May 2016

Summer came early to Calgary, and we had a heat wave at the beginning of May.  A perfect excuse for some sprinkler time!

The kids always tell us to make the water warmer...that's not how it works!

We went to the local Rock Show again this year.  Cara has a lot of fun looking for the perfect ammonites for her collection.  Gwen has a keen eye for the expensive gems.

We've started planning our trip and luckily, Cara learned all about the Maritimes in school this year.

Gwen loves eating outside.

Cara wrote this song for Gwen.  5 and 7 year old humour at its finest.

On Mother's Day, the girls brought breakfast in bed and sprang for some pizza.

Gwen made a beautiful card and Cara wrote this poem for Mom.

The kids have been enjoying Learn To Play Softball.  They have really improved even after a few practices.  The girls were trying to move around to stay warm because it was a cold and windy night.

Here's Gwen lining up at a tee to practice hitting.  They don't even need a tee anymore!

Cara's favourite hockey team the Sharks were doing so well, it really peaked her interest in hockey.  She watched a lot with Dad.  She drew this during the Sharks/Predators series.

During the May long weekend we went to see The Little Mermaid musical at the Storybook Theatre.  The kids were excited (and the parents) and it was really good!

Afterwards we got to meet the cast, including Eric and Ariel....

and even Ursula!

At school, both girls really enjoyed the rollerblading classes.  It ends with a cool disco party.

Gwen and her buddy.  Ice skating lessons really helped them.

Cara taking a break.

Gwen walks to school twice a day most days since she gets out before noon.  She's a trooper.

Even in the rain, most days we still walk.

The kids like saving worms when they come out on the pavement during the rain.

We planted a vegetable garden this year instead of flowers.  We had peas and tomotoes last year, but this year it will be those plus radishes, carrots, beets and more.

We like to check out new playgrounds and found this pirate themed one not too far away.  This bouncy grasshopper had room for three!

Avast!

Cara with her Sharks cheering outfit.  Dad told her when the playoffs started that if the Sharks made it to the finals, he'd buy her a jersey.  The thinking was it would never happen.  Instead, they made it all the way to the finals and we had to pay up.  Cara settled for a real San Jose Sharks hat.

April 2016

April Fool's Day!  Cool whip instead of milk in cereal was a big hit.

But the trick backfired...the kids thought it was delicious

Food colouring in water (instead of fruit punch) was not so delicious though.

We took a trip to Bowness Park for the first time this year.  It was so mild after New Year's that we didn't get a chance to go skating on the lagoon.  But we went today and checked out the new playground.

The river still had some ice in spots.  Cara found this weird crystallization of the water.  It moved when you stepped on it...very cool.

Gwen got a Virtue Voucher at school for Honesty.  We are very proud!

We checked out Aggie Days as usual.  Mary and her Little Lambs.

Adam pretending to be his nemesis.

Gwen is 12 hands tall.  Small for a horse but big for a girl!

Riding a hay bale.  Yeehaw.

A couple of cowgirls helping a little dogie.

Yahoo!  Are those our city girls?

We went over to Uncle Jamie's for supper for his birthday.  He cooked but we brought the cupcakes.  The kids insisted it is not a birthday without some (cup)cake!

We stop at the playground across the street most days on the way back from school.  They are revamping it soon so hopefully it will be better than ever!

We headed to Bowness Park again with the girl's friend Freya and her mom for our first picnic of the year.  Another beautiful spring day.

They had a great time exploring the park together.

Gwen has been doing gymnastics again and loving it.  This is the end of weekday gymnastics for Gwen though since she'll soon be a Grade 1er :\

Cara caught a grasshopper in her bug catcher one afternoon.  He hung out for a while before they let him go.

Roasting some wienies!

And of course, some s'mores.

Gwen got to bring home her class "pet" Ginger the giraffe.  She got to keep it for two days and take it everywhere.

Including playing at the playground!

Gwen had her last ballet class and showed her latest moves.

Gwen's last weekday ballet class with Miss Krista.

And of course Ginger was there.

Some of the Grade 2 students hosted an assembly and we all got to go.  Cara's class sang Lean On Me.  One of Cara's new favourite songs!

Both girls went to their old friend Kyla's birthday party at a gymnastics club.  Cara tried out some high flying bungee jumps.

Here they are after both falling on trampolines.

Cara's got some serious upper body strength.  Here she is doing one-armed hangs.  A future Ninja Warrior?

The next day, we went to one of our favourite events: the Calgary Expo!  The girls wore adorable R2-D2 and BB-8 outfits that were a big hit.  They are lucky to have a crafty mom.  Here they are with a happy member of the Brotherhood of Steel.

A giant Pikachu!

Posing with some Jawas on Tatooine.

Galactus and Silver Surfer were just chillin' out in the corner.

Some friendly members of the empire were happy to pose with the droids.

There were a few Kylo Rens but this guy was the best.  He did a great voice and when asked for a picture he said "of course, this is the droid I'm looking for."  They were happy to see him.

A happy photo with Sauron and Witch-king of Angmar.  Brave kids.

Star-Lord was rocking out to his Walkman.

Deadpool and Wolverine.

This guy was walking around in a homemade Dalek.  It was pretty cool.

Who ya gonna call?

We ran into Chewie outside.  We also got to meet the real Chewbacca Peter Mayhew.

This guy has been at the Expo the last few years, always dressed as a different samurai.  This year he was a Storm Trooper.

A big Lego BB-8.

Doctor Doom with the Infinity Gauntlet.

Lots of Reys around too, but this one was the best we saw.

A super-cool Iron Man suit.

Of course, Darth Vader had to pose with the droid he was looking for.

One of Cara's favourite superheroes is Nightcrawler and she likes to pretend to be a girl Nightcrawler.  We happened to spot this awesome costume and had to get a pic.

Spidey!

A Shadow Stormtrooper.

This huge robot was wandering around.  Somehow it got inside.

The kids with their souvenirs: a couple of Tentacle Kitties, a Minecraft ocelot and a Totoro.  Another successful trip to the Expo.