Here for a millisecond!

Hi!  How embarrassing that I haven't been lurking around blogland for a while.  Working full-time and having older tween and almost tween daughters have really cut into my blogging and crafting time!

Even though it seems like eons ago, I've had some great travel experiences over the last 12 months.  We stayed in a yurt at Flora Bora near Emma Lake, SK in August 2013.  A yurt is a really interesting method of "camping".  (I don't really consider having a yurt as a camping experience considering we had a private bath/shower and indoor kitchen facilities).  I loved having our own "sky light" through the yurt's roof.  The mosquitoes were awful at Flora Bora but the landscape made up for all the bites.

Flora Bora

We took K & N to London (UK) and Paris for 3 weeks in April/May 2014.  I did a lot of prep work with the girls to prepare for the trip.  We I borrowed kids' library books on French and English history, culture and travel for the girls to study read.  We read as many British children's books as possible.  We watched British and French children's movies.  It was a lot of work to get ready but worth it.

K adores London.  K was hooked the minute she stepped onto the Tube at Heathrow Airport.  K & N toted the Tube map everywhere.  K carefully marked each Tube Station we entered/exited.  We did all the typical tourist sites and K & N were a bit disappointed that they didn't encounter any royalty.  (Kate & Will were in New Zealand at the time & likely sent their regrets but we didn't get the message in time).

Altho I had lived in London for 8 months in the early 1990s, London had changed substantially in my absence.  It was as if I had never lived there.  Everything was foreign to me, even my old stomping ground of High Street Kensington.  Happily, a couple of my friends still remain in the London area & met up with me and it was so nice to see them after 20 plus years apart!  The improvements to the Tower of London tour was remarkable.  We spent the whole day at the Tower!

The one place where I did not schedule enough time was the Globe Theatre.  I found the tour fascinating and could have spent hours in the Globe Theatre Museum (which included acting lessons on how to joust with real swords and lessons on fabrics/colours in Shakespearean time).  The Globe Theatre's website didn't explain that it is feasible to move about during a Shakespearean play at the Globe (including a visit to the fast food stand outside the theatre's door).  If I had known this, I would have arranged tickets to see a theatre production.  I hope to return to London one day specifically to watch a play at the Globe!

Globe Theatre, London

We didn't really leave London except for a jaunt to Windsor.  It was my first visit to Windsor Castle & was a worthwhile venture!

Windsor

We took the Eurostar to Paris.  Our rented apartment was located adjacent to one bakery and 1.5 blocks away from another bakery.  It was bakery heaven for us!  Despite loading up on French baking multiple times a day, we walked the calories off -- no doubt that the 90 to 112 steps to our apartment helped!  N preferred Paris over London.

Travelling with kids results in different travel opportunities.  We ventured to Luxembourg Gardens. There was a little playground and we thought we'd let the kids burn off a little energy.  And they did as we watched them and shivered for about 2.5 hours!  Our children had never experienced a merry-go-round!  The playground had a zip-line -- I've never seen a zip-line in a public park!

Luxembourg Gardens

Paris turned into a history lesson on the French revolution (before and after).  We went to Versailles and I worried that N would be trampled in the crowds visiting the State Rooms.  We wandered within and outside the immense Versailles park.  Despite the crowds, the park was exquisite.

Place de la Concorde where Marie Antoinette was beheaded.

Versailles

Provins

We travelled to a little medieval town, Provins.  It was so refreshing to leave Paris' crowds and tourists. Provins is about 1.5 hours outside of Paris and is frequented by French school-aged children who come to learn about Medieval France.

We are so fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel internationally with our children.  We learned so much!

just what I need

I have a new hobby which I learned from my friend on the Grand Canyon trip in December 2011:

It has been a productive hobby which is mostly invoked when I do the daily obligatory reading assigned to K and N and when I help K with her dictée.  I spend a lot of time assisting homework apparently!  I have learned to knit well (and am 1/2 finished my first scarf for K).  For the more experienced knitters, it is apparent that I haven't learned to purl ( ~ mostly because then I'd have to count or pay greater attention to the knitting than I can do when primarily focussing on kids' homework)!  I knit, but I don't purl!

