Epic Week

There are many days and weeks that pass by seemingly ordinary, nothing unusual or life changing happens.  This is, in fact, most of our days, for which we are grateful.  This past week however was not one of those times.

This past Monday, September 1st we said goodbye to Sydney's beloved Bubbie after 98 years on this earth.  She was blessed with a long life filled with the love of her family and friends.  No one can ask for more life than she lived and yet saying goodbye to her was no less difficult.

We all surrounded her as she took her last breaths, it was a day I will never forget.

The very next day we buried her under a torrential downpour, it seemed fitting that the sky was crying on a day when we were all so very sad.

My heart was aching at the thought of having to tell Sydney that her Bubbie was gone.  We talked about her going to heaven and that she was very old and tired and it was time for her to go.  I think Syd understood because the very next day she asked me two questions:  "Is Bubbie getting all settled today in Heaven because she just got there?" and "What are we going to do on Sundays now?"

Every Sunday since Paul and I have been together our habit has been to visit his Mother at her home.  From the day Sydney was born she shared in this tradition with us and we will most certainly miss those visits with her beloved Bub. 

We were so touched by the kindness of everyone this week as we received texts and notes and e-mails from friends far and wide expressing their condolences.  My wonderful group of Dunbar Moms sent the most gorgeous bouquet of flowers for us, it was a precious reminder of what a wonderful extended family we have found in them.

In a poignant reminder of the circle of life, we also shared in a wonderful celebration as a family this week at the bris of Sydney's newest cousin Reed.

It was a beautiful celebration made all the more meaningful by the fact that we had just lost a member of our family as we welcomed this new one which was Bubbie's fifth great grandchild.

Between the bris and shiva, and all of the family events of this week, it made for many late nights and much time away from Mom and Dad for Sydney this week.

And it was a big week for Syd as today was her very first day of Kindergarten! 

It seemed surreal that today was actually here.  I had to wake Syd up at 6:45 to get her up and dressed into her uniform and fed before we headed off for an 8:30 start, early morning!

We had some time to play in the playground and garden before school started and enjoyed the new additions to the garden.

Sydney looked like such a big girl all dressed up and ready for school today.  She had a hard time saying goodbye to me, but once she was settled in class she had the best day and came out of the classroom all smiles!

My heart ached for the morning while I was away from her knowing that the precious days of us being together all day are behind us.  I'm not going to lie, I missed her like crazy!

We spent the afternoon together having lunch, shopping and playing at the park before she came home for a little Daddy time.

What a day, what a week!  Our lives will never be the same.....

All in a A Week

This past week definitely felt like the last week of summer.  Sydney and I desperately tried to squeeze in as much fun as we possibly could in our last few days of summer vacation.  It seemed fitting that as the long weekend was upon us, the weather took a turn for the worse.  It is cool and rainy and feels like fall.  Never has it felt so bittersweet that summer is over!

Here's what we got up to this week:

Buntzen Lake

Sydney and I spent a beautiful, sunny Monday at Buntzen Lake with Auntie Liane this week.  We enjoyed wading in the water, digging in the sand and having a picnic lunch.

Syd especially loved chasing the very aggressive Canada Geese away!

Aquabus Playdate

On Tuesday we spent a very fun day with some our preschool friends, Julia, Henry, Leo and Nico and met up at Henry's house in Olympic Village.  The kids had a great time playing and having snacks before we all walked down to the Aquabus dock and took a tour of False Creek together.

The view was amazing and the kids had so much fun together riding the boat!

We took some time to play at the playground at Henry's complex on our way home.

Garden Time

We spent a beautiful Wednesday morning in the garden at Sydney's school meeting yet more new friends and enjoying all of the amazing, fresh produce that is at it's prime.

It's amazing to see how much the garden changes week over week!

We enjoyed some sun tea in garden and Sydney and I happily collected a huge bucket of apples that had fallen off the numerous apple trees on the school grounds.

