Finally an update!

  

Can you tell that mommy has been back at work...no update since the birthdays in the summer...how appalling.  Christmas is upon us and we have been very busy.  Here are a couple of pics before Santa actually makes his appearance.  Hopefully it won't be another six months before a few more are added to our blog.

Did you grow up overnight?

Happy 4th Birthday, Morgan!

A Memorable Year!

Happy 1st Birthday, Quinn!

Vive la France

We've been back for a little while now and only just recovering...but we did have a very memorable trip to France last month. We took to the French countryside for our first week and visited Auntie Pat and Uncle Ray, dined on moules et frites in various locations, and marvelled at the castles. We spotted more cows than anyone needs to see in a lifetime and sang "banana phone" over and over and over and over. We spent our second week in Paris where we took in all of the major sights (Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, etc.) and a few that we had never been to before (two rather odd zoos, Cite des enfants, ...).

While it was very much a sightseeing/travelling trip rather than a vacation, we would do it again in a minute. It was simply wonderful to have nothing but family time for two entire weeks!

Our Adventurous Family

We have had a whirlwind tour of Canada over the past couple of weeks. We saw the Pacific Ocean, along with Jeff, Heather, Graeme, and Rocky and had a fantastic time. Granville Island was a true highlight with the tiny ferry and the Kids Only Market. Of course, with Morgan on the trip, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to see marine life at the Vancouver Aquarium.

This week we are recovering from our quick trip to Halifax where Gareth, Nanna and our little clan had fun celebrating Jim's birthday (with a little admissions conferencing on the side).

Next stop...a real vacation...not one of these working trips! Paris...here we come!

Home at Last!

Good morning all,

I am writing this from my desk at the CAIS office after a whirlwind week of tramping (and sprinting) around Prague. My work wrapped up on Friday morning - although Charlie stayed to responsibly attend the out-meetings on Friday afternoon. Here is a picture of the team (sans me, the cameraperson, of course!). Chris Bowman, the team chair is on the left and next to him is Robert Landau, the Head, Charlie Skipper, and the Barb duTemple, a Canadian who was the accreditation coordinator. The rest of the Visiting Committee is spread out to their left. As for me, I got picked up by Pavel at 11:30 am (5:30 EDT) Prague time for my marathon trip home. After a one hour flight to Frankfurt, and then an 8 hour flight to Toronto, I finally arrived at 369 Shaw Street at 8:30 pm - a 15 hour trek! Rheanne and the boys spent the night in Port Hope, due to the fact that at 5:30 the next morning I was headed to Pearson for my flight to Montreal to attend the CAIS Board meeting! My real homecoming was at about 8:45 Saturday night. Luckily (for me, not Rheanne!) both boys were still awake and I got a great welcome home. So, four flights, and four lounges (Prague, Frankfurt, Pearson, and Dorval) later I am settled in until Wednesday when the whole family starts our two week cross-Canada tour (Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Halifax). Then, of course, it is off to Paris!!!

Keeping your feet on the ground has a whole new meaning for me now!

Jim

Team Wrap Up Day

Good morning!

It is 8 am in Prague - 2 am at home and so only Rheanne and Quinn are up an around on your side of the Atlantic! The team is sprinting towards the finish line today. They will walk away at 4 pm with the entire report written and edited - only time will tell whether or not this results in a more focused or simply rushed report.

Prague reminds me of Salzburg or Vienna in that music is everywhere. There are posters announcing concerts in every local church and performance space and there is a wealtlh of street music wherever you go. Unlike at home, there is no apparent begging in the streets. Lots of buskers looking for donations but no basic hands-out.

This will be my last day at the school although a number of team members will return tomorrow to share the highlights of the report and attend a TGIF with the staff. As the day progresses I will add additional postings.

Love to all,

Jim

Wednesday in Prague - really in Prague!

Jewish Quarter Charles Bridge - Castle in background



Town Hall Clock Charlie in the Old Town Square




The Market The Square

Dobry den a Praha!

