a collection of what makes up our life here in this part of the world...
seeking balance, being present, living life, celebrating learning, capturing memories, being me
June 30th marks the last day of the month, the first full day of summer holidays for the boys and I, my parents' 51st Anniversary (congratulations!) and my end of the month wordle post. I couldn't just post the wordle alone though and had to share some photos from our annual trip to Crescent Beach on the first day of summer holidays. The boys made a huge sandcastle with a moat. Colin called Adam a traitor for even considering another type of icecream than their traditional "Rainbow Twist"!
the mover:
the builder:
the castle:
the icecream:
We went out for dinner to celebrate the end of the school year and to give Adam his "graduating" gift. Along with a grade 7 photo collage, we finally relented and got Adam a cell phone. He was so excited and surprised. I know he really wanted an android type phone but geesh, Neil and I don't even have phones like that! Although my heart always just wants to give the boys what they want, Neil and I believe that the boys have to work towards some things, that things just can't be given to them so easily. There's that danger of expectation that I think gets really tricky to deal with as kids get older. It all ended well and Adam is super happy with what he got and we're happy with the plan. Adam is just beaming actually.
1) Today was the last day of school for the boys. Historically significant because today was their last day of elementary school together and the last time they would walk to their elementary school together. Can you hear me getting a little sentimental?
2) We went to school early so I could get a front row seat for the assembly. Luckily, Neil was able to attend. The choir sang two perfect songs, the grade sevens were all introduced with a special contribution they have made to the school. Adam is most proud of his Me to We work.
3) Adam was selected as one of the class valedictorians. He was quite nervous that he was going to get emotional when he started speaking (so like his mama!) but he did just great! So proud of him!
4) We watched the traditional farewell slideshow and then the kindergarten students handed off the certificates to the grade sevens and then that was it. I remember when Adam as in K and did the same thing and I thought it would be such a long time before he was the one receiving the certificate. It was a special morning for our family.
5) The boys were quite happy to hang out at home this afternoon while I got more things ready for the event at the school this evening. There was a lot to do but it was a labour of love, honestly. It was all for this special group of kids that Adam has gone through school with. It was so great to see so many of his teachers from the past and present, celebrating along with us.
6) I ordered cupcakes and then made these cute toppers for them. I found the artwork on etsy at paperglitter's shop. So cute! Lots of the kids took out their phones (oh how times have changed) and took photos of the cupcakes!
7) We got a group shot of the class of 2010 before they headed off for the summer. Most of them lingered and didn't really seem to want to leave. They have already made plans for Playland and movies and teenage type stuff for the summer.
8) Colin spent most of the evening eating cream puffs and doing round offs and other stunts across the gym floor. There are 6 younger siblings from Adam's grade 7 class that are the same grade as Colin. They seem SO young in comparison and its hard to believe we will be hosting this event for them in just two years!
9) All this planning and decorating has got me thinking ahead to Colin's grade 7 "grad" This website has a great list of party themes to start thinking about. Hopefully Colin's class won't be choosing something involving making multiple complicated 3D puzzles ;)
10) And tomorrow is the boys' first full day of summer holidays. It's probably one of my most favourite days of the year. Every year since Adam was in Kindergarten, we have headed out to Crescent Beach for a day of total nothingness and rainbow icecream!
I spent the whole day at the boys' school helping with Adam's year end events. Today was the big luncheon and dance. It was all about eiffel towers, twinkly lights and the chocolate fountain. Of all 38 grade 7 "grads" our dear Adam was the only one who got chocolate all down his nice shirt...I had to zip home to get him a new one before the dance ;)
The kids had raised money to hire a DJ and he was great. I only stayed for a few minutes so Adam could have his "space". He said he had lots of fun.
The kids were so great and many came up to me to thank me for all the work that went in to making their day special. And Adam was so appreciative...he hugged me twice during the day and gave me kisses on my cheek...at school! I am so very lucky.
This is the "get ready for Adam's grade 7 events weekend" and we spent last night and today putting together Eiffel Towers, making chocolate Eiffel Tower treats and decorating stars with the kids' names on them for their Night in Paris theme.
After I picked Colin up from his sleepover at Duncan's, we picked up Glenn and Grandpa to go to Aunt Nancy's 49th day service. We all went out for dinner after and Corinne gave each of the family members this amazing photo of all the Kobayashi siblings and their parents.
I love old photos like this. It's inspiring me to do something with the heritage photos from both sides of our family. Yes, yet another project to add to my ever growing list!
The boys got their report cards today - so proud of the nice things their teachers had to say about both of them! Today was Adam's last early dismissal Friday. Next year at high school it will be a regular schedule so Colin will be on his own on Friday afternoons. We decided to head to Garry Point for ice cream at Timothy's and some time hanging out at the beach, with the boys just doing the kinds of things they like to do together.
We came home and they cooled off with a water fight before Adam headed out to a grade 7 BBQ at a classmate's house and Colin went to his cousin Duncan's for a sleepover.
I drove Adam and a friend out to Centennial Beach this morning for a year end trip for all the grade 6 and 7 students in the school. It was low tide and they walked WAY out until they reached the ocean. Adam had a very wonderful day. It was his last elementary field trip!