PNE

Sydney and I spent a very fun afternoon at the PNE and Playland again this week.  It was fun to take her back a second time and have her request her favourite rides and attractions.

The highlight of our time was winning a huge stuffed bear at one of the carnival games, Sydney was thrilled!

We loved riding the ferris wheel together as well and enjoying the view from high above the fair.

Playdate with Noa

Thursday afternoon brought a very special play time with Noa, Sydney's friend from preschool.  The girls had such fun playing, having a tea party, painting their toe nails and swimming in the paddling pool in the back yard.

They even had time for a little picnic on the front porch while waiting for Noa's Mom to arrive.

Ceramics

We picked up all of the amazing ceramics that Sydney spent last week painting at Cowboys and Angels.

I especially love the coffee mug that she painted just for me!

Playdough

I tried a new recipe for playdough this week too with just two simple ingredients: hair conditioner and corn starch.  Simply mix one part conditioner with two parts corn starch and add a few drops of food colouring if you'd like.

The result is a light and airy playdough that Sydney so enjoyed playing with.

Goodbye Alexa

We we so sad to say goodbye to Alexa this week, our summer nanny who has been with us for the past two summers and is now heading back to university in Northern BC.

Alexa and Sydney enjoyed so many fun memories together this summer and I so enjoyed having some time to myself and with Paul and others, she will be missed!

A New Cousin

We received some very exciting news this week as Sydney's cousin Dana had a new baby boy, Reed Meyer.

Sydney is always excited about a new baby, especially when it's in our family!  We look forward to meeting and welcoming the newest member of our family at his bris later this week.

It was a wonderful week filled with many great memories and such a good way to bid adieu to summer.  

Playland

Sydney and I met up with friends Leo, Levi and Henry from preschool this week to hit up Playland together.  This was Sydney's first time to go to Playland and did she ever have the time of her life!

There is a section made especially for young children with age appropriate rides, games and food.  The kids gleefully went on ride after ride and we had such fun playing a few carnival games too!

We ended up staying until later in the evening with Leo and his family to take in the Fair at the PNE as well.

We watched the famous Superdogs show and saw all the animals at the barn before grabbing a quick bite for dinner and heading home.

Syd even got to go for a little pony ride, which she loved!

What a fun and fabulous day together!

Sydney finished up her Cowboys and Angels ceramics camp this week with a bang!  Had her best day ever there on Friday with Julia and then headed to Julia's house for a fun playdate that afternoon before we headed home to have Shabbat dinner with Zach and Danielle.

On Saturday afternoon I upheld my long standing yearly tradition with my friend Paula and went to see Bard on the Beach.  We saw A Mid Summer Night's Dream together, loved the easy to follow plot, fabulous costumes and great laughs throughout.

Saturday evening brought a fun get together with the Dunbar gang at Sally and Allan's house for a backyard BBQ.  Summer is such a busy and lazy time all in the same moment that we haven't really connected with our Dunbar friends as much as we'd hoped to, so we were excited to see everyone and catch up.

I simply can't believe that we are headed into the last week of summer this week!  Sydney has been asking me constantly all summer if she can have both a garage sale and a lemonade stand.  She is obsessed with finding ways to earn money these days!

So this morning I obliged and helped her set up a little table outside.  We didn't have any lemonade available so she made due with glasses of water and a plate of Cheerios and had me write a note that read: "No credit cards or money, free food and drinks"

It was super cute!  We do live on a very quiet street so only a couple of people walked by this morning and when she saw them approaching she got up and ran away!  She's still honing her PR skills!

We spent our morning at Granville Island today and the annual Wooden Boat Festival was taking place there.  We had the chance to take Syd aboard a few beautiful old wooden boats to look around.

We went for an early evening run to Menchie's today and stopped at the lookout at UBC to catch the sunset together.  What an absolutely beautiful spot!

As we wind down our summer this week I am feeling grateful for all of the fun and fabulous memories that we made together over these past two months!