Claudia won her soccer game tonight 1-0 versus the team they lost to the first week. Her team is now 3-1-1. This year she moved to the bigger field, they are still learning not to bunch up. Her goalie made a great save on a penalty kick that was straight on after a hand ball in the crease. In the second half the tables were turned and Claudia’s teammate made no mistake on a nice high shot to the top corner. No pictures this week, will try and get some for next game.
Soccer Season – Angela
Angela and Claudia are well into their soccer seasons. The season got off to a soggy start with game cancellations due to the wet field conditions. Things have dried out and their teams are doing pretty good. Here are a few photos from Angela’s game on Thursday.
Angela is playing defence again this year. Earlier in the spring she played on the school co-ed soccer team. It was a cold wet day for the school tournament and it was the last set of games on the city fields for about two weeks. The city closed all fields due to the excess rain back in May.
Angela isn’t afraid to get in there and mix it up. Notice the girl on her team in the background pulling her hair out of her face. If you go back to the first picture above she’s doing the same thing.
After only winning one game last year, this year has been a little more enjoyable, Angela’s team is 2-0-2. Her coaches this year coached the winning team from last year.
Toronto Zoo
We headed out to Scarborough and the Toronto Zoo to see the new African Penguins. It was a busy day at the zoo, we didn’t get there until early afternoon and we had to park in the overflow area. On the way to the penguins we passed the tiger, even though it wasn’t that hot, he wasn’t moving about.
There were twelve penguins out, not sure if there are more, they are in the old fur seal display. You can view from the top or you can go underneath and view them swimming around.
These things are pretty funny looking.
If one got out of the water they all got out of the water.
They came in all shapes and sizes.
Some people watching the penguins.
A couple of more pictures of the penguins.
Susan and the girls.
Three of the baboons scaling the wall, first time we have seen them do this.
Usually they are doing this.
With the cooler weather, a lot of the animals were moving around.
Even the hippos were walking around munching on the grass.
Eventually the two of them headed for the water.
It was a good day at the zoo. Will have to go a couple of more times before the summer and our membership runs out.
African Penguins
We went out to the Toronto Zoo on Sunday to see the African Penguins. There were twelve of them, all moving in a pack. The exhibit is the old fur seal display.
A New Blog
After a long hiatus, Rainwater Rambling is back on track. The name is the same, but the blog is a little different. I have switched web hosting providers and I am now going to blog with WordPress web software. The old software was called “Blog” and it was an offline product that allowed for posts to be done and then uploaded. It served its purpose, but there has been very little development on the software. WordPress is one of the blogging standards and allows for blog posts to be done from any computer with internet or any portable device with internet. The old blog sites are still available from the links on the side.
Spring Cleaning
On Saturday morning, we headed down to Rattray Marsh Conservation Area for some spring cleaning. Angela’s Pathfinder group was there to help clean the marsh and surrounding trails.
While the girls were waiting to get started, a reporter from the Mississauga News asked them a few questions. Their interview is on-line at the Mississauga News.
Here is the part of the article with Angela and Claudia.
This lesson continues today with the many young people who participate in the clean up including 13-year-old Angela Tanabe, a member of the 281st Pathfinders, and her sister 10-year-old Claudia, a member of the 257th Girl Guides.
The pair were among a large group of kids from various scout troops who not only worked towards earning badges today, but also got a lesson in environmental protection and citizenship.
“If we leave the Marsh to get dirty, there will be no place for the animals to live,” Angela said.
The area is home to many environmentally sensitive habitats and wildlife including blue heron, salamanders, beavers, deer, snakes and turtles.
“We are helping the animals,” said Claudia, who was excited to participate for the first time.
Angela and Claudia picking up garbage.
After the trail, we headed down to the beach (shingle bar), there was a crazy Canada goose that kept coming up to people.
Happy Birthday Carolyn
We headed out to Lori and Dale’s place on Saturday for Carolyn’s birthday party. It was a sorta surprise party, but the gig was up when she saw her cousin walking down Lori’s street as they arrived. The weather held out and the kids enjoyed the pool.
Angela doing her frog imitation.
Claudia is finally tall enough that she can stand in the pool.
Chloe and Mickey.
Alex.
Angela and Gillian smiling for the camera, Brad looking at the lemon tarts.
Happy Birthday Carolyn!
Back to Blogging
I am finally getting around to updating the blog for this summer, it’s not that we haven’t been doing things, if anything, we have been doing too much. It will take a while to get this complete, I’ve taken close to 2000 photos since the last post back in May. Last night we watched “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” outside in the backyard with the Carr’s. This has been our 4th or 5th movie this summer that we have done outside. Last Sunday we watched “Get Smart”. I’ve gotten the set-up to the point where it only takes 10-15 minutes and we now have four locations we can mount or makeshift screen between our house and our neighbours.
On Friday morning, Angela, Claudia, Chloe and I were up early to head over to the Leash-free dog park. It is about five minutes from the house. Claudia and I went last Saturday morning, but it was after 9:00 am when we got there and there had to be over 30 dogs at the park. Chloe has quite figured out what she is suppose to do. She barks at the big dogs, sometimes running towards them, but as soon as they turn, she high tails it back to us. Friday she would run under one of the picnic tables. Here is Angela doing some scooping after Chloe did her business.
The girls managed to find a caterpillar while they were in the woods with Chloe.
The girls have been looking after Lily and Loki, the two pugs that live next door, for the past couple of weeks. They have been feeding, playing and walking them while our neighbours are away. Their oldest is home, but not always around. They have been watering the plants and veggies as well. Here is Lily trying to get in our house.
Chloe has been playing with the pugs everyday, her and Loki run laps around the backyards. By the evening she is pooped. Here she is kind of in and out of her bed.
Angela’s Quarter Final Soccer Game
On Thursday night Angela had her quarter-final game for soccer. Their team was 1-11 this season, they played every Wednesday night since May and their first win came in game eleven. For their first playoff game they played a team from the Thursday night teams, fortunately it is a random draw that is decided at the beginning of the season. They won the game 2-0. Next week they play a team they were unable to beat all season in the semi-final game. They played a really good game this week and that was without two of their better forwards.
Angela played defence for most of the season.
Over the course of the season she had a few spills and bruises, but kept on going.
She is getting better at chasing down the opponent and taking the ball away. Even the ones that are about two feet taller than her.
If they win this Thursday they play again on Saturday in the finals. Go Angela!
Claudia’s Quarter Final Soccer Game
Claudia had her quarter final soccer game on Tuesday night, her team went 0-12 during the season. This being house league, everyone makes the playoffs and how you do in the regular season doesn’t determine who you meet in the playoffs. Her team had a few close games where they were either tied or leading late in the game and somehow it went the other way. Claudia started the season on defence, but was moved to forward and lately has been playing both positions. This was her night, her team won 4-1 and SHE SCORED 2 GOALS! I had to get the play by play via e-mail, as Angela and I could only watch about 20 minutes before having to leave for Angela’s practice. I don’t have any pictures but here are some from her previous game where she came close on a couple of occasions.
Way to go Claudia! The team they beat was from the Tuesday night teams, they do a cross-over of nights. We think the other Tuesday night team won their quarter-final, so she plays them this Tuesday, probably better they play a team they haven’t seen before.
