Happy holidays card and blog 2013

June-October 2013

Hello everyone and Happy November,

I can't believe it was June when I last updated the blog. I know it has been a long time when I start to receive lots of emails, asking me when I will be posting the next blog or if they missed one. Eekks...the pressure has definitely been on.

These past 5 months have been SUPER busy. The biggest news is that we moved into our new house at the end of June. The majority of it was done but they needed to continue to work on it throughout July and August. Fortunately, we were away for a few weeks both months. There were definitely some stressful days during the process. Luckily, the process is kind of like child birth, in that you don't think you will ever forget the difficult moments but you do. We were scheduled to move in on Friday, June 28th and just days before, the flooring company had put the stain on. For whatever reason, it was all streaked when it dried, therefore they decided that they would need to sand the entire floor in the whole house and re-stain it. The long and short of it was that we still moved in on the 28th but just with the bare necessities furniture wise. The rest of our furniture went on a truck for the 2 weeks we were gone. After we left for the UK, they took apart of all of our beds and moved everything into the garage, so they could re-do the floors. Fortunately, we were able to put our clothes away in our closets, organize the garage, as well as unpack everything into the kitchen cabinets and the office. As you all know, these are the most time consuming spaces to unpack/orgamize, so we worked around the clock for the 5 days between the 28th and when we left for the UK. During the 5 days we were in the house, some of the issues were that the lighting wasn't working in our master bathroom and the mirrors hadn't been installed anywhere in the house. Patrick found one of the girl's butterfly mirrors in the garage so he was able to lean that against the wall in our bathroom. At one point before going into work, he came out to ask if his shaving job was okay, since he had to bend down to use the butterfly mirror and he didn't have any light. At the time, it wasn't overly humorous but it is now :)

Here is a photo of what our living room looked like after we moved in :)

the bare minimum with a patio couch and all



making lemonade


I usually wouldn't include report cards in the blog but I thought you might all enjoy (and get a few laughs) reading the teachers' comments, especially for those of you who know the girls so well. We were so concerned about moving the girls to a new school, so reading these comments really helped Patrick and feel confident/relieved with our decision. I love that they got to know our girls so well in such a short period of time. 

From Jaeda's main teacher:
"We are so delighted that Jaeda joined our Crane community this year. In the classroom, Jaeda's positive and hard working nature makes her a role model for her classmates. She eagerly contributes to our classroom discussions with insightful and thought-provoking comments or questions. Jaeda is mature, fair, trustworthy, and kindhearted in all of her actions. She always works cooperatively with her group members and is well liked by her peers and teachers alike.

Jaeda takes her learning very seriously. She approaches each task with determination, focus, and a positive attitude. Across all subjects, Jaeda is attentive, works carefully and conscientiously, and completes her work with quality in mind. We can always count on Jaeda to strive to reach her full potential.

Jaeda has grown tremendously as a reader, writer, and mathematician this year. She is a passionate reader who enthusiastically shared her latest, favorite novels with the class. You couldn't help but get excited about reading when you talked to Jaeda. She has a strong grasp on mathematical concepts and was able to extend her thinking in challenge problems. From dressing up as an Aztec Native American to traveling with her wagon train on the Oregon Trail, Jaeda loved the simulations and learned to much in social studies too. We really enjoyed watching her well-edited sea anemone video of Anacapa Island. Her informative script showed how much she learned about anemones!

We will truly miss Jaeda's infectious smile next year in our classroom. We hope she comes back to visit us often and we look forward to hearing about all her adventures in Fourth Grade!"

There were paragraphs from each of her speciality teachers which I won't write out all of them but had to share what her favourite teacher (Spanish) wrote:

"Jaeda, my kind, friendly, adaptable, and fabulously driven girl, did a fabulous job this second term, as well. There was never a class where she did not do her utmost best! She always came prepared, and did fantastic reciting out poems, she worked well with others and her performance on the 'de que color es?' skit was wonderful. She picked the longest role and was one of the first ones to memorize all of her lines. I know we are in for another successful year together in Fourth Grade. I treasure your visits to my office, Jaeda. Feliz verano, queridos amigos!"