One-half scarf down, more to come!

PS: for those curious about the Merino wool used in this scarf, it is from Malabrigo and is worsted 625 Kaleidos!  It is positively gorgeous and the photo doesn't reflect the true colours as it was taken in the evening with artificial light!  The Malabrigo website photo is better!

Valentine's Eve

Apparently, there is such a thing asValentine's Eve.  Celebrating Valentine's Day in our home has expanded into a month-long decorative frenzy of windows, doors and chintzy jewelry; let's not forget the tights and socks with hearts.  The weekend has been spent preparing Valentines for classmates, daycare-mates and teachers.  This morning, K and N ate heart-shaped pancakes ( ~ note to myself to butter the heart-shaped cookie cutters next year before pouring the batter into the frying pan); I prepared Rice Krispie cake with Valentine sprinkles for K's class this afternoon.  (Apparently the class is celebrating Valentine's Day and the 100th day of school tomorrow ~ who knew!?!)

After K and N put on their Valentine's tattoos this evening, K inquired: "Have you made our Valentines yet?"  Gulp.

Can you guess what I'm doing this evening?

news on the street: the Toothfairy is passe

We are so proud of how K is reading in English (as well as in French)!  As a result, she is starting to enjoy reading my blog!  Writing posts can become a little cryptic!

K lost a tooth en route to Orlando for the cruise.  My family had a debate over whether the Toothfairy delivers American or Canadian money in the USA.  I puzzled whether the Toothfairy or Tinkerbell would visit to collect K's tooth on a cruise ship.  K decided she would reserve placing her tooth in a glass of water for the Toothfairy until we were on the ship.

Orlando is a phenomenal airport with hotel accommodations attached.  It has a number of Disney stores and/or stores with Disney memorabilia.

Once upon the Magic cruise ship, we settled into our accommodations and then ventured around the ship.  We took K & N to the Oceaneer Club & Lab (aka childcare) to register them as guests in the event they wanted to hang out with the kids and do things like crafts. *

That evening, K dutifully placed her tooth in the glass of water.  At home, we would wait to see what colour the fairy's wings were but we weren't sure what would happen on a cruise ship.  The next morning, we woke to discover this:

It appears that Tinkerbell substitutes for the Toothfairy on cruiseships!  (Maybe the Toothfairy is land-based only?)  We know it was Tinkerbell who visited our room as it was her ring that held the American dollar!  It appears that her wings left a glittery residue of mostly silver with a tinge of green in the water!  K wanted to somehow salvage some of Tinkerbell's glitter but, like all magical things, it disappeared!

We went to every evening theatre performance on the ship!  Each time there was the sound of Tinkerbell's wings and/or lights that lit to demonstrate Tinkerbell's presence, K's eyes lit to attention!  (Both girls also received stick-on Disney earrings from Tinkerbell).

N is now requesting that I make arrangements for a cruise when she gets a loose tooth.  Apparently the Toothfairy is passe.  Ah, the power of faith!

* N learned how to do the Do-Si-Do in the Club & the children were later joined by Snow White so they could Do-Si-Do together!  Sweet!

just guess where I have been

I'll give you some hints:

Hmmm.... This ketchup shape looks familiar but for those uncertain, this one is more apparent:

Yes, we took K & N with us (and the Mickey waffles and ketchup were for them although I'll admit to tasting both the ketchup and waffles in this format).

I suspect you have now confirmed the company, but did you guess the mode?

Still stumped?  Try this one...

If you haven't guessed it by now, we took a 7 day cruise on the Western Caribbean on the Disney Magic.  Despite the weather, we had a fabulous time!  The photo above is from our first stop at Key West, Florida before we ventured onto Grand Cayman (where it was hot and humid), Cozumel (Mexico), and, our favorite port, Castaway Cay.  The weather was windy and chilly in Cozumel and Castaway Cay although K & N braved the wind and chills to play in the sand at Castaway Cay anyway.  Suffice it to say,

• N is lamenting having to leave the cruise (& was already requesting to go on another cruise during our transport home by aircraft),
• K is pretending she's a room hostess and has been placing her blankets & stuffies on the master bed for the last 2 evenings (as she apparently can't create the towel animals)
• I am lamenting not having a room host/hostess to clean up after us
• N and I are lamenting not having servers and
• I am lamenting not having a chef to prepare our meals as I now have to ponder how to coordinate meals, a task I can apparently lose capacity to do within 1 week of leaving home.

