Halloween prep

We did some last-minute costume making this evening. Dio and his girlfriend decided to go as Wesley and Princess Buttercup. She came over and we raided my fabric stash and found supplies to make her a red & gold embroidered belt/sash.

We worked on making Dio a leather mask and a wood sword, which we'll spray paint silver and then wrap the handle in black leather. He's borrowing most things from Eric's Zorro costume, minus the hat and cape. He loves the leather motorcycle boots and has adopted them as his own :)

A few pictures from Halloween 1999...

Big day tomorrow--Zari's 20th birthday!

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Fall break, 2.0

Zari drove down this past weekend for her fall break (called "reading week"). We're busy wtih school and soccer, but that's ok since she has homework to get done.

She made herself a lovely Gandalf beard and helped me make a yarn wig for Ivy's Coraline costume.

We found another giant puffball mushroom on yesterday's walk, which turned into yesterday's dinner. Yum!!

Zari will be able to celebrate her birthday and Halloween with us before flying back to Toronto!

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McMaster

We visited McMaster University today. Dio also liked it a lot--very different feel than U of T's urban campus. That took most of the day. When we got back, Dio and Ivy wanted to go back to Kensington Market, so we took the 45 minute walk there and then 45 minutes back home. They bought 3 matching beanies (toques). They're currently wearing them in the house :)

I found a Canada patch to add to my Breech Without Borders apron. I love buying "local" souvenirs made in China. The irony.

Tomorrow we visit the University of Waterloo.

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Toronto!

Busy visiting Zari, going on university visits with Dio, and teaching breech for 4 days in Ontario, Canada! Not much time to update...

Photos from yesterday's trip to the Toronto Islands

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Conference, puffballs, and more

Whoops, life got in the way of writing! I had an exhausting but wonderful trip to Kansas City for the big ACNM conference. I leave in 2 days for Ontario. I'm leaving ahead of the rest of the family to teach some breech events, and they will be driving up the next day. We'll visit Zari for a week, then she drives back with us and spends the next week--her fall break--with us. We'll even get to celebrate her 20th birthday together! Wow!

On my morning walk with my friend, we both found giant puffball mushrooms! Mine became dinner. Yum.

Ivy's class took a trip to Springfield, IL to visit Lincoln's home and other historic sites. She just got back.

SAT prep is going well--I have been working with Dio nearly every evening. We're on schedule for an early November test.

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SAT, Soccer Tournament, Soccer Tryout

Eric and Inga are at a tryout in Montreal, Canada! It took place this afternoon and it went really well. If they're interested, they'll invite her back for a week-long tryout for their soccer academy.

They left yesterday early afternoon. Ivy was in the middle of a tournament, so I attended the last 2 games. Game #1 I wasn't there for, but they won with Ivy scoring 3 of the goals. Game #2 they won 7-0 (Ivy scored 3 goals, and it ended early in a mercy rule). Game #3 they won 2-1, with Ivy scoring both goals. She also had a penalty kick 12 seconds before the end of the game, which was blocked, unfortunately. But very exciting!

Dio took the SAT again yesterday. The English section was pretty brutal. "Mama, you would have hated the questions! They had that overly complex language that you complain about." He's decided to take it one more time. Even though many of the schools he's applying to in Canada and France don't require it, he wants to see if it will open up some opportunities in the US. So we mapped out a schedule to study every day for the next month.

Today was very laid-back. We didn't do all that much and it was great. I read outside in the hammock with snuggles from our "adopted" stray cat Radar. It's the best way to have a cat. She takes care of herself, gets treats from us, and gives us lots of cuddles. She probably also helps keep the mouse population down in our yard :)

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