summertime, and the living is easy!

Today was Ava's last day of school...wooohoooo!!!

last day of school

first day of school

It is so hard for me to understand how she was able to learn and grow so much since September.  I loved listening to her teach Anthony what she had learned each day... it worked like the game "telephone", by the time the information went from the teacher , through Ava and then to Anthony it was hilariously distorted with Ava's dramatic spin on it.

I also learned a lot this year::  that I have a harder time sticking to the school schedule than the kids, that making friends in the schoolyard saved my sanity (thanks Holly and Trish), that leaving homework to the last minute really does cause a lot of undue stress,  that kids really do repeat EVERYTHING (I dread to think of the stories Ava regaled her class with if the stories that she brought home were any indication) and the list goes on and on.

For her end of year gifts Ava worked really hard on concept, design and decoration of all of her gifts ( I was the manual labourer throughout the process)

She chose to make a new mystery bag for her teacher

And pencil rolls and personalized journals for her good friends.  I just loved watching her creative process....very inspiring.

And now on to the summer!!!! 
We have already fallen into a very relaxed summer routine.....walk, library, local treats, art supplies and home for a movie....the perfect afternoon.
We plan to take it really easy this summer with tons of

swinging and park playing

picnicking

lounging

watching this new mom and her babes

and oh so much more!

{this moment}

my budding blogger

Joining amanda and friends in "this moment"...capturing a moment from the week that I want to cherish and hold onto. 

Happy first day of summer!

We brought in the summer in style::

buon giorno signorina

I am dropping off these dresses and bonnets at Little Bird so you can also spend the summer in style!

super versatile dresses made from vintage pillowcases

I'm not revealing the inside...you will have to go into Little Bird and check them out (really really adorable!!!)

Proof!

I have suspected for some while now that my kids are picking the foods they like based on its name (am i the last mother on the face of the earth to figure this out?). I now have proof.  On my kick of providing healthy snacks for the family (BORING) I decided to make a batch of  "healthy" brownies late last night to surprise the kids for breakfast.

brownies after the kids were attacking them

I found this recipe at red cordial revolution for black bean brownies that are gluten free and full of nutrition.  Okay, I followed the recipe exactly and guess what.....GROSS++++++. The texture, taste and smell of these "brownies" were off the charts disgusting according to both Sri and I.

PROOF... The next day the kids spotted the "brownies" (which I had left out thinking that they may get better if they sat out for a bit) and were so excited.  They gobbled and gobbled these black bean beauties until their little stomachs were hurting from all the beanieness.  I am hoping I can carry this charade on for a little while longer....it feels good to know they are eating a little healthier .....I also enjoy feeling like i have amazing willpower "look at me....i have this whole pan of brownies sitting on my counter and I am not even tempted to touch them!"  I literally gag every time I look at them!

Does anyone out there have a black bean brownie recipe that actually tastes good? I could really use one!

open streets=lots of free treats!

Here is a look at the highlights of our fabulous day enjoying Open Streets Hamilton

We watched many men struggle to walk in their heels for the  walk a mile in her shoes event

spotted super celebrities Hal &Joanne of Body Break fame

found an amazing maze made out of sticks

watched my kids destroy the maze (obviously there isn't a picture of me on my hands and knees crawling around and putting  it all back together)

spent and obscene amount of time watching kids flip off of their skateboards

danced in the streets? NOOOO... that is fighting!!!

sat on the curb.....and ate FREE hotdogs!

laughed hysterically every time this guy rode past us

learned how to::

silkscreen

hulahoop

and zumba!

 and to top it all off ..... smelling flowers?  NOOOOO....picking ants off of peonies and flinging them at his sister!

Can't wait until next year...thanks Hamilton for another great event!

list making

Yes I admit it...I LOVE LISTS.   Not iphone lists or computer lists....I love pen to paper (especially little bits of scrap paper!) lists.  I make them continually. I make lists of lists and prioritize the lists.  Yes this is a complete procrastination technique but it also leads up to my most favourite part of the lists....crossing things off of lists.  I don't just draw a line through or tick off each completed task...I scribble over the line so that you can't even read  what it said.  Today my friends, I was able to scribble two custom orders off of my list

ONE

:: a drawstring bag filled with alphabet bean bags....fun and educational!


TWO
                                       
:: 3 very adorable bonnets for Lisa (hope you like them!)

I was also able to cross off bask in the sun, go on a long walk and watch the kids have fun in the pool......but have no pictures to show for it!

{this moment}

it was a really good way to get anthony to sit still for a little bit!

Joining amanda and friends in "this moment"...capturing a moment from the week that I want to cherish and hold onto.