It's Summer Break!!!!

We are all pretty excited to be on summer break. Eight weeks of summer family time, who wouldn't be? If you follow me on Facebook then you've already seen these, pictures, but they are too funny not to share with those of you don't.

Abigail's last day of pre~school was on Thursday. I asked David to snap a few pictures of her on the front step to compare with her first day. Here she is posing on her first day back in September.

David didn't prompt her, this was just her doing what she does. I think I suggested what she could wear and I knew she would get her school uniform shirt that day. Cute right?

Here's Abby on her last day.

There is so much going on here that I want to remember. Let's talk about her outfit first. Abigail gets to choose (within guidelines) what she wears. Her school only required the pre-school students to wear a uniform shirt (the blue one). We require her to wear leggings or shorts if she wants to wear a skirt to school.  What you can't see is that she is wearing black leggings that are tucked into her socks under a grey skirt that is under her rainbow skirt. The grey skirt has carefully been tucked under her rainbow skirt except for a "tail" piece in the back which was equally carefully pulled out to be on top of her rainbow skirt. Next she is wearing a long sleeved blue shirt under her school t-shirt and topped off with her jacket. It was 30 degrees centigrade that day. The poor thing must have been cooking!

Abby grew considerably since September. I mean she looked so tiny and now she looks ready to conquer kindergarten next year. By the way on her last day she said to me "I wish it were fall!" Heaven help us. I told her not to wish away my summer.

I love that Abby marches to her own drum. She is a bit of a contradiction though. As she meticulously prepares how she looks, she worries that someone will laugh at her. How sad that she has already become self conscious? I tell her it doesn't matter what she wears or how she does her hair, she'll always be beautiful. I pray she believes me. I don't think I truly believed that when my mom said it. It's the thing for a mom to say, though, and I will say it as often as it takes! Abby will be required to wear full uniform next year, so I'll miss the colourful creative style, though she will have after school and weekends to express herself. Don't get me wrong, I am not anti-uniform. In actual fact, I love uniforms and I'm glad that she will wear one. 

We loved Abby's teachers this year. Her teacher is my friend and has blessed us so much with her love and support on some quite challenging days this year. Her teacher's assistant will sadly not be there next year, but we were equally blessed by her. I can't say enough good things about these ladies. This year was the pilot year of preschool at The King's School and they did amazing! 

I can't leave out the other half of year end pictures. We were so tickled by Abby's posing on her last day pictures that I asked David to humour me with a few of him. In true David style, he wouldn't be outdone by his girl.

A few mildly funny poses in honour of Abby, then the hilarious t-rex edition....

Oh how I love this man!!!!

We celebrated on Friday after David got home with rainbow cupcakes. Abby and I baked them and then we all sat down to decorate and eat them. Malachi in the middle of eating his said "This is an amazing day!"

Aren't those colours super fun!?

This picture is not touched up or has a filter added, they really are that colour!

We used Clubhouse neon food colouring. It was all the store had in stock and I wouldn't have chosen them, but I'm so glad we tried them, because they turned out so fun!

Micah didn't really decorate his, but he ate it quite happily

"Mmmm! May I have some more?"

It was a good celebration and we have so much more yet to celebrate! It's going to be a great summer!

Checking In

4 days until summer break! We are sooooo ready to have David home and for a new season to begin. Let's catch up and talk about what we're looking forward to.

• Micah celebrated his 2nd birthday. We had a couple of friends over for a very simple backyard barbecue and pool party. I didn't do much for planning as I have a big party to plan for this summer and I think one big planned event is enough. For not having much of a plan, it turned out rather well. I think everyone had a good time.

• I made a mini cake. It was cute and perfect for the birthday boy.

• I painted Micah a t~shirt. His favourite song is "What does the fox say?". I thought the shirt was cute and he always tells what the fox says when you put it on him.

(I'm not sure why this picture is sideways~sorry)

• We bought a small backyard pool for the summer. It's filtered which is nice and deep and large enough for us to climb in with the littles. I think it will be a great thing to have for our summer off at home.

• I made David a shirt for Father's Day. I really enjoy freezer paper stencilling. The final product is so satisfying.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• We have decided against going to Alberta this summer. It wasn't an easy decision, but now that it's made, I'm relieved. I can now go ahead and plan our staycation. 
• We made a summer list~ish. David felt pressure to cross off each item on prior lists and it was never meant to be a "have to do" list, but a "could do" list. I wrote out a bunch of ideas in a pocket notebook for reference if we need ideas on any given day. 
• We have a weekly spot at the Prayer Furnace. The first few weeks were a gong show with the children, but I've come to really enjoy and treasure our times of family prayer. There is something so sweet about hearing your children pray. They have no pre~conceived ideas about how to pray, they just say what they mean and mean what they say. We love to teach them about prayer, but they teach us just as much.

• We visited a farm this weekend. The littles got to run free, explore, feed chickens and soak in the outdoors. I often think I've been in the city too long to really enjoy the country, but then I get out of the city and think "my heart remembers this". David came home happier and more relaxed then I've seen him in some time. We need to get out of the city more often.

• I have Loved the last few Saturday mornings. They are slow and close and sweet. I will miss these times with my littles when life gets busier and as they grow.

• I apologize for the duplicate pictures if you've already seen them on instagram. I love my phone and the convenience of taking pictures on the go often leaves our actual camera on the shelf. I do have plans for it this summer though.

• What I'm looking forward to this summer: David being home, our 10th anniversary!!!, backyard play, projects worked on and finished, family coming for a visit (hopefully), celebrating our one year Vanniversary, lots of creative time, party planning and secrets (this blog will be hopping after the party) and whatever adventures we have in store.
• I hope you and yours have a wonderful, adventure filled summer!