POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE….

Pre-graduation sillies on the front steps of our house

Today we celebrated Charlotte and Jacob's graduation from nursery school at Central Eglinton Children's Centre. I have to be honest - - it was an emotional moment for me. 

Although I held back the tears, I couldn't help but look at them and think back to how small they were when they arrived 8 weeks before their due date 3.5 years ago. So much has happened since then and somewhere along the line they have grown into two very independent, stubborn, fun-loving and goofy kids who make us laugh and cringe every day!

We started our day with a homemade waffle breakfast (courtesy of me) followed by photos on the front steps. Despite my best efforts I was unable to capture "the perfect picture" from today. Instead we got many shots of the kids on the move, not looking at the camera, not smiling, acting out of control and just plain refusing to do anything I hoped they would. 

We dropped the kids in their classroom at 9 a.m. and headed to the lunchroom at Eglinton Public School to get our seats for the big event. At 9:30 a.m. the ghetto blaster started playing Pomp and Circumstance and each child was called one by one in alphabetical order to receive their graduation certificate. To top it off they were all wearing black graduation caps (mortarboards). Once everyone had received their certificates, Jan their music teacher arrived and the the kids sang two songs for us! The first song was Alouette, gentille alouette and second song was It's a Small World. Half an hour after the ceremony began it was over. A reception with tiny muffins, fruit and juice was held.

It was a great event and one I will look back on with many fond memories. We are so thankful for the great teachers (Ashmeet and Kristen) that Charlotte and Jacob had this year and for the amazing experience they had at the school.

We look forward to continuing this journey at Eglinton Public School again in September as they enter JK (full day none the less). 

Charlotte and Jacob…we are so proud of you and look forward to many more graduations in the years ahead! 

Charlotte coming in to receive her graduation certificate 

Jacob coming in to receive his graduation certificate 

Moving closer to his certificate 

Loving his graduation cap

Charlotte and Oliver looking on as their brother gets his certificate

Listening to Jan sing songs 

Charlotte a bit more participatory than Jacob during the song time

It is very important to have your cap positioned just so
at nursery school graduation ceremonies 

Grabbing a picture with Jacob as he enjoys his post graduation muffin

Jacob and Charlotte with their teachers Ashmeet and Kristen

A bit out of order but Charlotte receiving her certificate from Deirdre

Also out of order but Jacob receiving his certificate from Deirdre

Heading to us with his certificate

Not so sure about this whole graduation thing

Family shot

Take that nursery school

Grammy celebrating with the kids

Claire and the kids

Before and after picture at its finest…September 2013 to June 2014 

CENTREVILLE FUN

Jacob SO excited for Centreville

Yesterday we took the kids to Centre Island for a day of fun at Centreville. We boarded the 9:30 a.m. ferry and began our island adventure at 9:45 a.m. The park wasn't open until 10:30 a.m. so we took advantage of the free time we had and toured the kids around the rides and spent some time with the animals at the island farm. 

Shortly before 10:30 a.m. we headed back to the ticket window to grab our play all day passes and headed to the rides. 

The kids chose the bee ride first, then the tea cups, the merry go round, the fire trucks, the log ride, more fire trucks, more log ride, the boats, the cars, a break for lunch, the whirly twirly boat, more cars, more boats, the pony ride, more log ride, more fire trucks, the haunted house, the train, more haunted house, more fire trucks, ice cream break, more fire trucks, the antique cars, the bees and the ferry home. Phew…it was an amazing day and I loved every minute of seeing the excitement on the kids faces when they were on the rides! 

We can't wait to go back again soon.

Oliver and the bees

Steering the tea cups

Daddy daughter tea cup adventure

Oliver steering the spinning bears

Family fun in the bears

Oliver loved the Fire Trucks 

Getting ready to go up the log ride hill

Up…up…up... 

Almost there... 

Pony ride

Pony ride 

Loving there ice cream 

So tired... 

Blanket time…exhausted….

ELMO'S MUSICAL…WHAT FUN!

Abby Cadabby and Elmo

Today we took the kids to the TIFF Bell Lightbox to see a screening of the movie...Elmo's Musical. It was part of the TIFF Sesame Street exhibit. 

Our adventure also included a meet and greet with a few of the Sesame Street Characters including Abby Cadabby and Elmo. 

We weren't sure what to expect but the kids had a blast - especially Oliver! He was the first to run to Abby Cadabby and Elmo and give them a giant hug and loved having his own seat in the movie theatre. He especially enjoyed the popcorn.

This was also the kids first time watching a movie in a theatre - it was a great adventure and we are excited to go see more movies in the theatre soon.

Oliver's big hug for Abby Cadabby

Charlotte and Abby Cadabby

Oliver, Abby Cadabby, Charlotte and Elmo
(Jacob was watching from a far)

Getting comfy in their seats in the theatre

Big Bird introducing the Elmo's Musical Movie 

Oliver loving the movie and his popcorn 

Family Fun Extra Long Weekend

It has been a while since I last updated the blog, so I decided it was about time I did. 

We are capping off an extra long weekend of family fun and as ready as I am to return to work for a "break" I just spent some time looking through the pictures and videos I took over the weekend and was reminded about how nice it was to spend a few extra days with Doyle and the kids. 

On Friday we took advantage of being off during the week and headed to Ripley's Aquarium for the morning. We had a great time and enjoyed visiting Toronto's newest attraction. I can't image what it would be like on the weekend - I'm glad we enjoyed some time with the fish without too many crowds to fight through. 

Oliver all smiles on the tuna weigh scale

Charlotte in awe of all the fish in the tank

We found Nemo at the aquarium 

Jelly fish

Not sure what happened to the lighting in this pic
when I transferred it to the blog - but it's O showing C a jelly fish

The Brown Family version of 20,000 leagues under the sea

Charlotte captivated by Nemo 

On Saturday we started the day at Charlotte and Jacob's swimming lesson, then headed home for a play and the movie Frozen (the kids new fav) in the basement while D and I cleaned the "clutter" under the stairs and on top of the desk. It was quite therapeutic. We ended the day with a visit from our friend Gary and some final four on the TV. 

Sunday it was Oliver's turn for swimming lessons and then we spent much of the day outside thanks to the glorious weather. It was great to have it finally feeling like spring. Charlotte and Jacob loved zooming around on their run bikes - such a change from last summer when they were quite timid and didn't go very fast. Now we struggle to keep up to them! We ended the day with an early dinner at Duff's (aka the lollipop restaurant). 

Today as soon as breakfast was over Charlotte and Jacob asked to go outside on their bikes. So at 8:10 a.m. out we went. And once again we were running after them up and down the side walk. Charlotte was even bombing down the driveway (it has a bit of a down slope) between the Townhouses just down the street from us. Her feet out to the sides of her bike as she whizzed down the driveway were the highlight to watch. After nap the kids went back out on their bikes and actually road from our house to Metro at Bayview and Eglinton back to our house and then over to Pharma Plus and Sobey's at Mt. Pleasant and Eglinton. We have just put them to bed and unlike most nights it is strangely quiet in their room. I think a few bike rides a day will be our new plan of attack to tire them out ;) 

After being home for four days straight with the kids I'm once again reminded about how lucky we are to have Claire in our lives - the stuff she gets done during the day with all three kids on her own is amazing. We struggled at times to keep up with everything and there are two of us to divide and conqure.

Riding bikes in the driveway between the Townhouse
down the street from us