Miss Smarty Pants!!

Yesterday was Awards day at Ivy school.

Mike, Anna and I went to cheer on Ivy and her classmates, we knew everyone would get an award and we're curious what Ivy's would be.

The Teacher, Miss S, gave out awards for best story teller, neatest printer, most helpful, and other "nice" awards but Ivy didn't get anythings.... Next came the awards for best math, reading and Art etc and still Ivy did not get anything... we were getting worried.

Then came the last and Highest award for her grade, Top Academic Achievement and Ivy Won it!!!!!

Here is Ivy with Miss S. and Principal T.

Ivy sitting with some classmates, waiting for the awards to begin.


During the year we record what books the kids are read or read themselves and if they get over 100 books then they get a reading club T-shirt. Ivy got one, as most of her class did.

And the top 5 readers got an extra gift of a goody bag full of books! Ivy was one of these 5 with 285 books! Her friend Jacob got tops with 530+!!

I was also recognized for all my volunteer work through out the year: being on PAC, hot lunches, and running the snack shack. The kids all signed a big card and I got a gift voucher for a local store!

Cousin Sylvia found her way through all the parents to come sit with us, She was excited to tell us she was coming to this school next year... we already knew this, as she will be in Anna's class.

A finally shot of Ivy and Miss S. I really hope she keeps her position as K/1 teacher for next year, Anna will benefit from being her student!

And now we wait through the summer and prepare ourselves for having 2 school age kids, Kindergarten and Grade 2!!

Baseball Vent

I'm upset for my daughter, Ivy. The baseball season was such a let down for her. To only have played one regular game all season and then only game at the tournament really sucks!

Because one town/team didn't have enough members it left big gaps in the schedule for Saturday's tournament, and on the schedule it stated it was up to the coaches if these gaps stayed or if times were moved up. I asked our coach, Nicole, if we could ask the other team but all she did was ask our last year coach if we should and they both decided not to ask... I was irked but it was not my place to push.

So, our first game ended at 11am and the next was scheduled for 1pm, I double checked with Nicole and she confirmed. Our family then went to Mike's Grandma's for lunch instead of eating out at the concession. Did I mention the Mike's whole family came to watch Ivy play ball... After lunch, 12:30pm we went back to the ballpark to find it almost empty! My friend said they had just finished playing...What!?! Not 5 minutes after we had left the other teams coach came and asked if they could play now instead of 1pm. I was so upset at our coach for not asking earlier. So our WHOLE family was disappointed.

One Mother did try to get a hold of us but not the coach, The coach's husband came over to let us know what happened but he didn't apologise to Ivy. I am mostly pissed at Nicole for not owning up to her folly and for sending her husband in her place. Even this morning at the bus stop another father came and explained what happened and HE at least said sorry to Ivy.

Saturday at the ball field, Ivy didn't seem to care that there was no other game, even the car ride home she was indifferent but when we got home she had a melt down. She cried and cried and wanted to know why! I felt so bad for her. I wonder if it took the 20 min for it to sink in or whether she just held it in till she was home either way she was hurt by the whole thing. She didn't miss a practice, she wanted to play so badly. I didn't know how to explain it to her other than this was just one of life's disappointments that we have no control of (people/weather/illness), sometimes people let you down.

I couldn't stay home after that and I had to make her happy so I convinced Mike to hook up the trailer and we went camping over night, did us all good to get away for abit.

Hopefully Ivy will still be in a good mood when she comes home from school.

May Camping

Before I get to the camping photos I want to share a cute little story of my girls.

The other night the girls were in quite the mood, constantly bickering and screaming. Mike and I were so upset that we sent the girls to bed without their bedtime story. Ivy was very upset and cried for a long time, she loves her stories. About 30 mins later Ivy comes out of her room asking to sleep in our bed, as she didn't want to stay in her bed. Mike told her no. She then asked to sleep on the sofa, again Mike said no because I was in the living room. She then asked to sleep with Anna...We were shocked, with all their fighting she would want to be that close to her sister. Mike said it would be ok as long as Anna allowed it and, again to our amazement, Anna mumbled yes (she was half asleep) and made room for her big sister. An hour later I took this picture, they slept that way all night long! I am still in shock.

Camping! Yes, I love camping with our trailer, we are still getting used to it but it's getting better. Here are some random shots of our overnight trip up Bull Lake.

The weekend after we spent 2 nights at Marshal lake. The weather was horrible: windy, cold, snow, hail, and frost. But the last morning was super sunny and warm, made it all worth it. Someone and made a raft that was tied to land with 50 foot rope, Mike was brave enough to try it out, and soon after Ivy joined him (with life jacket!) to try some fishing.

Ivy really enjoyed herself, sadly no fish were caught. Anna was so worried about them being on the raft, most of the time she was pulling them in with the rope.

As evening was drawing in we left the raft behind and walked around the lake, Mike the girls would cast their lines in hope of catching a fish. After awhile, Ivy and I grew tired and walked back to camp. When we were across the lake from the others we heard Anna scream out with excitement.

Ivy and I knew she caught something!

And soon after a very proud Dad and daughter came back with this little trout.

Anna was happy but a little worried because it was still flopping about.

Ivy was not jealous, which surprised me, she was happy for her sister and glad someone had caught something.

The next night back at home Mike fried up the trout for Anna.

She enjoyed it alot! (I was surprised again!) And she even shared with her sis which made Mike and I so happy.