This is from Sienna's main 2 teachers:

"Sienna has been a joy to work with this year. With a solid core of values, a determined mind, a loving heart, and a willingness to learn anything, Sienna has quite a future ahead of her. She has truly blossomed this year into a confident member of the Crane community. It is amazing to think back to September when Sienna was quiet and reserved as she transitioned to her new school and country! On the playground she is welcoming and inclusive to all, demonstrating what it takes to build quality friendships, a skill that will last a lifetime. Sienna has formed many relationships with her teachers, peers and students of all ages. She displays maturity beyond her years, and she rarely has conflict with her peers. When she does need help problem solving or standing up for herself, she feels comfortable.

In the classroom Sienna puts forth her best effort, all while maintaining her enthusiasm and poise! She is as easy going as students come: she's always willing to try something new and eagerly meets our high expectations. She's a model student and a dream to teach! The progress we have seen in all academic areas is incredible. Sienna is reading and writing with confidence, while exploring math with passionate excitement. She has a love for learning that we hope she maintains through her academic career.

Sienna is an intelligent and determined individual who is destined for success with such a positive and nuturing support system at home and school. She has flourished academically and gained confidence in herself this year, and that will carry her smoothly into First Grade. We have no doubt that Sienna will jump ahead first into the Summer Reading Challenge (and possibly set some new records), but don't forget to provide her with a paper and pencil, for she is also a motivated young author and mathematician".

Like with Jaeda, each of her speciality teachers wrote a paragraph but I will just share the one from her favourite teacher (Performing Arts):

"I am endlessly amused by the difference between the shy little girl who gets out of the car every morning, and the boisterous one I see on the playground and later in the day! Sienna is fantastic in performing arts class. She sings out loud (and on key!), volunteers for everything and is an absolute class leader. She is a joy and delight to have in class. I wish I could make a copy of her and take her home with me!"

Sooooo........back in June the girls finished school mid month. It gave us a chance to have lots of days at the beach and experience some of the activities in Santa Barbara that we hadn't had a chance to so far. One of the great events was "Nite Moves". On Wednesday evenings from May to June at the beach you can register to do a 5km run or a 1km ocean swim or a swim/run course. Kids can register for a 1km run. It has been operating for years so is really well organized and is a fabulous event. Unfortunately, the night that the girls and I went, Patrick was traveling, so just the girls could do the run, since I didn't have anyone to watch them when they finished. I am hoping that next year we can sign up for the whole season.

the start of the 5km

kids all taking off

Jaeda on the final stretch

finish line for Sienna




out for breakfast

On July 3rd we flew to the UK. We had an absolutely INCREDIBLE 10 days. Our apologies to our friends that we didn't get a chance to see. It was a jam packed trip and we realized that we definitely need to come for a longer visit next time!!! Thank you to all of our wonderful friends for your hospitality and for making time to get together for play dates, lunches etc. We had MANY highlights but a definite one was that the school that the girls attended (Upton House School), let the girls come to school for the last day, which was a 1/2 day. Fortunately, we still had part of their school uniforms (even though the dresses were a bit short and the shoes a bit tight). It was an incredibly magical day and never to be forgotten!!!

After the morning at school, both of the girls' classes (classes that they would have been in if they were still there), went to the Long Walk by the Windsor Castle for a picnic lunch. It was so lovely to see the girls run around with their friends, just like no time at all had passed.

We stayed with the Dubois-Denis family for our first few nights. Here is a photo of Patrick and Arnaud dressed alike (not planned) before the dinner party. Apologies for not getting any photos of the amazing evening :)

                                                        Lunch with the Jones family

                                                       A visit to the Elderfield's new house

                                 We stayed the next few nights with the Sandhu family.

Lunch in Dorney with the Ali, Jalali and Sandhu families.

The next few nights we stayed with the Ryan family

a trip to Cliveden

Dinner with the Ryans and Whelans

A night at the Fords' house with the Hewers and Moffats

We met up with friends of ours from Melbourne at Legoland in Windsor. The Hutchison/McDonald family lived directly across from us in Port Melbourne. Their daughter and Jaeda were born a week apart. It was a wonderful reunion. 

