David turned eight. Another year, another awesome product placement:
Not quite the balloon-shot I had envisioned but it works: 
It’s always good to recognize your weaknesses. For me, it’s cake decorating. Icing a cake is the worst:
May this year bring him lots of great adventures and not too many broken bones:
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Grade one is over! Summer Starts Now!
I feel like David kind of turned into a seven-year-old punk. Hats were lost, teeth fell out, glasses were replaced but we all survived. 
I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday and you all check everything off your list! Here is David’s Summer Bucket List:
Kids are a lot easier to please… he has 6 and I have 100.
(Source for banner idea) It’s all about celebrating everything.
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Oh man. It is coming… S U M M E R
Time to figure out David’s schedule-of-fun.
Top priority: GET OUTSIDE
We are looking at doing almost the same thing as last year… because why rock the boat when it was smooth sailing?
There are 9 weeks to cover. NINE WEEKS! Why am I not a teacher?!? Why did I grow up?
Weeks 1 / 2 / 5 / 6 / 8 : Micmac Aquatic Club Camp: I am from Waverley. Meaning, once a Cheema girl, always a Cheema girl but the club is a bit out of the way so last year, we discovered the day camp at Micmac Aquatic Club where you drop your child off in the morning and they get to swim, kayak, war canoe and play all day (supervised)! That’s how I spent every summer as a child (minus the supervised part) and I was convinced it was the best plan for my child. Obviously, he loved it. Bonus, it is an easy drop off location for Mike on his way to work and quite possibly one of my favourite places to run in the city.
Weeks 3 / 4 : Canada Games Centre Swim Program Camp: Winter, Spring and Fall we sign David up for 9-week swim lessons but in the Summer we can cram a session into a 2-week camp. The camp costs more than 2 weeks at Micmac but you get a full lesson out of the deal. Unfortunately it means I have to drive him there… and as a work-at-homer, I do not like driving during rush hour… even when it is against traffic.
Week 7 : Nana and David in Pugwash: My mom has graciously offered to take David for a week. Pugwash is paradise in the Summer and she has a few fun plans up her sleeve including the beach, the river, camping and a trip to the Fundy Geological Museum!
Week 9 : …TBD… Years ago (we’re talking 2000-2001), Mike and I hiked Cape Chignecto twice. The first time we went in and out of Refugee Cove… which is no joke (especially when you neglect to bring a stove and end up surviving off a few cinnamon buns and cold oatmeal)! The following year, we invested in a stove and hiked the loop in three days (two nights). At the time, the last section of the trail was not complete so we did about 40 out of the full 50 km loop – and even had a moose visit our tent! It has always been our plan to go back and complete it. Is 2016 the year? Can a 7-year-old handle it? We never take time off in the summer – mostly because I get extra hours covering other people’s holidays – but I’d like to try a family back country hike. As much as I love making memories with friends, Mike and I are not car campers – our gear is not for car camping and we’d like to give this a try. David may hate us. We may not make it. It may be the worst idea ever but at least we will be outside!
What about you – What are your Summer plans?
Have you hiked Cape Chignecto? How many nights? Where did you camp?
Can a 7-year-old handle it?
Here we were… way be then. Babies. 
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You asked for it. You got it.
After reposting last year’s 50 Under 50 Favourite Things list, my friend Anna suggested a 10 Under 10 Stocking Stuffer list. Ok!
Here are ten awesome items, all under $10.00, for the little and big kids in your life:
Kids
Lego 8pcs Super Heroes figures ($7.18)
Shopkins – Season 3 – 5 Pack ($7.99)
Mud Puddle and other mini books by Robert Munsch ($1.99)
Nutcase Bicycle Bell ($9.50)
2-pac Dot Socks ($7.20)
Crayola 16 Pip Squeak Markers ($6.49)
Geo Form Diamond Shaped Wooden Puzzle ($10.00)
WinnWell Street Hockey Balls ($1.99 each)
MEC Newbie Kids Sunglasses ($10.00)
Star Wars Pez Dispensers ($3.36 each)
Big Kids
Rose Salve Lip Balm ($7.70)
Beer. A bottle fits nicely in a sock. This is my pick ($8.00)
MEC Turbo Red LED Light ($6.75)
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara ($7.79)
Feed Nova Scotia – A New Kind of Light CD ($10.00)
Cocoa Camino Fair Trade Instant Hot Chocolate ($6.75)
e.l.f. Studio Matte Lip Color ($4.99)
HotHands Hand Warmers 10 Pair Value Pack ($7.99)
Made in the Maritimes Seaweed Soap ($7.50)
Nautical Letterpress Bookmark at Inkwell ($3.00)
* * *
Oh, and don’t forget to add a clementine, toothbrush and lotto tickets in all the stockings!
* * *
Our stockings are hung by the chimney with care!
Mike and I made our stockings when we first moved in together … 12 years ago … and we’re still fighting over who’s better. My mom made David stocking – which is the better than both of our combined because it’s bigger and wool expands better than felt. My mom knit/felted these as well: 
Happy stocking stuffing to all and to all a good night.
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Hello Sunshine 