School Days: Gr 2 *part 2*

part 1 HERE

Grade 2 is done.

i got the report card thursday and it says grade 3 next year.

it doesn't say much else, but it does say that.

(stupid strike. the teachers can't do any comments on the report cards)

on thursday my boy said he was a little sad to be done school.

he said he will miss doing math.

that's right.

you read that correctly.

he was a little sad because he'll miss doing math.

way to go teacher!

my boy does like learning.

always has.

but his teacher has made learning fun and exciting.

the boy has loved all the research they have had the opportunity to do.

he has loved the science and math.

he loves to learn new things and his teacher has given him many many opportunities for that.

i have a boy who is excited to be heading into grade 3 next year.

this kids was scared to go to school each day in JK.  

tears constantly.

to see him now.

to know the change that has happened.

wow.

he said he likes to make new friends.

what?!  

who is this kid?

that used to be a huge fear for him.

now he's excited to see what friends he'll make next year.

i know that confidence is 3 fold.

one: 

because God has been answering my pleas for my boy and his confidence.

two: 

we as parents have intentionally encouraged him to learn new things, 

without pushing him too far too fast.

and three: 

the amazing, encouraging, supportive teachers he has had.

my boy made his teacher a card last night.

he had me print a photo of some Canadian Geese.

and he drew a picture in the card of his teacher bird watching.

his teacher loves birds and has brought that love into the classroom.

my boy made a card earlier in the year - just because - and drew a picture of his teacher bird watching.  

"i'm going to draw the same thing as the last card, mommy"

he said to me as he sat down to draw.

he was so excited to bring the card this morning.

thank you Mr Goodyear for an amazing year.

*photo by me

with Gertie

not edited

School Days: SK

age: 5/6

year in school: 2

grade: Senior Kindergarten

class: JK/SK split

My little girl headed off to school this morning with her Supergirl shirt on.

i bought it for her yesterday, as a little end of the school year gift.

She had a present, a card and a couple flowers in her hands.

and the largest smile on her face.

She was heading to her last day as a Senior Kindergartener.

She had an amazing year.

she had quiet moments.

nervous moments.

loud moments.

happy moments.

crazy moments.

she even had a very sad moment.

with a phone call to mom.

but she loved school. 

she adored her teachers.

She had one teacher and 2 ECEs.

each one was amazing.

They each brought different personalities, and skills to the class.

the class was full of imagination and wondering.

which is exactly what my girl does 24-7.

she grew in her reading levels, and surprised herself.

her writing improved, and so did her drawings.

her communication grew more clear each month.

they took walks along the Hunters Bay Trail, or down to the park.

they played outside.

they toured the school on rainy days so they weren't stuck in the classroom.

They drew.

they built.

they imagined.

they created.

they had opportunities to research things that interested them.

dolphins, dolphins, dolphins.

The teachers were encouraging when i'd be in the library and my girl would want to come for lunch.

they understood the importance of, and encouraged, time with family.

i took the kids on a trip with my parents, last week.

they missed a whole week of school.

but my girl didn't feel as though she would be missing too much.

she knew she'd be having an amazing opportunity with her family.

we got back just in time to go to the year end trip.

we went to Algonquin Park.

hiked the Spruce Bog Trail, and went to the visitor centre.

at the end of the day my girl got to get her picture with her teacher.

at the beginning of the year she was drawn more to the one ECE.

but now, for whatever the reason of the switch, she has grown attached to her teacher.

when i asked who her friends were this year she listed a bunch and in amongst the list were her teacher and the ECEs.

this morning i gave her a paper to write down a couple people from her class she wanted to pray for over the summer.

name number 2 on her list of 3 was her teacher.

thank you Ms Lipskie!

you have made an amazing impact on my girl.

thank you for loving her and encouraging her.

she has grown so much this year.

 on to summer break!

*all photos taken by me 

with Gertie

not edited.

the Christmas Letter...

Merry Christmas from the D. Quigg Family

It’s December, 2013. 

I haven’t written a Christmas letter in quite a few years, but I decided that today was as good a day as any to write one. 

Dan has been working at the same company for about 6 years now.  He does welding, carpentry, tree work… yes, he is quite versatile.  He’s out there on this chilly day welding at a lake for a dock job.  Cold and not too fun I’m sure.  He always has something around the house that he wants to get done, and is so full of creativity.  He has discovered that his thyroid is not working well so has been on meds for that.  In June he ran a half marathon, held here in town, and did very well. 

the boy turned six this year.  In January he began his year by asking Jesus if He’d come live in his heart.  And since then he has been quite excited that Jesus is with him always.  His latest prayer request has been to have wisdom, like Solomon.   He is in grade one and is doing very well.  He loves his teacher and is making friends.  He loves math.  He also enjoys helping out in his sister’s class at lunch times.  He is a determined kid with lots of creative energy.  He has been waiting for snow so daddy can teach him to snowboard some more this winter.  He has just finished swimming lessons, that he had requested, and did so well in them. 

the girl, our little 4 year old.  She also began her 2013 by asking Jesus to come live in her heart.  She has been asking a lot of questions about what that means.  She is excited to see great grandpa Quigg in heaven one day, now that she gets to go there.  She (and her brother) love memorizing verses for Sunday school and their mid-week programs.  Her favorite verse is 'When I am Afraid I will Trust in You'. Psalm 56:3.  She is in Junior Kindergarten.  She goes three days a week, and loves the days she’s there.  She has a wonderful teacher and is making some good friends as well.  She loves going on the bus with her brother.  She just finished 14 weeks of gymnastics lessons and had a blast, loving everything about it.

