Steve and the Zoo

Nick had an eye test at Bloorview (on a Saturday) so we decided that we would treat the kids to a trip to the zoo on our way home. As a surprise!
For a bigger surprise I found out that there was going to be a special guest at the zoo for a meet-and-greet!

 

Captain America! (Who is Nick's favorite Avenger)

He told Nick that he could call him "Steve", so all day Nick talked about how he got to meet Steve.

 

We each got to pick and animal to go and visit.
Katheryn picked the polar bears. Always her favorite

 

And we were there for feeding time

 

Nick picked the otter. We named her Marlene (just like in Penguins of Madagascar). She is so active that the kids loved watching her swim all around. We got to see her fed as well, and waited 10 extra minutes for the zoo keeper. Who threw in some food and when someone asked her a question she answered and then walked away.

 



 

My choice was the flamingos. I thought the kids would get a kick out of them, and we hadn't visited them for a while. They were in a part of the zoo we usually skip.

 

 

I though they provided a nice background for a picture

Kyle picked the penguins. We just missed seeing them fed

It was so hot and sunny that we stopped for a quick popsicle break and then headed out

They each wanted to ride the merry-go-round.
Nick didn't want to go onto anything, so  we used the wheelchair turtle. So he could take his wheelchair up a ramp and then get attached to the ride and go around.

Katheryn picked a flamingo

 

On our way out we saw Steve again

It was a fun surprise for the kids!

Happy Canada Day

Here are some pictures celebrating our countries birthday
Canada Day!

Some quiet time at the cottage

Some funny faces

A big smile

A family picture

And finally, Katheryn wasn't very happy I wanted just one more picture

We ended off the night watching fireworks and singing O'Canada! (but no more pictures)

Fundraising

To finish out our June of fundraising we set up a raffle at a family event

The SB&H donated to me some prizes and I was trying to figure out how to raise the most amount of money over the month and decided on our family party.

I had all of my pamphlets ready to share and armed Nick with them

And Maddie, my super-selling niece was in charge of the raffle tickets!

She went around to everyone at the party and sold all of the tickets!
I am definitely getting her help for all of my fundraising!

Thanks to these 2 we raised $255!

So Our total for this year is $845 for Nick's Cheering Squad!

School Pictures

 I wanted some last day of school pictures. So we went on our lawn like we have the last couple of years, and I said make a happy face for the last day of school... and this is what I get!
Katheryn sad because she isn't going back to school until September!
Something I am not surprised at, she did get straight A's (well, one B+ but that is practically an A)

 I did get the smiling picture as well (and a straighter leg)

   Nick wanted a ninja turtle fighting picture

 

And of course a calm, cool, all-ready for grade one picture!

And Katheryn is definitely all ready for grade 2!

They have grown so much since September!

  Now it is summer time!

Good Bye and Good Luck

Today was graduation day for Nickolas. Nick isn't returning to Campbell's School next year but is transitioning to his home school (with Katheryn) in September.

As long as the Elementary Teachers don't strike.

I have been preparing for this for a long time.

We have been so happy that Nick went to Campbell's for 2 years, to become more prepared and older and more experienced. I think that we all needed that.

But now graduation day has come.

And I think we are ready.

Nick has grown so much, gained so much confidence

I am sad to leave the school. The experiences that Nick has gained in such a supportive environment is fantastic!
A Halloween Parade, meeting the Panam/Parapan mascot, golfing, hockey, meeting hockey players, and going to the zoo are just some of the activities that they have done over the last year

Nick also has therapy during school hours. In types of classes.
Like the Wild Wheelers is a class every week where the kids go around in their wheelchairs (inside and outside) and learn wheelchair skills, computer skills, yoga classes

This is their playground.

And of course one of the best thing about the school is being with kids who are just like him

With a team of people who are with him and supporting him every day.

But now the day has come, and I think that Nick is ready.
He will miss the school and his friends and teachers (and school bus driver). The school is small so he knows everyone, they know him. He gets around without a problem, the classes are small and he is the same as everyone else.

But his new school will be a change, he is still excited for it. He is excited to be at school with Katheryn and he already has some friends who are excited for him to be at school with them (all different ages).

Nick i s definitely going to miss his teacher. Mrs. Meyers has been his teacher since his first day at school last year. We are all going to miss her!

But this guy is ready for Grade 1!

As well, I got creative this year and we made our own Thank you gifts for his teachers, EAs, bus driver and OT and PT.
A mint plant

A picture for the bus

And some nail polish (ninja turtle colours)