The Classic School Christmas Program

Brookie and her class were the finale in the Caronport Elementary School Christmas Program. They counted their way through the holidays with each child taking part in one of the numbers. Brookie was partnered with her friend in grade two to bring us all “two Christmas wreaths to hang on our door with mistletoe and holly and ribbons and more.” She said her line very clearly and with a big smile on her face. My favourite part was at the very end after they took a well-deserved bow, Brookie looked right at me, smiled and waved. She was so proud of herself and was so glad I was there to see her. There is something so poignant about those moments with your child. They are perfectly happy, knowing that you are there.

It is going to be a good Christmas.

~Mandy

A Rosie Christmas

Today Sean and I joined all the other parents at Rosie’s preschool to watch a Christmas program. It was a collection of songs that the kids had learned over the past few weeks to share with us. Rosie dressed in her fanciest dress for the occasion and even picked out the shirt she wanted me to wear. But when it came to the actual songs, our wee Rosie was . . . well, quite bored. She took part in the ones she liked but felt free to kind of sit out on the rest. She doesn’t buy into the whole thing even when there are people watching. She does things her way and that is that.

 

The jingle bells and “Jesus songs” and wishes of merry Christmases made for a festive morning. We had a wonderful time watching our little Rosie shine (when she wanted to) and she has started this Christmas season off well. Thank you, Rosie!

~Mandy

Brookie’s 6th Birthday Party

It was a frigid Saturday in December when 10 excited, little girls and two adults left Caronport for the Kinsmen Pool in Moose Jaw. Brooklyn Grace Davidson was having her birthday party and we were going swimming for the afternoon. There were a lot of details to remember: car seats for everyone, the cupcakes, a lighter, candles, napkins, swimming stuff for everyone, presents, goodie bags, hats, mittens, extra blankets in case the vans broke down, music for the vans, and a camera to commemorate the occasion. So I remembered almost everything. Care to take a guess on what I forgot? Well, let’s just say that we needed to get napkins at the pool. We pretended to blow out the candles and I will need to sketch the pictures by hand. Yes – that’s right. I forgot the camera. But in a way, it is a good thing. You will get to practice using that imagination!

So imagine here is a picture of all the girls bundled up in the van, anticipating an afternoon of birthday fun.

And here is a shot of everyone at the pool, ready to start swimming. Brookie is the one in the middle with that green and pink bathing suit on. Rosie is the one leaving the picture to go down the waterslide.

Here are all the girls playing with Robert. Robert is the young, capable lifeguard we hired to entertain the kids for an hour while Sean and I soaked in the hot tub.

Here is a great shot of Sean and I in the hot tub.

This one really captures the excitement of climbing all those stairs to ride down the waterslide.

Here we are playing in the shallow end all together just before we stopped for cupcakes.

The girls all loved sitting poolside for drinks, chips, present-opening and cupcakes.

And here we are wet, tired, and ready for our drive back to Caronport.

See! Who needs a camera?

~Mandy

Through the eyes of a 5-year-old

Last Christmas Brookie got a kids’ camera. You know, the kind you can throw down the stairs and run over with the car. She took pictures all through the holidays and into the new year. She asked us a few times if we could put the pictures on the computer but I couldn’t find the cable and I seemed to always get distracted with the monotony of the daily grind. So, long story short, we finally found the cable and actually took the time to download her photographs. Brookie sat beside me and we edited them together. The above are some of my favourites . . . especially the last one. It is a mirror. Is it just me or does this child have a good eye for line and light?

When we finally cleared all the pictures off the camera, Brookie had a renewed interest in capturing that perfect shot. I suggested that we could go out together for a photo shoot. Brookie took her camera and I took mine. Together, we wandered the neighbourhood and snapped away at anything that interested us. The following are some of those photographs.

     

There are two things that I absolutely love about Brookie, the budding photographer. Mostly, I think it is amazing that she gives me a glimpse of life from her perspective through every shot. Incredible. She sees beauty in things that I would just pass by. This is truly fantastic. The other thing about it is that Brookie literally squeals with excitement after every flash. She takes a picture, looks at it and then calls excitedly for me to come and see. She loves to take pictures. That is also truly fantastic. Nothing in this world could be better than seeing your child fill up with awe, confidence and joy as she discovers her talents and interests. Fantastic.

~Mandy

The First Day of Skating Lessons

October 30th was the first day of the girls’ skating lessons. They were so excited. I have been putting this off for a few years but because there are no dance lessons being offered this year, we decided it was a good time to skate. They had a fantastic time and they both did much better than I had expected! Here is Rosie on the ice with some skating helpers. She managed to move forward and backwards as well as doing the classic “Head and Shoulders” song all while staying upright.I call that a success.

I couldn’t get any pictures of Brookie this week because of where she was skating but I will try again next week. She did really well too. She learned how to glide forward and backward.

After all that exercise, the two little skaters happily enjoyed a snack while watching some of the other classes practise. I think it is going to be a very fun year.

~Mandy

Halloween

This Halloween we did things a bit differently. It was a full afternoon and evening affair. After getting the “pretty fairy” and Minnie Mouse all ready at home, we headed out to the Town n’ Country Mall in bustling downtown Moose Jaw where all the stores were participating in passing out candy. It was a lot of fun. The kids got a really good start on filling their candy bags and they actually got to show off their costumes without the usual winter layers.

We stopped to have some dinner and let the sun go down a bit. Then it was time to take it to the streets! We visited some beautiful, old homes in Moose Jaw for even more Halloween fun. Sean and I admired the architecture and the kids tricked and treated their way up and down the Avenues. We did some coaching beforehand about how the girls needed to actually say “trick or treat” at the doors. Nice and loudly. Then follow the candy donation with a big “thank you.” Well, you don’t need to tell Rosie twice to say it loudly – she was literally screaming at the poor people. She made at least a handful of them actually jump. Needless to say, the two girls brought many a smile to the neighbourhood. And although it was a bit chilly, the weather was quite perfect for the occasion; there was even a beautiful, big moon lighting our way.

After the fairy and Minnie tired of hoofing it up and down the street, we headed back to Caronport for a Halloween Party, complete with games, deliciously spooky snacks and friends to share it with. All in all, it was one of our best Halloweens yet!

In the morning, Sean and I awoke to the sound of candy sorting. Brookie and Rosie were in the living room, going through their bags and every few seconds we could hear Rosie squeal with excitement as she yelled, “Brookie! Look at this!”

So now begins the daily “post Halloween” rationing of the treats. And the girls are already talking about what they want to dress up as next year.

~Mandy

Our Grade One Ground Squirrel

 

Brookie’s grade 1-2 class performed their autumn production just yesterday. She was a ground squirrel. And of course, Sean, Rosie and I were there to watch one of the shows.

Brookie was excellent. Firstly, she actually dressed in brown (apparently her fellow ground squirrels missed that memo), and she had even practiced her lines ahead of time with some parental coaching on the concept of “projecting” your voice for optimal effect. She even added some squirrelly hand actions and inflection in her voice to make things a bit more interesting. We were very proud, in a biased parent kinda way.

But as a whole, this had to have been one of the lamest class plays I have ever seen. I mean boring with a capital BORING! The kids all stood, leaning against the wall, chalkboard, whatever and they never moved. Never changed position. They delivered their lines with no emotion or enthusiasm of any kind. Half of them mumbled so we couldn’t even hear them. It was painful. Finally at the end, they didn’t even get to take a bow! I mean seriously if the goal was to suck all the fun out of it, the teacher succeeded. A+. Fun had left the building.

Which just begs the question, why? Why can’t we have fun in school generally and while putting on a play specifically? Why can’t we teach the kids the basics of public speaking and of making things interesting for their audience while at the same time encouraging them to have fun acting, imagining, pretending? I don’t know. But it made me crazy. It made me scared. It made me sad.

At the end of the production, Sean and I cheered like lunatics – lots of woo hoos and clapping and whistling – mostly to wake everyone up. And I encouraged the students to bow, even overtop of the teacher’s instructions about where they all needed to put their ears. Later, when Brook got home, I let her take as many bows as she wanted.

~Mandy

Here Comes the Sun . . .

  This morning, the girls crept into our room while it was still dark and asked if they could go outside to watch the sun rise. Of course, I said. Just make sure you stay warm while you wait. When I came out to see them moments later, I found them huddled together on the deck, facing the sky and reading “Leo the Lop” as they patiently waited for the sun to make its first appearance of the day.

There are times as a mom when you feel overwhelmed with thanks that you have little people in your life to remind you of the truly important things; to creep quietly up to you while you sleep through life and whisper, “Look! Stop and look! Do you see that? Isn’t that incredible? You don’t want to miss it! Come see your gift.” And this morning was one of those times. The sun came up, we watched and then came in for some Rice Krispies. But I have to say that it really is amazing that the sun comes up every morning in all its brilliant splendour. And I am really glad I saw it. Thank you, Brookie and Rosie, for helping me see the gift. 

~Mandy

The Bunk Bed

I think this speaks for itself. The girls are finally in the same room with a bunk bed. They LOVE it. Really. I, on the other hand, think of it as a form of torture every morning when I attempt to make that top bunk while balancing precariously on the lower one, the whole time feeling as though I have been locked in a prison made of wooden slats. But the girls are blissfully unaware of that stuff.

As a side note, Sean and I pulled the classic, who-needs-to-actually-read-the-instructions? move when we were putting this contraption together. I mean it is just two exact replicas of the same bed and then we just put one on top of the other. Easy peasy lemon squeezy, as Rosie would say. We started in using our joint intuition and we were flying through, moving so smoothly like a fine tuned machine, a vision of perfect teamwork . . . until we realised that in fact the one bed was distinctly different than the other – it had railing on the sides which required pre-drilled holes. Oh . . . I see. This is why they include the instructions. Then we had lots of time to make our new plan of attack while we took the whole thing apart again.

Two English majors plus over-confidence minus instructions plus four beer plus 3 hours longer than estimated equals one awesome bunk bed and two extremely tired but excited little girls. 

~Mandy

Rosie’s First Day of Preschool (for the second time)

Our little Rosie started her second year of preschool on October 5th. She is a seasoned student now, who knows all the subtle intricacies of the preschool scene.

When I picked her up after her first day, I asked her about the new friends she had made. She informed me that one of her classmates is “aggravating”. When I asked why, she explained that this person, “talks too much.” Too funny. So let that be a lesson to you, with Rosie, get to your point and do it quickly.

~Mandy

One Last Glimpse of Summer

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It was the end of September. The girls and I decided it was such a perfect day that we needed to spend the afternoon in the park. I am so glad we did because it is the beginning of October now and I am looking out over a winter wonderland! Life is good when you are at the park, enjoying summery weather in September hanging out with your two beautiful daughters.

~Mandy

We have a dream . . .

 

Open Scene: A quiet living room, two people (mother and daughter) sitting together as the lights come up . . . 

Brookie – I would like to go to Paris one day.

me – So would I. We should go together.

Brookie – Can we? Just you and me?

me- Sure. Why not? That would be so much fun. We should do it.

Brookie – And we can see the Eiffel Tower and speak French.

me – Yeah . . . (pause) . . . it will cost quite a bit of money. We will have to save up.

Brookie –  (Pause) I know. We should make a Paris jar to save our money in.

me – Good idea.

Brookie – And I can put all my money from my piggy bank in it. I have a lot of money in there.

me – Okay. That would be a good start.

Scene change – the dining room table, complete with jar, markers, labels, piggy bank

Brookie – It looks beautiful. We will have to fill it right up to the top.

me – Yep. And maybe even more than that.

Enter Rosie, Stage left, wearing something only she could wear.

Rosie – What are you guys doing?

Brookie – We are making a Paris jar for our trip to Paris, just mommy and me.

Rosie – But I want to come too!! (tears pending)

me – Well, maybe Rosie could come if she wanted to help with saving money . . .

Brookie – Oh, alright.

Rosie – I have money in my piggy bank – I’ll get it!

Rosie exits stage left and returns seconds later with a big, plastic, pink pig.

Rosie – I’ve got it. I can open it by myself.

Rosie, with some help, cracks open the bottom seal and pours out the money.

Brookie – Okay, Rosie. Put it in the jar.

Rosie - (Looking solemnly at her pile of coins) I will give you some of it but not all. I want to save up for a new party dress.

End Scene, to the sound of a few pennies dropping into the jar.

So begins the Paris jar. Who knows, maybe we will save up enough to take a wonderful trip together and maybe Brookie and I will stand on the Eiffel tower, drinking in the Paris lights. Maybe. But regardless, making the jar together was juste merveilleux!

Saturday Morning Tea

 

While Sean and I sat, enjoying the last of our waffles, the girls created a living room within a living room. After all the work, each of them pulled up a chair to the tiny table for tea. They chatted, pleased and thanked each other, giggled and sipped away the morning in tiny china cups. Here’s to Saturdays, sisters and imagination galore.

~Mandy

 

 

 

The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet. ~James Oppenheim

Fence-climbing 101

A few days after beginning grade 1, the social anxiety of said grade reared its ugly head. Brookie was playing with two other little friends. Now we all know what a group of three feels like anyway, and in this case especially because Brookie is younger than both of these other girls, so it wasn't surprising to me that at a certain point, Brookie ended up in tears at the back door. After giving her time to just sit with me and cry, I asked her what was wrong. "I am the only one who can't climb the fence and I hate being left behind," Brookie explained between sobs. It is always so heart-breaking to see your child struggle with anything but the struggle to fit in is particularly painful. I offered a fairly painless solution. What if we had a fence-climbing lesson with Daddy and Rosie after dinner?

And that is exactly what we did. After we ate that night, we headed out to the back yard fence and began practising the fine art of fence climbing. Brookie was determined. It took her only a couple of tries before she was scaling our fence without any help. Rosie "learned" too, although I think she had a good handle on it already. And by bedtime that night, the crisis had been adverted.

The next day after school, I heard Brookie ask through the fence if she could play next door. Then she climbed over the fence all on her own and ran off around the corner. I couldn't help remembering the first time Brookie had crawled away from me when she was just a wee thing and had disappeared around the couch. It was the same feeling I had in my throat; a tightening and a sadness at the inevitablity of our children leaving us behind mixed with a quiet pride in knowing Brookie had done it. No fence would ever hold her back again.
~Mandy