Ethan's Birthday

Ethan had an early birthday party in Dar, but since he's birthday is in July, we thought we should do something to celebrate. Unfortunately, Ethan decided to get sick. He came down with a fever on Saturday, his birthday, and was still a little out of it on Sunday. But that didn't stop him from enjoying being five.

Saturday we took it easy. Grandpa took him to Toys R Us and let him choose his own present. Not sure if Grandpa knew what he was getting himself into! I'm not a fan of Bakugan and Ben 10, but since it was his birthday, I allowed one Bakugan to enter our home. And Ben 10 Lego. It was the Lego that won.

Sunday was the actual birthday celebration. 

It began with a trip to the cinema with Faiza and Kahzmir. Let's call it a double date! Cars 2 was calling our name.

Faiza thought we'd let the boys try out a hurricane.

Ethan did not appreciate this.

The arcade was more his taste.

Soon, we were off to see the movie. It was great! I even loved the Toy Story short beforehand. However, halfway through the movie, Ethan started feeling a little warm again. He didn't want to leave, so we cuddle and watched the end. It was still wonderful.

Thank you Faiza and Kahzmir for making part 1 of Ethan's birthday extra special.

After a bit of a rest, we were off to Uncle Greg's place for a barbecue. 

But first, we swam a little with Grandpa,

and the kids.

There was some time in the sandbox, before dinner was ready.

And what would a birthday be without cake?

Happy Birthday Ethan.

52 Weeks of Happiness - Week 18

July 2nd, 2006

7pm

A love I could never imagine

entered my life.

July 2nd, 2011

He's now 5.

Five!

When did this happen?

Where did the time go?

Where's my baby?

Bittersweet happiness is watching your baby grow.

Sisterhood Everlasting - Ann Brashares

I read the Sisterhood series years ago. And I really enjoyed them. I didn't, however, enjoy the second movie. It was a culmination of the last 3 books, and it was done poorly. But the characters always remained with me, even though I now visualise them as the actors that portrayed them.

I was in Walmart last week, and came across Sisterhood Everlasting. I wasn't aware that there was another one written. This one takes place 10 years later. The girls are now approaching their 30th birthdays.

It was hard to get through the beginning. The characters were all really different than I remembered them to be. Or maybe, I had higher expectations of them.

Carmen is an actress, engaged to a man that nobody likes, hasn't eaten in a decade, and oh, is obsessed with her iPhone. A little too obsessed. Or maybe she's just normal, but since none of her friends live on their cells, it made her look materialistic. Carmen? Materialistic?

Lena teaches art. No surprise here. But it seems it's part time. Which surprised me, as she always appeared the most put together of the group. She lives a lonely, secluded life. Disappointing. She still pines over Stavros. No surprise.

Bree is as carefree as always. Maybe a little too carefree. She is suppose to be 30. And since her mother was... biopolar? Sorry, can't remember, but either way, she was once worried about ending up like her mother, and here she seems to be doing so, and no one's concerned. It's just Bree.

Tibby and Brian are in Australia, and haven't been in touch with the rest of the gang in over a year.

Sisterhood Everlasting was great in how in showed how friendships change, and how we are not always prepared for it. There is a tragedy. Which is what made reading the beginning so difficult. Each girl deals with the tragedy differently. Once they would have come together in the face of crisis. Now they each deal with it alone, not burdening the other.

But, in true sisterhood fashion, they come together. A little cheesy, maybe, but truly them. The sisterhood returns. It's.... everlasting.

Canada Day

July 1st, 2006

Scott and I went to a Blue Jays Game.

I was as large as a house.

It was a great game.

When it was decided that

Ethan and I would be in Canada this summer,

Scott said I HAD to take Ethan 

to a Jays Game

on the 1st.

So I did!

My cousin Faiza joined us,

for Ethan's first ever

Blue Jays game.

It was also

Ethan's first Canada Day

in Canada!

The Jays were playing the Phillis.

There were tons of people

in red

of course.

Faiza spoilt Ethan with sweets,

ice cream,

soda

and a large finger!

Rick Hansen was there to throw 

the opening pitch!

If you ask Ethan

how he liked the game,

he will tell you he didn't.

But make sure you ask him why.

They Jays lost!

But despite the loss,

it was a fabulous game.

But the fun didn't end there.

There was still more of Canada Day to enjoy.

Faiza's parents joined us,

and we had dinner

and watched the fireworks together.

And they,

of course,

treated Ethan like a king!

What a wonderful Canada Day!

The only thing that could have made it better,

was if Scott were there to join us.

Ontario Science Centre

Since Ethan and I are in the city for a few days,

and Ethan's never spent a summer in Toronto,

we decided to play tourist.

Thursday's adventure took us to the

Ontario Science Centre.

Boy has this place changed since I was a kid.

But it was just as much fun.

Centre Island

On Wednesday,

my friend, Jennie, and I

took the boys to Centre Island.

This was Ethan's first visit,

ever,

to an amusement park.

Yes, hard to believe

but there aren't any amusement parks in Dar

so when would he have the chance to go?

I wasn't sure how Ethan would handle the rides

after being afraid of the elephants at the circus

but , boy, did he love it.

It was a struggle to get him home!

A Date With Ethan

Being home with Ethan this summer,

has given us a lot of opportunities for dates.

Last week was no exception.

Ethan and I headed out to Square One, 

for some lunch

and a movie.

We decided lunch at Burger King would be great.

Ethan got to experience

the royal treatment 

of a kids' meal.

Gotta love the crown and attitude.

After lunch, it was off to the cinema.

Kung Fu Panda 2 

was the choice.

The fact that neither one of us have every seen the first one

didn't matter much.

And when one is at the cinema,

you need your fill of treats.

Ethan's head has healed from his fall a few weeks ago.

(He still likes to tell people he fell because of his mommy's shoes.)

So I thought it was high time he got a hair cut.

Please excuse the dorky look on his face.

And what better way

to end a date

than with a ride

on a mechanical horse?