Grab them when you can

Quick hugs as Mum zooms through Montreal early-September

 

You've got this, Sophie

Settling into her dorm room and new life as a university student in Montreal! We love you, Sophie!!

 

Readying for McGill

Happy to find her Mum's McGill diploma before setting out to get her own

Earning some cash for university with some gardening work

Wedge in hat & Desigual top 2.0

 

UFA Commencement 2024

Graduation ceremony / commencement

 

Gramps & Nana made a special trip

Everyone was on hand for a special late brunch

And then tea and memories on Fern

Our graduate - here's to 4 years!!

Our UFA graduate & recipient of community of learners and leadership awards

 

From first day of school to last

 14 years and here she is - on the cusp of university! It's been wonderful to see her grow & learn, make friends (decide some people aren't for her), take up challenges (lay others down), volunteer, try out sports, compete, collaborate, cooperate, strive, and learn when & how to rest. 

A big thank you to all the teachers and support staff at The Grove, Delta & Ursula Franklin - and of course, Mme Natalie in le petit village.

And yes, it's time to retire that skirt!

Oh what a night, what a lilac delight!

Heading out to Prom 2024!

Ready with Rigsel and her new strappy shoes

The group convened at Henry's

Always time for a snap with Lena

That's our girl - ready to dance on the party bus in her beautiful, backless dress!

The summary was: she danced; fun was had; she did indeed see the sun rise over lake Ontario: and everyone made it home safely!

But the backstory had some great details - like the Grade 12 rugby players were in the final tournament the day before and of prom! But they were fairly confident they wouldn't get through the first round, so skipped the Monday night hotel and dashed home to prep. That - for Sophie - meant getting her lilac nails done ASAP!

It was the season of finals for the athletes and Sophie's boyfriend, Rigsel, was also in the year-end tournament (for soccer). At one point, he was scheduled to play the morning after prom! Fortunately, that wasn't required.

Sophie had put in countless volunteer hours on the seating (a thankless task if there ever was one), name cards, decorating and more. Hopefully, more photos will emerge of the Palais Royale with the UFA Class of 2024!

Let this day be marked

There is no photographic evidence but today marks the start of youngest's final term at high school... and she drove herself to school - having backtracked to pick up dear Lena (of course!)

Short list

 These are on the short list. I get college vibes with the cap and legal ones without; what about you? 

The winner will be announced later this Spring....

Grade 9 retreat

 Yes, you read that right. Grade 9 retreat. Sophie didn't have hers when she started high school but that didn't stop her and a team of resilient Grade 12s from organising a smashing 3 day retreat for incoming Grade 9s. I won't share photos of them here but a few non-identifiable highlights.

Back to school(s) for Sophie

It was back to school (last edition) for our Grade 12 this Tuesday (traditional dinner of choice was: a salad and a dessert pizza!)

 

And then back to dance school on Saturday - just 3 classes a week + YMI + Nutcracker....

She decided to semi-formal

She looked gorgeous in her new dress (Simon's for the win!)
and comfortable in her borrowed (!) hightops

And could she be a teen in 2023 without the bathroom selfie?!

It seems like it was a load of fun with a pile of friends 

and good memories of great dance moves abound

 

It's true

There are far more photos of Sophie than her sibling this year - but she is still living at home! 

We love you, Sebba!!

How Sophie's school days go

 

Sophie and her main partner in crime!

The running genes don't come from the maternal side but we get to claim the sports gear nevertheless!

Attacking the advent calendar

 

In October

Sophie ran and ran and advanced one level in the run-offs. Yay, galpal!!

Dad was there to cheer her on (and our immediate neighbour Lindsay who coaches at another high school)

OK, this was actually September...

Pals convened for some fun and dinner!

First day of Grade 11 - oh my!

For her back to school "meal", the high schooler opted for dessert pizza again!

 

Getting to the essence of "iconic Sophie"

So of course, Seb goes to the arty school, but it's Sophie's schoolmate who knocks it out of the park with some random sketches of our glorious girl. They catch her personality so well they take my breath away.