You know...

...when your son is asking you if he can switch class to English because his is too rowdy and he's not doing much in class, you got to ask yourself some questions.

Before Mathieu began pre-K, we started the procedures to see if we could make him skip a year and start kindergarten instead. We have to meet three times with a psychologist (at a cost for each) to determine whether he can or not. While we were told that most kids don't pass the first meeting (IQ testing), he passed with an IQ of 125+ (don't remember the exact number) and we were invited to the next one. He failed the second one because he couldn't hold a pair of scissors correctly (Sabrina still can't but that's another story). We could have continued, and I know he would have passed the next one because it involved physical activities but she told us that because of his fine-motor skills she would not recommend him to jump a grade.

So...

Now he's bored in a class that's not learning because of the troublemakers.

We listened to everyone with respect to having Mathieu jump a grade (he's 12 days too young) and everyone told us it was a monumental mistake.

I feel it was a mistake to listen to everyone and not push for him to jump a grade.

F for effort, A+ for thinking out of the box...

...when I ask Mathieu to pick up his Legos because we could step on them and break them. Instead of complying he just covered them... Clever boy.

 

He's still going to pick them up.

Of clothes design, home protection and St-Patty's Day Preparation

We decided it was time to protect the house so we built Henri to take care of googlies, then ...

Sabrina spent some time at Léa's place to do some haute couture...

and when the time came I celebrated the St-Patrick's day arrival with a Harp (in a Guiness mug, the horror) for we're all a little bit Irish on March 17th, and our family may have some of it in its DNA as well, though my mom think it may actually be Scottish...

it would make sense cause I look real damn hot in a kilt.

*%$#$*% Time Change

"only a government would think that cutting a foot off the top of a blanket and sewing it back onto the bottom of the same blanket makes the blanket longer"

There are still 24 hours in a day, and it will still be the same amount of daylight, whether it starts at 7:00am or at 6:00am. That's a scientific fact.

Sabrina is sick this morning and Mathieu does not want to get out of bed (doesn't happen very often). Of course they couldn't fall asleep at the new time last night. I'll be fair though, Sabrina had a major headache last night so it's probably not because of the time change.

Time should never change.

A new look on the world

The kids and I played some Minecraft and we went out to the Regional Park to have some fun.

The real event occurred when we came back. We received a call from the optometrist to tell us that Sabrina's glasses were ready. Suzanne went to pick them up with her.

It would appear that she giggled all the way back home...

Mont Tremblant

Today we went skiing at Mont-Tremblant. It's hard for us to tell which mountain we prefer between Owl's Head and Tremblant, the first being a bit rustic and so beautiful, the latter more commercial but oh so high. Just going up in the gondola the first time was really fun.

Then we were on the top of the mountain. You know, when you can see the top of the other mountains, some of which have their own ski hills... It's like touching the clouds. The chalet is there right beside the gondola's arrival berth. While everyone was getting ready, I brought in the back pack. And then we skied. And skied. It's so fun to go down for a long time.

We had one of the best places in the house for lunch (I fought for that one). It was really fun. Add to our normal lunch a few hot dogs, some fries and hot chocolate and everyone was happy.

Afterwards it was time for more ski.

When the trails closed it was time to leave. Sabrina however cannot come to Tremblant without some "tire sur la neige" I think they liked it.

We had dinner at the Baton Rouge in Saint-Sauveur. For a non-foodie type of place the food was very good and greatly enjoyed by all.

Funny fact: As soon as the waiter got to us, Mathieu asked, in his cute French: "Est ce que vous avez des Shirley Temples."

Visitors

Thelma, Annie and Peter came for a short visit. We got to eat some of Suzanne's excellent vegetarian chili.

Owl's Head

What an amazing mountain! While I find Bromont and Tremblant to be very commercial, Owl's Head is very much a family business on a hill that has probably one of the most beautiful vista I've seen on a mountain (so far). Yes Tremblant is higher, and it's impressive to look down from the top and see all the little ski hills, but the lake from Owl's Head is breathtaking.

We went to ski with Sophie, Alex and Chris. I think Suzanne fell in love with Lilly's Leap, one of my favorite runs. It's very easy, but it has so much personality...

We ended the day with a great Ricardo Osso Bucco.  Here's a fuzzy picture to remember that great dinner.

At the optometrist

I don't think I'll ever forget the moment when Mathieu was sitting on the optometrist's chair reciting correctly the tiny letters presented to him while Sabrina had to squint to read them even if she was sitting right beside them. That feeling became worst when she kept on misspelling the huge letters dancing in front of her. So really, in a few weeks, here's our daughter's new look:

Her vision issue may explain a few things. You know, if your world was foggy (but you didn't know better) you'd be more careful with the next step you take.

Earlier today Suzanne made some pancakes in the shape of Star Wars ships. They were very appreciated.

Then it was time for some good ole karaoke. Sabrina has an amazing voice and Mathieu's getting there.

Commander Mathieu

Today I had to talk to the school principal's about an issue that starting to annoy me. I went to see her 5 minutes before the end of the school day. It turned out to be a 25 minutes conversation. While I was sitting in her office, I fail to catch Mathieu as walked by to go greet me in the schoolyard.

He was pissed! When I came out he was sitting outside with Sabrina and he just let me have it. "Where were you? How come you didn't come to get us? Do you realize I had to get 4 big kids to go look for you, so now it was not only me and Sabrina, but and and and ." (I just don't remember their names)

To let me have it is one thing, but to commandeer some kids to go look for me, that's a Mathieu signature.

Dictée PGL -- Remise des diplomes

Today I had the privilege to see my kids receive their diplomas for the Dictée PGL. It's cool to see all that hard work (on Mathieu's part, it seemed like business as usual for Sabrina) rewarded. Of the friends we hang around with, 6/7 kids were top of class. It goes to show: qui s'assemble se ressemble.

(Thanks Daniel for the great professional pictures)

End of Ski School, Milestone of sorts

I still feel it's my birthday. You would too, if you woke up to this:

I know there are a few mistakes (which he corrected by himself later) but there's more and more writing and reading from Mathieu, and he's a real fast typist as well. It's all good.

We went to Bromont for the last day of ski lessons. I have to say the kids got so much better this year. While Sabrina is staying at her level, Mathieu's now going into the AV1 class level. I've just skied with him and he's really good.

Going to Sophie's place to celebrate my birthday, my car had one of its own, in a sense: 100k, just in time to celebrate its last payment.

We had a great time at Sophie's place. I really love my family and appreciate the beautiful chemistry we have together. I really enjoyed it. Thanks all.

Sabrina the organizer

Today was my birthday day totally organized by Sabrina and Mathieu. Sabrina had organized her bit for many weeks now, with tickets being purchased a few weeks ago. It began with Mathieu's event which was breakfast at a restaurant.

Next, Sabrina's part was to take us to the new planetarium to visit the exhibits and see a few shows. My girl really knows me, for I enjoy that science stuff. The first show was loud and without a shred of substance, but the second one was informative and I actually learned something new. It was so great.

Finally we had a nice dinner at home. I really had a great time and the kids organized the best birthday ever. I love them so much! (and their mom too :)