Canada Day

Today is Canada Day, so it is fitting that I reflect upon my trip to Canada today. It's also not-so-fitting a day for it, since we were visiting Quebec. Quebec's national holiday is the Feast of St. John the Baptist (La St. Jean-Baptiste), celebrated on June 24. The day we left. Yeah, that was some poor trip-planning research on our parts. It would have been nice to have been there on that day, not flying out of the airport in the A.M.!

We arrived in Montreal late the first night, walked from our hotel to find a bite to eat, and slept in! Umbrella in hand (and good thing, too), we walked down to Vieux Montreal ("Old Montreal") to have a look around.

We saw lovely old buildings and a stunning basilica. Basilique Notre-Dame has a main altar that, due to the sheer size, detail, and dramatic blue lighting, can't be adequately captured on camera.


There is also a newer chapel (where they hold regular services) that is made of different shades of wood. We took pictures of the stations of the cross to show Katie, since we thought she would be interested in the French.



What really struck me about the basilica were the stained glass windows depicting scenes from Montreal's history. I was unaware that Catholicism had played such a large role in the founding, and was really struck by it. They looked like the Pilgrims, but they were Catholics!

That day in Montreal, we also enjoyed a delicious lunch in a sandwicherie/cafe (smoked salmon sandwiches, homemade minty lemonade, amazing brownie, and "Jazz in the 80's"), hiding out from a rain squall (in a Starbucks-yeesh), exploring narrow cobblestone streets, historic structures such as the Hotel de Ville (City Hall), a nap back at the hotel, a delicious dinner back in Vieux Montreal at Gibby's (mussels, steaks, lemon sorbet for the palate, their famous pickles, and for dessert? Hot apple croûte with ice cream and caramel), and a nighttime stroll back to our hotel through both old and new sections of the city.





The next morning, we slept in kinda-sorta, found a bakery for a divine cinnamon roll and flavorful fresh squeezed OJ breakfast, and then headed out of our hotel and over to Montreal's Olympic Stadium area on our way to Quebec City. We wandered around in the Botanical Garden and Insectarium, as well as riding the stadium's funicular to take in the sweeping view.





Eric drove us to Quebec City, and I will admit to you that at this point, I was experiencing nerves.

You may wonder why. Why would I be nervous about Quebec City on my anniversary vacation? I agree, it's silly. I worry too much.

Some part of me was worried that Quebec City wouldn't live up to my memory of it from 15 years ago. It's a cherished memory, one I didn't want tarnished if the city was not quite as amazing as I remembered. Maybe I had built it up in my memory all these years. Maybe no place can live up to that standard...

And what if the reality made the fantasy in my head disappear and fade away? I couldn't verbalize it at the time, but I was uneasy during that drive that day.

Stay tuned to see how it turned out...

Big Day(s)!

Today was Julianna and Nick's first day at Camp Calvary! This was the first time Nick has been a Calvary preschooler!

He was nervous and did not want to let go of Mommy. Katie played with magnetic blocks with him for a few minutes, and then we showed him the toy cars. After a few more minutes, he was able to say goodbye!

When we arrived to pick him up, he was playing with a Monster Truck and did not want to leave. Ms. Belinda said he could borrow it and bring it back on Thursday, and he was very excited! He has been clutching the Monster Truck and talking about Ms. Belinda ever since.

His friend Sean was in the class too, and was having no trouble embracing his first day!


Eric and I leave Wednesday morning for Quebec! We'll be home Tuesday. This trip is our gift to each other for our 10th Anniversary (yes, we know this year was our 11th...) and we're looking forward to spending this time together.

The Secret Lives of Sisters

Every night at bedtime I read a chapter of a book (right now it's Ramona the Pest) and kiss two girls goodnight in two separate beds.

Frequently, the next morning I find this:



These sisters have a secret life. I have discovered that they sometimes read together for a while longer after lights out (I do sometimes hear the giggling), by the lights of the Disney Princess dolls that glow for a few seconds after you squeeze them. Can't you just see them together in the bed, squeezing their dolls every 30 seconds so they can see their book?

Daddy and I don't let on that we know about this. They think they're being sneaky, which I think adds to their fun!

This is just what I have found out about. I'm sure they've got other secrets together!...

...Isn't that wonderful?

Nick and the Beanstalk

At Parent Ed in mid-to-late-April, the special activity was planting bean seeds in a plastic bag. Nick planted his seeds in the soil against the side of the baggie, so that he could see them sprout. It was fun to watch their roots sprout, followed shortly by their stems. After a while, they looked like this:


Mommy figured they were probably too big for the baggie, and it was time to plant them outside. Since they were pole beans, Mommy had to first get them something to climb on. Soon, Nick and Mommy got to work:

(photos by Julianna)

Here is how they looked that first morning (May 7), right after the transplant from the baggie:


Then, they withered. I think I transplanted them too late; they really did not do well for a couple of weeks. I thought I would be buying a new climbing plant for that pot.

But then, things started looking better! On May 27, I could see that they were going to make it, so I fastened them to the trellis with red twist-ties:


They really responded to the trellis! They sent vines up the poles, as you can see in this photo from June 4:


I loved watching them climb up the poles. They seemed to really respond to the feel of the poles, growing around and around the poles as if enveloping them in an ever-tighter hug. Just like children, they flourish when their sense of touch is triggered. You can see it in this photo:



These next two photos were taken on June 10. They have grown taller than the trellis. Now what are they going to do?



And this photo was taken on June 12. The vines growing over the top of the trellis are even longer, and are growing around each other as if the other vines are the poles! Now they're hugging each other!


But where will they go from here?

Hey, Nick's Beans! It's time to stop growing up and start growing beans, whadda ya say?

