THE GUARDIANS

About 10 days ago Kieran took the time to write a letter to Santa.  Later than evening he lost a tooth and wrote to the Toothfairy.  It seemed to be a "letter to the Guardians kind of day".  Kieran's letter to Santa is a classic and worth keeping for sure. My favourite part is the fact that there is a moral to his story...

Just in case this note is difficult to read I thought I would type it up for full appreciation.

Dear Santa,

May I please have an iPod so I can play Plants vs. Zombies, Tack Modos, Mine Craft.  My cousins got iPods in their stockings last year so now I want one too. 
Quinn might be asking for a drum set.  I don't think it is a good idea to give it to him cause he will be playing all day and I will get a headache forever. 
My dad wants an Audi TT.
My mom wants a new kitchen.
The moral of the story is you can't always get what you want!

** Nobody is getting anything on this wish list...  At least we are consistent. **

70!

November 29th marked Poppy's 70th Birthday, although we did not gather on the official day, Jal did host us to a delicious dinner in hour of Poppy a few days prior.  The boys are always up for some fun festivities and we are grateful to Jal for hosting.  Kieran sat to dinner and promptly asked Poppy to share a story from when he was a boy to which dad shared the sinking of his seaflea race boat on Lake Simcoe.  Seemed a fitting conversation.  K and Q cannot wait to hear more stories.
Happy Birthday Dad!  I hope your official day was spectacular!

Whoa! That's a lot of fire on that cake!

Ice Cream Cake!

The boys appropriately licking the ice cream off the candles.

HELLO DECEMBER...

With the arrival of December, comes the arrival of our little Christmas Elf, appropriately named Elfy by the boys 4 years ago.  Each December 1st, Elfy arrives back in our house and the boys continue to get excited by his return.

Elfy showed up in grand style, having flown from the North Pole via a hot air balloon and was hanging from the living room chandelier on Monday December 1st.

With the help of a little Christmas Magic, Elfy flies back to the North Pole each night to give Santa the daily report and then returns to a different hiding place while we are sleeping.  Each morning the boys awake and try to find where he has landed.  Elfy will be with us until Christmas Eve at which point Santa picks him up and brings him home until next December.

Christmas Magic!

NOVEMBER MID-TERM BREAK

Dave and my school had a mid-term break two weeks ago, my apologies for the delayed posting.  We pulled the boys from school on the Friday and headed up to spend the weekend at the cottage with Grams and Claw.  It was a chilly but gorgeous weekend.  It snowed, with little to no accumulation, but it was pretty none-the-less.  Reading, writing, drawing pictures and even colouring on ourselves, some tv, BananaGrams, games, roaring fires, baking, wood chopping and piling and laughter made the weekend a fantastic time for everyone.  We had an early celebration of Kieran's rapidly approaching birthday which delighted him.  Quinn vowed he would wear his Jamaica hat all weekend long, which he did!  Many thanks to Grams and Claw for taking us in and sharing your time and gorgeous space with us.  xxoo

Quinn asked me to draw a grey beard on his to match dad's beard!

The annual collection of change from the chair

I think there was just under $20 in change collected!

Keeping his promise of not taking off his hat at all that weekend, not even for sleeping purposes!

The baking of Apple Crisp, recipe courtesy of Ms. Masellas

Thanks Grampa for your very generous gift.  Can I have a nibble of your cheek?

Chopping wood with Claw

Kieran became an expert wood stacker

I love you Grams!

Still wearing the hat!!!  :)

SNOW!

The snow flag works every time!  I put the snowflake flag up on Saturday and Sunday there was consistent snow fall, even a little bit of accumulation.  Now, 48 hours later, I am already over it.  Go away snow, I don't think I was built for winter!  Come back summer!

