absolutely autumn

The kids had no school Friday so it was a great chance to enjoy the hot autumn weather and beautiful colours at the Green Pig Market. We spent hours racing, climbing and rearranging pumpkin displays. Like their Mama, the kids love pumpkins and spent many careful moments picking their favourite gourds to bring home.

 

 While I picked and loaded pumpkins, the kids made themselves at home.

 Marching off to the corn mazes.

What a novelty, picking corn right from the stalks.

 Getting busy through the mazes.

 Kate was completely enamored with the dried out corn of cobs that she picked.

 Mustache man.

What a sister. Here she is trying to boost Elliott up the final bale moments before she reconsidered her helpful disposition and nearly pushed him off the tower. She certainly got his attention.

Autumn enjoyment will continue today with a hike and then tomorrow picking apples. Maybe I'll even try my hand at cider making. Mmm
CAKE

happy 80th leonard cohen

Like many Canadians I have been celebrating Leonard Cohen's 80th birthday all week thanks to the CBC. What a poet he is; prolific, current, melodic and dare I say sexy. The number of covers that I have heard (done by all types and nationalities of artists) this week has to be the testament of how loved he and his work is the world over. And similar to how I feel about the CBC, Leonard Cohen makes me proud to be a Canadian.

In other news, yesterday marked my first foray into the world of competitive cross fitting. And probably my last. It was a partner competition and I had the pleasure of partnering with my good friend Julie. She's a rock star and a wonderful, generous partner. Big thanks JB for getting me to face a major fear and for helping me out of no-rep wall ball hell. And congrats to Cody and his partner Guy who fought hard in the elite division and all our other wonderful friends who competed and who finished on the podium. Respect.

Happy weekend everyone.
AJ

our island family

Last Sunday we spent a lovely sunny day surrounded by all of Cody's family: cousins, grandparents, uncles, aunts and a pile of little babies. It was so lovely to see the Biggar girls' families who were home from Whitehorse and Rocky Mountain House. There is nothing better than a day filled with family, Pap's mussels and Donna's seafood chowder. Merci!

My baby who in that crowd was one of the big kids.

 Avery - the natural born driver.

 A little tough to see but those are all our kids enjoying someone else's farm life.

 A muscle head eating some mussels.

Lovely ladies.

 Little Albertan Anna.

 The battery died so the Biggar girls' girls were running on my horse power.

Cody's cousin Josh and his babies - Hudson and Peyton.

 Great grandchildren (plus Noah).

The Grandkids.

Here's to many more family day gatherings!
Lots of love to all,
CAKE

casa and the big k

Well I gotta Casa kid and Kindergartener these days. And they are happy. After a wonderful summer break the kids were all smiles to head out Tuesday morning. I on the other hand had to fight some first day traffic anxiety as there were kids, parents, double parked, single lanes and construction everywhere.   Alas, we did make it to the kids' new, remote school location - on time even.

 K kid.

 Casa kid.

 We battled some ugly first day traffic and are ready to go see the new digs.

 A hard good bye is quickly turned a ound with some good old home made Play Doh and Miss Isla (behind Elliott rubbing her prized blanket on his neck - oh my!).

A minute in and Kate's getting down to business. 

The woods that completely surround the new school location. A glorious setting for some good learning.

Today (being day #3) I enjoyed a rare glimpse at the real joys of Montessori work. I arrived over a half an hour early for pick up, hoping that I could do some inconspicuous observing. And wouldn't you know it Elliott was deep at thought/work on a colour matching exercise. The beauty being that three children and Miss Amanda sat around his activity and were just quietly watching him work. He finished just as a fellow student announced "Elliott your Mom's here." But instead of him running out to me he wanted me to celebrate his accomplishment. So sweet and so wonderful. He seems to be thriving this year and we're only days in.  Yesterday on our walk with the dog he went around "Mmmm-ing" everything that started with M or as he calls it "a straight line down and then hump hump."  Way to go Miss Amanda! This boy is engaged.

Kate seems to be doing well too. She has a lot of new faces in her classroom and so far she's not sharing nearly what her brother is. All I have to go on is a hand drawn treasure map and a princess beside a tower to show for her three days!