There's so much to share so I'll post again soon!

we have not forgotten

Just as I decorate seasonally, I tend to read children's books seasonally too to K and N.  As they are getting older, I try to read books with more depth so that they understand the contexts and history of our holidays.

Today is no exception.  Although the children have participated in Remembrance Day activities through school, for the last week or so at home, we've been reading Hana's Suitcase.

I recall reading Anne Frank's Diary as well as other Holocaust books starting when I was in Grade 3.  World War II history has been of significant influence within my childhood and, in fact, my adult life as it paved the foundation for my interest in the area of human rights.

I guessed correctly that K (in Grade 2) was ready to explore this historic period with me.  Hana's Suitcase has presented an opportunity to discuss discrimination and the role of individual and collective freedoms in society.  We have discussed how fortunate we are to live where and when we are.  We have discussed the importance of reading books such as these so that those who have gone through such traumatic events are not forgotten.

Meanwhile, Remembrance Day is observed in our home. Due to poor weather and roads, we observed the ceremony on television.  We spoke of my dh's grandfathers and father's involvement in World War I and World War II.

We have not forgotten.

All the spirits around here

The week o' Hallow'een activities is over!  The festivities started last weekend with a Halloween party where K chose to be a cowgirl, N a witch.  We skipped N's musical theatre class as I was running short time-wise and she was supposed to dress up for class on Monday!  Of course we had the school costume parade on Friday where K was Anne of Green Gables and N was tickled pink gold with purple bobbles to join the horde of kindergarten princesses.

To my astonishment, K and N both decided to don the furry costumes this evening ~ no doubt they were wary of being cold outside!  Not once while wearing their furry costumes did they complain of being cold (although we had to come home to get their mitts once we had canvassed our slushy/snowy block for treats).  As I look at this photo of K, it is apparent that she has now outgrown all the furry warm costumes I have on hand!  We will have to plan a better "outside" costume for her next year (although we had planned for her to be a cowgirl this evening but she insisted on a furry costume)!

There weren't many kids out hallow'eening this year.  We had merely 19 kids at our door.  It could be that it is an "old" neighbourhood, or perhaps some families don't participate for religious reasons or safety concerns.  We participate in it because we don't have a chance to see our neighbours very often and it is a good opportunity to have a chat before we hibernate for winter!  For me, Hallow'een is about the spirit of community and making sure that children feel safe within their neighbourhood.

As K readied for bed this evening, her mind was already set on the next event: St Nicholas' Day when gifts arrive unexpectedly at our door in early December.  We had a chat about the spirit of giving.  One day, we will have a chat about the spirit of friendship, the foundation of St Nicholas' Day.

scrappin'

Although I've been really occupied with work lately, I have managed to squeeze a little time for crafting on the side.  I have been taking a Big Picture Class, "Adventures in Scrapbooking: Use Your Stash", but haven't been following it as attentively as my first class, "Baker's Dozen".  (I really enjoyed Baker's Dozen.)

I have managed to do a couple baby layouts using photos that have been hanging around with my baby stash (and yes, I have my stash organized based upon seasons/occasions ~ call me "uptight" but I can usually find things reasonably quickly!) ...

I was delighted to finally able to incorporate K's baby barrettes into a layout!  Every time I see them, I think of her!

This layout didn't turn out as I had planned.  Its title is "Sweet Dreams" and the word "dreams" is designed into the patterned paper and located below "Sweet".  I just couldn't figure out a way of raising attention to dreams.  Working on a layout is like working on a puzzle to me.

