Mid May marks the end of a new experience for Emanuel and Trinity, well a temporary end as we have already signed them up for the twice a week continuation in July.

We were lucky to have a new opportunity pop up at the local YMCA. A very talented sensei has decided to open classes (and maybe eventually a full on local dojo) for children ath our branch. Sensei Tom is AMAZING with the kids.

For 8 weeks, we have come out every Thursday with their homeschool buds Bella and Drew to start out learning all about karate.

On the 18th of May we marked the end of this first program with the receiving of their yellow stripe on their white belts. This also came with a lovely certificate we are going to frame and hang up here at home.

The kids were super pumped when we told them we had already registered them for the next sessions in July (Sensei has a June commitment, so we have a gap). And we are super proud of their willingness to jump full in on a new activity.

Our Easter was more of an Easter weekend. Just chock full of fun and activity. So much so that we were burned out and exhausted for school on Monday!

On Saturday all my hard work of stuffing Easter eggs was put to good use. We spent the morning at the YMCA. Well, some of us did. The door on the van was left ajar and the battery dead. So in between Ken smoking Sunday’s ham at the Schwartz’s (thanks so much for the loan of your smoker) I took Gavin, Echo and Trinity to the YMCA. Gavin and Trinity for club and Echo for swimming with Mommy.

Once the van was jumped and filled back up with kit and kids we headed off to visit our very amazing homeschool friends. Aimee had set up a rather amazing egg hunt all over their woodsy yard.

We played, watched a movie, ate wonderful food and snacked happily while we visited. It is such an easy situation on all adults involved as the kids really do entertain themselves. Aimee and I even ducked out to Walmart to pick up a few things.

That had us home in the evening and into bed so that we could be fresh and pressed for Easter service. Trinity even had her first communion! Everyone clapped for her when they were told before service.

The girls had their usual fancy hats and new dresses. I think we all cleaned up rather nicely.

We had Easter baskets and goodies from the Easter Bunny to enjoy.

We did our yearly photos, of course.

Gavin, Zander

After church it was back to packing up the van and heading over to the Novak’s for dinner and ANOTHER egg hunt.

We had so much fun there, as always. And it was ANOTHER day of easy supervision on the adults.

It was a wonderful way to celebrate with friends who have become family. I don’t think we could have had a better plan… well except for having the battery in the van die.

The Easter corner for the kids to eat in.

Christ is Risen

He is Risen indeed

Hallelujah

Now, enjoy the excessive amount of festive images!!!

Snoopy

Kiara

That is what the kids all called July 4th this year after celebrating Canada Day, after all if it is called CANADA Day in Canada… then doesn’t it make perfect sense?

We didn’t try nearly so hard with this national holiday since we were in the middle of the country actually celebrating it. We did still put up our paper chain (red, white and blue) and our flag banner. The kids figured the rest of the area covered the necessary flags and then some.

For our morning activities Ken and I left the kids at home to do something independent (see what I did there…) on the day… and we took ourselves off to the YMCA which was busier than we expected. After a good go on the treadmill it was back home to crack out some chores and then… veg.

If you can believe it I took a few hours and crocheted and relaxed on a LONG WEEKEND? The horror! Of course pictures were taken, and we had the mosquito bites to prove it! (Gavin is in the white and Zander the red)

Our super special July 4th treat was to head over to our homeschool friends’ house for the very first time for some of the most amazing ribs ever, pie and cupcakes totally keeping with the theme. Not to mention a playdate that kept the kids pretty well occupied constantly. It is so lovely when a family meshes with yours so well that age doesn’t matter or gender among the kids they just all work it out and are happy and excited to see each other.

We didn’t even make it to fireworks, they ate like crazy, played non stop… we drove them home and into bed they went. It was the better choice, Echo is really not handling mosquito bites well. They seem to chase her with a runny nose and fever half the time and swelling. Not fun. So outside for fireworks in the dark after all the moisture, not a good choice.

Just amazing homemade deserts AND ribs that were to die for!

We took our photographs and found some joy in the day. That was all I really wanted and all I could ask for. So happy Independence Day to everyone… I hope it was a grand one!

And… my ONE photo in a USA shirt!