A Moment

Sometimes the prairie sky just will not be ignored. It glows in pinks and oranges, lighting up the bottoms of electric white clouds. God does some of his best work and simply asks that we stop and look.

The other night was one of those times. Brookie and Rosie were already in their pajamas, brushing their teeth before bed. I was trying to get stuff cleaned up and I caught I glimpse of this incredible sky. We grabbed our shoes and headed out the door, running to get to the end of the street for the best view. It was beautiful. Perfect.

Heading home, we basked in the glow of a setting sun and enjoyed just being together. These are the moments. I was so glad I hadn’t missed it.

This was taken after the real spectacle was over. Still quite pretty, though.

~Mandy

A Formal Tea Party

Recently Brooklyn and Rosie were invited next door for a very fancy tea party with their friends, Maia and Aden. The invitation read:

You are invited to a tea party tomorrow afternoon. Come dressed up and pretty to 209 Cedar Crescent. Act Polite!

They dined on the front lawn in all their finery. Talia served the table of four their tea (with as much sugar as they wanted) and cookies. After the tea and polite conversation, they even danced. Adorable doesn’t quite describe it.

~Mandy

Reigning Champion

These pictures capture just one of MANY times Rosie has beaten a member of her family at Memory. On this particular occasion, she crushed me. And I was trying.

Rosie really likes Memory. We had another version using the letters of the alphabet and pictures beginning with those letters but Rosie actually started to memorise the small nicks or water marks on the backs of the cards and so couldn’t help but cheat. Eventually we got a new game. We love this version because it is a great way to learn the names of different countries as the cards are all faces of children from around the world.

Now we all have our favourite faces. Rosie ranks hers every time we play, leaving the best for the top of the pile. And she will try to trade with her opponent if he or she gets her favourite face. India and Hawaii are two she really likes because they are girls and they are fancy.

When we are feeling like it, we put both the memory games together for an ultimate challenge. It is not for everyone. I like that it gives me more time with my sweet Rosie. I think Rosie likes the gigantic tower of matches she ends up with when she wins.

~Mandy

First Days of School

Brookie began grade 2 this year. She is in another split class with the same kids she has known since Kindergarten.

Here she is posing for the classic First Day of School Picture to humour her mother

When I asked Brookie if I could take some pictures of her at the school that first day, she replied, “That might be a little awkward. First days are hard enough.” So . . . no pictures at the school.

Rosie is now in Kindergarten. She has a tiny class of 12 but they have their own room, complete with little desks, little cubbies, a little bathroom and many little play stations.

Rosie posing for the classic shot

It was a rainy first day

Rosie let me take some pictures inside her classroom

When Rosie came home after her first day, I asked her how it went and she said, “Good. Mr. Mitchell didn’t teach me anything, though.” Of course I explained that the first day is a bit more about meeting each other and settling in. But I think Mr. Mitchell is going to have to work very hard to impress Rosie.

My favourite part about school this year is watching the girls leave together in the morning, come home together at lunch and hearing about their time together at recess. They walk side by side, chatting together about stuff. Brookie is being a fantastic big sister. She has even pushed Rosie on the swing a few times. The two of them really like each other. And while I miss them, I am just so proud of the beautiful little ladies they are becoming.

~Mandy

. . . and we're back

Yes, it has been a while since my last post. An embarassingly long while, actually. But sometimes the living needs to take priority over the writing about the living. So we have been doing some living and it has been fantastic. Lots of loving and laughing and exploring and learning and playing and growing and working. There is no way for me to catch you up completely so I am not even going to try. You will just have to trust me.

Enough about that. Let's get on with it, shall we?