last day of school (before Christmas holidays)

Yesterday was the last day of school before Christmas holidays for all three of us!

Matthew's school had "Whoville" day. He dressed up like the Grinch. I really had fun putting his costume together. I think he should have won, but apparently there was a really good Cindy Lou Who that won in his area of the school. I guess that's why they don't let the mothers that make the costumes be the costume contest judges! Ha! Ha!

But, seriously, isn't he cute? Here he is with his little brother.

Caleb's preschool had "Night before Christmas" day. All the kids come to school in their pj's. Then they go to sleep. While they are 'asleep', a visitor comes to the preschool! It's such a fun day for them! Caleb's still talking about how much fun it was.My Pre-K class had a party in the afternoon. We recited a French poem and sang a couple songs for the parents and grandparents. We had snacks and we also had a visit from the big guy! So much fun (even for the teacher)!

Today, we enjoyed our first day of Christmas holidays. We played dominoes, we cleaned the house, we ate donuts, we shovelled the driveway 3 times (lots of snow today!), we picked up our cousins at the airport. We had a great day! And we're looking forward to more fun in the days to come! Merry Christmas!

how we spent our October

Hi!

October flew by and I didn't even post once. Oops.

Here are some highlights:

October 4th

We took the boys skating. This was Caleb's first time on skates. We tried to keep it a positive experience for him. Matthew remembered how to skate from last year. And everyone liked the vending machines at the rink!

October 6th

The boys and I had eye appointments. They did a super job. And we all have 20/20 vision (even me-I'm kinda proud of that).

October 12th

It snowed alot. We couldn't believe how much it snowed. We were a bit worried that winter had come early this year. But it melted later that week.

October 13th

We celebrated Thanksgiving at my parents' house. We had lots of turkey and pie. The boys (especially Caleb) had fun singing Kareoke. But when we were leaving, Caleb fell down the front steps and scraped up his face pretty badly. Poor guy.

October 14th

I voted. :)

October 15th

I got my haircut.

October 18th

Matthew started hockey. He's the one with the black helmet. He did a great job! It's so cute watching the little guys play. We could even see a big improvement just over the course of the hour that he was on the ice. His team is the Penguins. And he's number 12.

October 2oth

Matthew went to the dentist. Caleb "observed". His first appointment will be in six months. We were pleasantly surprised to run into one of Matthew's little friends at the dentist office. It was the highlight of the dentist appointment (that and the new toothbrush!)

October 22nd

We made pumpkin spread for our bread and also pumpkin milkshakes. Yum. Franklin liked them too. He was visiting from Caleb's preschool.

October 23rd

Matthew's Kindergarten Welcome Liturgy at his school. I was lucky to be able to get some time off work to be able to attend.

October 24th

I got sick :( It was no fun. I missed Matthew's hockey game the next day and also passed it on to Rick.

October 26th

We were able to attend a Pats hockey game with Matthew's hockey team. We had fun. It was great for the boys to see a real hockey game.

October 29th

Matthew's first show and tell day at school. He needed to bring something about himself. Because he likes building lego so much, we made a little album with photos of all the lego sets he's built at his Grandma's.

October 3oth

The boy with 100 costumes chose to wear his batman pyjamas to preschool on Halloween. As long as he's happy...

October 31st

Happy Halloween!

Our costumes...

Thanks to my mom for sewing me the cutest Little Red Riding Hood costume. I love it! (there are even real cookies in the basket)

Matthew the wizard.

Caleb the knight. We had beautiful weather for Halloween. The boys had a great time and loved getting so much candy! My mom took them trick or treating at the mall during the afternoon too!

ten on tuesday

1. It really is Tuesday. I cheated last night and did ten on Monday!

2. Caleb had a much better day at preschool. Thank you for all your prayers and sweet words.

3. The boys played hockey on the front driveway tonight with the neighbourhood kids (and their dad).

4. No, we don't have any snow yet. :)

5. Matthew had a substitute teacher today. Her name is Mrs. R. because her real name is too hard to say.

6. Matthew's class went to the gym for an assembly... or maybe a liturgy. We're not too sure. There was a song that he's heard at Church before... Hmmm. Maybe it was a singing practice for the liturgy that takes place on Friday! (I'm like a detective)

7. It's picture day this Friday at my school and I don't know what to wear.

8. I scrapbooked! Yay!

9. I'd still like to do a challenge Katy (and everyone else). Let me know what you'd like to do.

10. I'd better get to bed while it's still Tuesday. I've been staying up way too late for last little while.

Goodnight!

ten on tuesday

1. Caleb is having a tough time getting used to preschool. It's getting better, but it's still hard for him. He goes today. Wish us luck.2. Matthew is really enjoying Kindergarten right now. It's amazing how much French he is learning.

3. Here's a little peek at my classroom (this is me singing "bonjour mes amis" with some students in my class):

4. Except now we have this carpet:

(so the kids don't have to sit on the floor anymore-it arrived a day late-the day after that photo was taken)

5.And we have these little carpet squares to put on the big carpet:

6. And these shape/number carpet squares too!7. Here are the curtains that I sewed to cover my bookshelves in my classroom:

8. I've also been busy making a felt board and felt board characters. It's more fun than I thought. Today I made a turkey with various coloured feathers. (Canadian Thanksgiving is just two weeks away--gobble, gobble)

9. I mailed out my cards to Chrissy today too. But I forgot to take a photo of them. Mine are the pink and black ones :) It was nice to do some card-making again. I really should scrapbook again. Anyone interested in a scrapbooking challenge?

