Adventures in our life: Goodbye 6 year old

Goodnight my little boy, tomorrow you are seven.

Yesterday Chaplin asked me "mom are you going to miss your six year old? "

Chaplin's 7th birthday party at Marine Park in Santa Monica.

So here's looking back at the past year.

___

Last day of Kindergarten at John Muir Elementary 2012

Best Friends (LR) Oscar, Chaplin, Daine, Cohen.
We now hang out regularly with Oscar, Daine and Cohen's parents. It's so much fun because we all live within walking distance of each other and reguarly get together at our place to hang out.
   Mateo, Oscar, Sarah and Todd
   Danielle, Daine, Nikol and Sergio
   Cohen, Kim and Josh

In March Fran came out to visit. Chaplin still asks when grandma can come back because he liked that she gave him cuddles every night. In fact - Chaplin insisted she sleep in his bed and he wanted her to go to bed at the same time as he did! It was pretty cute. The only thing missing was Rod!

Over Spring Break Doug, Dwan and Cailin came for a visit and forgot their sunscreen.
Day one on the beach - four hours of sunning and boy-oh-boy did Cailin and Doug ever give themselves nasty burns. It looked painful. We LOVE Cailin! She is such a cool person, and the more time you spend with her - the more you want her around.

The tail end of Spring Break Chaplin and I took the 310 to Yuma.
(or whatever the train is called from LA to Yuma!) - We helped mom and dad shut up their winter home and then we all got into their jeep and drove from Yuma to Las Vegas. We meet up with Adam who was there for a work event. Mom and dad flew back to Canada and Adam, Chaplin and I drove their jeep back to Santa Monica. Their jeep had officially become mine for six months!

A few more months of school and then Kindergarten was over.
Chaplin and I decided to leave Adam in Santa Monica and go on a holiday. We first went to Vancouver, then Fort St John.

Early summer in Vancouver is predictably beautiful.

Early summer in Cecil Lake, even more beautiful.
Oh Yeah.. Oh Yeah (lyrics by Yello)

One day after Chaplin and I got back to Santa Monica, Troy and his family arrived for a visit.

I wish they had two weeks to visit, because the time went by so fast.
But maybe that is the key to a good visit - leave when you are still wanted?

Jaydon on the Universal Studio tour ride when he was going past the JAWS exhibit?
JAWS sees JAWS!

Tavis on their last day visiting. That's the Santa Monica pier right behind him.

More holiday time for us! We spent a week in Toronto then flew to Thunder Bay for Reese and Fiona's reception. A group of us stayed at the same hotel, so we got to have some good visits with Grandma Pansy and a few others.

Lake Ontario - it's big!

lost a tooth in Thunder Bay - right at the breakfast table.

AUGUST - GRADE 1

Chaplin (along with Daine, Cohen and Oscar) got into Ms Kreuzer's class. This is her first year teaching and she is doing great! Chaplin has a mild crush on her
Lori - "do you like your new teacher?"
Chaplin - "oh yes mom, she is pretty and smart."
Lori - "never tell a women she is pretty before smart. It always smart and pretty."
I'm a teacher too!

walks home from school are best with a sword. Just look at all the carnage around his feet.
that poor flowering plant didn't stand a chance!

My dear friend Jen got to come out to LA with her work/school and managed to slip in a few days visit with me. Of course I had to show her the beach, the sun, the beach again... this time with wine.

Courtney as well snuck in a short visit while out in LA with work.
Look how happy Adam is to see his sister! Pure joy.

SEPTEMBER

Erik and Anita Nordby turn 40. Anita sent out a pretty convincing invite to join them in Las Vegas and stay at the Bellagio - It said "join us if you can - no pressure" so I replied "fine twist my arm we accept the invite and will join you guys!"

OCTOBER
Time is moving by so fast here. The weather is mostly sunny and I forget that it's fall and back in Vancouver they are rained in.

Halloween - Adam your wish has been granted!
Adam has always wished he lived in a place where he could easily source products for making Halloween masks and costumes.

This year we did life casts of Adam, Chaplin, Todd, Jen and her oldest son Linden's faces.
Chaplin was most excited when it was his turn and he sat shockingly still through the whole process. His cast came out perfect

We got to go to a Halloween party in San Francisco.

My mask (appliance) was the upper half of my face. Adam's mask was the full deal. His was so good people didn't really know it was made by him. I like how scary i look and want to wear that one again.. and not just for Halloween.

DECEMBER
And then it happened. I turned 40.

Best gift Adam gave me - he flew Anita to LA and I owned her for four days.
We got to go to the X'mas party at the W in Hollywood. Swanky! Anita left on Saturday and then later in the day - SURPRISE - my parents showed up! They had it all planned out with Adam. I was in my bedroom when they arrived, so Chaplin came into my room and asked me to come out to the living room. I went out with him, saw my parents sitting there and burst into tears. What a great surprise!
Adam took me out for dinner that night. The next day we all went to meet Peter & Jen and the kids for brunch. That night we meet up with our Santa Monica crew for dinner at M Street cafe. I felt absolutely spoiled rotten and loved! Thank you all for giving me such a memorable 40th!

I'm 40 and in this photo you can't see a single wrinkle or grey hair.
I am not going to share my secrets but it has something to do with wearing a hat to cover up the grey and the lighting in the photo should be blown out ...

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
We had decided not to make any plans this year and stay home. Maybe take a last minute trip somewhere warm. But then in November Courtney texted Adam and said "We are going up to Fort St John for Christmas. Do you want to come too." Adam thought for about 2 seconds and texted her back "yes".

We spent the fist of our holiday at Troy's house and coined the phrase of 2012
"Release the Kracken"

Christmas Morning - Santa has arrived!
Even in -28 Celsius we still went outside to play in the snow and then heat up in the hot tub.

Then to Vancouver where we got to visit with Walthams and spend the night at Mark & Sue's cottage.

Claire, Cousin Katie and Chaplin all being scary skeletons. Sorry those girls are too cute to be scary.

On New Years Eve we went to stay at Nordby's.

Laika wears these 3D glass frames all day - everyday.
She even has a back up pair hidden in her room just in case she misplaces the favourite pair.
It makes me giggle. She is the neatest little girl and I truly miss her daily doings.