永远不寂寞-暑期安排

To Cherry and Rose, perhaps summer break doesn’t mean a break. There are plenty of activities waiting for them.

July 03- Aug. 03, From 9:00 to 11:30 AM every day for 5 weeks, Chinese Language program offered by Capital Chinese School. This is scheduled for every summer and Rose and Cherry are happy with the schooling.

July 03 – Aug. 14, every Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, Summer Soccer League program offered by the City of Ottawa at Britannia Park. This program was not publicly advertised, but Chen managed to get the contact information and we were able to book spaces for twin.

From left to right, Emily, Cherry and Rose at their first day of Summer Soccer League program. Special thanks to Kevin for sharing the picture.

July 13 – Aug. 24, Every Friday from 4:30 to 5:30 pm, Boys & Girls Soccer program, part of Parkwood Hills Sports Programs, at Steve MacLean Park. This program is a combined effort of the Ontario Soccer Association, South Nepean Satellite Community Health Centre, Nepean, Rideau and Osgoode Community Resource Centre and the City of Ottawa. We got to know it when we took part in the Parkwood Hills Fun Day held on Saturday June 16. We filled out the application on site.

Aug. 13 – Aug. 23, from 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm of Lifesaving Society Swim for Life Summer class Swimmer 1 program offered by the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa at Britannia Pool.

Aug. 20 – Aug. 24,  from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm of Vacation Bible School program offered by Our Saviour Lutheran Church in our neighbourhood. Rose and Cherry attended this program two years ago and it seems to be a great experience.

Today, when we brought twins to the Boys & Girls Soccer program, we were informed that there will be a Hockey program available soon.

Right after the twins were back from China, Chen hired a piano teacher. Rose and Cherry started taking a one-hour tutoring every Monday afternoon and we expected this would last as long as possible.

We used to go to the Carlingwood YMCA for swimming. But June 17 became the last day of our journey there as the entire building was renovated into a senior housing. In order to keep the old members, the YMCA offered free membership for us loyal members. We ended up going to the Downtown YMCA a few times a week, mainly on the weekend.

Home Depot offers monthly Kids Workshop on Saturday. This is an activity Cherry and Rose enjoy.

Stretching, chess, French, English and math are also part of their weekly, if not daily, routine. Lucky enough Chen will take two weeks off soon to take care of twins.

Also, every weekend we will go to those countless festivals in town. Ottawa’s summers offer endless opportunities for children.

I asked Cherry what she liked the most. “Soccer!”

“I miss teachers…”  This is the answer when I asked her what dismayed her the most.

To Rose, Chinese school is her favourite activity and she hated playing piano. Poor girl.