Swimming lessons

His progress was VERY slow, but after almost 2 months of twice a week sessions at Felix swimming school, Tonicci is now brave enough to swim on his own! Well, he's just doing a front glide towards his instructor- but for Jet and I, this is a HUGE development!! No floater, no assistance from his instructor. Amazing! 

He has been taking lessons since he was 2 years old at the community center nearby. Since he hated the water and didn't want to follow instructions from the instructor, we stopped taking him to classes for more than a year. 

Now that he's 4 and since we started him in his new school, he's learning the skills more quickly. He's now able to blow bubbles and put his whole head under the water.

I think the reward system works. Every time he does well, he gets 4 pieces of Starburst (his favorite candy). If he doesn't cooperate with the instructor, he doesn't get any reward.

About to do a front glide towards his instructor

Family Day at VIA Rail

Daddy's company, VIA Rail, organized a Family Day at their maintenance facility here in Toronto. It was really an exciting day for all the kids since they had the chance to visit a real train yard. Of course there were other fun attractions like the bouncy castle, clowns, barbecue, ice cream, etc. But knowing Tonicci's love for trains - nothing compared to being inside the locomotive cabin and getting to try the train simulator that  locomotive engineers actually use for training! 

Doing his action pose in front of the locomotive

Trying out the co-engineer seat of the Locomotive Cabin

The controls of a an actual train engine!

Inside one of the older luxury cars on display

Waiting for his turn on the simulator

The training manager coaching Tonicci about the controls (he got to drive 5 miles, but committed all the rule violations!)

Stepping down from the engine

Let's go to The Ex

The Canadian National Exhibition (more commonly known as The Ex), is Canada's largest annual fair in North America.

We first took Tonicci last 2010, our first official summer here in Toronto. We ended up going three times-that's how much fun we had :) Last year, we were not able to go though.

Lots of rides for kids and adults, food, shopping, entertainment, farm animals and kids section- the choices are endless.

Left side: Bumped into Charlotte (his good friend) and her family 

He won a prize! Without any help from us :)

Pretending to milk a cow

The Ex at night

Passed by a live band on our way out

Stanley Park

Now that it's summer, we have been seeing more of our neighborhood friends at the park. Tonicci is at that stage where he wants to play and interact with other kids. Before, he would be contented playing on his own. What a nice change!

With Coco

Made friends with a Japanese boy

Riding his scooter in the background while his friend Remy waits for him

Making a "nest" with Charlotte

Washington DC

The first Monday of August is a public holiday, and so we decided to go on a quick escape to Washington DC and make it a 5-day weekend! Daddy had been there twice before and really wanted to show us around  ALL the sites. But we were only there for 3 nights and his daily agenda was very unrealistic. Although we probably visited less than half of the most popular attractions, it was still worth the 9 hour drive from Toronto.

Now that Tonicci is 4 and half years, it's definitely better to travel with him. The stroller remains an essential item though.

Waiting at the metro stop (stayed at a hotel in Maryland).

It's been a while since he's taken a metro or subway ride, so he was really excited.

Daddy's 'must see' attraction, The National Library of Congress. One of the most complete and oldest collection of books.

Inside the National Library

The Capitol Steps, where US Presidents take their oath of office...

Our favorite attraction, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Bought him a toy airplane at the museum shop

 Amazing collection of real air crafts

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Of course, Tonicci had to visit the prehistoric exhibits i.e. DINOSAURS!!!

Tonicci begged to have this picture taken (under the stuffed tiger, his favorite animal)

One of Tonicci's highlights, seeing the White House. He wanted to visit Washington D.C. just for this (after reading about it in his Superman comic book - well, he actually entertained the possibility of seeing Superman)

This is how we travel- carrying lots of bags while the Prince is being pushed

Washington National Monument, the structure is so prominent, you could actually see it  from  almost all angles within a 2 miles radius

World War II Memorial 

World War II Memorial  - Daddy saw a pillar built for the Philippines

Cooling off at the WWII Memorial fountain

We did LOTS of walking under the hot summer weather!! It must have been 32-33 degrees out there

Lincoln Memorial steps

Tonicci's patented Spiderman pose - nice full view of the National Mall in the background - too bad  the  reflecting pond was under repair

Korean War Memorial - the US really honors it's armed forces!

Martin Luther King Memorial

Jefferson Memorial in the background, too tired to cross the pond at this point