Name: Joseph
Age: 9
Grade: 4

Height: 4 ft 3 1/4 in

Most Excited to: read 
Future occupation: astronaut (be the first to step on Mars)

or mountain climber (to climb Mount Everest)

 

Name: John Paul

Age: 6
Grade: 1

Height: 3 ft 8 1/4 in
Most Excited to: watch and do science experiments
Future occupation: wood carver

 

Name: Emilie
Age: 4
Grade: Pre-school

Height: 3 ft 2in
Most Excited to: bake with mommy and colour

Future occupation: baker

Name: Jude

Age: 1
Occupation: troublesome toddler

Most Excited to: pull books off shelves, eat Lego, pull toilet paper off the roll, etc.

Name: Mr. Millette
Age: 36
Grade: 5

Height: tallest in the family
Most Excited to: get paid

Future occupation: retired

Yet another first day of school in the books. We're so grateful that, for most of us, it was an ordinary start to an ordinary year. No masks. No protocols. Just lots of reading, writing, and math with a sprinkle of outdoor hockey, link'in logs, poetry, and catechism. Most importantly, there were Root Beer floats, our traditional first/last day of school drink. 

We have high hopes for the year:

    learn some Latin

    study Canadian history and mapping

    do a lot of science experiments

    study poetry, composers, art, and good literature

    read and talk and read and talk some more

    drink yummy drinks and read some more

    throw in a lot of math and English and then read some more

Summer Bucket List: Fun close to home

 

Last summer, we spent a lot of August trips to Melfort for doctor appointments in the weeks leading up to and just after Jude was born. The new park there was a hit with our kids, so we decided we wanted to bring Jude back to the place where we played so much while waiting for him to be born. With the new spray park also open at the same site, we've now spent two afternoons hanging around with picnics, KFC, and fun in the sun. 

Summer fun always involves cousins. And very few pictures to document the great fun. This summer is was water fights. Hopefully we have more of these days before summer is over. 

 

At home, we decided to do a day of bubble bath in the pool - seriously, it's amazing. Moms and dads can't even resist the urge to step in, fully dressed, and enjoy the bubbles. This turned in to three days of fun, giving new life to the bubbles on each subsequent day.

Our backyard has been home to many a fun afternoon or evening: football games, parades, playhouse building, water fights, grills and picnics, puttering around with wood and hammers. Despite staying closer to home, we're loving our little space. 

Summer Bucket List: Beach Day

 

Jude's first beach day! As you can see, he had his beach bod in very good form. What with all his sand eating and water drinking, he's done an excellent job prepping his immune system. Sitting on the beach is tiring, but don't be fooled by his cat nap - it only lasted 20 min. max. 

We love to spend at least one or two days every summer at nearby Greenwater Lake Provincial Park. It is true to its name - the water is greenish and weedy - but the beach and the shallow water are sandy and weed-free. When the weather hits a minimum of 25 degrees - Dan's rules - we pack the van to near capacity with kids, food, toys, and all the many things we seem to think we need for a day trip. We bring copious amounts of iced tea and chips and bum around eating, building sand castles, and floating. After hours in the sun, we realize no one has been drinking enough water and we all probably have heat stroke. Then we rinse all the sand and greenish stuff off, pack up, and enjoy a blissfully silent 1 hr ride home as the kids fall into exhausted sleep. Classic beach day. 

Summer Bucket List: Forestry Farm & Zoo, Pilgrimage to a Shrine

 

We spent a great weekend in Saskatoon this month, knocking fun outings off our summer bucket list: the forestry farm and zoo, a Latin Mass, and a little pilgrimage to a shrine.

The highlight of our zoo trip was watching the huge grizzly wander around his enclosure, swim in his water hole, and shake afterwards. The kids were delighted and we spent at least 20 min just watching him. 

On the way home from the city, we detoured to Cudworth, SK to visit the closed down shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows of the Ukrainian Eparchy. It is so beautiful there! Maybe one day they can fix it up and reopen it to public pilgrimages. 

Despite a less-than-usual simple trip, we had a great time doing simple things and it was a nice little getaway. 

Second Annual Chopped: Millette Kids Edition

I believe that if you do something once and it's good, then it must be tradition. Right? And so, I present this year's edition of Chopped: Millette Kids Edition.

Contestant #1

Emilie Lucy

(her name has no Lucy in it, but she's been having us call her that lately)

Helper:

Mom

Why I'm doing Chopped:

"Cause I get desserts."

Contestant #2 

John Paul

Helper:

Dad

Why I'm doing Chopped:

"Because I want to cook with dad."

Contestant #3

Joseph

Helper:

Jude

Why I'm doing Chopped:

"I like cooking and stuff."

The contestants must use all four mystery basket ingredients as part of a dessert. 

Ok contestants, open your baskets...

Cool Whip!

Doughnuts!

Walnuts!

Cape Goose Berries?

You have 20 minutes to make a dessert. You will be judged on presentation, taste, and use of the basket ingredients. And your time... starts... NOW!

Chopping goose berries.

Smashing the berries into a juice.

Crushing walnuts

Melting chocolate is exhausting.

Grilling sliced doughnuts. Idea stolen from John Paul.

Crushing walnuts as well.

Time running out!

5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

Hands off the desserts! Stop working!

Now for the judging.

Each category will be judged separately.

Presentation

John Paul, Emilie... sigh, you have been chopped. 

That means Joseph wins!

Judge: "Joseph, your doughnut covered dessert was beautifully crafted and superior in presentation. Congratulations."

Taste

John Paul, Joseph... sigh, you have been chopped. Emilie wins!

Judge: Emilie, your cake was fantastic. The marshmallows and cooked down goose berries brought brightness to the dish. The grilled doughnut provided nice texture. The sweetness to acidity was balanced perfectly. Congratulations.

Overall use of basket ingredients

Joseph, Emilie... sigh, you have been chopped. John Paul wins!

Judge: "Making a dessert sandwich was very creative, and a great way to use the ingredients. The grilled doughnuts and roasted walnuts provided perfect texture. The gooseberry sauce cut the sweetness. And the Cool Whip brought a pleasant filling. Congratulations."

Now... 

Let's Eat!