July and August 09

Well that summer came and went pretty fast. Feel like I didn't really get a summer at all! So much rain. Here are some photos from July and August, a visit from Grandma, Aidan turned 6, lost loads of teeth, Priya has changed so much she is such a funny, sweet little girl. So independent, so clever, so bossy! Glen and I didn't have much going on, just enjoying a break from homework, hockey, my classes, and enjoying some free evenings to relax and have fun with our friends. Went to the trailer less than last year, mostly due to bad weather and just being too tired to pack up on a friday night. Here are some highlights from summer.

Grandma visiting
Aidan lost three teeth in a matter of weeks

Grandma with Priya at the pool

Happy 6th Birthday to Aidan!

Aidan's birthday gift from Emily, Sushi the fish

Aidan's gifts from the Damm's Flappy and Shylee

Aidan's party friends

Priya's face when she realized it was cake time!

Make a wish!

The boys on the water, spent most of the summer fishing

The kids at the trottage

Picnic at the park

Soccer in June

Seems like ages since I have picked up the camera. So much going on with everyone I have forgotten my favorite passtime. Photography! It is getting harder to capture the kids all together now. Liam plays soccer at the same time as Aidan, and Glen coaches Liam's team (with the help of Uncle Tim), so Priya and I take Aidan to his soccer and are his little cheering squad. Our friend Emily comes often too, so Aidan is always happy about that. He loves Emily, and so do we! Glen is also coaching the boys softball team (5 pitch) and they are enjoying that alot. The kids managed to get on the same team because of Aidan's large stature. Most 5 year olds are still playing tball, but when you are Aidan's size, seems so strange to see him try to hit off a tiny teeny T. He is playing with kids two years older, but is holding his own which is great. And it means we only have one night of baseball because of it. The boys are almost done school which is crazy. Grade 1 and 3 next year. What? When did that all happen? They are excited for the holidays to begin. I am excited for the homework to stop. It will be a tough summer this year, because though I am happy to be at work, summers are a different story. The kids seem to be growing up so quickly, and I don't want to miss it all. Priya is growing and she is such a comedian/diva/sweetheart. We laugh all the time with her and her infectious giggle. She is such a girl which I love! And hate. Given the moment.

Liam and school mate Amelia at Baxter's for a field trip
Hunting for bugs at Baxter's

Finally weather that is sun dress appropriate!
Mmm, the best part of soccer. Treat time

The benefits to being on the cheer squad!

The team chilling with some popsicles. Go Magpie's Go!

Get all this hair out of my face!

Yup, I am gorgeous!

Hang time with the little ones.

My almost six year old! sniff, sniff, boo hoo!

April is flying by

My little pippy longstockings

hangin out

Great pals

The morning after Liam's party, eating pancakes and strawberries

Liam's birthday party, CAKE TIME!

Our little hockey players cake. Happy 8th bday!

Kids messing around at the Agricultural Museum

Aidan and Aly

The original partners in crime, Liam and Olivia

Well time is flying now, soon it will be summer. We had a very interesting Easter/Liam's 8th Birthday weekend, Priya was quite ill with fever and no sleep. She screamed and cried alot, and Glen and I were on no sleep. All in all it still went very well. Cannot believe that Liam is 8.

Aidan loved easter this year, he said his dream came true because he wished that the Easter bunny would bring jelly bears and he did!! Aidan doesn't like chocolate if you can believe it. Priya likes anything with sugar so she was well impressed with it all.

I am officially done my school semester, though starting again in the summer. SO relieved to get both finals over and done with. Phew.

Winterlude

We went ice skating on the worlds longest skating rink last weekend, it was a blast! I am glad we went when we did because this weekend our family is not well. Glen is recovering from a little injury, Priya had a cold most of the week and has become very demanding, I injured my back yesterday from carrying Priya so much and this morning (Family Day) Liam has a fever. Aidan is the only one who has remained happy and healthy.

The boys resting under a bridge.

Aidan doing a fantastic job skating.

The family

More of the family

Priya was very good, I think she enjoyed all the activity around her. And the Beavertail of course! (you have to eat beavertails at Winterlude, it is a must! They are like the elephant ears at the folk festival)

The Beach

Just looking through our vids from our trip, thought I would add this clip. It was the highlight of the holiday for sure. Beaches are so fun! The kids were cute playing in the sand, and making friends.

We had a great trip to Florida, it was so nice to take a family vacation somewhere warm. Our first night was spent at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino (thank you to my good friend Daphne!) it is a huge place with loads of shops and entertainment. Not to mention a big casino! After the kids fell asleep Glen went to the casino and Daphne and I were able to catch up on the balcony of our room, drinking wine and overlooking the beautiful Hard Rock Pool. Daphne was kind enough to give us her apartment for the duration of our trip which was super kind. She also set us up with various tickets and was integral in making this trip so memorable.

After our first day we went to a nice beach, and we did that a few other times, exploring beaches in Ft.Lauderdale, Miami, and South Beach. So beautiful. We also too a trip to the Everglades to the Billy Swamp Safari which is a large park on Seminole Indian land. We saw alligators, wild pigs, buffalo, ostrich, deer, turtles and other wild animals. The kids loved it, I was actually a bit freaked out, in the water in a small boat with gators swimming at us.

We went to Orlando for two days to Disney and Daphne came with us. We stayed in a great place only 2 miles from Disney, it was a townhome but with a Disney themed kids room which the kids loved. Daphne had her own room and Glen and I got to share a King sized bed! Whoa it was big. Disney was great, but to be honest very tiring. The kids did love it, and it wasn't super duper crowded the first day, so we didn't spend the whole day in line ups. The kids loved their mickey ear hats and they loved getting the autographs of all their favorite characters. I loved meeting the princesses, a few of the rides, and then.... I loved getting to go back to Ft.Lauderdale to the beach.

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This video is from the safari, going out with the gators! ahhhh!