End-of-School Activities

School ended at the end of June here, so I'm tardy in getting a few of these pictures posted.

Track & Field Day was a lot of fun, and we had GREAT weather, but I didn't take my camera.

With Sam's class we went to Old MacDonald's Farm. This is a popular campground that's about an hour away, where there are lots of kid-friendly things to do. Some of the families went up the night before with their camper trailers and stayed a couple days, and we met them there.

There was a merry-go-round,


mini golf,
a place for large groups to eat their food,


and a few farm animals, too!



There were also some (self-propelled) go-carts you could take around the property that were lots of fun, and a playground. And there was ice cream, of course.


On the last day of kindergarten they had a small, very nice graduation ceremony. Madame Terry had each child stand on a stool next her her, handed them a scrapbook of their work, and spoke about how they had grown throughout the year, what their strengths were, and a funny fact or incident that had occurred. It was very sweet.


And here he was with Madame Irene, the Educational Assistant in the classroom, who also happened to be the grandmother of one of Andy's classmates.


I went on a couple of field trips with Andy's class. To the pool, then to the little ice cream shop, and on a different day to the Ukrainian Catholic Church, but didn't take my camera. But I did get a picture of Andy and Madame Meadows, on one of the last days.

It was a truly great school year all around!

Andy Turns Nine!

Andy turned nine a little over a week ago, and we had his party a little early, as his birthday fell on a Tuesday. He's not a huge cake fan, so we went the giant cookie-cake route. We have no All-American Cookie Companies here (go figure), or anyone else that I know of that make cookie cakes, so we did it ourselves.


The boys played, ate pizza, and watched one of favorite all-time movies, The Sandlot.


On his actual birthday, we had pulled-pork sandwiches and some cake. Which he happily ate. Maybe he's coming around to cake. He even lit his own birthday candles. I instinctively reached to take the lighter from him, and he objected with, "But I light the candles at church when I alter serve!" Um, yeah, sometimes you do. Um, okay. I guess.


He thoroughly enjoyed his candle-lighting.

Happy Birthday, Andy!! We love you! :o)

Sam turns SIX!!

Sam turned six years old earlier this week.


We had his party at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, where they have lots of interactive sports activities, and reasonable birthday party prices.

I spent a lot of time in the front area, where the cake, presents, snacks, coats, and more importantly, my purse were. But I ran around a few times to take some pictures.

Waiting patiently for a turn.


Climbing the never-ending climbing wall.

Trying out skeleton.


The putting green.

Wheel-chair racing.

The mini-curling table.


Singing Happy Birthday to the guest of honor.


His party was a couple days before his actual birthday. So on his real birthday, he was special helper at school, and we made whoopie pies (kinda like giant, homemade Oreos) to hand out as a special birthday snack in class. I saved four for us at home; he had fun sticking six candles into one whoopie pie.


Plus, we had LOTS of leftover birthday cake, to boot! Happy Birthday, Happy Boy.

Sam lost his first tooth!

Cheese!


CHEESE!!


He likes sticking his tongue in the space and saying, "Look! I have a pink tooth!"

First Day of School 2010

Today was Sam's first day of Kindergarten with Madame Terry, and Andy's first day of Grade 3 with Madame Meadows.

Aside from Sam, enrolled in the every morning half-day program, not being happy that he didn't get to stay all day like Andy, they both seemed to have a good time.

Andy Turns 8!

Andy chose a John Deere cake this year. Sobey's was kind enough to make it for me.


And the party was at LazerForce, our local lazer tag facility. I didn't take any pictures of them playing lazer tag, because it was pretty dark, and only those playing were allowed in. But here are a few shots from the cozy party room that we were assigned upstairs.

Having fun with party favors.


Andy and Sam gelled their hair into a mohawk as a special hairdo for the party.


Patiently waiting for cake.

The birthday boy with the cake right before we sang.

Wait - just one more!


Make a wish!

Lastly a group shot back downstairs before everyone went home. On the last round of tag there was a group of older kids in there so it turned into a kids vs. teenagers battle, which apparently was SO AWESOME!!!

Sam turns FIVE!

We celebrated Sam's 5th birthday with a party at the gymnasium. Everyone had much fun, and got lots of energy out running and climbing and jumping.

Here are the kiddos listening attentively to the coach's instructions.


And then the mayhem began!

Foam pit.


Parallel bars.
Jumping over...... something.

A snack to refuel after all that exercise. (Present-opening followed this, but we have no photo documentation.)


And then we had cake!


I'm not positive, but I think Sam may have been letting everyone know to keep their breath to themselves, as HE was the one who would be blowing out the candles.


Me trying to push him back a bit, as to not get spittle on the cake.


A couple times this week Sam has told me, "I don't feel five. I still feel like I'm four." I guess we'll have to wait and see how long it takes for five to sink in.