Weekend Recap

A little late on my weekend recap but we were enjoying a day off yesterday for Canada Day.  Going back to Friday morning, we sent the boys off for their last day of school.  

Traditional last day photos for the side by side comparison (check my insta for those posts - @smacto).

Then I said "stand up straight!"

There they go for their last walk to school together - this is their last year at the same school.

After school E went to his friend's house for some pizza and video games.  And the rest of us piled everything we own into the car to drive to Hamilton for a t-ball tournament (E would join us the next day with Dave's parents).

Our hotel was in downtown Hamilton, and if you know, you know, it's a rough spot.  The hotel was nice though!  We did find a great spot for supper, we love a brewery - we hit up Merit Brewing.

Cool mural across the street.

The tournament was in Stoney Creek, with the first game at 8:30.  It was a beautiful day!

Last time these pants were pure white, haha!!

Pre-game meeting. 

Fans!

My view for three games that day - 8:30, 1:00 and 3:15. 

Between games 1 and 2 we hung out in the shade with our picnic lunch. Coach Ben gave out some baseball cards and Q loved looking through those.

We should be sponsored by Easton!

The team did a great job winning two of three games.  We went to Kelsey's for a team dinner before convening back at the hotel for some pool and iPad time for the kiddos...

And patio drinks for the parents.

We had an 11:15 game on Sunday morning so we got to sleep in a bit, have breakfast in our room, watch Happy Gilmour, and then get to the field.  It was another beautiful sunny day.  We really lucked out with the weather, and it was hot, but not humid.

We played our semi-final on the small field.

Some good looking kids and coaches! And generally just really great people.

We had a break in between games so we set up in the outfield to watch the High Park 7s team play in the finals (which they won!), and enjoy the shade.  

These are the brothers of the tournament, keeping themselves entertained. 

Our team did not win the finals but they kept their heads up and graciously took second place.  

We had a little tailgate before hopping in the car to go home.

The raccoon hat is for player of the game, as we are the honourary "Trash Pandas", a nickname for raccoons given their prevalence in Toronto.

We were disappointed to lose to our rivals, Ancaster (said like Jerry says "Newman"), but the kids played pretty well for their first tournament and only having a few practices.  Coaches learned a few things to work on and how to tweak the lineup, and most importantly everyone had such a good time!  They were dancing along to the walk up songs, cheering their teammates and even fist bumping their opponents.  

Happy Canada Day!!

2025 has been a year of Canadian pride and patriotism, not our usual style, but we're leaning into it.  We had a few rough years when our identity wasn't as strong and we seemed to be more divided than united on some issues.  I think most people can agree that no matter what problems we have, and we have many, ultimately we are very fortunate to be Canadians.  This year with a certain someone insinuating we would be better off as Americans, we were able to unite and find a single cause to get behind - Canada is not for sale, and elbows up! If even Quebeckers are showing their Canadian pride, then you know that's a big deal! [For those of you who don't know, the Province of Quebec has been interested in separating from Canada to be its own sovereign nation. Being pro-Canada wasn't really their thing.]

We will be celebrating Canada this year - the true north strong and free!!

May and June Books

The Secret Keeper by Genevieve Graham

The book is about twin sisters during World War II from Ontario, just east of Toronto.  They have different strengths - one wants to be a pilot and the other one is radio operator and code breaker.  The books goes back and forth between sisters and we hear how they come to be in their different positions and locations.  

I have read a few books by this author and she always delivers.  I love the Canadian content and learning about some bit of history that I previously hadn't heard about. 

Long Island by Colm Toibin

This book is the sequel to Brooklyn.  I never read that book but I did see the movie starting Saoirse Ronan and Domhnall Gleeson.  I won't reveal too much of the plot but I'll tell you that the main character, Ellis, finds herself back in Ireland after being away for twenty years. 

Since I have seen the movie, I pictured those actors as the characters in the book.  I love Saoirse and she played that role so perfectly then I could imagine her a few years older.  I also love the way she speaks and how the Irish characters turn a phrase. 

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

This is the author's fourth novel and this one revisits a character from her first book.  We meet a young Toronto woman who has recently broken up with her long term boyfriend and is unsatisfied with her career. Her grandmother is recovering from a surgery so she decides to take her grandmother to a cottage for the summer.  And guess who has the house next door?  Someone we know from the first novel. 

I knew what the plot was before I started the book and at first I was disappointed that the story wasn't being told from Charlie's point of view, but the author does write better with the female voice, so it makes sense she starts with this new character.  

I love these fun summer reads, it always makes me want to head out of town and sit by a lake for a few days. 

Sankofa by Chibundi Onuzo

This book is about a woman in England who is half black and half white.  Her mother has just died and as she goes through her things, she finds a diary written by her father.  Her mother had never said anything about who her father was.  The woman decides to try and find out if her father is still alive and if she can track him down.  

I thought this book did a great job of creating a main character who was multi-faceted.  I liked how she related to the other people in the book. 

All of these books were great and all very different. I would recommend all of them. 

Friday Favourites

 

It's the last day of school! And it was a busy week! Phew!

On Monday E and his friends skipped school to go to Canada's Wonderland for the day.  It was so hot, about 42 degrees Celsius, and the waterpark wasn't open!!  They wore their hats and sunscreen, filled up their water bottles multiple times, and sought out the log ride and stood on the bridge going over the ride where they could get splashed every once in awhile.  They survived the day :) To cap off the day, the boys went to The Keg for dinner and most of the parents tagged along too. We toasted our Grade 8 graduates. 

(Q got to tag along with the big boys too)

We golfed as a family on Tuesday for the first time this year.  I was supposed to go to a new members’ clinic but they canceled it for the heat, and the boys were already planning to golf so I was able to join them.  It was hot but we had a good time. 

(Back 9 start)

My office is closing as of the end of this month.  Not to worry, operations continue, and we will be moving into a new location the fall.  I walked through this week to make sure everything had been removed properly. 

My office.

Last time for this view.

We celebrated E's grade 8 graduation on Wednesday.  He looked really nice in his suit, as did all of the kids.  E received the Music Award, Citizenship Award, and achieved Honour Roll.  We are so proud of him!

He opened up a few grad gifts on Tuesday evening.

Crossing the grad stage.

Receiving his Citizenship Award

Here is a compilation of E's first day of school from his 10 years at this school.  What a sweet little 3 year old that started Junior Kindergarten!  He was always happy to go back to school.

We are off to a t-ball tournament this weekend! Let's go High Park!!

Linking up with Andrea and Erika.