January 14, 2017

So this week it was back to school for Sienna.  She was nervous and anxious which as to be expected – when you are in a new country, going to a school that is not the “traditional” style of school and you are 12 years old, anything different is stressful, but she is a trooper and learning to trust her mum and dad in this new direction we have taken for the next few years.

Sienna is still very reluctant to talk to others about her new school – she says she is embarrassed as it is not a traditional school so she doesn’t want anyone knowing about it just yet.  I get why she feels this way – nobody wants to be seen as different, but I am sure over time she will embrace her individuality and be happy to tell others about her experiences – well my fingers are crossed anyway.  

For those who have not heard about Eaton Arrowsmith I would recommend you jump on the website and have read – they have an incredibly unique method of teaching for kids who just don’t “get it” in mainstream school.  There was a fantastic 60 Minutes story by Charles Wooley back in 2014 which is the best way to grasp what they do at the school (you can click here to watch it).  Also visit the main Arrowsmith School website for loads more reading and information about how it all started.  It was while watching this story 2 and a half years ago that the seed was first planted in my head about this style of school.  I still can believe that we have taken the plunge and moved our entire family to Canada so we could enrol Sienna – but here we are, feeling ever so grateful for the opportunity!

So today a few photos of Sienna on her first day at EAS – As you know through my involvement with the Stillbirth Foundation I am all about talking about these things – with awareness comes acceptance and understanding and hopefully a way for others in a similar situation to learn more, so while Sienna is still not yet ready to talk about EAS I will continue to add snippets about the program here during our time in Vancouver.  Please feel free to ask any questions if you have any – I am always happy and willing to share our experience!
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January 2, 2017

Happy New Year!  Welcome to 2017 which for us comes with big change and challenges as we have just picked up our family of 5 and moved to the other side of the world.  If I think back just a year ago I could never imagine the changes that 2016 would bring us and now here we are living in Vancouver Canada for the next 2 years.  As with any big life changing event it was not without serious thought and consideration but one we know will be a fabulous experience for our family.  Our main reason for the move is for a school for Sienna which I will talk more about once she has started.

We are now on day three having left Sydney on the 29th December – so far so good!  We are staying in an air bnb in the suburbs of Vancouver with beautiful views over the city.  We are only here for a few weeks until we move into a rental in Kitsilano for the remainder of the girls school year.  After settling in on night one (without our luggage that was delayed in San Francisco) we did wake up the next morning to clear skies allowing us to get out and pick up a car that we had purchased before we left Australia.  We took a drive around the area to see the girls schools and get our bearings!  

Day 2 and new years eve and we were in for a treat!  Snow!  The snow began at around 11am and by mid afternoon it was fairly heavy and blanketing everything.   The girls had the best time playing the backyard building a snow man and just having fun.  They have never been in falling snow before so it was quite a special way to spend our new years eve.  We cooked up a delicious roast dinner and snuggled up inside watching a movie waiting for the new year to arrive!  Certainly a different experience to what we are used to in Australia.

So here we are on the first day of 2017 and day 3 in Canada.  I am really looking forward to embracing my time here and hope to bring a bit more to the blog – I am not sure what that will entail but I am hoping to use my time to get out with my camera and discover this amazing place as well as write a little more about the school system we are embarking on with Sienna.

In the meantime here are some photos from our backyard on new years eve! Happy New Year to everyone!

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February 14, 2016

Time for some cuteness overload as today we celebrated the one year anniversary of the arrival of our gorgeous baby boy to our home!  He really does give us so much joy and for me he is a constant companion when I am home!  We thought he was so adorable when we brought him home last year but look at him now!  Model material as he sits on my bed and stares out at the birds and local golfers that pass us by (we live on the edge of a golf course and he keeps close guard of our house while perched up high above the 6th fairway!!).

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And here he is the day he arrived home a year ago!  Look at that spotty little nose!sweet-style-3438 sweet-style-3451

August 18, 2015

Beautiful, insane, quirky and magical!  Eleven years ago today she arrived – the most amazing light at the end of a long dark tunnel after losing our first born.  

Her many faces say it all!  Here is a look back at ten – she has grown up so much in this past year.

Happy Birthday to our Sienna. Words do not describe our love for her. 

xx

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Photography :: Leanne Ambrogio | Sweet Style

August 3, 2015

I posted a few pictures from our recent trip to Canberra here and today I have a few from our day in the NSW snowfields that we also enjoyed during our school holiday road trip!  It was the first time the girls had seen snow and they were very excited.  No skiing this time, just some tobogganing and sightseeing at lovely Perisher.  The week we visited had not been so great for snow fall but it was still picture perfect for us.

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Photography :: Leanne Ambrogio | Sweet Style