A Social Network Christmas

Remembrance day poems and resources

Remembrance Trees
In Flanders Fields today you see,
Poppies growing beneath the trees,
The trees have grown up big and strong,
They represent that time has gone,
The trees you see began to grow,
After our soldiers were placed in rows,
As these trees grow older and older,
We must remember the lives of our soldiers,
For with their lives they gave us their gift,
Our spirits flow freely and gently they lift,
From place to place we can move without sorrow,
For us they have given us a brighter tomorrow.
By Marian Foskett & Dylan Allan
Poppy colouring pages
http://www.bigactivities.com/coloring/remembrance_day/poppies/index.html
A simple explanation

http://www.kidsturncentral.com/holidays/remember.htm
A mini book
http://www.dltk-teach.com/minibooks/flanders/index.htm

A Craft

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/remembrance/mvflower.html

Flanders Field Poem
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/remembrance/mpoem.htm

In Flanders Fields Poem

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Goldstream

 October 15th was my first weekend day off in almost 2 months. We took advantage of the oppertunity and headed down to Victoria. On the way, we stopped at Goldstream in hopes of seeing some salmon run. Unfortunately, the fish are late this year, so we will have to try again later.

As we were parking, we ran into an old friend. Donna  Veepkamp was my 'Big Sister' when I was growing up. She was also out enjoying the sunshine and walking her dogs with her husband and son. It was nice to see her.


 We took a few photos of the kids...

And of our new friend 'Flat Stanley'. He was sent to us by a young boy who is a son of one of Ryan's card collecting associates in the US. He had quite the adventure and saw some beautiful sights. 

 You may be having a sense of Deja-vu with these photos. For good reason! We have photographed the kids at this particular log over several years. This is this year-------->

 <------This is 2 years ago. You can just hear Ethan exclaiming "El-la!" over some minor annoyance.

 <-----This one is from three years ago. Ethan would be about 1 1/2 and Evelyn would be 3 1/2.

This one here ------->
is from 2 years ago, so they are 2 1/2 and 4 1/2.

Finally, below is from this year. Ethan is almost 5 and Evelyn is approaching 7. I don't think we'll be able to put Ethan inside the log next year!

 After Goldstream, we visited with Ryan's Dad and Maralee for a bit, then Ryan took his dad to a movie (as a birthday present for him). The kids and I visited with my mom during that time. Then, we met up again after the movie and headed to Ryan's grandparents house for a short visit. Then, home.

Rainbow Sweaters

We match! Maralee knitted this colourful (and cozy) sweater for me as a birthday present.

Kindergarten thanksgiving

I got my eyes on you!

Ethan's tablemates. Boston and ...?

Playing kinex with Ben

A birthday Visit

Dawne and Tyson bring out the cake.

Mmmmm.... Black Forest Cake from the light house bakery in Langford.

Story time with Auntie Dawne.

Ethan and Tyson in their Monkey Sweaters (made by Grandma)

The Cousins in their sweaters from Grandma.

Ethan hid in his stuffy bucket and fell asleep!

A new haircut

First Days of School

Evelyn started grade 1 last week. She will be in Mrs.Smoker's class this year and has almost entirely new classmates. There is just her and one other girl from her class from last year.

Ethan started kindergarten yesterday. He will be in Mrs.Symbaluk's class who is job sharing with Ms. McKay for the first while. He has already made a couple friends and has eased into being busy all day without much problem. (His sweater was made by his Grandma Maralee, he calls it his 'Monkey Bunkers' sweater after a stuffed money that he has with the same name.)

This photo is from his orientation morning.

River Lodge 2011