Thursday, September 10, 2009
First Day of Preschool and volunteering at the preschool: Success!
Today was our official first day of preschool after the open-house last week and a fail attempt on Tuesday (this is a long story...). But we all did pretty well. This morning we prepared the snacks. I've sliced watermelon, cut cheese in cubes and add some blueberries for his snack and he was quite pleased. Got some other ideas while watching the lil'ones snacks. For example, chicken salad, cheese strings, whole peas in a pod and some peroggies too.
There was a lot of hands-on activities. But I think today, because I was around, he was clinging on me and ask me to join in the activities. However I was quite busy with my own tasks (fill up the glue tubs, cleaning after the children, witting the children names on their art so they can take them home, etc.) Although Leandro is going to a very good Day Care when I have to work. Going to this preschool makes me more involved into his education and force me to take the days to spend with him as preschool is only in the mornings. I will be volunteering every month and spending those afternoons with him at home. Great, isn't?!
There are a few openings in the three days afternoon classes. And if you know anyone interested. Please see the contact information below:
"We offer a nurturing and stimulating environment that is Reggio and Project Approach inspired. With the teacher in the role of researcher, the children contribute to and negotiate the curriculum in partnership. The daily schedule provides time for interactive play in a variety of interesting centres, a gathering time, a snack, and group activities (e.g. yoga, drama, art, drumming, etc.) The students display and revisit their learning through photos, text, artwork, and artefact gallery"
"Family and community play an important role in supporting the children's inquiry and learning in our program and parents volunteer on a rotational basis. We offer trips, in-class guests and visiting artists."
St. Matthew's United Church
2035 26A St SW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
T3E 2B9
403-465-1141
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Monday, September 07, 2009
Books we selected for the children at FAYA Orphanage
I wanted to show you the books we selected to send to the children at FAYA Orphanage.
We thought it would be nice to send sturdy hard cover books and fun educational game cards such as the snap cards shown above. I
My First Pair of Havaianas
Havaianas are Brazilian popular flip-flops. They are the everyday slippers a typical Brazilian would use around the house, at the beach, at the swimming pool, at the grocery store, etc. Just about everywhere and every time type of slippers.
Leandro got his first pair from Batian and Ditian all the way from Brazil. His Havaianas are blue and so small. Mine are pink and I also have gold pair with tiny beads on top. Kerry has a orange pair and a green pair with a tiny Brazlilian flag on it. We all love them and use them almost all the time!
Havaianas are made of rubber and nowadays is exported internationally. They have a massive variety of trendy colors and distinctive styles. These rubber sandals, which are popularly known as flip-flops, are extremely comfortable.
Since 1962, São Paulo Alpargatas, a manufacturing company in Brazil , have been making these one of a kind flip-flops. The inspiration for the Havaianas innovation is the Zori, which is a Japanese style sandal and the term Havaianas, which is Portuguese for Hawaiians, serves as homage to the crystal clear waters and white sand beaches of Hawaii.
Many years ago I brought some pair and gave away as a gift to some Canadian friends, but I believe not knowing what exactly they are, people could not really appreciate them. As they have simple and somewhat plain looking.
Note: Batian= grandma and Ditian=grandpa
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Yipee! They are coming home!
A Mother's Long Journey...
Someone is holding me,
arms around me,
soft breath in my hair,
Hand on my hand.
And I am holding someone (or two)
hair on my cheek,
soft breathing on my chest,
my arms are full,
and the great wheel of stars turns around me,
rocks to music of chimes
as I round myself around two I love,
safe in my arms of two who loves me.
* Modified Poem by Unknown Author
Monday, August 24, 2009
Summer in Black and White - 2009
Dentro do trem esperando e esperando... Vai sair ou não?
Bom, como a espera estava demais tiramos fotos e fotos. Mas a luz não estava boa. Estava um tanto escuro na cabine. Então escolhemos o preto e branco. Como as cores não estavam colaborando, usamos o preto e branco pra mostrar outras coisas como o contraste, a harmonia das formas que fazem algumas linhas e curvas que dão um dinamismo pra composição, o jogo de luz de sombra e de reflexo, as faixas de tons de cinza,preto e branco que se formam...
* Photo taken by Kerry at Fort Edmonton Park - August 2009
BOOKS BOOKS & BOOKS - More Leo's faves
Here is another list of Leo's faves! (These are also MY faves!) Love the pictures and so informative and up-to-date!
- Bugs
- Bugs and Slugs
- Caterpillars and Butterflies
- Creepy Crawlies
- Pocket Nature
- Spiders
- Tadpoles and Frogs
- Trees
- Living in Space
- Sun, Moon and Stars
- Night Sky Spotters Guide
- First Hundred Words in Portuguese
Jennifer - Usborne Consultant
www.usborne.ca/jmassig
Your Source for Usborne Books!
Backyard play - Summer 2009
We are having a short summer this year. So rainny and cold... But happily we enjoyed a few days of sunny backyard play. Leo LOVES water in all forms and shapes! We are glad to share with you some of these treasured moments!
BOOKS BOOKS & BOOKS - Some of Leo's faves
Here is a list of some of Leo's (and Kerry's) bedtime faves:
Historia de Genji
Please visit my girlfriend Macarena's exhibit in Fukuoka, Japan. Titled Genji's History, with beautiful paintings. I wish I could go and visit...
The exhibit will be open from September 12th 'til September 30th 2009. Monday to Saturday from 11:30AM to 11:00PM and from 11;30AM to 6:00PM on Sundays.
Please visit and support if you have an opportunity!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Monday, August 03, 2009
Succesful Usborne Party & Clothing Sale this weekend!
Special thanks those that participated in the Usborne Book Party & FAYA Orphanage Fundraiser.