LUCKY NUMBER 9

It is difficult to believe that today marks Kieran's 9th Birthday!  On one hand I cannot remember our family without you Mr. K. and on the other, it feels like I was in labour just yesterday awaiting and excitedly anticipating your arrival in this world.  You were born so close to midnight on 11.11.05, I was so exhausted from delivery and yet I could not sleep a wink that night.  I was hit with a shot of adrenaline and love like nothing I had ever experienced.  I lay awake all night, snuggling up your perfect little being, watching, talking, loving you - a love that is indescribable, a love that I hope someday you will have the chance to experience first hand.  Thank you for all of the love, kindness, helpfulness and joy you have brought to our family.  You are one of a kind and I love to you the moon and back.  xoxox mum.

Minutes old... November 11, 2005

1!  Hiding in my locker at St. Mike's Hospital meeting his brand new baby bro, Quinn

2 years with his favourite monkey

3 yrs.

4 yrs.

5 yrs.

6 yrs.

7 yrs.

8 yrs.

A few weeks away from 9

WHAT IF YOU FLY?

ASHBRIDGES BAY TAKE 2

This morning had Kieran back down in Ashbridges Bay competing in the second, of three possible x-country races.  Top 30 runners in each grade qualified from the first race.  Today had the top 30 of five districts of runners racing for 150 runners in each grade racing.  It was a much cooler and damper day than the first race.  The rain began to fall as the grade 4 girls were on course and the grade 4 boys were waiting at the start line.  Never a nice way to begin a race.  Thankfully the rain subsided, but the cold air remained as the air gun sounded signalling the start of the race.  It was a much faster pace than last weeks, with all of these kids qualifying.  Kieran ran hard, he had set a goal for himself, hoping to finish in the Top 20 and proceed to the City Championships.  He ran well, worked hard through every section of the course and in the end, finished strong in 58th place out of 150!  Slightly disappointed, but I think more relieved than disappointed to not race again next week.  He was a tired guy!  Dave took the morning off and came down with us to cheer on his own runner, after spending so many hours supporting other boys in their running efforts.  He was thrilled to be a part of it and Kieran was grateful to have him there.  A huge shout out of Thanks to Grams for coming down to the beach to cheer K on again! Having supporters on the course is such a gift! Thanks for making the effort to get there again.  Well done Kieran, we are very proud of you!

Yay!  Dad's here!

Yay!  Grams came again too!

Ladies in red and one runner

Looking strong and determined!

So close to the finish.  Finish like a Mad Man!

There he goes, making his move...  Finish line just past those tents up ahead.

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL - KURIOS

Last night we had the great fortune of going to see the Cirque Du Soleil show, Kurios currently showing in downtown Toronto.  Grams and Claw saw it a few weeks ago and reached out to us suggesting that they thought given the boys gymnastics background that they would absolutely LOVE this show. They made us an incredibly generous offer of purchasing tickets for us to go and see the show as an early Christmas present.  What an amazing gift!  The boys were silly excited to be going and the astonishment on their faces and intensity of their body language increased every few minutes.  It was difficult to decide what to watch, the show or their faces!  All four of us loved every minute of it and are very grateful to Grampa Claw and Grams for the generous gift.  THANK YOU BOTH!

Entering the grounds.

Q and I took a selfie in our seats

The stage before the show officially began, still lots happening even then.

The musicians

Desperate to be on stage some day!

My very own little circus balancing on Dave

MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR

We made our way to Muskoka to spend the Thanksgiving weekend with many of the Fitz's on the island.  The weather was chilly, but nice, the fires were roaring, the turn out impressive and the food delicious!  Meg is the only one that didn't make it, as she is currently living in Washington, D.C. and it's a far way to come for a short period of time.  Auntie Meggy, you were missed!

A sure sign that there's a good turn out in the cottage

Catching up.

A gorgeous evening

Quinn loving zerberting baby Sean's belly and making him laugh out loud.

The kids table

Going around the table and sharing what they are grateful for.

Still lots of leaves on the trees, beautiful colours