Gotta Pay Ta Play!

Lovey has been dying to join the band at school. She asked at least 57 times. She promised she'd be rseponsible and do a good job practicing. A couple of days she came straight int eh door from schoola nd buckled right down to work on her pieces without being told. She was desperate to join!

As you can see on the form below, violin wasn't one of the instruments and there was no way we were going to beg, plead, cajole, lecture her into practicing TWO instruments every day. We didn't let her join when the form came home originally. We already have a hard time getting her to do what she needs to now and it sometimes takes her 20 minutes sitting in front of the case, just to open it and get the violin out! Hobbies shouldn't be this much work for US!

A friend who did join mentioned last week that another boy in the band was playing violin. Lovey revived her "join the band" campaign instantly. I still wasn't keen on the idea as it will mean more songs to practice and it's already taking her an hour to get through her pieces each night now.

I told her that she had to pay half the fees if she wanted to prove how serious she is about joining and practicing. She has the opportunity to earn the money back by doing as she promised, practicing daily without Herculean efforts on our part five times a week. (she has a lesson one day and doesn't practice then, and well, Murray can wrangle her the other day. I just broker the deals) That dampened her enthusiasm a bit. Her desire was no longer so strong. $25 represents most of the savings she had built up.

Today I told her she had to decide by Monday and she mentioned her reluctance to part with her cash. I explained that she either really wanted to do band and would do a good job and get her money back - OR - she wasn't actually that interested and wasn't going to do the work she promised and forfeit the $25 so which was it. She had her money on the counter a few  hours later.

Any bets on the status of her refund 5 weeks hence???

Movember for everyone!

It's not just for the fellows anymore apparently! Their school had a fundraiser and today they could wear a mustache if they brought in a donation for cancer. These were drawn on in a hurry as the bus approached but they did the trick!

Lovey's class had won a reward and had a movie and pj day in their class! AND it was pizza day for hot lunch AND they were finally writing their science quiz that she'd been excitedly preparing for all week. She came home after school and said she was disappointed because the questions weren't what she'd studied at all! She had prepared to list all the names of different types of rocks and how each was made, under what conditions etc Instead, they had questions like "true or false, a rock is a living thing". I'm going to assume she did well on the quiz!

Cozied Up!

Grammie and Grandad came down to see Lovey & Honey's big game (they won 8-2). They then went out to run some errands and made it back for supper and movie night. Everyone was snug and cozy with lots of snacks for the evening's entertainment! Good times!

Sparkling Good Times!

Last Friday the weather was decent and we had no plans and a lot of brush to burn so we invited a few people over for a bonfire.
Acorn came home from school with us and had supper here before the fire got underway. Teena & her crew came with special coffee and beverages to share with Murray who appreciated her reverse hospitality!We had lots of marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate for s'mores though!

Tulip and the girl next door came over too and there was lots of racing around, playing on the trampoline and of course the requisite squealing and giggling. Teena & Dale brought Frank over to play with Checkers and they put on lots of miles that night too! Checkers didn't seem to tire of Frank's attentions and kept going back for more anytime Frank was removed from his dominant position! Everyone slept well that night for sure!

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Shattered Things

In 1999 Murray and I went on a trip to Mexico since we hadn't gone far for our honeymoon. While there, the hotel had a little "paint your own Mexican jar" station and my friend Aime and I each made one. It has housed our QTips in the bathroom ever since. That is, it did until one fateful night! I'm not sure what happened but when I followed the source of the screaming sobs, I found the jar smashed in the sink and Honey extremely upset and Sweetie nonchalantly brushing her teeth. Sweetie has an unfortunate habit of being rough with things, using things for other than what they're intended for and well, a lot of stuff seems to happen on Sweetie's watch. She'd already done something to chip the jar on another night so I assumed she'd dropped it and poor Honey was empathizing with my loss. I told them it was late and not to worry about it, it was old and not expensive or anything. Honey cried harder and harder and finally I realized she had broken it. Still the same message but it bothered her a lot when I threw the pieces away.

Tonight I found this on my nighstand. She'd scrounged up one of the shards and turned it into a pendant and put it on a necklace for me! I couldn't get over how she'd done this all on her own and how thoughtful it was!

 

Note says: I'm really sorry. I know you said it was ok but I made this for you anyway. I heart U

That's my Honey Bunny!

Game ON!

Sunday night was dubbed "family game night" and we played an entertaining round of Creationary. I am officially awful at Lego. Just for the record! I managed to cobble together a butterfly with several pieces, none of which touched. I'm pretty sure that's NOT how Lego is supposed to work. Regardless, I got the point for my "creation"! Based on the volume of the laughter, I'd say everyone had a good time!

