The Girls Help Out

The girls were surprised to find out that there was no school on Monday. I explained to them that due to the heavy rains, many roads around Montreal had flooded, and some teachers and students were unable to get to school safely. We discussed ways that we might help out. Along with my sister, we stopped first at Tim Hortons to pick up a large box of Timbits for the volunteers (plus a smaller box for the girls).  Next we headed towards Ile-Bizard to help fill some sand bags. We each filled one bag, plus an extra one for good measure. Once our three-year old started sliding down the large pile of sand that the volunteers were trying to shovel into bags, we decided to head home. We talked about the flood the rest of the way home, and about helpfulness. Despite the cold weather, the girls seemed to have appreciated their first experience as volunteers....  

The Cutest Hip-Hop Show

Last Wednesday, the parents were asked to go to preschool three times within the same 4 hour block: Once to drop them off at 8:30, another time to pick them up at 12:30, and in between at 9:30 for a 30 minute hip-hop show. In addition, the show started at 9:45, so the parents were kept waiting in a narrow hallway for 15 minutes. I was beginning to regret my decision to attend, when the preschoolers blew everyone away.

Our three-year old was so expressive, moving to the music, shaking her hips, and simply dancing like the cutest preschooler. I had no idea she had those moves! Our 5-year old was a little more subdued, but the kids and parents alike seemed to enjoy the show! And although I believe that the show should have been either at the beginning or the end of the school day, it was worth the wait and inconvenience!

Our three-year-old with the red cap

Our 5-year old in the middle

Three Cute Bikers

Thursday proved to be a very sunny day, and we were finally able to get out with the bicycles. On the way home from school, we stopped by the local bike store as our two eldest were due for new bikes. I was worried that they would insist upon pink, or princess bicycles, but they gladly choses amongst the available models. Our 7-year old chose green, an our number two went for blue and yellow. Papa happened to be working from home, so we enjoyed a nice bicycle ride. Our three year old eagerly got on her sister's old bicycle, and although she fell off a few times, she managed to ride a fair distance.  Too bad they next few days will be cold and wet, as they cannot wait to get on their bikes again...

The Two-Day Week

This week, the kids all had three days off. Not only did they have two days off at the beginning of the week as part of the Easter holiday, but my 7-year old also had a pedagogical day on Friday. My two preschoolers do not got to school on Fridays, so I had three kids for three days!!!

We did manage to get a whole lot done, including:
-getting much needed haircuts for the girls
-picking up branches on our lawn
-setting up the swings in our back yard
-visiting a pet store
-going grocery shopping

All in all, we had a wonderful week, but I simply cannot wait for Monday!

A trip to the Capital of Canada

A few weeks ago, my 7-year old and my sister had the following conversation:

Sister: "Do you know what the Capital of Canada is?"
7-year old: "C"

And just a few days ago, we made a day trip to Ottawa, and all three managed to stay awake the entire time. First, we visited with the kids' great aunt Lois, and cousin Jason, where the girls coloured, made a puzzle, and played a game of ball using my three-year-olds's rolled up socks! After a hearty and scrumptious meal, we headed over to a friends house. We stopped by a park, followed by a walk with their lovely dog Kato. On the way back, two of the girls complained that their legs could take it no more, and they received piggy back rides from three different people!

When we retuned to their house, much to our kids delight, our friends had prepared an egg-dying table. They each happily decorated 3 hard boiled eggs. And finally before heading back home, the girls simply hung out with a very tolerant dog...

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Montreal and the surrounding areas have received (what has felt like) record-breaking amounts of rain lately. Our girls are happy to don their rain boots, and hold their umbrellas over short distances, but have been yearning to break out their bikes. In the meantime, we have been rediscovering indoor play areas...

How Our 7-Year Old Does Her Homework

Our seven-year has been doing homework almost daily for the last seven months. And for seven months, I have been asking her to sit still for a few minutes at a time. She somehow manages to get her homework done, but she is constantly moving. Finally, last week, after hearing me ask her to "sit still" for the third time in three minutes, she got up and declared "j'ai une idée." She placed her homework on the floor, and started doing a series of exercises, including jogging, push ups, and a few yoga moves. She completed her homework in record time and declared "parfait, maintenant je suis en forme"...