it's my girls' world

Three cheers for Friday! Especially one after school starts back. Here's a whole bunch of random:

1- Last week, the girls and I together with some of our favourite people, headed to the very trendy and popular Ihalo Krunch in Toronto for some black, goth charcoal infused ice cream. So fashionable, so weird looking and so so delicious all at the same time. It's four somewhat expensive, asian inspired flavours that you can swirl together or have separately, served in a charcoal infused cone. Some of the best ice cream we've ever had and so worth a trip back into the city.

2- While we were there, we headed to the historic Distillery District for a walk.

First off, we checked our Lock In Your Love... This was the structure at it's start. And here it is, all full now.

Of course I had to buy some sipping chocolate for the cooler fall temps ahead 

Lots of beautiful balloons.

Yeah, they began to fight over the same balloon and it was too hilarious .

3- Yeah, totally sums up my crew leaving the house. 

4- Getting ready for fall, y'all. Nails and purse switch- check!

5- And finally, because we are fancy.

Linking up with 

Andrea, Erika and Narci for Favourites on Friday

Back to school 2017 is here.... Some of us be like:

And others are like...

(A at around the 18 month mark in both pics)

For the last few years, Labour Day weekend has been pretty chill. We've usually had such a fun, busy summer, it's okay to wind down on the weekend before school starts. We had a few people over, ran some errands, said goodbye to our Trinidadian family who was staying with us for a few weeks while settling their daughter into a nearby university and spent Monday getting ready for school.

First off (and not pictured), C and I took a trip to her school to check her class list, find out who her teachers are and where her classroom is.

I prep my fruit and veggies for the week and do lunches the day before #gamechanger. I'm so much more creative when I'm not bleary eyed in the morning.

We headed for a long walk as a family and then to the park for a bit.

And a mini run for me.

We then got ready and headed out to our Back to School dinner 2017. The girls chose Turtle Jack's, a casual restaurant close to our home.

The food took sooo long (so much so, they comped the kids' meals and our appetizer)  so we entertained ourselves.

And we trapped one of our offspring in a wine glass. Sidenote,that was my wine glass, not hers.

And then it was one last summer show before we got ready for bed and read a couple of our favourite back to school books: I wish you more and If I could keep you little. Bedtime was earlier than say the last two months!

School time! Of course the pre-requisite BTS photos.

First our third grader.

How did I get grown up to have a third grader of my very own?!

These PBK school bags will outlast my kid. Third year running, they're such good quality and worth the price for sure!

And we have one who is in her third year of CASA (Montessori) but technically a senior kindergarten kid.

Darin and I go together the first day of school to drop both kids and meet their teachers. A has had the same teachers for a few years but not C. Elementary school on the first day can be a bit overwhelming so we walked with her, helped her find her new class and chatted a bit with her new teacher. Then it was off to A's school where she took her sweet time getting herself ready and chatting before she entered the classroom. D and I then headed out to a very quick Back to School breakfast before he headed to work.

School and the playground can be so much fun but so tricky and tough at the same time. I hope this school year is filled with loads of learning and growth for my kids and I pray that they prevail over all their challenges. May their spirits shine and soar but may they also remember to be kind to their peers, respectful to those around them and show consideration and compassion in their interactions with everyone. And I hope all their friends and teachers remember to do the same when it comes to them. 

Have a wonderful day, lovelies!

First day of school y'all! Let's reminisce on those beautiful summer days while my kids slowly and blearily get up :-). 

You can read the first part of my recap here...

Day 3-- our first port visit was to Jamaica. Although the original plan was to head to Mexico first, due to weather the Captain switched routes. 

First off though, some breakfast. We headed to the Royal Palace for breakfast-- an a la carte breakfast with my very favourite food on this trip-- mango yogurt with what I think is wheat germ. Wish I could have brought some of that goodness home to have daily!

After our morning walk, we headed to the kid's club. 

And then to the Aquaduct (the huge water slide on the pool deck) and slides.

 

Falmouth, Jamaica was beautiful. However, the beach was kind of far away so we just headed to the port to check out the sights and sounds for a bit.  

  

Random white horse in the sea of brown.

We bought some Jamaican goodies and then headed back to the boat where the kids when up and down the slides and played in Nemo's reef for a bit before heading to dinner and a show.

 It was Princess Elena of Avalor photo bombing her mama.

Day3 in Grand Cayman brought lots of beach time on the amazing Seven Mile Beach.

Beautiful crystal clear waters and white sandy vistas. We definitely want to return to Grand Cayman someday soon!

After relaxing for a bit and doing our hidden mysteries, we headed to the Animator's Palace. This was the most fun experience we had at dinner. Everyone built a character and then they animate them in a show for us.  So, so cool. Kids and adults alike loved it!

Dinner wasn't too shabby also!

Some character sightings and a ventriloquy show (I've never heard C laugh so hard in her life) before we called it a night.

Stay tuned for the final part of our awesome cruising adventure soon!

linking up with Beth and some other lovely bloggers for Tuesday Talk.