1 Year Old!

The boy had his first birthday last week! There's still a lot of puppy in him though! Thursday is the busiest day here so we ate dinner after school, went off to different activities and all met back here for cake. Checkers was quite enthusiastic about his piece but didn't much care for posing with the cake while it had the candle on it! He also go some special treats and a new toy. The girls wanted to have a big party with everyone else that has a dog but that wasn't possible on a Thursday!

Busted!

Oldtimers, my foot! They're brutes out there! Murray had a game a couple weeks ago and came home with a  sore arm after being sandwiched in the corner between the boards and some goon. Afterwards, one of Murray's teammates confided "yeah, I never go in the corner with that guy!" This information would have been handier BEFOREHAND but live and learn I guess!

His wrist was quite swollen but he thought it was just a sprain and didn't want to waste time sitting around waiting for some X-Ray. He felt they wouldn't be able to do much for him and he'd just keep it really still on his own. A week later things hadn't improved and he decided to head to the hospital. Many hours later, a fracture was confirmed and a temporary cast was put on. A few days later he got this snazzy blue fibre glass number. He's not loving it. They applied it tightly and it's so uncomfortable that it keeps him awake at night. Follow up appointment on Thursday, hopefully they can relieve some of the discomfort. If he's not sleeping and not getting to play hockey, I'm not sure how long it's safe for us to be around him!!!

Have Homework, will travel!

Our schedule has gotten a little fuller now that hockey is in full swing.  On Mondays there isn't much point in them coming home as they have to turn around and head back out 30 minutes later and they lose almost an hour on the bus. I pick them up instead and we go somewhere and do homework until it's time for practice. Last week we went to Tim Horton's and they used their gift cards from Uncle Dale (I had to use my own money though, no one was springing for my danish! haha!)

Honey & Sweetie quizzed each other on spelling while I listened to Lovey's reading. Teaming up saves time and gets homework done faster. Win/Win!

POG!!!

Guess who was named Player Of the Game last week?!?!?? and was awarded the coveted GOLDEN JERSEY? Our little Honey Bunny that's who! She was so pleased and proud to be chosen and couldn't wait for the practice the next day! They wear it to the practice and then turn it in for someone else to get at the next game.

On Monday's practice she got dressed and then looked at me expectantly while I was tying Lovey's skates. "Well? Aren't you going to take my picture?!?!?" I laughed and said we'd already done that at Grammie's! She said "Well take ANOTHER one!" I didn't get a chance by the time Lovey was ready, they were already heading for the ice.

Lovey never mentioned anything about Honey getting POG and she's working hard most games so maybe she'll get to wear it soon too.

While waiting for supper, Grandad took them for a spin on the golf cart and they each had an opportunity to drive but Lovey was the only one who went for it. She's got some work to do on her turning, braking, distance perception and speed control. There are a couple of pines that Dad had never intended to get such a close up view of!!!

Mice Will Play!

Last weekend, Honey & Lovey had an out of town game but Sweetie and I stayed behind for her gymnastics lesson and to look after Checkers. But it didn't seem fair that THEY were going out for supper without us so we headed to the hotel (kids eat free! Coupon Kelly strikes again!) and some fish & chips (me) and chicken fingers (her). She gives high marks to the french fries at this place and couldn't even finish her chicken. Strangely enough she had plenty of room for her brownie dessert and didn't feel that I needed to help her at all!

We had a nice time and took Checkers out for a walk when we got back so he was pretty happy too!

Gym wedding

Another big night out for Murray and I recently! My friend at the gym was getting married and invited us all to her reception. We booked the sitter and ran for the hills and danced the evening away! It was quite a swanky party with fireworks and a mountain of cupcakes. The downside of hanging out with your diligent and fit gym friends: you don't indulge at the cupcake tower! 3 minis for me and then I'm pretty sure I danced them all off again, so it's not all bad I guess!

One of my sweet & encouraging instructors!

Wasn't that a party?

My birthday celebration in October was quite festive! the girls put up banners and signs and made some sweet cards. They helped Murray decorate the cake and they did a great job! My family came for dinner and Murray's parents made the trip too. The girls got Murray to take them out shopping and picked out their own presents. Sweetie insisted on paying for everything herself and I think she really spoiled me! She also used her sewing kit to make me a purse out of fabric she had.

Murray got these little camera earrings for me, aren't they the cutest!??!? Love them!

