teamluguy

It was a Lego Friends themed part this year, as Alice was joined by a select group of sweet girls to eat at Boston Pizza (so grown up) and return home to play dancing on newspaper and Kim's game (less grown up). Happy birthday big girl xoxo Decorations are ready - we just need the guests All out Lego colours. One of the girls' creations Bake a flat cake and put some plastic doohickeys on it. Instant party success! Early giggles. Lego building contest. Cake time! Eight year olds are so patient at the restaurant!

Estelle has just started taking ballet lessons. She seemed to get inspiration from watching Amy and Jessica's dance recital this summer, and so decided to take lessons even though her big sister wasn't interested. Courageous little girl. Beautiful tiny dancer.

We went camping over Labor Day weekend with some dispersed franco-manitobans at this lovely new provincial park new the border with New Brunswick ( Témiscouata ). It rained a fair bit, but we crammed into the tent trailer for spaghetti and a memory game.

The start of school came and went without a blog post... Did you think we'd decided to keep the girls at home and school them in urban farming and geological modelling? Never fear, we're keeping them in the system, despite what Québec's education minister said last month . So Alice keeps on movin' on and is now in grade 3, with her highlight so far being that there is a real, live bunny rabbit in her classroom! The kids are responsible for taking car of it, and every weekend, someone takes it home. Alice's name is already on the waiting list to have Lapineau over for a slumber party. Her teacher's name is Johanne, and we've been told this year's focus is on autonomy! Estelle, sweet baby Estelle, has started kindergarten!!! Lucky for everyone, she was truly ready for school (even mastering those tricky letters like H and Q at the end of the summer) and is having a great time in her classroom. Estelle's teacher, Audrée-Anne, is teaching for the fir...

Newest project by dad: Portable-Fresnel-Solar-Oven

We took our new camper out for the first time this summer (the old one was afflicted by an accute case of freaky mold). We caught up with some old friends JF and Christine and their sons. New SUV, camper and the girls. Mom's new dutch oven chili recipe. The girls stayed up soooo late. We didn't catch anything, but it was fun nonetheless. Beach closed due to blue-green algae; no problem. They don't pay that guy the big bucks for nothing. All about the strategy...

Our last stop was back at Aunty Jean and Uncle Brian's, where we went swimming at the Hathersage pool , played games at the house (Twister?!?), and met with lots more family at Lyme Park .  We spotted this old Land Rover that Grandad might have stolen away in. Getting schooled by Alice at a game of mini family. Alice lost her front tooth shortly before leaving. The tooth was packaged safely and returned to Canada to avoid having to change English pounds from the Tooth Fairy. Chatsworth field shortly before dusk. Outdoor exercise equipment at the Buxton park. For over twelve years old... Cupcakes procured by Sarah for the Potter family reunion. The next generation. Lucy and Richard. You can see where I get my height from... The, ahem, also young generation of Potters . Out for tea. We wont forget to bring our teddies home. Saying goodbye to AJ and UB, for now. Who knew they had a tickle trunk of fabulous cost...