Apple Picking

As we do every year, we make our way out to the apple orchards to pick apples that will last us for months to come.  This yearwe joined our Italian Association for this activity which included a huge mechoui buffet.  Yummy!  What started out as a cloudy day ended up being a truly amazing sunny day in the country with the family.  Now let me at those apple recipes...

Roasted Chicken from the grocery store.  That was our first dinner in our new kitche.  We didn't even have the time nor the energy to actually cook something :)  Well really, it's because we have yet to receive our stove which we ordered in June.  Apparently someone forgot to order the nice fancy stove from Italy!   But we are very pleased with the way our kitchen turned out  It is awesome!






September also marks the end of the Mo-West soccer season.  And since Gord is coaching both girls' teams, he is running from one park to the other!  Both girls had fun most especially on the last day when chips, juice and medals are given out.  Till next year!

 

Alexia's 4th Gotcha Day

Today is a very special day for our little family.  It is the day we celebrate the arrival of our little Guang Yun Xia, otherwise known Alexia.  Four years ago today, this little package was handed to us and our lives have never been the same again, literally  :)  Anyone who knows Alexia knows she is quite different from our first, Cara-Li, who is extremely quiet and well-behaved.  Alexia, well... takes up a lot of space.  She is loud, talks alot and makes her presence known  :)  But by the same token, she has a heart of gold and a smile that brightens up even the darkest cave.  Alexia ia ours and we love her to death.  Now look at that face?  Devil!

A new school year

Of course, after a big move comes the beginning of the school year  :0

Alexia began kindergarten this year so it was really a big back to school.  She was so ready and did not even flinch when it came time to going into her class.  We, the parents, got to meet the teacher.  Well, in our case, we met her privately since we missed the actual parent-teacher meeting!  We got the letter during the packing process and somehow thought it was at 2PM when in reality it was at 11AM.  Imagine my shock when I found out we missed it!  Anyweay, the school was very understanding and they were very accomodating.  A few days later, Cara-Li also started school, the 4th grade.  My Lord, where has the time gone!  And something new to manage this year... car-pooling.  Yup.  No more school bus.  Yikes!  Hope it goes well!

Alexia, first day of Kindergarten.

Cara-Li, first day of 4th grade.

The 3 car-poolers acting completely silly!  It's going to be rough year!

Pals!

And so we moved...

Yes, the time finally came that after almost 2 months of renovations, we had to move into our big, old house.  We took the week before the move off to pack and prepare.  Well, I did all the packing for 5 days while Gord was busy with all the contractors coming ang going.  At one point, I counted 7 trucks parked in front of the house, all of which were in our house working on something or other.  It was a whirlwind!  But moving day came and somehow, we did it.  Pure exhaustion!  And with pure exhaustion comes the very bad cold.  Yup.  We all got sick by moving day.  It was horrible!  And once all our stuff was in the house after 3 truck loads and 12 hours later, we all just fell into our beds.  Yes, we had beds.  My BFF helped me set them all up in between truck loads.  But with a new king size bed, we all slept together  :) Now we must endure a week or two more without a kitchen and thus no dining room before we could actually start unpacking.  I am back at work next week so I am not sure how much unpacking we get done in the evenings.

Contractors in our house.

The first truck load.

The trailer loaded cottage bound.  That's the swing set, BTW.

The morning after.

Guangchang Reunion 2011

We had the great pleasure of getting together with our travel group for Alexia's adoption once again this year.  We had a grand time at Lac à L'Eau Claire in St. Alexis des Monts for the second year in a row.  Lots of fun was had by all, big and small.  Many meals were made together as well as renting a pontoon boat to sail over to a deserted beach where we had lunch and spent the afternoon basking in the sun.  We rented 2 large condos which housed all 24 of us with half being children.  How wonderful it was to see the all and see them grow into such wonderful little ladies.  Till next year!

Friday night dinner

Pontoon ride

Gord, our captain

Builing sand castles and building friendships

Alexia and her favorite Dad

The Big Girls' Club

Gord, the BBQer

Dinner à la Japanese style, on the floor!

The Little Girls' Club

The Parents' Club

Our Princesses

The Whole Group

Cottage Visitors

The best part about owning a cottage is the visitors that you get.  While being alone at the cottage is great, having people over to share in the beauty is even better!  This weekend Cara-Li's school friends and their parents came to saty with us.  They are also our Cuba travelling partners so we all get along extremely well.  The kids just kept finding things to do such as pedaloing, playing on Party Isalnd, picking lily pads and capturing crayfish (who knew we had this in the lake??).  All the while the parents were eating, drinking and soaking up some rays.  A fantastic and relaxing weekend for all!