Rocky Mountain Getaway!

This year my photography friends had trouble planning our weekend getaway. We wanted people to come to Canada and meet in Banff. Many of them didn't have passports and were put off by the idea of having to get one, and then when they looked at the cost of airfare to get up here, interest dropped off quite a bit and the trip didn't come together this spring. A few of us still wanted to get together so 4 of us met up out west and went to Banff and toured the mountains!

It was a long trip and required more time away from home than previous years but it was so much fun! Murray had a marathon while I was gone and had to arrange some childcare at the race location but it turned out his family was still at the cottage which wasn't far from the race! I'd put up some meals and desserts before I left so that helped a bit and they managed to hold down the fort while I was gone.

It was great to see my friends again although we didn't plan any practice sessions or workshops this year. I kindof missed that part as it's so much easier for me to learn by watching others do stuff than reading about it in a manual or in an online post. Hopefully next year there will be more interest and participation. Luckily I already have a passport and don't have to leap that hurdle! haha!

Many thanks to my inlaws for giving me the points and funds to book the trip through Aeroplan!

Sending  home love notes to my girls from the mountains!

Me, Rhonda, rainbows and photobombers!

Jenny & I

Krista & I in the gondola on the way up the mountain.

That's a LOT of chocolate!

Krista and Rhonda purchased "murtles" the size of their heads!

Rhonda set up our own mini bar in her guestroom for us!

Heading out for dinner at The Melting Pot (to die for!!!)

Waiting for our table.

Cooking up some deliciousness!

Got to to out to lunch with my hip Upper Canadian cousin during my layover.

My welcome home committee at the airport. Home sweet home!
 It was longer than I liked to be away but I had a great time. My late night connections meant I had to stay an extra night each way so I was glad to get back my peeps!

Tabby

This fall I couldn't talk anyone from my house into going apple picking! Luckily my friend Tabby loves me enough to invite me along with her. She had the same problem with her house. So we went together and found lots of tasty apples. Unfortunately I mistakenly picked THE best (ie most expensive!) eating apples instead of the cooking apples I was actually after. Oh well. Pies, crumbles and applesauces this year were a little on the decadent side and we'll be more careful next year!

It was Tabby's daughter's bday shortly after mine and way back in June she'd had a rough time at school. Tabby is a healthy eater and doesn't have much dessert at her house. (how she puts up with my extravagant dessert lifestyle, I'll never know!) She made the mistake of showing her daughter the pool cake I made for the girls' bday party this year, and her daughter was bemoaning to me how lucky my kids were that I made stuff like that for them. I told her I'd fix her up this year for her birthday and marked the date on my calendar. Little did I know at the time how tricky that was going to be! When I looked at the week's line up when it appeared on the calendar, my heart fell. Her birthday ended up being during the weekend that I was going to Banff! How was I going to deliver on that promise!??!? I had to get the house in order for my departure, I had clients waiting for their proofs, I wanted to get meals and desserts in the freezer so it'd be easier for Murray while I was gone. How was I going to prepare and deliver a cake while I was halfway across the country?!?!?

Then I remembered I could freeze the cake! She was really excited about the Kit Kat candy cake idea I'd sent her so I decided to stick with that and keep it simple. No fancy icing manoeuvres required! I baked the cakes and put it all together, tied it with a ribbon in her favourite colour and boxed it up and delivered it Wednesday morning and then flew out that night. It was a big hit at her birthday and thawed out just fine. I know it wasn't fresh but nobody cared and she felt special and enjoyed the spoiling so that was the important thing. Her brother's eyes almost popped out of his head and I think I'm going to have to even things up for his birthday or I'll be in trouble with him!

BFFs Totally Rock!

While we're on the topic of birthdays, I had one too! Teena invited me over for lunch to spoil me rotten for mine and I ate it up with a spoon. Literally! She made me an incredibly delicious Italian Wedding Soup- FROM SCRATCH! It was so delicious and I got to take home the leftovers. I got several lunches out of it and was thrilled to pull that out of the fridge. It was a sad day when I had to go back to regular food for lunch. As if that wasn't a huge enough treat, she got me my favourite cake for dessert, pound cake! Yumm doesn't begin to cover this lunch. Birthday presents like this don't grown on trees!!!

Happy Birthday Boo!

Boo reached the 9 year mark this fall and had a swimming party at a hotel downtown. There were lots of little girls, lots of giggling and squealing so I think that's a successful celebration! Besides, there were french fries and icecream cake, what more could a girl ask for?!?!?

Partying with Uncle Dale