Father's Day

We had a low key day celebrating Father's Day.  Arabella made Jay a stepping stone for the garden that said "Dad Rocks".  It came out really cute and Jay liked it.  It has a special place in our garden.  The rest of the day was spent relaxing and having fun at home.  Arabella and Jay had fun running through the sprinkler and playing with the water in the back yard to cool off.  Happy Father's Day, Jay!  Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for our family!  We love you!

Spartan Race

On a warm and sunny Sunday morning  in June (which seems like forever ago), I joined other members of my gym to take part in the Spartan Race at Mont-Tremblant.  Since March, I had been training for the race.  It was a lot of hard work but I did it.  The race which was supposed be just 5K ended up being 7.2K and it took us about 2 1/2 hours to complete.  I had been wanting to do a race like this for a while so when the gym was putting a team together, I decided to join it.  In the beginning, I was excited, then I changed to be thinking I was insane for signing up for something like this, but towards the race, I felt prepared and ready to go.  Even if I wanted to throw up the morning of the race!!  My friend Bram and I decided at if we were signing up, we would make a pact that no man or woman would be left behind and that we would do the race together, even if it meant we took all day.  It was good to have a partner like Bram through the race,  but also during training since we pushed each other and made sure we were doing what we were supposed to be doing.  In the end, I am so thankful to my fellow Monkey Bar Gym teammates, our trainers (Louise and Wendy) and for being able to complete the race.  Jay and Arabella were there to cheer me on and it was great getting a hug from Arabella as I came out of the woods wet and muddy and ready to tackle more obstacles.  She ran along the sidelines with me when she could.  Towards the end, I let Bram go ahead and I stayed back with another of our team members, and our coach/trainer Louise who had completed the course before us, cheered and walked with us to the end.  She gave me the encouragement that I needed at the end to get over the last few obstacles at the end.  It was a huge accomplishment and I cried once I crossed the finish line.  I know it might sound crazy, but I am looking forward to the next one.  Thank you Jay & Arabella for being my biggest cheerleaders and for supporting me along the way.

 Getting my numbers "Sharpied" on me!

 Our Monkey Bar Gym Race team!

 Waiting to take off...I was so nervous here!

 Coming out of the woods.  So happy to see Arabella and Jay!

 Bram, Pat and I keep going!

 A much needed Hug from Arabella.!

Almost there!!

After I finished, Arabella did the kids obstacle course.  She was so excited to do it and did a great job.  She missed the actual kids race because they were on the sidelines cheering for me.  But once I was done, we headed to the area where her race was set up.  We cheered her on and she even got a medal at the end.  She loved doing it and I can see her being a little Spartan Racer in the future!  Great job Arabella!

We finished her race together!!  Way to go!!

Bram, Arabella and I after our races!  We are Spartans!!

Weekend in Mont Tremblant

 After 2 1/2 years of living in Montreal, we enjoyed a family weekend in Mont Tremblant.  It was beautiful and we had so much fun.  The weather was great and we spent a lot of time doing things outdoors.  Even though we had a great room, that was an upgrade when we checked in, we rarely spent time there.  We enjoyed eating outside, exploring the village, taking the gondola to the top of the moutain for some amazing views and riding the luge!

We had a great weekend and loved every minute of it.  Arabella didn't want to leave but Dad had to get back to work.  We can't wait to go back to ski this Winter!

Last Day of School

It is hard for me to believe that Arabella has finished her first year of preschool.  She loved going to school and had so much fun this past year. She learned so much and I think she knows more French than me!! Her last day was almost as hard as her first day for me. Another one of my Little Bean's milestones has passed.

And to celebrate the last day of school they had a party on the playground.  Everyone had so much fun and I made cupcakes - rainbow ones - that everyone loved.  It was a great time but also bittersweet.  Arabella had a hard time saying goodbye to her teachers but knows she will see them again in September. 

After the party, Arabella gave her teachers the gifts I made for them.  It was a very cute idea that I found on Pintrest.  Crayons hot glue-gunned to a chalk board in the letter of their last name.  Her teachers loved them and it was pretty easy!

Slacker

I know I have been slacking in the blogging department...and have been reminded of that by a few people...but things have been so busy and we have been enjoying the beautiful and hot weather now that it is here. Our Summer here in Montreal is too short and too beautiful to be inside.

Since I haven't posted in a month, I guess I should start with Arabella's end of year festivities with school. It is hard to believe that she has been out of school for a month now. She misses it and her teachers, but she has been having fun with her friends from school at the pool and on playdates!! Her last big field trip of the year was an all day one to Camp Pioneer.

It was a lot of fun despite the cold and rainy weather. It was to a small working farm that used to be an overnight camp back in the day. The kids had fun running around and exploring. They also enjoyed the animals, especially the little chicks and ducks that they could hold and pet. We had a very yummy pasta lunch and then it was time for ice cream. In the cold, but the kids still enjoyed it. Afterwards, they took a tractor ride - Arabella got to help drive - to a campsite to roast marshmallows!! It was a quiet bus ride home since all the kids were wiped out from all the fun!