Sainte Catherine

Today is my day but the school celebrated last Friday.
Reminder: here, on St Catherine's Day, they perpetuate a tradition introduced by a nun, Marguerite Bourgeois, who used to make a special candy, called tire, to attract Native Americans to school.

So that day, the kids get to dress as pioneers, nuns or Native Americans.
Special had prepared a feather crown for Julia (she added real feathers too!)

I wasn't going to help, with Zack in the way, but I still wanted to go to the school and enjoy the tradition. I went quite early (or so I thought) because Julia had forgotten her glasses, but at 9 o'clock I was still too late as Kelden was already almost done!!

We waited for Julia's turn (she was going at 10) and we helped as we could. (Although we were invited to eat freely, I still thought we had to earn the Tim Horton's breakfast they had for the helpers! ).

Here's Julia showing you the steps to make the tire.

1. Butter your hands (just the palms, please !!)

2. Tire ! Pull !

3. Cut your snake.

4. Wrap it all in a papillote. 

 5. You're supposed to share with your family, at least that's what Kelden's teacher said. But Julia didn't want to share with me. Her teacher told her that maybe she could share with her dad. But, no, she ate it all herself..

We left after Julia's turn. The way back wasn't as bad as the cold wind was gone. But it probably would have been better if I had used the sleigh!

Next time...

Swimming Lesson #5

Usually for lesson #5 parents are invited to go swimming with their kids and take pictures. So, last Saturday Keld went in and I tried to make some videos while chasing Zack around.

Kelden doesn't seem to have a gift for swimming but he will try everything his instructor asks him to do. He has therefore progressed quite a bit, even if he still can't really swim on his own.

As you can see from this last video, Julia still won't show all her skills. Unlike Kelden, she can swim pretty well on her own, but she is too shy. We had hoped that she would be better with Keld, but it still took half the lesson time before she decided to try.

Finally, she did it and her instructor now knows what to teach her next (she needs to practise her kicking).
In the next video you can see how she still hesitates and stops but then when she recognizes her school teacher (whom I'm talking to and who came to go swimming with her son) she suddenly is able to go without stopping...

Her favorite is still swimming on the back though.

I hope she won't hesitate from now on (but I know her, she will..). Maybe we should send Keld every time?

Elders and Snow

The elders saw me shovelling as I was waiting for the school bus. They must have felt bad for me, knowing that the bishop was away for a few days, because they came back to finish the job. I saw them out of the window and told the kids who decided to go help. Help might not be the word, though.
But Elder Teutau, our New Zealander from Tonga, was really nice.

And got really tired...

Elder Skirvin had to come help.

And the race was on !

The kids tried to give the elders a turn...

But they realized it was harder than it looked..

I'm not sure that the elders will come back for more shovelling this winter...

Birthdays on Remembrance Day

We know quite a few people, great people, who have their birthdays on remembrance day. One of them is 

Brother McGinn, whom we were able to see just a couple of days ago! We were going to the Stake Temple trip and we had Brother Veritsky with us. Brother McGinn decided he was going to sing him a song:

 

I think Brother Veritsky was impressed...

And now, another couple of songs, from the celebration at the school today. 

Julia is starting to learn that she has family members, great (and three times great)-grandfathers who fought in the wars and she is becoming interested in Family History. Good, I can use the help :)

Happy Birthday Kelden !!

Kelden's birthday was yesterday, but we celebrated today with Grandpa Bruce. Of course, we still let him open a gift on the day of.

We had also bought something to share with Zack, in case he was jealous of all the birthdays.

Zack and I went to the school to bring cupcakes. Zack really likes going to the school.

Today was the party with the cake and the guests !
Another great job with the cake from Special. Thank you !

I think the guests had fun, especially Zack and Bruce together or Linda and Julia !

But, once again, the presents seem to be the best part ;)

Thanks again to everybody !

Happy Birthday Julia !!

Julia had been waiting for her birthday for a long time- one year exactly. She couldn't wait this morning and opened one gift.

She then got some gifts from her teacher (a bouncy ball and a scented pencil). Mme Nicole also gave Zack and Kelden bouncy balls. Zack and I went to school to bring cupcakes, and to have fun. They played some games and Zack really enjoyed himself.

They started singing before I was ready, so I only got their funny end..

Back home, she had to wait and wait and wait again before opening more gifts.
We first had crêpes.

Then, cake (another work of art from Special!)

Finally, it was time!!

She got all that she had on her list, and more ! Thank you to all who came !

I think Julia will sleep better tonight, not wondering what presents she will get !!

Happy Birthday Julia !!

Happy Birthday to Me!

I had a really good birthday! Thank you to all who remembered me. I received my parents'package right on time (here I have to tell you that I grew up never being able to get mail on my birthday since it is a day off in France-a day dedicated to go to the cemetery, but that is another story). I was patient and waited for the kids to open it (I never went to school on my birthday!). Apparently, I have to share with them the contents, since some have their birthdays next week too...

It felt like Halloween wasn't over yet !
We went to Special's for supper with, of course, chocolate cake! Thank you!

Here are some pictures of the guests:
The boys:

Evan couldn't say "Happy Birthday" but his shirt (My Auntie is Awesome) said it all!
The girls:

The guests had a lot of fun playing hide and seek and other games with Special!
Next: the presents:

I got a top from Aunt Ashley:

A skirt from Special:

The slippers are a gift too from Aunt Ashley(very comfortable might I add!). Thank you again !
Here is the picture I put on Facebook for my birthday:

Some people said that I haven't changed since the last (or first, depending on their nationalities) time they saw me. Let's see. Here is a picture of me, in 2001, when I moved to Canada.

I just think cameras are a lot better now :)