Sharing - Letter A

The fun of preschool letter sharing began today for Natty Kat and she was pretty excited to *finally* have the chance!

Astronaut Barbie for the letter A

Hello Grandma Kathy look-alike!

Canada Day 2

Our second day in Canada was filled with adventures and fun. 

We traveled to a completely different country for a nice family vacay, and I come downstairs on morning 1 to find this....

...and this.

Dressed for success with Papa's socks

First stop on our day of fun? The local Sydney fire department who was celebrating their 100th anniversary. 

Fire girls

Smiley Kat

Lunchtime at a local fish house

The view on the boardwalk 

Papa enjoying a cruise with Ash and Natty

Nana had been walking with Keely along the boardwalk and on their way back Natty spotted them about 75 yards away. She took off and embraced Keely with such love, it made this mama's heart sing.

Nana and Keely cuddles

Beautiful hydrangea I found along the boardwalk 

Taking a trip through the massive Craigdarroch Castle

Incredible stairwell

Pretty grossed out by this "lace" artwork, which is actually human hair ~shiver~

Love these leopard girls

Beautiful tile (and girls!) at the center of the highest tower of the castle

Not sure why, out of all of the incredible decor and expansive rooms, I took a picture of the toilet and bathtub?

Loving the time I'm spending with these girls

Two lovebirds on the eve of their 40th wedding anniversary  

The hill by the stairs quickly became a fun place for the girls to play

A room with a view
PS That's the tower Ash and Natty had their pic taken in earlier

From the castle to the waterfront 

The Empress Hotel in downtown Victoria, BC; I promised the girls we would travel back to BC in 5 years and stay at the Empress and have high tea 

Making friends wherever they go, even with the street performers 

Ash's turn for a big, white squeeze 

Stopping to smell the flowers on the Empress grounds

Sniiiiiif

Incredible gardens 

Guess who lost at tooth at the Empress Hotel?!!! And yes when you're in Canada, the Tooth Fairy leaves Canadian monies.

We passed by this totem pole a number of times before they could actually touch it, which was *killing* them!

Took a little walk along the waterfront to the popular Fisherman's Wharf 

Ice cream at Jackson's Ice Cream? I think so!
PS I was *totally* bummed when Jackson's Ice Cream didn't have treats that I could eat. How could an ice cream parlor having my nickname not have something for me?!!!

Some eclectic and notable float homes down at Fishermans' Wharf

Sooooo excited to take a water taxi

Alllll aboard!

First-class seats to the take-off and landing of the sea-planes 

Showing off her newest window

Never figured out what this memorial at the waterfront was for? Sort of creepy seeing 2 giant, brass arms coming out of the ground, holding onto a giant brass ring. We made it less creepy by making our adorable girls pose for a pic by it.

Back at our house we had this guy hanging out in our backyard, munching on our grass

Ash set up camp at this desk at our house and dove right into her Craigdarroch Castle coloring and activity book

Wasn't long before Keely got herself stripped down and posed near the (not lit) fireplace 

So in love with that skinny little minnie 

Natty was excited for our local, boat and farm-to-fork dinner of fresh halibut and veggies. So so so good!

The school haps

Here's a few pics of what's been happening around here as far as schooling goes....
But first let me just say how PROUD I am of these 2 girls. Not only are they beautiful inside and out, but they are SMART. 
Like SUPER smart. 
Like so smart I worry about the day I can't keep up with them.
But I think I'm most proud that some of these things don't come easy to the girls. And yet they keep at it. 
They don't give up. 
They don't let it get them down.
I've never been a teacher. I've never been one to easily show someone how something is done. It's safe to say these things don't come easy to me. And yet I keep on keeping on because they do the same.
Guess Ash and Natty aren't the only students in the house.

Natty's self portrait that she drew in preschool - notice her 'golden hair'?
PS I'm super excited that she writes her name on all her work and actually spells it correctly! For a while there she gave herself 2 T's.

In all my years in math class I never learned 'number bonds'. Good thing I've got a math-smart 1st grader to teach me! Here she is teaching me how they work, with the help of some Frosted Mini Wheats.

Our art-wall; look closely and you'll see Natty's 10 (yes TEN!!) 5-Star Listener awards

Remember when I said somethings aren't coming super easy? While Ash can sound out ANY word and phonically spell ANYTHING you ask her to, she still isn't 100% on her sight words. Solution? Have her write down a few of the 1st grade sight words and practice! Practice! Practice! This particular list she was so proud of, she asked if I could make a copy for her to give to her teacher. And the 3 words at the bottom: dad, sad and sack? Her weekly spelling words.

Natty Kat's family picture. Take note that everyone gets a name except for Riley who is just labeled 'dog'. And Macy the cat? Well I didn't even know we owned a cat?