10. Please keep little Caleb in your thoughts and prayers. I'm sure this will get easier. I am very thankful that he has such a kind and caring teacher. Thank you.

PS. I'm actually posting this on Monday night, but just pretend I did it on Tuesday, okay?

:)

come and see

Today was Caleb's first day of preschool. It was a come and see day at the preschool and moms could stay. On Thursday he will go all by himself for an hour. And next Tuesday, it'll be for two hours. I'll be the helper next Tuesday so we will ease into it nice and slowly.

Dear Caleb,

I am so proud of you today. It was your first day of preschool. You were so excited to go see Mrs. Brown and all of the toys that you looked at when Matthew went to preschool there.

A few weeks ago we went on a date to buy your school supplies. You loved picking out a new backpack, crayons, markers, glue sticks and napkins. And then we went out for lunch at McDonalds. You loved that too.

You've been drawing pictures for Mrs. Brown for weeks with your new markers. And today you proudly gave her your colourful drawings. She was so happy. And so was I. I'm glad that you like her so much and that you shared your pictures with her.

Last night we worked on your homework funsheet. You used your new glue to stick some of your favourite things to the paper. You put a picture of Baby Bear, some super heroes, batman, toopy and binoo and honey nut cheerios. The theme at preschool for the beginning of the year is "favourites". And Mrs. Brown said you should wear your favourite outfit to school today...

I love you, Caleb. You had fun playing with T-Rex and sliding down the slide. You drove the police car and played in the kitchen. You found your mailbox and put your supplies away. You had such a great first day of preschool. You were so happy and so grown up!

Lots of love,

Mommy

a quick hello

Just stopping in for a quick hello! I go back to work this afternoon and the kids start school on Wednesday. Matthew also starts school on Wednesday and Caleb starts preschool next Tuesday.

We have been very busy. We have enjoyed the last little bit of summer holidays.

Matthew on the bars at the park:

Caleb feeding the ducks at the park (and then deciding he needed a little snack himself-don't worry, it's not stale)

Some more funny things that Caleb has done lately:

- He asked, "If I get a broken leg, will all of my food fall out of me?"

- He claims that he wants to be Santa Claus when he grows up. When asked why, he says "because of the boots".

* I hope to take some photos of my new classroom soon and post them up here too. I even sewed curtains to cover my storage shelves. (I told you I was busy!)

preschool graduation

Dear Matthew,

Last week, you graduated from preschool. And this was the real thing (not like last year when you pretended to, and you were still so young and you threw your cap up in the air way before it was time and everyone laughed and took pictures of you).

When you woke up on your graduation day last week, you seemed to sense my need to have you stay a preschooler for just a bit longer. You asked to snuggle before breakfast and you wanted me to read The Kissing Hand to you. Just like I used to when you first started preschool.

You looked so grown up at your graduation. You showed Daddy around your classroom and goofed around a bit with your buddies before the program started. You did all the actions and sang all the songs so well. When Mrs. Brown talked about how much the kids had changed and grown over the last two years, Daddy and I knew she was talking about you. You really have grown and changed so much.On the way home you were trying to find a way to spend another year at preschool. You figured that it would be fun to be in preschool with Caleb. And it would be fun, but you are on to bigger and brighter things, my dear.

And when we got home and looked through your folder, I sniffled a bit when I found the note that Mrs. Brown had kept and included with your art projects. You really have grown up so much. I am so proud of you, Matthew.

(this note is one of the many that I would write to you when you were three and you would keep it close by at school to help you to not miss me-it's a kissing hand)

Love,

Mommy

petting farm

Matthew's preschool class went on a field trip to a petting farm yesterday. Caleb and I joined them. We enjoyed seeing the calves, goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, bunnies, llamas and even guinea pigs!It was Matthew's helper day, so he got to carry Franklin around the farm

I got alot of shots of the back of their heads! (Matthew is the one crouched down)

I feel so bad, because halfway through the field trip, I realized that Caleb wasn't feeling well. He was such a little trooper though.After the farm, the class had a little picnic in the park. I brought farm animal cupcakes! The kids thought they were fun.

lollipops

Thanks to Susie for pointing me in the direction of Heather Ann Sugar Kisses!

I have these lollipops to give out to Matthew's class tomorrow and I was looking for a creative way to package them.

So I played around a bit and ended up with this tag (imagine it cut out in the shape of a tag, ok?):

But Matthew didn't like having his face on there. So I found this Valentine picture he made for me the other day and scanned it. And look what I made!

This tag:

and this:

and this one is kind of funny:

And then we wrapped up the lollipops and got these:

Happy Valentine's day (dude!)

beach days and balloon poppers

Beach Days:


What do you do when it's freezing cold outside? Have a beach day at preschool, of course!

Balloon popper:

The idea for the balloon popper came to Matthew during Ash Wednesday mass. We were sitting behind a little boy (who happens to be in my class) who was looking at this picture in an I Spy book:

Look closely, it's a balloon popper! Grandma elected Daddy to help make it, but Daddy has a sore back. So last night, Mommy and Matthew made a small version. Here it is: