a time to dance.

Yesterday we drove in the pouring rain to Fort Saskatchewan so Hunter could dance in the year end recital for her ballet school. We had initally planned to skip it because we are so tired of the extra-curricular schedule,but the office manager phoned to let me know that I hadn't picked up my tickets yet and that Hunter was getting an award. So we decided to go (I did not tell her so it could be a surprise) and our little dancer was awarded a small trophy for "effort, hard work and enthusiasm" in her Grade 2 ballet class. So proud of her. I feel so incredibly lucky to have this fun, intelligent, happy, loving child for my daughter. She is such a great kid, but it makes me so warm inside when other people tell me what a great kid she is. Especially when I go to a parent/teacher meeting at school and her grade 4 teacher tells me what a "treasure" she is. I am so proud of the way she is growing up. Sometimes I wonder what I did to deserve this wonderful child.

SHE makes me happy.

a goalie invades the bedroom,the tooth fairy brings clothes and breakfast with bubbles...

Last night Ron took the kids out for a bit of shopping. Nicholas was visiting yesterday with his new goalie gear, and Tyler was positively green with envy. There were a few tears shed, so Daddy decided to take Tyler out shopping for some goalie gear and Hunter was going to receive cash in the same amount for our trip to American Girl. They went to Walmart, Toys R Us and Canadian Tire before finding what they were looking for. So the little goalie is happy now. He came into my room this morning fully suited up(despite vomiting a few times in the night), rolling around singing "O Canada" in a crazy mixed up version of French and English.

While they were out shopping, I ran out and did a little shopping of my own. I went to Please Mum where a 50% off sale was happening. I picked up for Hunter an orange skirt and top, and matching pink skirts and tops for her & Charlotte. We will give Charlotte's to her for her birthday when we go home. When I arrived home, Hunter came to show me a very wiggly tooth. She actually let me pull it out for her, but I told her that the tooth fairy was out of cash and was giving her an oufit instead. More than a fair trade, don't you think?

It's Saturday and Ron has gone to get his Jeep detailed for the "Presidential Tour" happening this week. He just called to tell me that he was at BUBBLES. Haha. Now, I could not resist asking if BUBBLES was there, where was Julian and Ricky, did they serve rum and coke, etc. I'm sorry, but a business named BUBBLES is just crying out for some TRAILER PARK BOYS remarks.

Tyler is on the sofa watching TV. He was sick a few times last night, so we are keeping a low profile today. Hunter just tumbled out of bed. It's 8:31, and I haven't done a single thing yet today with the exception of blogging. I 'm tired. I slept on the corner of Tyler's bed last night so I could be there when he was sick. Not the best sleep. Now off to eat some Fiber 1 for breakfast.

wake up call.

I was awakened this morning by a smiley boy who happily announced that I could go back to bed for "two hours" because he was making a "surprise" for me and that I could "go to the washroom or either watch TV, but stay in my pyjamas in the bedroom." I hated to burst his happy bubble by reminding him that it was a school day and we had to get up and get going. So I never did get my surprise, but I think it was breakfast a la Tyler.

So cool that at five years old, he knows that nothing makes me happier than almost staying in my pyjamas for two hours.

pain in the neck.

This morning I woke up with a huge pain in the neck. Ouch. Hurts to look up or down and turn sideways. Not sure what I did but I cleaned out a couple of closets this weekend, so I must have lifted something the wrong way, not realizing I was straining something. I hope it will be better tomorrow.

The kids had so much fun last week attending the International Childrens Festival here in St. Albert. Childrens entertainers brought in from all over the world to share their talents in theatre, music, acrobatics, rhythm and culture with our children. It was fantastic to see such a child-focused event. Tyler's class attended the Rhythm and Music Tent to see a 40 minute French Canadian song and dance show. It was fun to see him trying out square dancing. Afterwards, we went to the face-painting and balloon animal tent, followed up by a couple turns in the bouncing tents. The next day his class attended a live performance in the Arden Theatre by an Australian Theatre Company called Gecko. The show, "Hidden Dragons" contained lively martial arts sequences, billowing silk and dream sequences. Tyler loved it. An appropriate choice for his age group. Hunter's class attended a paper-making session, a show called, "Sharon, Keep Ya Hair On" by an Australian story teller, as well as free time for face-painting, balloon animals, tattoos, etc. Hunter was invited after school by Alexandra to walk around the Festival for some more fun. Nothing could have made her happier.

under the covers.

