Reading Buddies

A couple weeks ago when I took the kids to the Library, I came across a registration form for a reading program called the Reading Buddies. I have noticed that Aaliyah has been reading quite confidently and has developed a love for reading books. Many a times in the recent past, I have caught her reading to Ayaan in a very gentle and loving manner. Just like a good big Sister. She already goes through reading half the books that we get from the library, on her own. Of course these books that she reads are below

PAC Chair

I have been elected the new Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Chair for the year 2012-2013. It is a big achievement and an even bigger responsibility. The previous year's members were stepping down due to their personal commitments  and the school needed a new executive body. It was essential that the school had an executive body so they could apply for funding from the Provincial bodies. While I was ready for some executive role on the PAC, I never quite thought I would end up being the Chair.
I saw flyers for the PAC meeting posted all over the school bulletin boards. What hooked me in was the hand written note at the

Parent Teacher Night

Went to Aaliyah's Parent-Teacher night yesterday. She has a bigger and better classroom than last year. She showed me around, showed her different folders, her work bins, and the activities that the class is currently working on. I met other parents, spoke to the class teacher about Aaliyah and then in the gym, the Principal introduced all the staff members. It was nice to know the teachers from the different grades. Earlier they were just faces I used to see in the hallways now I know who teaches at what level. There were too many of them for me to remember individual names.
Just like her Kindergarten classroom, the whole Grade 1 classroom was

Signatures Galore

Its the beginning of a new school year and the school has been sending out information, updates and notices for the upcoming school year. I had been putting the notices that need action, in my brain's to do list but today when Aaliyah got another stack of notices, it was high time I attended to it all. So, in just one day, I have signed a

If at first you fail...

...try, try and try again. For hours on end I had been trying to make my Singer sewing machine work but to no avail. Either due to a faulty threading technique or a missing spool cap, the machine would not sew right. The thread kept bunching up underneath the fabric. I was almost going to give up and was thinking of taking the machine to a Singer service center.  Then, after browsing through some sewing machine troubleshooting tips online, I tried one last time and I shouted with joy when it started sewing perfectly. The top and the bottom stitches were in line and there was no bunching up of the thread underneath. I made it work!

I had bought the sewing machine for $10 dollars from

First Day of Grade 1

First day of Grade 1 for my first born child. What an exciting time for both of us. I feel like a school kid and it feels like I am starting Grade 1 all over again. As a kid I remember a new school year meant getting new uniforms, shoes, socks, backpack, books, lunch boxes for each new school year. Although some of Aaliyah's stuff from last year is still good, yet Nasir insisted on

Stanley Park

Seawall along Stanley Park

Tabrez Bhai had his cricket match at Brockton Point Cricket pitch in Stanley park and Hummu was planning on going there. We called Afzal and together we all headed to the Stanley Park in Vancouver. This park is so huge that there is always something new to discover and explore. I have been there 3 times and still have not seen the park in its totality. I still have to see its rose garden, the aquarium and maybe go on a hike or a bike ride around the perimeter of the park. Maybe.
On this particular trip, I finally got to see the

Exploring Science World

TELUS World of Science

There is Science all around us and what better way to acknowledge this than a visit to the TELUS World of Science. It is a wonderful place to explore our bodies, our environment and the science around us. It is also a place where we can exercise our minds with the various puzzles and brain game activity stations throughout the facility. All through the year they coordinate special exhibits. For this Summer, their special exhibit was based on the great artist Da Vinci's work. The artist behind the world famous painting-Monalisa.
So, to round off this year's Summer fun, we took the kids out to Science World in Vancouver. We took the