Journalling is a very important part of my scrapbooking.  It is fun to play with paper and tangible things (buttons, accessories) but the journalling gets me each time.  It is a wonderful way to record memories!

golden oldies

As I type this post, I hear an energetic discussion by two girls, aged 5 & 7 years, as they try to organize my dh's collection of 1960s and 1970s CD (music).  They are organizing the CDs into the "girl pile" or the "boy pile".  Where they don't know if the performer is male or female which happens most frequently, they load up the CD to check it out. (ie: "I've got to check this one out... I don't know if it's a boy" ~ happens to be Cat Stevens).  (Oops, here's Sweet Home Alabama which was conclusively decided as "boy stuff".  They then grumble how there is too much boy stuff.)

Earlier, they had a heated debate over care of the CDs.  As they pointed out, these CDs are really old because they make reference to 1960s Greatest Hits or 1970s Greatest Hits and, considering they constantly hear me talk about taking good care of vintage household goodies, they have been carrying the CDs carefully because they are, after all, very old.

Wait until they discover his LPs.  If only we had a record player for them to listen to the LPs.

the school year begins!

It's that time of year: the beginning of school.  This morning, K woke up around 4 a.m. wondering whether it was morning yet as she was anxious to go to school to start grade 2.  N attended her kindergarten orientation this afternoon.  Both K & N took apples for their teachers this afternoon.  They both had a great first day and are excited to return to school.

I never realized how much of parenting was an act of self-discipline.  In the early years, self-discipline consisted mostly of eating good and healthy food groups.  Now, as we start the school year, I am bracing myself to do the daily reading (in French) with K.

Last week, I started piano lessons K started group piano lessons with Music for Young Children (MYC) which is an excellent program to introduce children to piano, music theory and ear training.  I really wish I had the opportunity to participate in elementary group piano lessons as a child as they are so much more fun than having personal piano study with a teacher.  However, I have already done my 6+ years of piano study as a child so I find attending one-hour long group lessons and monitoring practices a bit burdensome!

Today, I registered K in Kumon so that she can practice and improve her math skills.  I'm hoping that she'll see the fruits of her labour herself so that she will develop self-discipline.  Yup, I know: wishful thinking.  My dh has volunteered to take her to Kumon class once per week.

With all this self-discipline that I am exercising and modelling, you'd think that I'd be able to climb mountains.  Nicht.  I suspect my personal self-discipline is fully consumed in parenting.

Victoria highlights

It seems like so long ago that we were in Victoria!  As you may recall, we travelled there so that I could attend a Conference.  It was delightfully set in a very central location at Victoria's Fairmont Empress Hotel:

The grounds of the Hotel were heavenly maintained.  The view of the harbour from the Hotel is exquisite.  The hallways and the public areas of the Hotel were enchanting and stately.  Even the hallways to the hotel rooms were filled with period details.

Even though its standard rooms are adequate with two double beds and teeny tiny toilet facilities for a family of 4, the Empress' central location couldn't be beat.

I had forgot what it is like to sit at a conference crammed with too many registrants, without tables, for 7 hours per day.  The conference itself had highlights and I much appreciated having the long days (Monday & Friday) sandwiched in between short days (Tuesday & Thursday).  Without a question, a highlight of the Conference occurred the Sunday evening with the entry and meeting and greeting of Queen Elizabeth:

I rounded up K and N and returned them to the reception to meet "the Queen".  You could just picture K's little bucket-list where she must have had written "Meet the Queen" and a nice big check-mark beside it that evening!  I have pondered telling them the truth about "the Queen" but it would likely be futile: I broke the news about the Easter Bunny myth to them a couple Easters ago and, within seconds of my explanation, they turned to me and inquired when the Easter Bunny would be coming.  It's more fun to let them think they met the Queen.

woof!