I also drove Colin over to Splashdown for a year end field trip for all the crossing guards. We've never been to Splashdown and Colin loved it, especially the black hole and the river raft run.
(I had lots of group shots of kids but didn't check with all of them if it was okay to post their faces on my blog).
We all got a bit of sun today so just "chilled" after school. This evening Adam had his last spring PeeWee hockey game and Colin had his last fencing class of the year. Colin was able to bring a friend to the class and Jonah got thrown right into it and got all hooked up to the electrical stuff too!
The next five days will almost all be about getting ready for Adam's year end grade 7 events. I have quite a list of things to do. Adam has said thank you several times which is very nice...I just want him and his classmates to have a memorable time and am trying to make it happen!
Today was a very full day running around getting things organized for Adam's grade 7 year end events. Apparently there are no bistro tables or little eiffel towers to rent anywhere in the Lower Mainland. Plan B I guess. I went down to Bellingham as well to a party store but no luck. I picked up my lovely prize from Carly and some chalkboard vinyl for my new library from Treasury of Memories. I love how Carly packaged my amazing wire photo holders! What a great blog prize!
We're rushing off to hop on the Canada Line for dinner downtown and a surprise show with the boys. Should be fun!
But honestly, how come I often try to operate like there are actually 30 hours in a day instead of 24 ;)
edited at 11:45pm:
We took the boys to Star Wars in Concert tonight at GM Place. We all loved it. We didn't tell the boys where we were going and Colin was desperate to find out. He kept asking questions, looking around at road signs for clues to where we were going, etc. Adam just wanted to wait and be surprised. So funny how they approached it so differently. As we were walking to GM Place, Colin was looking everywhere and eavesdropping on other people's conversations trying to figure out where everyone might be going. Then we saw the "upcoming events" scroll across the sign at GM Place and Stars Wars in Concert appeared. Colin mentioned that two of his friends from school were going to that and Neil and I just looked at each other and then the boys knew! They were so excited. We got our tickets from the box office then went to eat dinner. I have never seen Colin eat dinner so quickly. We headed back to GM Place an hour before the show start time to take in some of the displays. They had green screens, video clips showing the making of the different movies, movie props and costumes, artwork, music scores and some characters in costume.
We ran in to the Pangs, another boy from Colin's class and a family from Adam's hockey team! Security wanted me to check my zoom lens because they said it was too big. There were signs saying no flash photography or professional photography but I didn't realize they could regulate the size of the lenses you use! The people at guest services let me keep my lens as long as I promised not to use it which I didn't. Video was fine though which was great because I could also capture the audio of the orchestra that way.
We all loved it and the boys said lots of big thanks for the surprise!
1) Lots more thank yous needed for today! I was a glimmermisting, paper punching, glueing queen last night. We had a retirement tea today and work and I stayed late finishing up some documents. It was a nice quiet exit and I was able to place my thank you cards and cookies on everyone's desks after they had left.
2) I made a large batch of chocolate snowflake cookies as thank you treats. I guess in June I should have another name for them ;) These are the cookie of the week but I haven't kept track - have I talked about these before on the blog? I think I should probably keep a list of my cookies! Maybe do a little photo/recipe book project.
3) A colleague gave me this lovely chocolate from Chocolate Arts today.
I love the design. I actually met Robert's brother Reg on a trip to Haida Gwaii and spent sometime in his work space. Amazing carvings and artistic vision like his brother.
4) And so today was it for me. Goodbye "District Curriculum Coordinator"!
5) While dinner was cooking, I strolled through the garden a bit to have a look what changes have happened since the weekend. I love this time of year in the garden as things change daily! I love how the window box is filling in and my lupine that used to be purple is a new colour this year!
6) Our strawberries are red! There's only a few so far and I am sure the animals and birds will get to them before we do!
7) Our local strawberries are ready and we need to go picking soon - its a short season! We've taken Adam since he was a year and a half and the boys are so fast at picking. Our favourite farm is Maxwell's just down the road but there are so many little u-pick farms around us. Maybe tomorrow after school. We always freeze some for smoothies and make a batch of strawberry jam.
8) The boys both have big field trips on Thursday - the beach and waterslides. I think I am going to try and make some of these homemade granola bars for their classes. Adam keeps telling me I am doing too much though...maybe I could just buy some!
9) Our list of movies the boys want to go to is getting long...Shrek, Toy Story 3, The Karate Kid. Time to cash in some airmiles for some movie vouchers!
10) Adam had his last kendo session last night, Colin has his last fencing session and Adam has his last hockey game on Thursday night. Everything is winding down! So looking forward to summer!
As of this evening, the boys have 5.5 days left of school and those days are PACKED and fun busy! Today, Adam wore his new ThinkGeek Personal Sound System tshirt to school. It can be connected to his ipod to play his music with a remote and it also comes with a bunch of sounds he can play through the speaker. He is getting wise and took an extra tshirt with him to school as he was going out for lunch to Pajo's with his Me to We committee and didn't want to get it dirty - he's learned from experience ;)
Recent Comments