A visit it to the Ali's newly remodeled home

A night staying with the Powadiuk/Fasulo family

We stayed our last few nights with the Frith family

make over time

We had a lovely night out as couples with some of our friends but for some reason we only managed to get this one photo of Alison and I. Apologies to the rest of you.....I promise you are all just as important :)

                                       One of the girls' favorite parks in Windsor :)

We are so grateful for all of the amazing friendships that we made while living in Windsor. It still makes me tear up when I think of all of you. Thank you for making such an effort to keep in touch.

When we got back from the UK, we got together with Eleni, Andreas and Katerina (friends that we met in the UK but now live in LA). We met in Malibu for a wonderful lunch and then went down to the beach.

The girls went to Hearts Therapeutic horseback riding camp for a week in July and loved it.

Jaeda

Sienna




We had a visit from our very dear friends, the Nusseys (from Canada). They came to stay with us for a week and it was absolutely fabulous. It is always amazing when you have friends come to stay and each family member has one of their closest friends to "play" with!!!!!

1st night together (Shoreline Cafe)

                               bbq at our house

Jaeda riding a wave in

                        surf camp

the girls going out in the kayak

going for dinner at Mollie's

Ky and J playing hoops

big ones giving facials to little ones

Carpinteria beach

Brandon and Patrick after a very long bike ride

drinks at El Encanto

dinner at San Ysidro Ranch

McConnells for ice cream

Stearns Wharf to go to the Ty Warner Sea Center

shopping on State Street

all 8 of us on the bike :)

Beach House at Hendry's Beach for breakie

Hendry's beach

The Sonos' annual summer party

Back to Canada for 2 weeks in August (lots of quality time with friends and family).

mini golfing with Grandma and Grandpa

Fun in Muskoka at JW Marriott with my mom, brother, sister-in-law, nieces, nephew and our kiddies. Patrick wasn't able to come back to Ontario for the 2 weeks that we did but he did fly in from Boston for the Muskoka weekend.

Sienna and Keon

Celebrating Patrick's birthday in Toronto with Grandpa and Grandma

Back to London to see Aunt Kristina, Uncle and cousins Finley and Adelle

Bingemans with the McMurdos

Andy doing a flip :)

both girls getting ready to go on the zip line

with the Magolon girls

with the Kleinknecht girls

Ella and Jaeda rock climbing

Fun with the Scott girls

with the Camilleri girls

Back to Santa Barbara.....a few photos from the girls at Montecito Country Club camp (swimming, tennis and golf)

As many of you know, from me either posting photos on Facebook, telling you stories or sending you workouts, I attend an amazing boot camp 5 days a week.  Here are a few photos from a beach boot camp that Jenny used to do on weekends. Here are some photos of one that we took the girls to.

crazy awesome trainer Jenny (in the red)

try this work out at home (run 1 mile first then do round one, run a mile and then do round 2. If you are up for it, finish it off with 1 more mile) :)

Patrick told both of the girls at the start of the summer that he wanted to do something special alone with each of them. Jaeda decided she wanted him to take her to a concert, so she researched "concerts in LA" and saw that One Direction was playing at the Staples Center.

For Sienna's Daddy/Daughter Day, she chose to go fishing :)

off to Lake Casitas (my bet is that Sienna is the one putting the worms on and taking the fish off) :)

First day of school (Jaeda-Fourth Grade, Sienna-First Grade)

Neighbour/friend's birthday

We finally decided on a breed of dog for us to get......a labradoodle :)

We found the breeder in San Luis Obispo (2 hours north of Santa Barbara). Here are a few photos of one of the puppies from the last litter. We get to pick our puppy at the end of November and will bring him/her home in January.

      Nana came to visit for the girls' birthdays. Below are a few photos from Sienna's birthday.

Mollie's for birthday dinner

celebration in Sienna's class

opening gifts at home

For Jaeda's birthday party, she decided to have a spa/sleepover party with all of the girls from both fourth grade classes, but also wanted to somehow include the boys. The school agreed to let us to an ice cream sundae party after school on campus and then Jaeda organized a few games for them all to play, before we transported the girls back to our house.