Well today was the day! Charlie Skipper - my partner in crime (the Visiting Team calls us Statler and Waldorf - the two crotchety hecklers on the Muppet Show!) - and I skipped out on the day at the school and went exploring Old Prague. I started the day with a run - that's five days in a row - it isn't too hard when the weather is so great and it is a wonderful way to explore the surrounding area.

Charlie and I met up at 10 am, walked to the subway and then took the tube to the Old Town (a whopping 3 stops!). The photos that I have posted (I took 27 but will spare you all of that!) give you a sample of where we went: the Old Town and Town Square with the famous city clock; the most famous street market in Prague (where I bought some souvenirs for my beautiful family!); the Jewish Quarter; the Charles Bridge; and finally the little town and Prague Castle (including St. Vitus' Cathedral where Good King Wencelaslas is buried.

We had a great time bumming around, enjoyed a nice lunch in a sidewalk cafe, and a beer in the castle. Right now I am resting up before we head out for an early dinner. Hope that you find the pictures interesting. As you can see, the weather is great, Charlie wore shorts - but then he is from San Salvador!

Love to all,

Jim

Can you figure out the pictures with me in them? Thought that I would give you an idea of what the school looked like, I am there for comic relief!!

Monday in Prague

Good morning!

It is another beautiful day in the Czech Republic (which I am currently spending in a basement room in the International School of Prague. After a lovely reception and tapas dinner at a local Lebanese restaurant last night, the team has hit the ground running.

Security, as with all schools, is quite tight and we were issued with our official name tags this morning. I had hoped for option 3 with the four wallet-sized and 2 8x10 glossy prints but what can you do!?

We had a good meeting with the Head this morning. He indicated that Charlie and I had been specifically selected to conduct this visit and the I had been chosen by CIS to run their review because we are seen as the leading lights on the Commission, and they want to implement some wholesale changes in their process. It is unbelievably cumbersome!

I continue to explore the neighbourhood by running. This morning I was out at 5 am! They don't have daylight savings here so consequently the sun is up quite early and it was bright (if chilly) on the streets.

Here are a couple of happy snaps from around the area.

Blog from Prague

Hi Family!
See as I can't remember how to sign in to my own account I am going to post on the family site.

Arrived in Prague around 2 pm local time today. Got picked up at the airport along with a couple of other team members (one from China and one from Geneva) and went to the hotel.

The hotel is a classic socialist post-modern construction - now a Crown Plaza! I have attached a couple of pictures. It is "Prague Spring" here - how appropriate! You will note the blossoms and new leaves. I had planned to have a nap but was too pumped and went for a run instead.

Miss everyone, especially Rheanne - wish that we were all here!

Jim

Rheanne and Quinn take L.A.

Quinn is fast becoming a seasoned traveller. We headed to Los Angeles and San Diego to visit Auntie Mary, Uncle Vince, Sian, Greg, Annie and Emma. Quinn charmed everyone from the flight attendents to the triathletes. We had a fantastic time and decided that living in that climate would be bliss.

Jim and Morgan had an equally fun time visiting Grandma, going to the Niagra aviary with Kathleen and Jacob, visiting Riverdale farm (for the 100th time) and spending some quality father-son time together. Perhaps the best moment of all, though, was watching the looks on the boys' faces when they saw each other after a week apart. They were genuinely thrilled to see each other and have the whole family unit back together.

Fun in the Sun

The sun, the surf, the sand...a wonderful family vacation in Dunedin, Florida. Each of us had our favourite moments:
Jim enjoyed a few cold beers at Jays Spring Training with Mary-Kate and Morgan
Rheanne read an entire People magazine lying in the sun at Clearwater beach
Morgan roamed the Lowry Park Zoo for an entire day, naming and sharing interesting facts about each and every animal that he saw
Quinn splashed and played in the hotel pool (oh...wait...he hated that with every inch of his being!)
It's settled, we are ready for summer.