RCM Success

Calista has been working for several months now, preparing for her first ever Royal Conservatory of Music exam. 

When we first talked about signing her up for the exam, I told Calista I didn't want to fight or nag her. She had to be willing to practice and prepare on her own, with only gentle reminders from me, otherwise we shouldn't do it.

Well, this girl followed through. She practiced in the morning, before school. When she got home. After dinner. Before bed. 

Anytime she had a few moments to spare, she'd sit down and play a song or two.

And it paid off! Her songs and scales were ready to go! Time for the exam.

She was nervous but found it was actually kind of easy because she felt prepared. I love this girl and am so proud of her work the last few months!

And, I suppose I'll add this: we got her exam results, and she passed! In fact, she earned First Class Honours. Way to go, Calista!

School's out!

It is finalllllllly the last day of school! We have finished Grade 7, 5, and 2.

The kiddos with their awards! The boys (coincidentally) each earned the Truth award for embodying the principle. Calista earned Honours with Distinction and the Grade 7 Music Award. So I'm bragging a little bit.

Calista wants to be a an author or a marine biologist when she grows up. She said the best part of grade 7 was lunch and her best friends are Vanessa, Karen, and Olesia.

Her favorite class was band and she doesn't really have any regrets for grade 7 because it was a good year.

Next year, she's excited for seeing her friends again in grade 8.

If she could be any animal, she'd become a cheetah and she's looking forward to seeing her cousins this summer at the beach!

Craig wants to be a chemist when he grows up so it makes sense that the best part of grade 5 was the chemistry unit in science. It wasn't perfect, however: "We had only one little lesson about the periodic table, though it makes up all of chemistry..."

Craig's best friends are Maddy, Mateus, and Steffan and his favorite subject was science! Don't tell him otherwise.

He has no regrets for grade 5 but is not excited for the PATs in grade 6.

If he could be any animal, Craig would stay a person, probably because he's looking forward to playing lots of video games and going to the Ape Caves this summer.

Caleb wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up and the best part of grade 2 was the obstacle course on fun day with the French Fries of Doom.

His best friends are Oliver and Jackson and his favorite subject was science.

Caleb also has no regrets for grade 2 and is excited for a nice teacher in grade 3 ("because I had a really nice and kind teacher this year!")

If he could become an animal, he'd be a friendly T Rex that only attacks bad guys.

Caleb is looking forward to spelunking in a cave this summer.

Bring on summer!

Eight is Great (and Awesome)!

Caleb has turned 8!

How awesome is that?

For his birthday, Caleb got to open presents before school,

marshmallows in his lunch, macaroni and cheese for dinner, 

And cinnamon pizza instead of a birthday cake!

He also desperately wanted to have a couple of friends over for video games and pizza. 

So a couple of days after his birthday (and after his baptism), we had Jackson and Oliver over.

They played at home and at the park and it was fun and really relaxed.

Exactly as Caleb wanted.

Happy eighth birthday, my baby boy (and welcome to the family, Tyranno!)

Caleb's Baptism

My littlest man is now baptized!

He and I went and too some pictures and he was so practical about it. 

He just focused on taking the pictures.

Probably because I'd promised that after the photos, we'd go out to get a treat:

Gelato! A couple of ladies told him how handsome and adorable he was, all dressed up in his suit. And it's true, he is pretty adorable.