                                                      Back at the house for the party

chocolate facials

henna tattoos

blind makeovers

pedicures and manicures

dance party

one of the bedrooms the next morning

breakfast the next morning


All of the girls left by 10:00am and then Sienna's birthday party started at 2:00pm that day

face painter

a fabulous entertainer

This is a photo of Sienna opening her gift. Both girls did an Echoage party, so they picked a charity that half of the money went to and picked out one gift that would be from all of the guests at the party. The charity that Jaeda chose was Child Find and Sienna chose was Cancer Free Kids.

climbing in the oak tree

                                             Some photos of Jaeda's actual birthday.

a gift certificate for her favorite book store 

playing a game of Clue on the patio

birthday dinner at China Palace


Some photos of "If I Were a Bird" poems by each of the children in Sienna's class

The puppies were born in mid October. Here is the mommy with the babies.

Jaeda's 1st swim meet of the season

view from our patio prior to the tree trimming

menu from a mother daughter workshop that Jaeda and I went to (best workshop ever)

Fabulous visit from our dear friends, the Magolons from Waterloo, Canada

A pumpkin carving party at our neighbors' house

Our wonderful friends, Ryan and Pam from London, Ontario came to visit us a few days before the 4 of us went on a road trip (5 hours) to Vegas for our friend Dave's 40th birthday. This is the same group that we went to Cabo with back in May. Grandma and Grandpa Spence came to visit and take care of the girls while we were away.

the best Cirque du Soleil show ever....Michael Jackson's ONE

Photos on the drive back to Santa Barbara

Jaeda performed at the school's "Music Hour" with 3 of her friends. They sang and played the cups to "When I'm Gone".

Crane has an annual fair every October. This year the 4th grade was responsible for running the lemonade stand and the 1st grade was responsible for the bean bag toss.

Jaeda at the cake walk desperately trying to win a cake (which she did)

                                 The morning that Grandma and Grandpa Spence left for Canada.

The photo below is of the girls heading off to Wilderness Youth...it is an incredible program from 3-6pm one day a week, where they take the kids hiking and exploring in the mountains and to different beaches.

The school has a Halloween parade for the lower school (Kindergarten through 5th grade). After the parade, each class has a party that is organized by one of the class parents.

Sienna's class parade

                                       Jaeda's class parade

After school we went to Lower Coast Village Road (which turns into Ghost Village Road) from 3-6pm. Most of the stores pass out candy to all dressed in costume. There were hundreds of people dressed up, including most of the adults.

leaving the house

heading out with the neighbors

walking down our street

counting all the treats at the end...their girls got to keep 5 and our girls thought they scored by each getting to keep 8 :)

We hired a tree company to come and trim all of our trees. They were here for 8 days and the change is incredible. We now have an amazing view of the ocean. It is still crazy to think that we didn't even know when we bought the house, that we would be able to see the ocean.

the girls in the new tree swings that Patrick and his dad hung

As for celebrity news:

1. I went out to lunch at the Coral Casino in September (it isn't a casino but a restaurant and pool area that is part of the Four Seasons Biltmore) with 5 or 6 other women and Kevin Costner was having lunch a few tables over.

2. When Ryan and Pam were here, we went to Lucky's for dinner and Dennis Quaid was also eating dinner there.

3. The girls and I were having dinner at Mollie's and Ellen and Portia were there as well eating.

4. I see Billy Baldwin driving around in his Prius by the girls' school every few days.

5.  I met Don Johnson at the "Back to School Night" in September. He even gave me a plastic glow in the dark necklace

6. A few weeks ago, I was at a 4 way stop by our house and it was my turn to go. A black escalade pulled out, so I turned to give a stare/glare and it was Rob Lowe in the passenger seat.

Other than that, we are just plugging away at some house stuff, getting ready for our puppy (Patrick and his dad put up a fence along the back, which we decided was necessary after I saw a bob cat  in our backward a month ago) and getting ready to go away for American Thanksgiving.  The girls are off school now for a week, so we are heading up to Carmel and Monterey mid week for 4 nights. We have had lots more happening in November but I will save that for the next blog, where I intend to include our holiday card and the professional photos of the house that the builder had taken last week.

Love to all. xo