We've never been to Portland so it was a bonus that our friends, Stone and Twinny, was able to accompany us for a 3 days and 3 nights of shopping and great eats.
* Kimi all dressed up for Portland
We hit on the outlet store first thing in the morning which was a great idea because the people from Canada are still on the road, and we didn't find the need to spend much time lining up to pay plus we got the top pick of the stocks :)
I found some nice items and great bargains and managed to get shoes for both kids...
* Kimi loved this and wanted to wear it instead of her sandals
We don't have See's Candies in Canada and I was more than happy to get some free chocolates for tasting. Of course, I got some to take home and indulge as well.
* See's Candies
Afterwards, we went to the nearby mall "Washington Square" which had a great selections of stores as well and decided to do a mother-daughter pedicure since we are in a no-tax city. I figured it would save us a couple of pennies.
* Little Pampering
We had dinner at the Portland Seafood Company and had a grand feast of assorted seafood for dinner. Hubby enjoyed immensely, satisfying his craving of crabs he's had for months.
* Seafood Feast
We went Downtown for our next day. I ended up buying some teas which I sampled from Teavana. It was a combination of Blueberry and Pineapple which Kimi and I really love and we tasted quite a few cups as we purchased some to make at home...
* Refreshing
...hubby also did some purchasing on the side,
We also made a stop at the Lloyd's Center Mall which had a couple of shops that was not in the previous 2 malls we went. Old Navy and Barnes & Nobles to name a few. I bought a couple of flash cards to review with Kimi for Summer vacation and it was quite handy on our long road trip home.
* Free Balloons from Lloyd's Center
Our trip wouldn't be complete without a visit to The Cheesecake Factory right near our hotel.
It was perfect right beside the mall and we got to do some last minute shopping while we waited.
* Everything ordered was great
Unfortunately, we ate a little too much on the main course, we couldn't bring ourselves to eat desserts. Maybe next time :)
We spent the last night getting ready for our early take off, and we had the flashcards and iphone to keep Kimi occupied.
One of the things I love to check day in day out is the mailbox. There are the downers like the bills but my favorite are the packages especially if it come from a dear friend from afar...
My very talented best friend back in Manila made a couple of pairs of cute earrings and I had Kimi wore one right away.
Last year, libraries in B.C. launched a reading program which was called Savour each word for summer reading 2011 which we took a part in.
This year's reading program is entitled "Strange But True?", we passed by the library to get the booklet to get Kimi and Kenzo engaged in some reading this summer and we bought small stickers to keep tab on their reading calendar.
* Orange for the incoming Kindergarten (Kimi), and green one for smaller kids (Kenzo)
* A Great place to read and learn strange truths :)
Burnaby Montessori scheduled the last day of school with a field trip to end the school on a fun note.
A lot of kids came and joined.
I was glad that this time around. The trip to the Burnaby Montessori goes with an actual tour of the places plus the added bonus of riding the carousel as a group. It was fun to know everyone riding inside the carousel and the kids enjoyed themselves immensely. The first stop was the schoolroom with the teacher dressed up to the part and she did a bit of a backgrounder as to what school was like before. According to her, everyone was crammed inside one classroom with each row corresponding to one or two grade level.
* Seaforth School 1922
The teacher also did a hand inspection to see if the student did a good job cleaning their hands for school.
The carousel was finally open by the time we finish the school tour and decided to go straight to the carousel so that there won't be much of a line.
* The Grand Old Carousel
* Mini Horse
I settled Kenzo on this mini horse just right for his size but being the daredevil that he is, he won't allow it and changed to the regular horse while I hold on to him throughout the ride.
* Kimi with Teacher Doreen
The tour went on to the bus. Volunteers worked thousand of hours to restore the bus to it's glory.
* Bus of the olden day
...a tour of the stores from back then as well...
Kenzo preferred to look at the olden car.
...a demonstration of how they fire steel in this next tour
* Kimi decided to pose instead of going in with the crowd
Alas, it was time to say goodbye and go our separate ways. It was officially the start of Summer vacation.
* Group picture with the teachers
We went home but not until we got some ice creams for the kids to enjoy.
We go for lunch after church and we try to do something for the kids especially when the sun comes out but when it doesn't, we go indoors and try to have fun as a family just as well.
We went Asian once again with Aberdeen's Tropika and with coupon in hand, we got a dish almost free :)
* From top down: Satay, Otak Fish, Sambal Clams
* Kimi loves any picture opportunity
* After a tiresome but enjoyable family bonding :)
It`s the time of the year once again for Krysten`s Birthday. Although we always promised each other that we`d try to set a meeting after the party, we always ends up meeting on the kid`s birthday.
This year, Krysten celebrated her birthday at West Side Family Place, West Vancouver. It was a new place and we saw how ideal it was for a kid`s party.
