More appreciation

This week has been quite fun. When I started at the school there was only one "Staff Appreciation Day" - now it is an entire week. We have had breakfast served to us, lunches, Starbucks runs, the candy bouquets and today the apples for all staff. This was really cute - inside each "apple" was a gift card for iTunes, Starbucks, etc.

Staff Appreciation Week

It is Staff Appreciation Week at school - this morning we had about 8 of these "bouquets" delivered to the Staff Room - teachers and school staff on a sugar high . . .    not always a good thing!

Hula Competition

Holly in her Tahitian outfit. . .


As Holly would say, "Two Tahitian girls with black hair and brown eyes!"


My first ever kahiko (ancient Hawaiian chant) - first in public and first in competition! You can see the dressing room chaos behind me!


Our girls and their trophy! (Just like last year, we won't mention that they were the only entry in their category! They would win on cuteness alone!)

Mother's Day Tea

Today was Mother's Day Tea at school! We enjoyed a lovely tea with these pretty cakes, appreciated the singing of our class (and other class presentations), and were totally awed by the gifts our kids made us!



Ash, Arlyn, Jo-Ann and me.


Ash, Arlyn, Marilee, Jo-Ann, Karla, Stephanie, Aruna,
Me, and Josephine.

Last Parker Street Dinner ever!

Tonight was our last family dinner at Parker Street. Wow! So many memories here of Sunday dinners, sleepovers with my grandparents, and numerous family occasions. My grandparents bought this house just after they arrived in Canada (a few weeks before I was born) - my grandmother negotiated the price to $14,000, so she paid less for it than I did my first car!

All of my memories of my grandparents are tied to this house because they never lived anywhere else. I even made friends with the neighbours' daughters next door - we went to each others' birthday parties and their parents are still living there now. I remember them watching each others' places when they went on vacations... I remember so many things here. I don't want to forget anything, but I know I already have because there are sooooo many moments - way to many to remember them all! But everything I think of brings a smile to my face. I hope that Holly is not so young that she won't remember one or two things about this place & her great-grandparents. I had told her a while ago that the house would be sold... She asked me 2 things: "Where will Poh-Poh (my mom) live?" and "where will we have Sunday dinners if we can't go to Parker Street?"

As usual, we had a great potluck dinner, celebrated a birthday or two or three, and Holly had a great time with her cousins!

It's sad to see the house go, but I try to think of another family making happy memories here for many years. Thank you, 5560 Parker Street, we'll miss you!

Cassie's birthday

Today, Holly went to Circus School to celebrate Cassie's birthday!

She loves the aerial silks - the kids can wrap themselves up like they are in a cocoon, or climb and swing from them.


Then all the kids watched Cassie, go way up high on the trapeze!

This is Sabine - from hula class!

Spring Play

Holly performed in the Junior Spring Play tonight - Junior Kindergarten to Grade 3 classes performed and did amazing jobs. The Junior Kindergarten performance included voice overs of the actual students, that were played while they were on stage. It was very cool!

Holly's grade 1 class performed "How Frog Went to Heaven", an African folk tale.


After the performance, a few of us went across the street for a bite to eat. The kids decided to get up on "stage" again and did some posing - in particular, Katie, Sienna, Holly and Mehr kept performing!

Run For Water

It was the second time our school participated in Run for Water to help kids in Bonke, Africa get access to clean water through HOPE International Development Agency. I was really busy in the office and didn't even get a chance to visit at the field where they were running - another mom took this picture and happened to get Holly in it right beside the water drop mascot.

Busy Easter Bunny!

The Easter Bunny came by our house and left eggs here as well! He sure has been busy!

Easter in Sooke

We went to Sooke and Paul's mom arranged with the Easter Bunny to bring eggs into the woods behind the house. . .

Holly and Brandon had a lot of fun looking for them all!


Later, Paul went for a paddle at Kemp Lake and met us at the other end, where he took Brandon and Holly for a short ride.