Thanksgiving Fun!

Happy Thanksgiving Monday my dear friends, family and occasional readers! I hope that you had a weekend full of love, laughs and good food and had a chance to think about all the things that you are thankful for. I just arrived back in the Bishop's bubble after a lovely trip home to Ancaster, and I think I came back ten pounds heavier! It gets a little bit harder to leave my family every time, especially since I now won't see them until Christmas but I make the most of every minute that I get to spend with them. And being away from them means that I am here with my Bishop's family who make every moment in Lennoxville worthwhile! 

This week, my time was split almost equally between Ancaster and Lennoxville but I was as busy as ever until the moment I left. Monday was a typical class day followed by a trip to the grocery store with my friend Gaby aka the couponning queen. It was a popular day at the grocery store because I saw so many people that I knew - I guess everyone wanted to get the student discount only available on Mondays! I then came home and made pizza for my housemates BUT it was not just your ordinary pizza - one was a butternut squash, caramelized onion and goat cheese pizza and the other was a pesto, tomato and cheese pizza. They were delicious! (Try not to let your mouth water too much while looking at the pictures below)

Tuesday was a great day as per usual! We were almost late to practicum because there was sooo much construction on the way to Magog but we got there just as the buses were unloading. I love my practicum more and more each time that I go because my grade 6s are really starting to welcome me into their classroom. My associate teacher was dealing with some external issues that day so I got to watch over the grade 6s and the grade 3s for a bit which was really fun. I got to help out with the grade 6 science experiment again - this time they were making gelatine disks. My job was to pour the hot water onto their gelatine powder and then distribute food colouring. I had only been prepped on what the experiment was during the recess before the class so I did not really know how the experiment was supposed to go so I felt bad that I wasn't much help when the students were asking questions. Right before I left, I got to read the latest chapter in the story one of my students is writing. He is always so excited to show me his story and I love that he lets me read it every week! After I read it, I always leave him a little note with my thoughts! I can't wait to be a teacher!

Food colouring stained hands after Grade 6 science!

After practicum, I went to class, and then for a run and then to the student ministry dinner. I had astronomy class that night and we got to go to the observatory and look at a star cluster through the telescope. This was helpful because my topic for my final project is a specific star cluster, the Pleiades. After that, I came home and skyped my friend from Western. She was telling me about how she had broken her knuckle playing football on her rez team and was possibly going to need surgery! (Update: right now, surgery is not needed but she is being reassessed in two weeks). 

Wednesday, I had an Empty Bowls meeting in between classes and then a Student Alumni Association meeting at the end of the day. I am really excited for SAA because the goal is to make the committee more well known on campus this year. One of the things we are looking at doing is having an alumni lunch series in which we invite alumni in to chat with current students, which I think could be really useful for students. Also, in my education class that day, my prof had his wife come talk to us about teaching because she recently graduated from teacher's college and is now starting her first permanent contract. It was really helpful to hear some of her tricks of the trade; my favourite part was seeing her Pinterest board because she had some great classroom resources! I then spent an hour following class adding to my teacher pinboard! It's things like this that remind me that I am in the right program! 

Thursday, Elizabeth and I got up bright and early to leave for Montreal together. I got dropped off right at the airport and was so early for my flight that I was able to get on an earlier flight which got me home an hour earlier! Unfortunately, my mom was stuck in horrible traffic (as there were 3 accidents on the highway) so I had to spend some time in the airport. I made a stop at Starbucks, got a free tea sample at David's Tea and contemplated getting a ten minute manicure. I then accompanied my mom on some errands, including a dangerous trip to a shoe store (may or may not have picked out my birthday and Christmas presents) and lunch at William's Cafe. When I finally got home, my dad picked me up to go the Buffalo Sabres game. We went out for dinner at the Lexus Club at the arena; we chose the buffet which was so delicious! The game was not very exciting, as the Sabres lost 4-1 to Columbus but I did win a $5 gift card to Subway (which I gave to the usher because it is only valid in Buffalo). My dad also went to town at the gift store and got himself a hat, some sport utility gloves and a Tyler Ennis doll! We thought it would be funny to include him as a passenger at the border but despite the fact that he was buckled into the back, the border patrol did not even notice him. :(

Pumpkin Spice Latte in the airport!

Father-Daughter Game Night!

Friday, my mom, brother, sister and I took the Go train into Toronto to spend the day at the Eaton Centre. When we were all in elementary school, we used to go to the Eaton Centre every December on our PA Day so it was fun to relive our childhood tradition. After our shopping trip, we were supposed to meet our old babysitter and her new baby at her husband's burger joint downtown but she had to cancel last minute due to a catering emergency. We still decided to go to the burger joint, The Burger's Priest and I am happy to report that the burgers were delicious! I had one called "The Priest" which was a cheeseburger with a deep fried mozzarella-stuffed mushroom cap on top! While our meal was delicious, we really wanted to meet our babysitter's baby so we are already planning to go again the next time that I am home. 

On Saturday, we drove up to my mom's brother's cottage for the day. The weather was absolutely beautiful! Jamie and I went for a swim in the lake and then Lauren joined us for a paddleboard and kayaking session. It was just like being at camp! As soon as the sun went down, it got super cold so we went inside to enjoy our Thanksgiving dinner, prepared by my Aunt Jody. Since she provided dinner, it was our job to provide breakfast so we made pumpkin loaf and pumpkin pancakes. I wish that we could say we made them from scratch but we picked up the mixes at Indigo. After breakfast, we headed home and went over to my dad's house for the rest of the weekend. I met my friend who is still in high school in the afternoon to talk to her about Bishop's and concurrent education programs. She wants to apply to ConEd science so I invited her out here for a tour and a sleepover! I hope she decides to make the trip out! I can practice my tour guide skills on her! 

This morning, I went out for breakfast with my friends from skating to Cora's. It is a tradition for my friend Elena and me to go to Cora's every time I come home from school but this time we invited our other friends along. After breakfast, Elena and I went for a walk along the Bruce Trail and passed two waterfalls. We also decided to climb up the stairs at the end of the path but despite our superb physical shapes, we were out of breath by the time we got to the top as there were 300+ stairs!! Did I mention that we were wearing our fall coats and boots while everyone else was wearing tank tops and running shoes? Though we were not prepared for exercise, it was still a really nice walk. When I got home, I helped to prepare our Thanksgiving Monday "linner" (lunch+dinner) which we had around 3:00 in order for me to catch my flight back to school. I would like to send a shout out to Terri who made everything from scratch (right now to the cranberry sauce and pie crust). Side mention to Jamie and my dad for the bacon wrapped asparagus and the spetzla. After eating way too much food (again), my dad took me to the airport and I flew back to school. I got a ride back to my house and now here I am, gearing up for another exciting week!

Thanksgiving with the Zuckennedys!

So I guess I should take a moment to say what I am thankful for, as it is Thanksgiving and all. I am thankful for my wonderful family and all the love and laughs they constantly share with me. I am thankful that I was able to have such a wonderful weekend at home with them. I am thankful to have my two homes in Ancaster and my home in Lennoxville where I live with the best four housemates that a girl could ever ask for. I am thankful for all of my friends, both here at school and across the country and for all of the time we spend together. And I am thankful for all of you who made it all the way to this point of my post! Now, I must go and get ready for my practicum tomorrow and catch up on the sleep that I did not get this weekend!  

All my love, Erica xoxoxoxoxoxooxo Happy Thanksgiving!