In the meantime I have scrubbed my home from top to bottom, cleaned up the yard, hit Costco without having to two of every single sample and de-cluttered their toys and clothes. Shocking what one can accomplish in a day! I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm dying to pick them up each day.

A happy first day to Carter and Lydia and of course Paul and Candace. We look forward to trading stories this Sunday.

I also wish Cody, Paul and Janice a safe and fun final leg to their bike journey tomorrow.

Talk to y'all soon.
aj aka the empty nester

one more day ... one day mooooore

I hope you all picked up on the musical reference in this posts' header and sang along. Today is labour day or as most parents refer to it as the last day of summer holidays. It is with mixed emotions that I prepare to send off my little people to their first day of last year in their Montessori program. I'm so excited for them as they are so excited to see their old friends, new teachers, their new school (building) and forested lot. But I also had the most wonderful summer with these littles and will miss them very much (admittedly probably not for the first couple of days).

We have had a pretty nice labour day weekend. Cody flew to T.O. yesterday to start his bike trip meanwhile the whole Champion clan plus some of their PEI friends made it NB side to enjoy a day at the Moncton Zoo and we were lucky enough to get to join them.

Everyone enjoying the spectacular howling of some apes.

Our true monkey Miss Lydia.

 This guy Crossfits like his Mama.

Besties.

The benefit of having wonderfully agile and trustworthy big kids at a park - a moment of leisure for me and my mohawked brother in law (the do is a result of his recent participation in Tough Mudder).

 Winding down after some awesome park antics.

 Feeding the llamas with Kate. That's a lot of tickles on the old palms.

A last photo opp with Aunty Candace, Jade and Kate. Why Kate felt compelled to go Cirque de Soleil I have no clue.

Stay tuned to an update on tomorrow's adventures. Fingers crossed all goes well and everyone is as happy at drop off as they claim they will be.

Ciao, aj

a last long weekend

This Sunday Cody heads south on a week long bike trip with his Dad and Janice so we had an early long weekend as a family this one past. And an action packed one it was. Super fun times. A wedding, visits with Grandparents, beach and even a few tourist trappings.

 Friday:
We were so happy to attend Franny and Meghan Best's wedding Friday night. Thus marking the kids' first official (vomit in the aisle free) wedding.

Who is cuter Kate or Papa with his braces?

Dancing queens: Kate and her great pal Carlie.

 My guys.

 The beautiful bride with her Rugby girls.

Saturday:
Off to PEI. First stop Grammie's then to Meem and Pap's. Meem and Pap have the perfect climbing tree in their side yard and the kids got right to work.

Kate.

Lydia.

 Meem.

 Pap.

 Grammie & Boo.

Cousin love.

Another (final) birthday celebration for Elliott. Thank you Champion 4!

Sunday:

We spent pretty much the entire day at Adam's Shore, PEI. 

 

The day was one of those unexpected gifts where the weather and the company was grand.

Monday:
Rockin' out as PEI tourists for the morning.

First stop, Kensington's Haunted House (which the kids have wanted to visit for some time now).

Looking up - mesmerized by the first attraction, a lady (mannequin) hanging out the window calling for help. The beginning of the end.

 Above the ticket booth a Vampire bat which pretty much end of the end. After a minute of negotiating with the kids Cody got to negotiate a refund.

And we're done. As I remarked to Cody best $26 we never had to spend.

 Stop #2 - a crazy Jurassic Bart's where the highlight for all was getting to feed the calf milk.

Oops, I forgot we really enjoyed the games section as well.

Tuesday:

Yesterday marked the second last day of morning Summer camp for the kids.  It was pretty sweet. The counsellors put together a slide show and awarded each child with an unique certificate. Kate received the award for Independence. Caption - always happy to participate and play with any child. Elliott received the Fun & Friendly Award. Caption - always had a smile on his face. I think they got to know and accessed the kids well. Congrats guys. Loved seeing you hanging out with your new summer gang.

So I know what you're wondering. It's obvious right? Was I even there? Yes I actually was. Will my kids ever know it? Perhaps. Perhaps they will remember me as the one always behind the lens pleading with them to give me another smile. 

CAKE out