Rah Rah Rah - Ivey's 15-Year Reunion!

Mummy went on a roadtrip this weekend again - this time on her own as Daddy's back was hurting.  And it was HER 15-year reunion anyways.  So off Mummy went to see her old undergrad friends and university.  Here they are on the steps of the new building (which will house 8 sections!  in Mummy's time, there were only 2 class sections) and on the steps of the old building.  Later that night, I heard she had a nice dinner and was out to 4am - crazy Mummy!!!

 

Meanwhile, at home, Auntie Holly and Uncle Guy came over to help.  We went for a walk, and Auntie Holly did our nails in purple with orange polka dots.  Super fun!

 

But glad to have you back Mummy - and thanks for the Western clothes - maybe we'll go there one day ourselves.  Perhaps we'll get through kindergarten first though, eh?  xoxo Audrey and Violet

My First Terry Fox Run!

Today was our school's Terry Fox run.....my first one ever!  Terry Fox was a man who raised lots of money for people who are sick, to help get them medicine (that's what Mummy said).  So I raced for my Nanny, because she was sick in the last couple of years, and Terry Fox helped to get her the right medicine to make her better.  For that we are very thankful, and we run to keep the funds coming.  I enjoyed my run - and look forward to doing more!  Love Audrey xoxoxo

Lucky 7

It was Mummy and Daddy's 7th Wedding Anniverary on Sept 24.....yay!  So Daddy had planned a suprise day out in Niagara, while we got to stay home with our fave babysitter Brittney.  First, they went for massages (was supposed to be a speedboat tour, but alas, it was too rainy....so raincheque for next year!)  Massages were perfect though, and then off to a pub lunch.  Daddy had a Guiness and Mummy had a ploughman's lunch, very British!

After lunch, they went to the Shaw Festival play "Misalliance" at the Royal George theatre.  Posing outside, Daddy got a little silly.  As he should, it's fun to be silly!

After the play, it was time for a stroll around the downtown and browsing in the shops, then off to the Peller Estates Winery for a fancy dinner.  A perfect end to the day - good job Daddy on an amazing 7th anniversary road trip!

Cheers to many more Mummy and Daddy!  Lots of love - and happy anniverary - Audrey and Violet xoxo

The Last Glory Days of Summer Outdoor Play!

The days are getting shorter and the air a little cooler, but there's still time for outdoor fun!  September still has many prime sunshien days and Violet and I take full advantage.  We love hula-hooping out front!

And then we grab our car and go for a "drive" around the block.  We take our turns as driver and pusher.

And given our friends are also often out in their front yards, we sometimes have impromptu tea parties in our driveway.  Here we are with our friends Ryan, Avery and Livi-Lou.  Crumpet anyone??  Milk and sugar?



 

Of course, we often do a park trip to Bowmore too.  It was warm enough for no shoes (well, we just bugged Mummy enough to take them off!)

And what park day is complete without some ice-cream?  Our new fave place, Menchies, is always awesome!  We sat outside and enjoyed the good weather along with our soft-serve treat!

Finally, Vila and I love to count and hop around, plus if we stay close to home, we can wear out Princess dresses outside!  So check out Vila aka Snow White, watching me on our hopscotch.  Simple games are the best!

Hope you all have been having fun outside in this warm September weather too!  Love Audrey and Violet xoxo

The Annual TIFF Experience!

My Mummy loves her movies and celeb-hob nobbing!  And every year, she makes a tradition of going out to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) with Daddy and seeing a few movies.  Usually she goes for the movies that are not well-known and won't be released in theatre, to try and see the best around the world.  But last year, she ended up taking Daddy to a couple of duds, so this year, it was more "Hollywood" style (and hey, they don't get out to see the Hollywood movies as much as they used to anyways!) 

They started the day at the Ritz Hotel, having a fancy brunch!  Before sitting down, they posed in front of the very sparkly chandelier!

At brunch, Daddy had the HUGE buffet (with omlette, pancakes, and banana bread french toast!), Mummy had eggs benedict, AND they think they were dining with a celeb!  We'll never know for sure, but we think they may been beside Justin Bateman (in the blue sweather below)!

After brunch, they saw their first movie "Thanks for Sharing" with Mark Ruffalo and Gwyneth Paltrow, a hit for both Mummy and Daddy.  Then a quick sushi lunch, and off to movie #2, "The Impossible", about the tsunami in 2004, with Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor.  Another hit!  2 for 2, and then off to pick up Vila and me at daycare.

