Rainwater Rambling Archive

Claudia on Snow

I took this picture of Claudia sitting in the backyard. She seemed content to just sit there, but it turned out Angela decided to come in and Claudia wasn't happy about that.

Happy Birthday Gillian!

Gillian turned 12 this year, we now have our very own babysitter.

Next year is the start of the teenage years.

Around the house

Susan and I went to get our Christmas tree this weekend. We went to Agram Garden Centre on Dundas St. We went there last year for the first time, this is where they hang the trees from the rafters by twine. It lets you see the tree as it should be, not all bundled up and you can spin it around to see all sides.

This weekend was a project weekend as well. Angela was busy with a french project on her family tree and Claudia had her Traditions and Celebrations project to complete. Here is Claudia with her project, can you see yourself?

One of the things she had to do was a family member interview, she picked G-pa. She had to make up her own interview questions, one of her questions was "What was your first car and what colour was it?". It was a 1958 Pontiac Strato Chief and it was maroon. We found a picture on the internet.

Last week Gillian went to the Superstore with her Pathfinder group to make Gingerbread houses. Here is Gillian with her house.

The girls made a Gingerbread house, not quite as big as Gillian's but peanut-free.

Santa Visit

The girls and I headed to the mall after we went for Angela's flu shot tonight. The girls went for their Santa photo, even Gillian, I thought one of the girls asked him if his hair was real, because when I looked over he had his hat off. Later Claudia told me he wanted to know if they wanted to trade hats, by the way his hair was real. The people in front of us were from Woodbridge and the ones in front of them were from Oakville, I guess the mall Santa's in those parts aren't as good as the Erin Mills Santa.

Outside the House

The girls have been outside playing in the snow quite a bit. One night Angela and Claudia were making this guy and left him sitting in front of the kitchen door.

Then for a couple of days, we would catch this guy out of the corner of your eye and you would think it was Carla sitting there at the door. Weird.

Angela had some homework, looking for habitats in the backyard.

Let it snow...

Well they called this one right on. It hasn't stopped snowing yet, and I'll be heading out for the third time to shovel the snow. According to the radar image, it's coming down at almost 2 cm/hour.

Angela and Claudia don't seem to mind, although Angela didn't do anything with her hair and she came in with chunks of ice in it.

Susan and Gillian were baking this morning. Gillian was actually getting to do stuff.

5 and counting

That's the number of times I have shoveled snow today. The plow came by around 5:00 this afternoon. Here it comes.

And there it goes.

Not sure if Hazel will come to help.

Walking in a winter wonderland

After dinner we went out for a walk around the neighbourhood. Here is Claudia practicing her luge techniques and Angela pulling her.

Susan going for a turn on the toboggan.

Angela wiping out.

Gillian carrying around a chunk of snow.

After the snowfall, the banks are almost taller than Claudia.

The girls posing in the snow.

Lars was out shoveling when we came back from our walk, so he offered to take a picture of the family.

Good Job Girls!

Today was the awards assembly at school, each term after report cards they hold an assembly to recognize the achievements of the students in Arts, Athletics, Music, Religion and Academics. In the past they have held different assemblies for the primary, junior and intermediate divisions, but this year they held one assembly for the entire school. It was a little cramped, but it was nice for the girls see each other receive their awards. It was also Santa Hat school spirit day.

Here is Claudia's teacher giving the senior grades heck for not wearing their santa hats, as you can see in the picture only a handful of students have their hats on.

Claudia was the first of the girls to go up and receive her Academic and Learning Award.

Claudia with her award.

Angela was the next to receive her Academic and Learning Award.

Gillian made it 3 for 3 on the Academic and Learning Award. Here she is looking thrilled to be up there.

Afterwards the principal did a draw of all the students who won an award for tickets to a Mississauga St Michaels Majors junior hockey game. Our family had 3 names in the hat but no luck.

Afterwards, Claudia posed for a picture with her award.

And then Angela.

After school we put them in their frames and I had all three pose.

Keep up the good work girls!

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas to all our family and friends.

The official 2008 Tanabe girls Christmas photo.

Merry Christmas

We hosted Christmas dinner this year, it had been awhile since we had everyone for dinner. Since we had to get the turkey in early, we went to mass on Christmas Eve. This meant the girls got to open their presents from start to finish with no break for mass.

Claudia

Angela

Gillian

Hugs all around.

More pictures of happy girls.

Claudia rock'in out to Guitar Hero on the Wii.

Angela was playing Santa Claus for round 2.

Sara, Melissa and Emi.

A big thank you for Grandma.

A look of joy!

A big thank you for G-pa.

Gillian trying to open into her present.

Emi wearing her present.

Alex's Hockey Game

We headed out to Scarborough to watch Alex play hockey. The game was switched at the last minute to MacGregor Park arena instead of Huron Park arena where I use to play. Alex is #9.

Alex's team won the game.

They rotate the players through goalie, so we'll try and go when he is playing net.