The Dance Recital!

Last Saturday was the dance recital for the Vibe Studio, where the girls have been taking dance lessons since January. Since Ballet Petit's recital last June resulted in my needing a break from dance classes for six months, I for one was relieved that the Vibe only rehearsed during the regular class time... and allowed the performers to come into the audience and watch the show when they were not needed on stage. (I will admit that the show was nowhere near as professional as the Ballet Petit show)

The girls had a lot of fun and felt like stars, which is what we're going for at this stage! Julianna had a wonderful smile during her entire dance, and only had to look at her teacher in the wings a few times (in other words, she remembered the dance fairly well). Katie had to work harder to keep a smile on her face, as she tends to have a look of concentration. She identified that smiling was something she had to think about, and did so with tremendous success! She looked terrific. And, her class knew their choreography!

They were so honored to have many fans in the audience! It was so special to them to see that Darell & Kathryn, Wendy & Jon, and "Tall Katie" had come to see them!

Katie and Emma were in a tap number called "You Can't Stop the Beat" from "Hairspray," and Julianna and Sara did a ballet to "Beauty and the Beast." Just look at these faces! (The makeup sure makes them look older, doesn't it?)







Photography was not allowed during the performance, but I snapped these during the dress rehearsal on Thursday. They are a bit blurry, but I think they're fun anyway:

(Julianna is the far right dancer)

(Katie is second from the left)

(Katie is the left-most dancer)

A real goodbye

Yesterday was the last day of Nick's Parent Ed class. Not only that, it was MY last Parent Ed class, after nearly eight years.

Nick's teacher this year has been "Teacher Judy." I have been in her class with all three of my children, at some age level or another. I gave her a note today, in which I wrote about all that I have gained by taking her classes.

Nick picked out a gift for her: A Parrot puppet and a Hermit Crab puppet.



"Teacher Judy" has the most unique Song Time. From her funny versions of "Open and Shut Them" and "If You're Happy and You Know It" (the kids' favorite is "If You're Scared and You Know It") to her many puppets and the songs she has made up about them, it seems to have been Nick's favorite part of class.

Normally a painfully shy child, even with old friends, he loves those puppet songs so much that he actually sings them! Out loud! and goes up to the front to give them a pat! With other kids around!

So you can see what it meant to him, and to me, to give "Teacher Judy" a couple of new puppets. She could definitely see it -- she told us that when she makes up songs for these new puppets, she will mail them to us. And she told me that she noticed that he came out of his shell for the puppets and their songs; and she really loved seeing that side of him. She is a special person.

Some of the puppets Nick loved this year are:

I have patches on my eyes, I have stripes on my tail
Some say that I'm a thief, but I've never been in jail
I sleep all day and I wake with the moon
Who Am I? .... I'm a raccoon!


Three Nice Mice
Three Nice Mice
See how they run
See how they run
They're always polite when they nibble their cheese
They never forget to say "Thank you" and "Please"
They cover their mouths whenever they sneeze
Three Nice Mice


Oh I'm a Lovely Green Iguana, sitting in the sun
A Lovely Green Iguana, I smile at everyone
I have a crest running down my back
I eat lots of bugs, and then I take a nap
Oh I'm a Lovely Green Iguana, sitting in the sun
A Lovely Green Iguana, and now my song is done


I have a pet gorilla, Mathilda is her name
Mathilda likes to sing all day, and this is what Mathilda sang:
"Ooh ooh ooh ooh ah ah ah,
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ah ah ah,
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ah ah ah,
Ooh ooh ah ah ah."


"Mmm aa" went the little green frog one day
"Mmm aa" went the little green frog,
"Mmm aa" went the little green frog one day
"Mmm aa mmm aa mmm aa aa aa."
All the other froggies went, "fro dee oh dee oh dee oh,
fro dee oh dee oh dee oh,"
All the other froggies went, "fro dee oh dee oh dee oh,"
Except for the little green frog, who went,
"mmm aa mmm aa mmm aa aa aa."


First he runs and then he walks, in the water, on the rocks.
Eight little legs go clickety-clack, hurry forward, scurry back
Little crabs live by the sea, I watch them and they watch me


Fuzzy little caterpillar, with eyes so big and wide,
Something says, "it's time! It's time! Find a place to hide!"
Stretching and growing and stretching and changing,
Something says, "it's time! It's time! To come outside and fly!
You're a beautiful butterfly!"


Alligator, Crocodile, we are quite alike
If you get too close to us, we will surely bite
Alligator, Crocodile, I'm fast and I am strong
My teeth are sharp, my hide is tough, my tail is very long
Alligator, Crocodile, would you like a ride?
Don't you dare say "yes" to me, or you'll soon be inside

Julianna's last day of preschool

Last Friday was Julianna's last day in Room 2 at Calvary Preschool. In September, she'll be movin' on to Kindergarten!!

They held their "end-of-year party" the Friday before, so it had been a week of celebrations!

Julianna brought plants to give her teachers, Mrs. Shallcross and Ms. Belinda:




They had a party with a nice potluck and a graduation cake. Nick got to join in (see if you can spot him), and Julianna of course sat next to her dear friend Scarlett.



Julianna is very friend-oriented at school. It's all about who played with her (or didn't) on any given day. She looks like she's enjoying her friends in these pictures from her last few days, doesn't she? Free Play (up in the loft with Scarlett and Carissa), Circle Time, Bike Yard time (riding on the rocket!)...





As a parting gift, the teachers gave each child a book. Julianna is one of only three kids who can read, so the teachers gave them a chapter book to challenge their reading skills! Julianna was so excited about her "Judy Moody" book, and is very proud of her reading skills. (Katie was jealous about the book, which is exactly what Julianna wanted!)