Kelowna

Sarah was invited to play in a soccer tournament on Canada Day weekend in Kelowna. It was a great excuse to get the girls to the Okanagan so they could check out a really neat place.

Sarah's team played some very competitive soccer and bonded together over movies and popcorn during their off time. We were staying at the UBC Okanagan campus, which gave the girls a lot of opportunities to bond. In fact, we hardly saw Sarah at all over the whole weekend.



Since we were going there anyway, Alison competed in a track meet. It was very different from her first experience, since it was hot and sunny in Kelowna. In fact, she ran 600 meters in 31 degree heat. Trooper! She managed to score a few personal bests and improved her technique in several events.



We did get to enjoy a bit of Kelowna too. We spent Canada Day at the waterfront, listening to bands and snacking on Kettle Corn. Yum. We drove up a hill into a rather plush neighbourhood of Kelowna to watch the fireworks at night so we could see everything and it was amazing having the backdrop of a lake and mountains.

We also got to the beach. There was a zip line in the water that got a lot of attention from Alison. She looked, but there was no sign of Ogopogo.

Sports Day

It was a beautiful day for École Banff Trail's annual Sports Day, which I appreciated because I was volunteering for the first time in six years. Alison had a grand time. It is all about the fun.

Rustle Goes to School

Alison was Star of the Week for the last full week of school and was able to bring in whatever she wanted to share. She wanted to share her favourite dog, and he was more than happy to oblige. He always wants to come to school, and this day we actually let him into the car.

As all who know Rustle can imagine, he was a big hit. He loves the attention and the children were lavishing it on him. It was a great day to be Rustle.

If you would like to hear the story from the dog's perspective (supported by me), check out Rustle's blog: http://3mst.zapd.co/

All Sports One Day

Alison participated in an interesting Calgary event this year. All Sport One Day opens up recreation facilities around the city to kids under 12 so they can try out different sports. We registered too late to try things like archery, but she did get to try out field hockey and orienteering. It was interesting to watch how she picked up her skill level in these sports in a 45 minute outing and was amazing to hear how enthusiastic she was about both sports she tried out. It was a very great day!

High Honours

On top of being an awesome ski racer, attending the Amis Du Monde meetings and conference featuring Craig Keilburger and playing two instruments in band, Sarah also managed to earn top marks at school. They get very excited about marks at her school and gave her a plaque.

I have a hard time expressing in words how proud I am of her accomplishments this year. She has learned how to organize her time and prioritize her schedule so that she can accomplish all these things that are so important to her. She has learned how to do things that so many adults still can not figure out. My heart is just bursting.

Track Meet

As part of dryland training, we thought it might be a good idea to train with a track team. Alison decided it would also be fun to participate in a track meet.

We were told to be at the track at 7 am. We were. No one else was.

Alison had a lot of fun, even though the first day started out fine and turned into a cold and rainy day. We spent a lot of time trying to warm up at the end of that one.

But the next day was a lot nicer.

Alone on the track Saturday morning.

First event: 60 m dash (note the tank top)

Next event: Long jump. It had started to rain, so the PeeWees were allowed to wear rain jackets.

Next event: Discus. By this time it was pouring and it was all we could do to keep warm. Fond memories of standing on a ski hill were helping me out here. Once the 600 m run was over, we were out of there.


Next day was so much nicer, but we were still first on the track. Alison did get to try out a new event for the first time: High Jump.

Then we got to watch her mighty muscles with the shotput.



And finally, she ran the 1000 m.


All in all, it was exhausting!

She loved it. So much that she's competing again in Kelowna on Canada Day weekend when Sarah is there for a soccer tournament. Busy, busy girls!

Spring Band Concert

Sarah was in two bands this year at school: regular band and jazz band. She picked up a second instrument as well: the alto sax. Very exciting! The band concert was a pleasure to attend, but my pictures are very grainy. You'll just have to imagine all the fun.


I do have some video which I will post on YouTube because blogger won't let me upload video. If you are interested, watch the grade 8 band play the theme from Sesame Street (with Sarah on her clarinet) or the jazz band play Minnie the Moocher (Where Sarah Plays the Saxophone.)

Sarah goes to Quebec

and takes a zillion pictures!

Sarah's school takes a large group of grade 8 students across the country for a week to immerse them in Quebec culture. They spent time in Quebec City, Montreal and Ottawa and visited lots of historical sites, stayed in nice hotels and rode in a big bus. They were also expected to speak French all week!

Here are a few selections as I scanned through the plethora of photos:

Ski Season Banquet Weekend

The ski season wrap up party was a month ago, but since Alison and Bob skied on May 21, it seems fitting that this doesn't get posted until it really is over for the season.

Wrap up day is a very fun event where children are encouraged to dress up like bears,


or cows that hide behind monsters,


race a sibling,


and then beat their dad.


In the evening, we have a banquet where girls present fun cheers or songs about Freezing Feet. Fun!

Alice in Wonderland

Alison was in the musical production of Alice in Wonderland Jr at school this year. She had a lot of fun singing in the chorus, because the chorus was encouraged to ham it up and interact with the characters on stage.

She even got to wear a duck hat.



Her friend Jo was Alice. Jo is quite the singer and actress. She seemed to enjoy herself, too.


And when it is all over, we went to Dairy Queen. Does it get any better?