Hallowe'en creeps closer

We have decided that for this Hallowe'en - perhaps our last, as Sebastian is starting to say he is "too old" - we would have a family theme to our costumes. Thus, we welcome you all to Harry Potter's world. Here we have Dobby the house elf and Hermione Granger. 

Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall to follow (plus our house all decorated).

Owns the podium

It was the ski buy & sell over the weekend and our skiing mountain goat couldn't resist a deal. Thus the team came home with 4 pairs! I hope there is lots of snow in the snow belt this year (not the city, please).

Round trip in a week

I nipped to Ethiopia last week, as one does. Pretty amazed that Ethiopian Airlines flies non-stop Toronto-Addis Ababa

I have held research and policy consultations in many places, but few so lovely as this church

The dilemma of every trip - when there is just one "bought for the plane journey" sweetie left to last X amount of days...

A welcome view and sound from my hotel window

Had to stop for coffee! (at an Italianesque chain)

This poster brought back vivid memories of a Grade 5 project I did with my pal Nadine

Even Ethiopia has a (elite/private) high school robotics team!

Addis has happily accepted Chinese investment

including new light rail

3 weeks in and it was very efficient, clean and well-patrolled by police (but not ticket inspectors) - and notice that there is NO advertising

with more money pouring in

and then 5 1/2 days later, having eaten well and listened to many voices, it was time to head home

where the new airport train is over-priced and empty

Monday wasn't the only election in Canada, you know

This guy

I mean this guy has been elected Grade 7 rep by his peers.

Bravo, Sebastian!! 

He is rightfully 'chuffed'.

Alberta skies - Part II

The trip wasn't only about Canads's history but our family's too. So there was plenty of time to revel in stories and love from the grandparents

visit the house where Dad lived when he was 3 

and meet the rellies - who are magicians in disguise

3 generations

Sophie's amazement at discovering this wonderful great-great-aunt

Alberta skies - part I

For an early birthday present, Sophie (and Taryn) travelled to Calgary and Banff with her grandparents. Here are some of the best photos of that gorgeous setting (and there were many!).

encountering a typewriter for the first time

someone got fancy with the camera!

ever the good student

and the clown

Peace-inducing

Happy to be outdoors; a paddle is just a different kind of stick with the Humber river a different kind of trail

Long weekend

It started off with some vegetarian French onion soup and the first use of our set of mini cake pans + food dye

It reminded us of French macaroons

preparing Thanksgiving's nut roast

the nut roast on our decorated table

Getting the vote out

Headed to the McMichael gallery for a brief but wonderful visit with some BC friends (last seen 3 months ago in Spain) 

Doing tai chi by the outdoor sculptures

Strolling the easy trails in gorgeous sunny and warm weather

Oh and cheering for those Blue Jays!

He is a busy boy

Seb needs to keep very busy and then have fallow periods of significant down time (i.e. playmobil, magic cards, reading in bed, video games, tv). So in addition to his first professional massage, which was "awesome", here is some of what he has been up to this month.

Concentrating at his school's robotics club

Testing their robot

campaigning for student representative

Canoeing on the Humber with the Sea Scouts

Plus improv and soon archery at school, and gymnastics, swimming and acting classes after school. And then Saturday morning biathlon starts up in a week or so... This is not life in le petit village!