Where does the time go?

Why is it that time seems to fly by so quickly? The last week has just flown by, and it seems like every night we have been doing something different.

Our weekend was spent with friends on Saturday. Saying good-bye to good friends of ours who are moving to Fort McMurray, Alberta. We had a giant party with both parents and kids, and everyone had a blast.

Unfortunately Saturday night was spent taking care of poor Shannon who was up all night throwing-up. Thankfully she recovered very quickly (why is it that kids can be up all night throwing-up, yet still have boundless energy the following day?!?!) and is back to her usual self.

Soooo.... when we woke up on Father's Day we were pretty spent. But the boys insisted we take Chris out to brunch (it would appear that they have developed their Mother's love for Brunch!). After a really nice brunch we came back home and played in the front yard (which apparently is quite a novelty in our neighbourhood, as so many people stopped to comment about how nice it was to see a family playing outside), then we went to have turkey dinner at Brigitte's house (YUM!)

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In other news, today was Aidan's last day of school. It seems like only yesterday he was starting JK - nervous about going to big boy school. He has grown so much over the last two years, and has matured into such a big boy. Here is a picture of our almost first grader at his kindergarten extravaganza last week:


We had another momentous occasion on Tuesday. Quinn scored his first goal in soccer!!! Yep, the ball was right in front of the net, and my assistant coach yelled: "Kick it Quinner!" and he did! I don't think he realized that he scored until we started giving him high-fives, but boy was he proud of himself!!

Perfection

Today Marin was lying on her back 'playing' with her toys. I went over and lay next to her and started stroking her face and talking to her. She immediately forgot all about her toys and looked right at me and gave me a huge smile. Her eyes lit up and her face just became so expressive - it was an absolutely precious moment.

We are so unbelievably lucky to have four healthy children. So many children (and parents) are struggling against incredible odds, and battling brutal health demons. So many would-be parents struggle with infertility and miscarriges. Yet Chris and I have been blessed with four healthy, beautiful children.

I'm not a religious person by any means, but I truly believe that we have been blessed with our kids. We are certainly not perfect parents, and our kids are definitely not perfect, but when I look into their eyes, hear them laughing, or watch them playing I see pure and utter perfection. I would give and do anything for my four little monkeys, and can only hope that one day they will understand just how much they mean to me.

Mad dash

It's been a busy couple of days for us. Tush, Dave and the kids came down on Friday and we had a blast! Liam and Aidan ran in a 1km race on Saturday, and Aidan came in fifth (behind 9 and 8 year olds) in a blistering 4min 52 sec. Chris ran the race with him, and I told Aidan, "buddy, it's a good thing Daddy ran with you, because I would have slowed you down!!"


Sunday was a GORGEOUS day which we spent outside. In the morning we set up our slide / pool, and then spent the rest of the day at the real pool and beach. It was a fantastic day! We had so much fun swimming and playing in the sand - it was almost like it was summer!!!

Here are some pictures of the kids testing out the new pool. Of course Shannon was right in there with the boys!!




The last thing I have to blog about can be classified under: "Kids say the darndest things." This morning Quinn and Aidan were playing with my high-heeled shoes. They were making a store and putting shoes on sale and testing out all my heels. Well Aidan asked me: "Mummy, when do you wear these shoes?" (clearly I don't wear them very often!) So I replied: "Well, I wear them when I get dressed up and want to look nice." Aidan paused and then said: "Oh, you mean as if you were going to a ball?" :-) Oh - my - gosh!!! I guess the girls at his school have been telling him about the princesses and the balls!!! It was too funny!!

Victory!!!

From the Lambton Kent District School Board:

News Release, June 12, 2009:
Early Years Schedule for the 2009/2010 School Year

The Lambton Kent District School Board and the Lambton-Kent Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario have collaborated to design a new 2009/2010 school year calendar implementing the five day instructional cycle, a requirement of the collective agreement reached at the provincial level. The ABA early years schedule of Monday, Wednesday and alternate Fridays or Tuesday Thursday and alternate Fridays has been maintained.

The Board’s goal continues to be to provide quality learning opportunities in our classrooms on a daily basis.

YIPPEE!! I'm so happy that they listened to all the voices that made themselves heard during this fiasco. And ultimately, I'm delighted that reason and sanity did prevail and they chose to return to the existing system.

Well done all!!

Growing Opposition

Growing Opposition
06/9/2009

Opposition is growing to the revised "early years" scheduling plan for Lambton-Kent's public elementary schools. Some parents have started a Facebook petition to block the move. Board Trustee Paul Millman doesn't like the schedule either, and urges parents to speak out.