I have been on a reading frenzy these past few days. I have been hiding under the covers with books. Last week I happened to catch Elie Wiesel on Oprah where he was talking about his visit to Auschwitz with Oprah in January. I felt compelled to pick up his book and read it. "Night" is a good 3-4 hour read, but it is powerful to read his story. Elie was a teenager when he and his family were taken from their home in Transylvania and sent to Auschwitz concentration camp. He would never see his mother or sisters again, while his father would die in the camp only days before liberation. The hunger, the fear and the terror. This is a testamony to what happened in the camps-one that you can never forget.

On my reading list was My Friend Leonard by James Frey. I enjoyed it, but it is a little harder to read as autobiographical after everything that has happened. I treat this book more like fiction, but then I question every biography or autobiography I read. Questions run through my head, like: how can this author really remember this incident in such vivid detail at only 3 years old, how can they remember this meal, this event, etc.?!

I also started to read "The Known World" by Edward P. Jones, which is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel, but as much as I tried, I could not get "into" this book. So many characters and personal histories thrown out in the first couple of chapters that I really had to work at keeping up who was who. Not fun. Maybe this book will "speak" to me at another time.

wealth.

I have been thinking about this concept lately. What does wealth mean to you? Here in Alberta, wealth means expensive houses, hummers, bmw's, mercedes benz, big campers and everything else that represents a pay cheque. West Edmonton Mall represents wealth. A place where you can go to spend, spend, spend.

But i miss the wealth in Nova Scotia. And I don't mean material wealth. Nova Scotia is filled with wealth.

The wealth of beauty.
Oceans and breezes. greenery and blossoms.
There are no crystal blue oceans or salty breezes here. The rocky mountains are beautiful, but here in Edmonton, they are not accessible on an every day basis.

The wealth of space.
You can drive 5 minutes in any direction and be in the middle of nowhere.

Wealth of peace and quiet.
Would love a chance to sleep in where the only sound brought to your ears is the sound of birds.
The noise level of the traffic here is so unforgiving and it drives me crazy at times.

Wealth of small town life.
I love how at home, you can go for a Sunday drive and meander along down a country road.
Forget yourself for a moment here by not keeping your foot on the gas pedal, and people are honking at you and passing. What's the rush? Slow down and feel life. Edmonton is a rat race.Where are all the rats going to in such a hurry?

Wealth of knowing how to slow down and relax. chill.
Here is all about perfect lawns, perfect grass, clean cars, everybody has to be doing something every minute of every single day. When you look out the window on the weekends, it's all about mow, mow, mow and trim, trim, trim. So what if your grass is 1/8 of an inch too high?
Just slow down and stop. Chill. Take it slow. Soak up the sun. Have a beer and just chill.
It is not so easy to find that here.

Wealth is not about the "stuff". It's about quality of life. It's about relationships.
It's not about a pay cheque.

Ron is searching for his wealth in Alberta. Third day in a row he has gone scouting for a fishing lake.

There are lots of things we do like here.

But I can't wait to go home.

Feel a salty breeze. Sleep in to the sound of birds. Go for a country drive. Chill at the Farmer's Market on a Saturday morning.

Hug my family.

blunt.

Man, tonight I was flipping thru the channels when i happend to catch james blunt on mmm in concernt. it was so fantastic. love his music and his message and his purity. does that make sense? just his sense of self and how he is so not rock star-ish. he is just about his music.

weeman is up. he wants a "snuggle". i never want him to grow up. weeman, grow smaller please.