Proud Father

Today has been an extremely proud day for me. My children never cease to amaze me in all the things they can do and accomplish. Today it was my three daughters who all really out did themselves.

Alexandria finished writing her exams today. When we arrived home after the last one this afternoon she checked online and all the marks were in except for the one she wrote today. Over the past few weeks she has been working extra hard at studying for these exams. We have pushed her hard and she answered by buckling down and keeping with it. Her efforts really paid off and all the marks reflected that. It hasn’t been the easiest year, but she proved once again that when she tries her best she is capable of doing very well.

Tonight Caile and Ella simply blew me away. They have been working hard for a long time now preparing to put on the play Wizard of Oz at there school. It has meant lots of learning lines both at school, during long practice days and also here at home. Today was show time, they put on three shows today starting this morning and then we just got home shortly ago.

They spent most of the play on screen with Caile being Dorthy and Ella right with her as Toto. The whole production and everyone involved did an amazing job, but seeing them up together filled my heart with pride and happiness and at points brought tears to my eyes which doesn’t happen very often.

Caile was always my shy and reserved child so to see her up in front of a large audience shining was almost strange but felt so wonderful. Ella was only given the role of Toto a couple weeks ago but she put everything into it and learned her lines and cues so fast.  The two of them together seemed like naturals on the stage.

Here is just a small clip of them on stage together alone with Caile singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Father’s Day

Yesterday Jen and the kids all gave me a wonderful Father’s Day. They helped make me some French toast for breakfast with lovely raspberries and blueberries on top.

In the afternoon we all went to see the new movie Inside Out.

My favourite part though are the cards and little gifts they gave. Some are hilarious and very fitting. I’ll share some pictures of them below.

Personal Note from Ella
Drawn by Alexandria
Top 10 by Caile
Hand Heart by Noah
Back of Chocolate Bar Wrapper
Front of Chocolate Bar Wrapper

Treat with the oldest and youngest

Jen is helping out all day at the drama practice with Caile and Ella. Alex spent the morning studying for her exams. So this afternoon we decided to walk down our hill together for the first time. 

We stopped and talked with friends along the way but made it down to the cafe to have a little treat. 

  

That’s not a R

Noah was making a Father’s Day card today for his Grandfather. He had me write out the words on paper so he could spell them right.

I’ve never been known for my penmanship. So when he asked me what letter R was in Father’s I wasn’t surprised. I told him what it was and his response was this.

That isn’t a R! This is how we make them in school.

He the proceeded to make a very good looking R on the card. I guess it’s a good thing I learned how to type.

Baby Canadian Geese

A couple nights ago we went out for a family walk around Miners Marsh. It’s a beautiful little trail close to home and doesn’t take very long to go around. 

There are usually lots of wildlife around. The kids were hoping to see a bunch of baby raccoons others had seen and taken pictures of, but they must have been sleeping or hiding somewhere.

We did get to see this cool family of Canadian Geese though. We stayed for a while watching them on land until they slipped into the water. 

  

Old Photos and Memories

This morning I was given back a stack of old pictures that I thought were long lost and had honestly forgotten about. Going through them brought back a bunch of great memories. They are from just a short time period so it doesn’t cover all the good times we had.

It was when I realized I was going to be moving away soon so I got a camera and probably drove everybody nuts taking their pictures. In fact I know I drove at least a few of them crazy looking back at the pictures some had really annoyed looks on their faces, if their hands weren’t up in front trying to block the camera.

Many of the pictures are not fit for public view. These were not digital so none were cut it was just what was on the roll of film. It really makes me glad actually that social media and digital cameras were not like they are now when I was a teenager. Very grateful that most of the stupid things I did will just be forgotten without the digital record keeping.

Here’s one that isn’t bad just to show what a goof I was. Someone must have been paying me back for taking there picture so much.

Teenage Sandy

River Tubing

Saturday started out great, and it just continued right along that way. The rain cleared up and made way for gorgeous weather. We took advantage and with a group of other families headed out to float down a river.

One of the fun things to do in the summer here is to tube down the Gaspereau River. When the water level is high enough you can rent large inner tubes and use them to usually have a nice relaxing trip down the river. It seems like each time I go though there is a bit of a mishaps that makes it a fun adventure.

Last year a couple friends and I took a lunch break from work to go, left one car at the bottom and then drove mine to the beginning. When we arrived at the bottom there were no keys to the car we left. We thought for sure they were somewhere at the bottom of the river. Luckily after we called for a ride back to my car, the keys were sitting there on the seat. Lunch ran a little long that day.

Today we took some inflatable boats with us so that we could ride together with the kids and try to stay a bit dryer than having our butts sitting in the river through the tubes. We did rent a couple for Alexandria and her friend though. There were two kinds of boats, three larger ones, and three smaller ones. On the first trip down one of the smaller boats that Ella and her friend were in, and was tied together with our boat, ended up catching some branches on the side and tore a hole in it.

It didn’t take long before it was deflated and the kids were in the water. We were able to get them situated into other boats but not without one of our friends losing his hat to the river in the struggle.

Shortly into the second trip down another one of the smaller boats manged to get a hole and deflate. It was our friend who lost his hat and he was tied to another boat and was their navigator. But he opted to walk back up the river as the boats all left him behind pretty quick. Another took over as navigator for them and he went down the river on a tube with two boats tied to him keeping them on course.

We had a lot of sun, water, and even more laughs. It was a great way to spend the afternoon.

Wonderful start to a Saturday

This Saturday morning has started out wonderfully. First I slept in until 6:30, then headed down stairs with just my little man. While he played and watched a little Pokemon, I curled up in a chair with a nice cup of tea and started a new book. The rain falling outside was perfect background noise. 

The finer points of parenting

Tonight the topic came up which was followed by a teaching session. It started out just Noah and I but shortly after it was three kids and Jen taking instructions in my class, Armpit Farting 101. 

New nephew

It took me a few days until he was home from the hospital but I was finally able to go meet my new nephew Gavin. 

What an adorable little guy. My son Noah is pretty taken by him too, always wants to be the one holding him. Not that I can blame him for that.