Michelle is still at home with the kids.  She loves being at home to see them on the bus, off the bus and to be home if needed to take care of a sick little one, or to help out in one of the classes.  Every Monday she volunteers in the school library and loves it.  Seeing the kids when they come in, and having lunch with the boy every Monday.  Monday has definitely been a hi-light of her weeks.  She has been able to take some of her time to work on her photography, with the desire to improve on her passion. She is currently in drama rehearsals for the Church Christmas Play (dinner theater) that will be performed the weekend before Christmas.  She also completed her first ever 10K run in June.

In the summer we took a family trip out to British Columbia.  To Summerland, in the Okanagan Valley.  We were there for a Quigg family reunion.  What a wonderful trip it was.  The kids had their first airplane ride, and enjoyed everything about it.  We had the opportunity to see so many family members and for the kids to meet people they had only heard existed.  We are so glad we took that trip.  We also stayed after for another week and had a chance to visit Dan’s sisters and families at their homes – homes we had never been to.  And to spend time with the nieces and nephews we really didn’t know well at all.  The kids loved their cousins, and can’t wait to see them all again. 

When we got home we had Dan’s parents staying with us before they moved out to BC.  It was nice to have them stay with us, and we miss them lots.  The kids want to go visit about every other day.  Not so easy.  But they are now getting to see their other grandkids and enjoying being in their lives as much as they have been in our kids’ lives all these past years. 

In September we, as a family, participated in the Terry Fox run.  Dan and the boy biked the 10K, Michelle ran the 10K and the girl and her papa did the 5K.  Later that month Dan and Michelle participated in Tough Mudder.  It is an obstacle course challenge.  About 17Km in distance.  We had a team of 5.  What an amazingly fun day it was.  Tough? yes.  Sore at the end of the day? Yes.  We are registered to do it again August 2014. 

So…now it’s December.    At the end of this month we will be celebrating our 11^th Anniversary.  We are also preparing for Christmas…  ok, not really yet.  This is the start.  Each morning Michelle reads a little of the Christmas story out of Luke for the kids, and they have been enjoying listening to it. 

Christmastime will only be as busy as we allow it to be.  But no matter how busy we allow it to be I hope that you remember to take some time remembering that Christmas is a time to celebrate Christ’s birth. 

Love Dan, Michelle, the boy (& bear) & the girl (& Lammie)

2012 in review

at the end of 2011...beginning of 2012  this is what was going on: see here

2012 in review

January: 

went to my parent's for Christmas and my dad started with radiation and chemo treatments.

elijah headed back to school and began enjoying it.

saw Mary Poppins on stage!

February:

dan and i spent valentines eve crazy carpeting around town.

March:

our little girl has a 'dog party' for her 3rd birthday.  thankfully the weather was nice and we were able to be outside.  

our boy makes a best friend at school

my dad is done chemo and radiation

April:

my parents come up for Easter.  

dan's aunt and uncle come to h'ville for a visit.  so good to see them.

May:

jack comes for a visit.  lots of fun as the kids get to know their cousin.

family road trip down to North Carolina for dan's cousin's wedding.  

my dad is cleared of cancer

June:

back home from NC

school ends, with a little boy having fond memories of school.

dan turns 32.

July:

kids have 5 nights at papa & grammas while elijah's loft bed is created

i turn 37.

our boy has his first friends birthday party...space theme.

August:

our boy turns 5

ride the Ontario Northland, down to Toronto, for the long weekend...kids first train trip.

another 4 nights (for the kids) at papa and gramma's after a day at the African Lion Safari.

September:

our boy heads back to school excited for the new year.  while his little sister longs for the day she gets to go.

we run the Terry Fox Run, with a cancer free papa.  

dan and i to Cirque du Soleil

October:

our first experience with lice.

Thanksgiving

halloween - kota a lion, elijah a power ranger

November:

go to elijah's class observation...so thoroughly encouraged.

remembrance day.  we attended the service at the legion and parade.

american thanksgiving 

December:

the world didn't end.. silly Mayans

my first dec. in a few years that i don't have a play i'm practicing for.  

we have my parents up for Christmas.  

over to dan's parents on Christmas day to visit with his aunt, uncle, cousins, and grandma.

friends over to sled on new years eve.

skype with dan's sister and kids, gpa and gma..

and then skype with papa and gramma  at 10pm.

Happy New Year.

*2013*

i plan to focus more on my family. less on the computer.

* my kids are only young once.

'kota starts school in sept.  

they won't be little for much longer, 

and i plan to enjoy this stage as much as i can.

* my husband is my best friend.

we are together for life.

i plan to enjoy life with him.  

when the kids are grown and moved out, i'll still have dan.

i want to still have things to talk about, things to laugh at... i want him to still be my best friend.

* i also plan to train to do Tough Mudder in September.