First Family Vacation

Photo Session

Many months ago, I had bought an online photo session at a very reduced cost. We had booked the rendez-vous over the holidays so that we could get a proper family portrait. Then our two older ones started vomiting the night before. Their younger sister had developed a gastroenteritis a few days prior. So it was that Papa stayed home with the older two. Not wanting to forfeit our photo session, I took our youngest. She had a great time. She truly seemed to enjoy posing for the countless photos that were taken. And when it was time to go, she protested!

Let it Snow!

My sister from China had planned a ski vacation for her older kids in Montreal. They had rented a chalet by a local ski hill, and even registered in a 5-day ski school. The problem was, there was no snow.

Finally, the snow did come. So much snow that our streets have still not been fully cleared. The first two days of ski school were cancelled, but they were able to get 5 lessons over 3 days. By the end of the three days, the boys did not want to leave the ski hill...

But snow or no snow, our girls enjoyed their cousins' visit. They played together, ate together, and when the snow finally came, sledded together. Our two older girls are registered for ski school during March break, so perhaps the next time their cousins visit, they can all ski together!

#1 pulling her youngest cousin 

#3 all in pink!

Our two oldest actually carrying up their sled!

The Skating Ball

After their last day of skating lessons in December, the children were invited to join their skating teachers for a Skating Ball. Their instructors were dressed up as a variety of fairytale characters. We thought surely our 2-year old would be frightened, but all three thoroughly enjoyed the skate, and asked when they could go back...

Last Day of School

The last day of school for 2015 seemed to come rather quickly. Between pedagogical days, strike days, and sick days (including cough, fever, and even pink eye) my kindergartener may have attended school as often as she did not.

As I reflect back on her first term in elementary school, I definitely see progress. While she is still shy, she refused to enter the school for the first two weeks until she saw her kindergarten teacher. In fact, she didn't smile once until the third or fourth week of school.

Now she enjoys school, speaks of her many activities, her teachers, and friends, and can't wait to go back. As for her french, it has significantly improved. She sings daily in french, and makes some basic sentences, like "est-ce que je peux aller aux toilettes?".

On her last day of school, she and her schoolmates were allowed to wear their pyjamas. And what fun they had!

At their cousin's house after school on Pyjama Day

Holiday Fair

Our kindergartener's school hosted a Holiday Fair last week-end. The kids had an opportunity to get their faces painted, win prizes, eat baked goods, and enjoy their friends' company. To top it off, all proceeds went to the school. Here they are showing off their face paint.

First Parent-Teacher Interview

Last week, we had our first ever parent-teacher interview. We met the kindergarten teacher after school, while our 5 year old headed to her cousin's house. We didn't quite know what to expect. Before the official sit down, we walked around, met the music teacher, met one of the gym teachers, and perused our daughter's extensive art work portfolio.

I found myself a little nervous. Would our first-born measure up? In the end, we found out that our daughter was a "pleasure to teach", that she was shy (like her Papa) and competitive (like her Mama).

Acting goofy after school (centre)