Evy's last week of Kindergarten

Today was my daughter's last day of kindergarten, and I feel bittersweet about how quickly time is passing.

Doug was only 3 1/2 and Evy barely 8 months when we moved to Nanton, arriving Mother's Day weekend, 2006.

Doug, 3 1/2, biking to get the mail

Baby Evy and yvE ybaB
playing in our new house

I remember feeling a little nervous about our cross-country move, but excited to start exploring our new home.  Never having seen mountains before, my husband Ken took us on our first adventure drive straight west of Nanton, through herds of cows,

I'm almost embarrassed to admit how many pictures of
cows we took during our first few months in Alberta

in the scenic foothills,

and up over "the hump"

into the mountains

Our first trek into the Mountains, as new Albertans
Mothers Day 2006 - Livingstone Falls, on the
Forest Trunk Road.  About 1 hour from Nanton (over "the hump")

Alberta was so different to anywhere in Canada that I had ever travelled before, and I was instantly captivated..... how could I not be with a new backyard that ranged from the Big Sky Prairies to the Breathtaking Rocky Mountains.

Our family has found so much to do, within 2.5 hours of Nanton, that 5 years into our big adventure, and we still haven't seen and done everything - and time has flown by.... and today we've met another milestone.

AB Daley Community School, here in Nanton, is a really special place.  Both of our children have had wonderful experiences there so far.  The teachers and support staff have been empathetic and nurturing, and are always ready to quickly answer any questions we have, and to work with us to address concerns about our children's classroom and playground experiences and education whenever they arise (which hasn't been often).  The K-6 school is small enough that, while there are almost 2 classes of each grade, everyone knows everyone else by name, and whenever one of our kids is away for any reason, inevitably 2 or 3 students in grades other than theirs ask them how they are feeling, when they return.... how welcoming is that?

Being a little "artsy" myself, I particularly appreciate one of the arts programs that the school brings in each year, allowing all of the students to work with a professional artist for a week of intensive study.  Last year they put on a wonderful 2 hour musical presentation all about the different regions of Canada.  This year the entire school put on a magical performance of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, and everyone learned their parts in less than one week....

Doug as one of the Puck characters... You wouldn't be able to
guess how shy he normally is would you??

 

Evy and her class playing Queen Tatianas

 Now that June is drawing to a close, with Evy finishing kindergarten today and  Doug wrapping up grade 3 next Tuesday, I find myself reflecting on the last year and being extremely grateful.  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to Mrs Mahan, Mrs Campbell, Mrs Fenton, Mr Donnelly, Mrs. Ransom, Mrs Wallace, Mrs Adie, and all the teachers and TAs I haven't mentioned, for being such wonderful and inspiring role models to Doug and Evy this year.  

As much as ours is not a household of morning people, (we tend to drag our feet a little too much during the morning rush to get out the door), I have never had to fight with my kids about going to school.  They have loved being in your classes, and are already looking forward to returning to AB Daley in September.  You and your colleagues at the school are doing a phenomenal job at instilling a love of learning in my children, and giving them a sense of informed curiosity about the world and all of its wonders.

Evy helping her little friend Claire on a Nature Scavenger Hunt
Kindergarten's Year End Picnic at Chain Lakes Provincial Park
30 minutes west of Nanton

Evy the flower girl :)

Stop one on Doug's Grade 3 hike at the
Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area
1 hour north of Nanton

Stop 2 - the Chinook Honey Company in Okotoks,
40 minutes from Nanton.  Doug's
holding a real honeycomb while learning
all about how bees make honey from a real
beekeeper!!

Doug - the wannabe Beekeeper??
What a fun day!!

So while I feel a little sad that my babies are growing up so fast, I couldn't be happier for them at being surrounded by such a great school communitiy, or prouder of the wonderful little citizens they are becoming.

Have a safe and happy summer kids!!!  Daddy and I Love You very much!!