Knit with love

Sophie and Lucas are very blessed to have a great-grandma who loves all things art and craft.  Lucas and his OmaOma are always doing some kind of art project on his visits with her.  A painting or a decorated box or clay figures, the list is long. 

OmaOma is also an incredible knitter.  She can knit anything, and has.

Special delivery lol.  Lucas with his first dinosaur and a cute little cat in the hat.

Decorating gourds together for Thanksgiving at the cottage.

There have been so many sweaters, knit stuffies, ponchos and blankets galore.  We use them all and they stand the test of time (and the washing machine) because they are knit with so much love.

The latest item we have been so lucky to have been given to us is a basket weave blanket for Sophie.  It is gorgeous and Sophie loves it.  It is the softest blanket I have ever touched.  Lucas' is in the works :)

Thank you OmaOma.  :)

Getting Ready For Big School and Skater Boy

Sophie has been going to a Getting Ready For School program all this week.  She has had fun meeting lots of new little friends and learning about what going to big school is like.  Our therapy centre did a great job with the kids, who all have special needs of some kind.  Sophie was the only child with a wheelchair there but we took her pony walker and the therapists made sure she was getting turns on the slide during outside playtime.

 I wish I could take each of these therapy assistants with her to big school.

Sophie was exhausted each day and she was only there for two and a half hours!  What is a full day going to be like.

This is what Sophie was doing even at 9:30 each morning.  She was not wanting to wake up and face the sun!

Lucas has been having his own kind of fun this week at Skateboard camp.  He was really not wanting to go at first because he didn't know how to skateboard.  But we were mean parents and signed him up without telling him. 

Of course he has loved it.

He is already doing Ollie's*.  They have gone for lots of adventures, to the skate park, to the aquatic centre and more.  It has been really fun for him.  Today they painted there own deck.

Lucas is also still dominating on the soccer field.  Tonight he scored four goals.  Yup, four.  :)

*  You have to look that up for yourself mom.

Artist in residence

Ever since Lucas was a baby I have been entering his artwork into the Children's Art Show at the university.  When Sophie was born the tradition continued and each year hers is entered as well.

There is an opening reception at the art gallery each year for the show but we have always missed it, usually because we were at the cottage or Sophie was sick.  But this year we were able to make it and it was lots of fun.  The reception had a big turnout and I was very proud of Lucas and Sophie to be part of the show.

 Sophie with her finger painting titled "Christmas Morning".

As always there were some amazing works of art by young artists and it was a treat to see Lucas and Sophie admiring their own work too.

Lucas and Sophie both entered two pieces and I was very proud to see their art in the gallery once again.

Lucas with one of his pieces (top centre) titled "Warm and Cool Fan Thingy".  Yes, the "thingy" part had to be included.  :)

Lucas wasn't in a very photo friendly mood that day so I was lucky to get a couple shots of him and Sophie with their masterpieces.  We will keep creating through the next 12 months and we will have lots to choose from to enter next year.

Sun and Sand

We have made a couple trips to the cottage in the last few weeks, the last one for 6 days.  It was during the heat wave, which we didn't realize at the time, so we are thankful we were by the water.  It was still incredibly hot but it seems manageable when you can go swimming whenever you want.

Sophie did pretty well but her exzema went out of control.  She has some terrible spots in the creases of her arms and legs that look like burns.  We are still trying to get them under control.  This is her third outbreak this summer so far, the poor thing.  Sophie had a great time at the cottage though and I think that the fresh air and swims in the lake keep her (and Lucas) happy.

On Canada Day we went for a walk to the beach all kitted out in our red and white.  In the evening Lucas and I went to see the fireworks.  We hadn't really taken him to them since he was a toddler so it was long overdue.  He said he like the "gentle softer" sounding ones.  I don't blame him.

The next day we did a side trip to Owen Sound and went to the beach there.  The water was much colder as it is part of Georgian Bay, but Lucas was a trooper and went in with Jason.  Sophie and I decided we would just chill out by the shore. 

I love the kilt towel we found for him in Scotland :)

Sophie is getting so big it was even hard last summer to get her into the little pop up sun tent we have.  So this winter I purchased a new one online.  I was able to find a sun tent that has an extra tall height that we can just walk into and that has a zipper front for privacy so that I can change Sophie in it for years to come.  She thought it was great because there was plenty of room for Lucas to join us in there too.

We also bought a cot to change or lay Sophie on so that she is up off the sand, dirt or pavement depending on where we are.  It will give her a place to lay flat if we are away from home for a long stretch but she won't have to be on the ground.  I bought it at Jysk last year and I am so glad I did, I waffled for 1/2 an hour lol.  I love it when I find a new piece of equipment that can be adapted to our needs without having to spend a fortune on "special needs" equipment.

All bundled up after a cool dip
We had a wonderful trip with lots of ice cream and swimming and sunsets.  So much more to come as it is just the start of July.  Unfortunately Sophie came home with a cold that she has since shared with Lucas and myself, but hopefully we will all be healthy for our next adventure.