* West Side Family Place
Of course, the cake was the highlight as usual and Gyneth did a spendid job with her cupcake cake.
* Cup-Cakes
* Sweet for my Sweetie
...active Kenzo, on the other hand, decided to spend his energy going up and down the slides
* Down the slide he go
* A nice touch for a ladder
It was not for long that Kenzo found the indoor play area...
The Closing Ceremony was held at the Grace Lutheran Church near the Southslope Branch this year for a change, instead of the combined ceremony which was done last year at the church near Norland Branch.
* The Stage
* The Graduates
(L-R: Pamela, Yena, Samuel, Gabriella)
The kids worked really hard at perfecting the songs to sing for this special occasion.
The event are done as follows: The marching of the kids from the back of the room to the front, then, the graduates had their own march. Some words from Ms. Tanya then of course, O Canada song to start the event.
O Canada
O Canada! Our Home and Native Land!
True Patriot love, in all they sons command
With glowing hearts we see thee rise
The true north, strong and free
From far and wide, O Canada
we stand on guard for thee
God keep our glorious and free
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee
* * * * *
The little graduates had a special song performed. Kimi actually memorized this song (which she kept on repeating at home) and I was surprised that she was not part of the song number haha! Good memorizing Kimi :). The teachers actually did a great job in selecting these songs...
Leave the world a little bit better
Leave the world just a little bit better, a little better than it was
Leave the world just a little bit better, a little better than you found it
when the sun came up.
I'm only one and we are two
but there are others like me and you
Step by step and hand in hand
we can help our land.
Leave the world just a little bit better, a little better than it was
Leave the world just a little bit better, a little better than you found it
when the sun came up.
* * * * *
I got a bit of Deja Vu hearing this song, I used to hear this song being played over and over when my youngest brother was still a baby and we were still back in Manila.
I'd like to teach the world to sing
I'd like to build a world a home and finish it with love,
Grow apple trees and honey bees and snow white turtle doves.
I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony,
I'd like to hold it in my arms and keep it company.
I'd like to see the world for once all standing hand in hand,
And hear them echo through the hills for peace throughout the land.
I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony,
I'd like to hold it in my arms and keep it company.
* * * * *
...and so is this song, a song I used to sing back when I was young(er)
Somewhere over the rainbow
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I heard of, once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star, and wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops, Away above the chimney tops,
that's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow, why then, oh why can't I?
* * * * *
This next song got me confused a bit. I heard Kimi singing a song that sounds quite familiar but I don`t recognize any of the lyrics at all... She says it was Korean and it was cute to see her singing a full song in Korean... Then she mentioned that the title was `Three Little Bears`, it finally clicked on why it sounded so familiar. This was the song from a Korean series I loved from a few years back, Full House.
According to the teacher, this was the song that the kids memorized the fastest despite it being a song with Korean lyrics
Three Little Bears
Kom Se Ma Li Ga
Han Ji Be Yi Su
A Ba Kom
Om Ma Kom
E Gi Kom
A Ba Kom Mun Dong Dong Hae
Om Ma Kom Mun Nal Shin Hae
Ae Gi Kom Mun No Mu Gwi Yo Wo
U Su U Su Chal Han Da
* * * * *
The last song sung was a classic as well and a great song to end the concert.... Indeed, It is a Wonderful World...
What a Wonderful World
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, What a Wonderful World
The colours of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
And also on the faces of people passing by
I see friends shaking hands, saying how do you do
They're really saying, I Love You
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, What a Wonderful World
Yes, I think to myself, What a Wonderful World
* * * * *
It was a bittersweet moment to look at the board and see that the school year has finally came to an end.
* Announcement Board
* The Spread
* Old Student and soon to be new one, Kenzo
* Kenzo waiting patiently for his food
Kimi specifically asked to take a picture with a classmate, Eshaan.
* Eshaan and Kimi
...and of course, it won`t be complete with a picture with the three ladies that stood as a second mother for Kimi when she was in school.
* Miss Tanya, Su and Doreen- Thank you!
It was really a blessing in disguise to have you guys come in the middle of the school year and be a part of Kimi`s growth. You guys brought fresh ideas into learning and it really shows in the events and art works they brought home.
This guy is crazy about cars...or anything with wheels for that matter.
Although his favorite are Cars and Thomas, he still gets his thrill from other brands.
A cousin, Chris, brought over a car Kenzo left at their house and decided to send in 5 more cars together with it...much to the delight of Kenzo. He was so happy to find these new addition to his collections he was pretty much in heaven the whole day and won't let go of any of it wherever he goes.
* Interchanging the orders of the cars over and over
...I guess Kenzo would love to be a parking attendant as a summer job when he grows up ;)