On Friday we held the Usborne book party. It was a very fun day with friends attending with their little ones. 
We raised about $120 from the sales of Usborne childrens books. Thank you Jennifer for introducing us to the wonderful world of Usborne books. We also received lots of clothing donations for the clothing sale on Saturday. Thank you all for your support.
We raised about $120 from the sales of Usborne childrens books. Thank you Jennifer for introducing us to the wonderful world of Usborne books. We also received lots of clothing donations for the clothing sale on Saturday. Thank you all for your support.
On Saturday we raised $408 at the children's clothing sale. The weather was hot and sunny. 
We had a great turn out and in addition to the clothing sale we received many monetary donations for FAYA.
We had a great turn out and in addition to the clothing sale we received many monetary donations for FAYA.
Again, thanks so much for all you've done for FAYA Orphanage!
De todo coração agradeço a ajuda e o apoio! Para aquelas que não puderam comparecer, por favor vistem o site para oferecer uma doação montetária online. http://fayaorphanage.blogspot. Qualquer valor será muito bem recebido de todo coração. Muito obrigada por participarem do evento Usborne Book Party & FAYA Orphanage Fundraiser.Sexta-feira foi um dia muito divertido. Principalmente porque muitas vieram acompanhadas de seus pequenos.
Com a venda dos livros nós conseguimos arrecadar um total de $120 em livros para crianças. Para enviar ao orfanato nós escolhemos livros educativos de ABC, 123, cores e formas.
Nós também recebemos inúmeras doações de roupinhas de bebês e de crianças maiores. Novamente, muito obrigada por suportar tão nobre causa que é a entidade FAYA.No sábado nós conseguimos arrecadar pelo menos $408 com a venda das roupas e outras doações. O tempo estava lindo e bem quente.
Foi com certeza um dia muito ocupado, tivemos um grande número de pessoas interessadas e inúmeras doações monetárias.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Please Help
As some of you may know, my Canadian best-friend, Arnica Rowan, is currently in the process of adopting twin girls from Ethiopia. They learned early this week of terrible news regarding their adoption agency in Canada, Imagine adoption. Imagine adoption is officially bankrupt, for what reason we are not entirely sure. The accounts the transition home relies on to feed and care for our children have been frozen.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/adoption-agencys-bankruptcy-devastates-families/article1217223/
We all had serious concerns regarding their children and where they would be taken care of in the coming weeks, therefore, Arnica decided that it would be best if to travel to Ethiopia immediately. Please take the time to read through this petition and sign it if you support it. Something needs to be done to help these families dreams of an Ethiopian adoption to be facilitated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friends, Family and Supporters of International Adoption:
We need your help and support to protect the future children of families adopting internationally through Imagine Adoption. On July 10, 2009, Imagine Adoption, a government regulated agency in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada declared bankruptcy (Globe & Mail, July 14, 2009.)
It has been reported that there are more than 500 Canadian families who have been directly affected by this development. This number translates into an even greater number of children yet to be (or recently) adopted by Canadians.
The more than "500" families mentioned are at various stages in the adoption process for Ethiopia, Ecuador, Ghana, Zambia and possibly other countries.
Each family has entrusted many thousands of dollars to Imagine. As this process usually takes more than a year's time and many thousands of dollars to complete, we urge the Ministry of Children and youth Services to do the following:
Immediately determine a solution to facilitate and complete all of Imagine Adoption's active files affected by this bankruptcy filing.
As this situation has been allowed to occur while operating under the direct regulation (license) of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services it is imperative that the Government of Ontario takes an active role in ensuring the well being of the many hundreds of children and Canadian families who have found themselves devastated by this news.
As a community, the families who were working with Imagine Adoption are trying to come up with possible solutions to protect the well-being of our children and keep our dreams of starting or completing our families alive . We can't do this alone.
Please support our cause by signing this petition and encouraging all your friends and families to do the same.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/SaveOurDreamofAdoptingInternatio/index.html
Thank you for your support.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/adoption-agencys-bankruptcy-devastates-families/article1217223/
We all had serious concerns regarding their children and where they would be taken care of in the coming weeks, therefore, Arnica decided that it would be best if to travel to Ethiopia immediately. Please take the time to read through this petition and sign it if you support it. Something needs to be done to help these families dreams of an Ethiopian adoption to be facilitated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friends, Family and Supporters of International Adoption:
We need your help and support to protect the future children of families adopting internationally through Imagine Adoption. On July 10, 2009, Imagine Adoption, a government regulated agency in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada declared bankruptcy (Globe & Mail, July 14, 2009.)
It has been reported that there are more than 500 Canadian families who have been directly affected by this development. This number translates into an even greater number of children yet to be (or recently) adopted by Canadians.
The more than "500" families mentioned are at various stages in the adoption process for Ethiopia, Ecuador, Ghana, Zambia and possibly other countries.
Each family has entrusted many thousands of dollars to Imagine. As this process usually takes more than a year's time and many thousands of dollars to complete, we urge the Ministry of Children and youth Services to do the following:
Immediately determine a solution to facilitate and complete all of Imagine Adoption's active files affected by this bankruptcy filing.
As this situation has been allowed to occur while operating under the direct regulation (license) of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services it is imperative that the Government of Ontario takes an active role in ensuring the well being of the many hundreds of children and Canadian families who have found themselves devastated by this news.
As a community, the families who were working with Imagine Adoption are trying to come up with possible solutions to protect the well-being of our children and keep our dreams of starting or completing our families alive . We can't do this alone.
Please support our cause by signing this petition and encouraging all your friends and families to do the same.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/SaveOurDreamofAdoptingInternatio/index.html
Thank you for your support.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
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