Nature at its best!

 We headed out to the Conversation Park last Sunday and brought Steph along with us.

The kids had a blast exploring, hiking, playing games 

and discovering animals and different kinds of trees!

 The kids loved climbing this tree.. such a cute picture!

 I'm not sure who screamed louder me or Steph!

Yikes a snake!

This spooky swamp area reminded us all of the 

haunted woods in Anne of Green Gables!

We had a great time and this is something we need to do more often!!

Love it!

Tony's response: "For their pensions!"

Weekend in the City!

 We headed to the big city for a weekend with friends!  We stayed at the Royal York, with upgraded rooms and a treat delivered to our door (Thank you Brookers!)

Before the Jays game we headed to Steam Whistle for a tour!  We were all really impressed with the tour and the guys enjoyed the free beer :)

 

The gang heading to the Jays game!

 

9th inning... posing after the Jays made a come back, 

only to lose in the 11th inning!

 After the Jays game, we hopped on the subway and went to Greek Town for dinner!

 It is nice to get away, but even nicer to get away with friends!

Sweet Potatoe Fries and Chiptloe Mayo

Just a little bit addicted to these Sweet Potatoe fries and Chiptloe Mayo!

 

Pinterst Fun for Tony.... and Griffin too!

 

I found this tent on Pinterest and I knew Griffin would love it!  He is a fort builder!

Fortunately, Tony was on board.  Who knew, Tony would be a Pinterester too :)

 

Here is the finished tent!  Griffin loved it!

 

Acceptance, Love, Peace, Change

 

Our school board supported Anti Bullying day on Friday by wearing pink tshirts!

Our school sold over 400 shirts and students showed up ready to take a stand against bullies.  Bullying is a major problem in our schools, workplaces, homes, and over the Internet. Each year, on Pink T-Shirt Day, we can show our support by wearing pink.

 

Although this picture doesn't show it, Owen was pumped to wear  his pink shirt to school, and well Griffin was thrilled it wasn't his school day and he didn't have to wear pink :)

 

NKOTB Disappointment!

I headed to the NKOTB mall appearance yesterday with my friend Cassandra. We waited for over two hours, they were over an hour late and they graced us with 15 minutes of their time....seriously???

Four questions, no singing, only autographs for those with wristbands, and the realization that it might be time to move on... big emphasis on might!  

As for the company.... a great time!  Thanks Cassandra!

  

Oh Boy!!!

Say it ain't so....

 

Joining the Circus

 On Easter weekend, we visited a new museum with a Circus exhibit.  I can't tell you enough how thrilled the boys were with the activities and displays.

 

One of my favourite areas was the dress up area, where the boys could put on costumes from different performers in the circus (also love that the boys enjoyed dressing up)

Strong Man Owen

note Griffin in the bottom corner stuck in a bear suit!

 

 Perhaps the most appropriate costumes for these two... clowns!!

 Another neat area for the kids was the tight rope.  They actually got to walk a tight rope while harnessed in.  Pretty cool!

 Owen walking the tight rope!

 Griffin loved the tricks that the clown was teaching him.

 So much so, that he came home with the spinning plate trick.  

 He has been practicing at home... a career in the future?

 

Griffin trying his luck at the Flying Trampeze!

 

Look Who is riding a Two-Wheeler!

 With much reluctance, Griffin is learning to ride without his training wheels.  

By the end, he was close and smiling!

Someone is growing up on us!

My Little Artist

If you asked to draw you a picture last summer, he would put up a fight.  He didn't think he was any good, and didn't want to try.  Fast forward to April and I have a little artist that couldn't be prouder of his work!

Thank you Mr. Hoover for peeking Owen's interest in drawing by hosting your contests in class.  Competition is a great motivator for Owen (not sure where he would have got that from.. LOL!)  Often Owen will come home and tell me how he spent his entire lunch break working on his drawings because he wanted to do his best, and in his own words "When you believe in yourself, you can do it".

This is one of my favourite drawings, not only because of the 

detail but because of the theme!  Way to go Owen!

So Good.....

 

I would never have guessed that Nicolas Sparks would be among my favourite authors, but the last few books I have read have been fantastic!  The latest one, did not disappoint!  If you get a chance, read this book.  

Here is a quick synopsis:

Miles Ryan's life seemed to end the day his wife was killed in a hit-and-run accident two years ago. As deputy sheriff of New Bern, North Carolina, he not only grieves for her and worries about their young son Jonah but longs to bring the unknown driver to justice. Then Miles meets Sarah Andrews, Jonah's second grade teacher. A young woman recovering from a difficult divorce, Sarah moved to New Bern hoping to start over. Tentatively, Miles and Sarah reach out to each other... soon they are falling in love.But what neither realizes is that they are also bound together by a shocking secret, one that will force them to reexamine everything they believe in- including their love. 

Happy Easter!

 There is just something about Easter that the boys love!  For weeks, they have been counting down the days until Easter.  Owen needed to squeak in a visit with the Easter Bunny to politely request the Skylander he was hoping he would bring.  He was happy to get a Thumbs up from the Rabbit.  (We were not so happy, as the Skylander was no where to be found.  Fortunately, the bunny left an EB Games gift card!)

Griffin on the other hand, didn't really care to visit with the bunny.  As he put it, "That's not the really bunny, I can see his shoes"!!  Followed by a slue of questions about who that bunny really was, and if he was real.  Talk about thinking on your feet.  Griffin was content with the answers and I was able to convince him to take his picture with the bunny.  

On Easter morning, Owen had claimed that Easter might just be his favourite holiday because you get candy and toys!  

We will see when Christmas comes around again next year !!

Highlights of Easter for the boys:

1.  Watching the movie "Hop" over and over again

2.  Easter Egg Hunt

3. Easter Baskets

4. Meeting the Easter Bunny

5.  Candy!!

The Wizard of Oz... Wonderful!

All I wanted for Christmas was tickets for our family to see The Wizard of Oz and this weekend we finally got to see the show!

The boys and I loved the show. The special effects were fantastic, the singing was wonderful, and the experience couldn't have been better!

 It was fun to take them to their first "Big Production" theatre experience.  

 As much as Griffin enjoyed the show, he sure enjoyed this cookie as well!