The film fest experience didn't end there though.....Mummy and Daddy took out Aunt Holly and Guy for a movie too.  This time, it was a Friday night, so dinner at a hip little place on King West first.

Then off to see "Ghost Graduation", a Spanish comedy kind of a cross between Breakfast Club and Ghostbusters (2 of Mummy's favourite movies from the 80s!)  Everyone loved it, so that's 3 for 3 good movies!

Finally, Mummy also took her good friend Sugar out for a movie -  an Aussie film called The Sapphires, and it was outstanding as well!  And bonus, the move had all unknowns but one pretty big start - Chris O'Dowd, and Mummy saw him coming in on the red carpet!

Spot the celeb above?  If not, keep practicing!  And you'll be ready for the TIFF experience too - great movies and stories, celeb spotting, fancy meals - what's not to love?  I know my Mummy plans to take me and Vila to TIFF Kids in the future, we'll have tons of fun!  Happy Film Fest season!  Love Audrey and Violet xoxo

My First Day Of JK!! Welcome to the School Years!

 

What a milestone for me!  On Friday Sept. 7, 2012, I started my first day of school by entering the morning class of Mrs. K (Kormisek), for Junior Kindergarten!  Given it's the first day of my school years, it was a very special occasion, so I got to wear a brand new outfit.  Here I am in my new GAP outfit (including the matching shoes - they make the outfit, right?!). 

I picked it out myself last weekend in Ottawa.  My school is called Bowmore Public School and it's a 5-minute walk from my house.....and conveniently, my daycare is right in the school, so they just walk me down the hall to my class.  Along with my new class, I got a new cubby at daycare - it's moved down to main floor, here I am with my cubby!

It was a great first day - I cried a little at first as I was nervous, but then we had a great time writing my name, having snack and meeting the other kids.  I crashed at nap time back at the daycare, and was very happy when Mummy and Daddy picked me up.  I think school is going to be so great!  Yay, another milestone for me......xoxoxo Audrey, aged 4 and almost-a-half!

Monday Fun-day!

On our last day of this long weekend, Mummy and Daddy made it a good one!  After a gallon of water to start the day (Mummy and Daddy had a neighbours "gourmet" outdoor picnic last night --- lots of wine and lots of good good - 3 types of chicken, couscous, bacon-wrapped shrimp, brushetta, and chocolate pie!), Mummy got up and made us chocolate-bran muffins.  After a great breakfast, we all went out to Riverdale Farm.  And did you know we spotted a fairy there???  We checked out the animals, including a donkey, and we had a picnic and played soccer and hide-and-seek in the park too!  Our little fairy Vila was trying to figure out where I was! 

After getting back home, we had a nap and then out to play with the neighbours.  Avery, Ryan, Sophie and Moo all came out to play.  Waterpark mat, trikes, and dress up as Princesses!

 

What a great afternoon and end of the weekend - tomorrow, back to work and back to Bowmore!  Night-night everyone, Audrey and Violet xoxo

Here We Come Grandma & Grandpa!

For Labour Day weekend, we decided to get out of the city and visit our Grandma and Grandpa in Ottawa for a mini-vacation!  YAY!  We left on Thursday night and got there for bedtime, then we were up and ready to go on Friday.  And what was on our agenda ---- "back to school" shopping of course (or "first time at school" shopping for me!)  We hit up Bayshore Mall and did our clothes shopping at GAP Kids - but no sneak peek for you all!  I'll be wearing my new outfit for my first day of school on Friday next week!  But we DID get to go to the toy store and pick out anything we wanted!!!  I got a Hello Kitty pencil case and accessories, plus a new Robert Munsch book.  Vila picked out a new dolly and 2 baby bottles.  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

The next day, we started off with stickers at home - I went a little crazy!  Stickers everywhere.....woo hoo!

After, we went for playtime and picnicking at the park.  It was a beautiful day, full of sun, great for walking around.  And they had great ponies, and climbing areas to play on too!  

We came back home and had a great dinner, while Mummy and Daddy went out for their second movie (they had GP and a movie on Friday too - 2 date nights in a row!)  Meanwhile, Grandma let Vila and I go "camping" downstairs together - it was so much fun!!!!   We slept together side by side on our sleeping bags.....after about an hour of giggling and waking up Grandma though, hee hee.

Sunday we had to get home - so we fed the birds in the garden with Grandpa and then went on our way......we'll see you again soon Grandma and Grandpa!  Love you both, Audrey and Violet xoxo