The New Bike

Owen's school recently held a Read-A-Thon to raise money for MS. We did a video of Owen here, explaing what he learned about MS at school - he calls it MS Scars, because they explained it that MS leaves scars on the nerves that block messages from the brain getting to where they need to. It is quite cute.

Owen had a goal to read 300 minutes over the course of a few months - well our little reader did so much more than that - he read the most minutes in all of his class - YEAH!

There was also a draw for prizes, for every $10.00 raised, a ticket was placed into the draw. Owen raised $300 - so he had 30 tickets in the draw and won first prize - a bicycle!

His name was announced over the PA system in the school so everyone knew about his prize. When Adrian picked him up from school, he insisted on getting his bike right then. As he and daddy walked home with the bike he was very proud as people came over to congratulate him.

Thank you to all his grandparents for supporting him in his efforts. It has really meant a lot to him.

Here is a photo of the winner with his new bike!

Grade One

GRADE ONE

He had his current favourite breakfast to start the day: Corn Flakes, Mama Muffin, Applesauce & Chocolate Almond Milk
He posed on the stairs with his sister
He has a new backpack, lunchbox and shoes
He walked to school in the morning
He said hello to friends
He hugged his sister goodbye
He walked into the school

He forgot that he was supposed to come home for lunch and we waited and waited and waited. Finally we discovered that he was sitting with all the other kids who stay for lunch and was eating applesauce (his afternoon snack).

Owen: Mama, why did you only pack me applesauce for lunch

Mama: The applesauce is your afternoon snack. You wanted to come home for lunch remember?

Owen: Oh Yeah.

(thinking)

Owen: Mama, how come I did not have 3 recesses?

Mama: Because school is not over yet, you are going back after lunch and you will have another recess in the afternoon

Owen: OK But when do I have my afternoon snack? And what will I have?

Mama: Your teacher will let you know when snack time is and I will pack you another snack

Owen: This grade one stuff is pretty confusing!

She was upset that she forgot about her backpack and demanded to go back to school with it on
She walked and walked and walked with her backpack on

He rode his bike to school for the afternoon session (after lunch)
He left school very happy!
We visited with my Grandma Beryl
He took photos
We played by the beach in Barrie
With Madison
And with Cameron
He swam with his friends in Lake Simcoe
Cameron posed for the camera with glow bracelets on
Madi twirled with her glow necklaces and bracelets on
He posed
I attempted to get all 4 kids to look at the camera
And this is as close as I came "Make a funny face for me!"
I love our tradition of celebrating the first day of school with our friends in Barrie; having a final swim in water outdoors, playing in sand, having a last picnic before the weather gets too cold. The kids had a great time playing and the mama's had a bit of time to chat.

A more perfect first day of school could not be found!

kindergarten grad

Finally getting around to doing a round up of the goings on in the Gill Family for the past few months. This is my favourite shot of the day, he looks so sweet in his graduation cap:
Getting his certificate from Mrs. Fraser. When he opened it later that day he declared in a disappointed voice "it's not a pirate treasure map"
He sat so well during the long ceremony. Our hearts were bursting with pride!

Here are the kids running to the school on the last day:
Hugging Donna, the best crossing guard in Ajax:
Handing out gifts to teachers:
This is our standard start/end of school shot on the front steps:
As I was looking for our first day of school pics, I relized that he was wearing the same shirt...love that...here is a link back to first day of school.

Batman eats eggs

for breakfast and then goes to school all dressed up.

The kids had a wonderful time last night. Owen helped me to decorate the house and then we met up with friends for trick-or-treating.

Owen had a great idea to make one of the pumpkins look like it was being sick...he laughed so hard and was so proud showing it to all the friends and neighbours.

The Miles Drive Gang

Happy Halloween!

Meet the teacher

A few days ago we had one of those days. Owen had had a rough day...full of screams, meltdowns and tears...he changed into jammies and had climbed into bed at 4pm when his friend Jackson from down the street came over and that turned the day around. He hopped out of bed, rode his bike down the street, played for an hour and ended up staying for dinner. Then it was Meet the Teacher night...jammies and all. He was so very proud to show Mama and Daddy around his classroom...he was in his element and it was so nice to see.

This is Owen in the Listening Center...there are many books on disk that the children can listen to with headphones:
He read us the official Class Agreement:
He showed us his favourite toy:

and his favourite puzzles:

we finished with a bike ride home in the dark

A wonderful end to a pretty tough day.