a restless and muggy night, the kids headed off to their new schools this morning.

Seb started Grade 7 (yup, middle school, junior high, high school, call it what you will) at Toronto Ouest. As ever, he was eager to start something new.

Sophie was gutted to learn that she didn't have a spot at her old school, though she is on the wait list in case someone fails to turn up. Some kind classmates are organizing a petition to the principal to get her enrolled again (the school does promote activism). In the meantime, she had to face a new set of faces at our local school. She was our star today, smiling warmly at anyone who made eye contact with her on the playground.

Taking the town by storm

The cousins were in town over the long weekend and we had a terrific time showing them around

Toronto Island on a gloriously sunny day

cool kids gather at the back of the bus

Whilst having a tour of CBC, they almost got on air!

directing The National 

Skyping the grandparents - and swapping jokes

Visiting - Montreal style

The last leg of our family holiday was a visit to Montreal. The 16 hours road-trip from western to eastern Ontario and beyond were spent finishing Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler, and Scarlet Ibis - all recommended reads - plus eating samples of 2 of the 4 finalists in the national chip/crisp flavour competition (it seems tasting wacky crisp flavours comes from my British roots). So far, we have tried Ontario's Butter Chicken (so so) and Montreal Smoked Meat (delish); we aim to try the PEI scalloped potatoes with "the cousins" (you know, to celebrate their Maritime roots), and then finish it with the Calgary BBQ baked beans next month!

You are right, that's Ottawa. But it was en route

Using her grandmother's tea pot for the first time

Grandma takes a spin in her egg chair.