K had her 7th birthday this past week.  Yesterday was her dog-themed party with her friends!  We had black Scottish terrier dog licorice and dog-earred head-bands greeting the girls at the door along with black face-paint for whiskers and doggie-nose (and some of the girls wanted dots like dalmatians).  After the craft (using clay to decorate mirror and box ~ not specifically doggie themed!), I felt sadistic watching the girls play:

• plush puppy toss (no cruelty to animals intended here)
•  pin the paw on the puppy
• rawhide bone scavenger hunt
• waterbowl races (individual carrying of spoons of water to the puppy's bowl and team-work in carrying 1/4 cups of water to the water-bowl)

Following a hot-dog supper, a birthday cake with Mary Engelbreit scottish terrier and cherry toppings were served.  It was a cake from a bakery (because I had run out of cocoa and steam after making 2 cakes for her for daycare and family parties) and the best thing about the cake were the Mary Engelbreit toppings!

Of course, the treat bags for her friends included doggie themed treats including puppy tattoos, candy-necklace collars, and Claire's happened to have lots of dog-themed doodads like little lip-glosses.  Mary Engelbreit scottish terrier chipboard and "friends" ribbon was used to dress up the Dollarama treat bags.

K was quite determined that her party with her friends include no gifts.  Instead, she requested donations for the local Humane Society so we have quite the collection of rawhide bones.  I wonder where we'll be heading sometime soon?

Picture Summer

I had such a great time doing Big Picture Scrapbooking's Baker's Dozen class that I signed up for Picture Summer as well.  It started July 1.  I am now 3 days behind.

I suspected that it was for the camera endowed those who tote loaded cameras, not for my sleek almost 5 year old Canon Powershot!  But I'm not one to read the fine-print regarding online stuff (as the wee font causes my aging 4-eyes to go cross-eyed) so I signed up for the class with the meagre hope that it would at least prompt me to explore the features I currently have on my Powershot.  Plus, K has expressed an interest in photography (and all things "art") so I have suggested that we'd take the class together which she has delightfully accepted.  So, my poor Powershot will not only be subjected to my naive groping of it but also K's; I'm just hoping that it manages to make it through the class without being dropped or damaged by myself or by K.  (The second prompt includes water ~ I will avoid mentioning that one to K!)

I am additionally challenged because I don't have Photoshop (and have never used it ~ as my photos on my blog can attest!) but hope to rely on iPhoto's editing software (which, frankly, is built for my limited skillset).  I am just wondering whether I will be able to withstand the urge to purchase Photoshop or rely on some free online similar site for the next 30 days.

So here's the head's up: I anticipate posting a few of my inspired shots K's photos over the next 30 days.  Consider yourself warned!

the finger

Apparently, one of K's classmates was getting into trouble for brandishing the finger at school.  She was quite expressive about the finger so now N has picked up on it too.  It has been one of the main topics of conversation during supper-hour, snack-time and during bedtime rituals.  I reinforced that the finger was rude and using the finger would result in consequences (ie: potential loss of allowances to the finger-toll and/or loss of tv privileges).

Four-year old N was quite curious about the finger at bedtime.  She methodically went through the various finger combinations identifying and confirming which ones would get her into trouble.  I warned her not to use the finger at school or that she could find herself in the Principal's office.  "And you know what that means?", I asked.  Big-eyed, she nodded her head.  "Trouble", I replied.

N asked, "Does Mrs. J [preschool teacher] know what the finger means?" (and keep in mind that N sounds like a New Englander with her inability to pronounce her "r"s).  I assured her Mrs J did.

Six-year old K and N don't know what the finger means, just that it is verboten.  They know it is rude and not acceptable.  I told N that using the finger shows that a person lacks language skills to express his feelings and thoughts.

The excitement over the finger this evening has caused me to reflect on other incidents with the finger that have occurred during my life.  For example, I recall my mother driving (with me as passenger) in the 1980s when someone drove past her in annoyance and flipped her the bird.  She didn't react at all because she didn't know what the bird meant.  When I told her what it meant, she immediately reacted by throwing her index finger up in the air and shaking it in reply to the offender.  My mother had the darndest time figuring out which was the finger.

Another time, my younger sister was driving in Los Angeles (with me as passenger) and we were getting horribly lost.  She was annoyed with me and the crappy map that we had of LA.  Someone honked the horn behind her.  She flipped the bird.  I expected to die at that moment from gunshot wounds.  I slouched down in my seat for a little while after that incident.