MPP Bob Bailey suggested Monday that kindergarten parents switch their kids to a Catholic school of hold them back a year in protest. With the recent collective agreement between the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario and the school board a five-day instructional cycle must be implemented for this September.

That's well and good that so many people are making their voices heard about this issue. But my comment to Bob Bailey is this: "why should WE be forced to change schools or hold our children back a year? The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, the Ministry of Education and the Lambton Kent District School Board need to be held accountable for their completely horrific policy-making, and idiotic decisions. THEY made this mess, and THEY need to fix it. Don't force parents and children to completely change schools because of the mistakes and incompetence of those running our education system.

Words are not enough

I'm a bit tired of talking (see my previous post), so I thought it was time for a picture overload:

Sweet perfection at 20 months:


Aidan on a breakaway: (he scored two goals at his last game - but he was happier that he centred the ball and his friend scored!)


Working hard:


Quinn hangin' out on the sidelines:

What are they thinking?

I haven't posted anything on our new numbered-day system in our schools, because I have been so angry about it. Now that I've calmed down somewhat, I feel I can adequately address this fiasco.

Here is my letter to the Editor, which (I think) describes everything:
Dear Sir,

The Lambton Kent District School Board’s (LKDSB) recent announcement to move to a 5-day numbered system in their schools is mind-boggling. For students who are in grades 1 - 8 this new system will have minimal impact. However, for junior and senior kindergarten students the numbered system is nothing short of disastrous.

Currently JK and SK students attend school every other day and alternating Fridays (i.e. Monday / Wednesday, or Tuesday / Thursday). With the 5 day numbered system, kindergarten students will attend school on any random combination of days throughout the week, including: Monday / Wednesday one week, other weeks Wednesday / Friday, and still other weeks Tuesday / Thursday.

Kindergarten is the first introduction to school for our youngest students (many of whom are only 3 ½ upon entry in September). As most parents and early childhood educators know, kindergartners thrive on routine and regularity, and the numbered system provides none of this. Where is the consistency and regularity in going to school on a random assortment of days? How many times are children going to be dropped off at school on the wrong day simply because the calendar is so confusing? Putting aside the impact on the children (as this new system clearly does), let’s look at another group that is impacted by this: the parents.

Many working parents like me schedule our days of work based on when our children are in school. This new system completely throws any type of scheduling into chaos. Even the most understanding of employer can’t base a schedule around a system which is completely arbitrary and has no rhyme or reason. What will working parents do?

Daytime extra-curricular activities are also undermined by the numbered system. On the days when our children aren’t in school, parents typically schedule activities like story-time, swimming lessons, gymnastics, music classes, etc. However, this will be next to impossible with the numbered-day system because again, the school days are completely random. Because of this decision, how many children will be unable to participate in these valuable activities?

The powers that be (which include the Ministry of Education, the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, and the LKDSB) have decided that their interests override the interests of our children. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought the education system was supposed to be based on the best interests of the children, and not what is most convenient for the Board and Ministry.

Teachers and principals alike have expressed their vehement dislike in applying the numbered day system to kindergarten because it is confusing, random, and detrimental to the students. Parents are in an uproar because of the lack of consultation and notice, and because this system seriously jeopardizes shift and part-time working parents. Day-time extra-curricular activities are now in jeopardy because of this. So where is the benefit? How is this NOT going to impact the quality of education for kindergarten students?

It is time for reason and sanity to prevail, and for the LKDSB, ETFO and the Ministry to realize that the numbered day system can not and should not be implemented for kindergarten students.

Here is a picture of what the new schedule looks like for Kindergarten students. In our school, JK's (aka Quinn's year) will be going on circle days which are white:


As you can see, it is a complete and utter mess. I really hope enough people complain and write letters, because this new system is nothing short of moronic when it comes to Kindergarten.

Road-trippin'

This past weekend we drove up to Toronto to celebrate my nephew Keiran's 7th birthday (how have 7 years passed already!!), and have a bit of an early convocation celebration for my 'little' brother Steven. The usual family chaos went on (which means there was TONS of food, the kids ran amok, and the grown-ups gabbed, and gabbed and gabbed!), and it was fantastic! The cousins always have so much fun together, but this time it was even better for some reason. They were all pretty bummed when everyone had to part ways.

On the way back home we stopped in London for dinner (mostly because Marin woke-up!). We went to a Middle Eastern restaurant (something you can't get here), and the kids were a bit skeptical about the food. Unfortunately for us, they absolutely LOVED the food! I was kind of hoping that they wouldn't like it so there would be more for Chris and I. :-) Even Shannon devoured it - especially the Shawarma chicken dipped in hummus. Then we took a walk in a park, and finished everything off with some totally decadent ice-cream. YUM!!!