How about you?  Any favorite incidents you'd like to share about the finger?

don't ask me to do a cartwheel either

K and N have been begging to take gymnastics.  They don't seem to realize that they don't come from "gymnast" stock.

In grade 3, I took gymnastics.  My mother volunteered (as required) one evening.  The teacher observed me trying to get over the vaulting horse, shook her head and commented to the effect, "Look at that one".  My mother nodded wisely and admitted, "That one's mine".

In grade 10 (mandatory) gym class, I was determined to get over the vaulting horse again.  The gym teacher promised to spot me.  I took the first run at the springboard but I was too long.  The second run, I was too short.  I decided I'd give it one more try.  Meanwhile, the teacher prepared to spot me.  I cleared the horse, knocking both of us onto the mat.

Of gymnast stock?  Not me.  So far, neither K nor N seem promising gymnasts but they are determined.  (Apparently, their determination has been inherited from me).

Perhaps I should introduce them to the Ross Sisters?  Perhaps they would understand then?

Easter prep

This place is abuzz with Easter excitement.  We decorated eggs yesterday:

As I felt guilty that I ran out of time to use my bunny cookie-cutter to make cookies this Lent season, I decided to make little bread treats for K and N this morning.  I even contemplated mixing cream cheese with strawberry jam as a topping for the bunnies and to make them pink.  Good thing I didn't take that extra step.  When N entered the kitchen and spied the bunnies, she announced, "I'm not going to eat that"!  I coaxed her to eat the bread and butter with a little peanut butter!  I used the bread crust/remnants to make eggs in a nest for my dh and me for breakfast! *

We had our first "Almost Sleepover" last evening where both K and N had a friend each over for the evening.  We played outside for a bit, came inside and made a craft, then the girls got into their pjs and had popcorn and a soda float while getting their fingernails polished.  After brushing of teeth and washing up, they then voted on which Disney cartoon to watch and managed to get a few minutes in watching it before their parents arrived to pick them up.  That's my kinda sleepover!!

K and N are very excited that the Easter Bunny is coming tomorrow.  You may recall that I tried to debunk the myth last year to failed effect so I didn't bother to try this year.  K is convinced that she heard the Easter Bunny bounding around the house last year and is trying to entice me and N to sleep in her room tonight so that we can listen for the Bunny.  N found a hare in our front yard yesterday afternoon and she's convinced it is somehow in cahoots with the Easter Bunny.

Happy Easter!!

*Egg in a nest is a recipe where you butter both sides of a slice of bread, cut a hole in the centre of the bread and place it in a frying pan.  Add an egg in the hole in the bread and fry the bread and egg.

if you can put a woman on Mars, can't you let her compete in a ski-jump?

I was born in 1967.  I recall vividly thinking that I could be an astronaut when I grew up.  It seemed like such a feasible dream.  Somehow I gained the impression that, when I was older, people would travel in space with the ease that they travelled in an airplane.  The opportunities seemed endless: I could be a journalist, a doctor, any occupation so long as I applied myself; the doors seemed wide open.

It never really occurred to me that I could be in the Olympics. Perhaps it was something that I never really entertained because {clearing of throat} I'm not gifted athletically.  Simply put, I was one of the last kids chosen in "Red Rover".  I didn't see the Olympics as my destiny or that of virtually anyone I knew.  For the first 37+ years of my life, the Olympics was something to watch on tv (when there was nothing else on); the Olympic athlete was someone to watch on tv representing far away places.

Fast forward 37 years and I personally knew a coach and (indirectly) his daughter who competed with the Canadian women's curling team in the 2006 Olympics.  Our wedding's MC is officiating in the speed skating event and his son is on the Canadian speedskating team for this Olympics.  What didn't seem feasible is becoming feasible.

Or perhaps mostly feasible.  My 6-year old daughter is quite irritated that women aren't permitted to compete in the Olympics ski-jumping competition.  Even at the age of six years, she's fiercely aware of gender inequities and will forcefully state her position that women can ski-jump as well as men.

Watch out, IOC (International Olympic Committee). You have to justify your action to the upcoming generation.