Boxing Day with Peter Pan and Wendy

This Boxing Day, our family had front row tickets at the Globe Theatre in Regina to see Peter Pan. It was absolutely fabulous! We went not knowing what to expect from this little place in Saskatchewan. I mean, it isn’t Toronto. But it turns out that other cities can put together really great theatre too! And you don’t need to give up one of your children in order to get tickets either! 

Like I said, we had front row tickets and this was theatre-in-the-round so we were really in the action. In fact, when the pirates arrived on stage, Rosie and Brookie were both a bit unnerved. In fact, Rosie turned to me and whispered, “I don’t like this movie!”

But nothing prepared us for Captain Hook’s entrance! Even I was a bit scared of him and he walked majestically down the stairs right beside Rosie and I!

But as the play went on, the girls became used to the atmosphere and were more convinced that no one was going to make them walk the plank, they enjoyed themselves immensely. Sean and I did too. The actors were wonderful and the set was so creative. We even got drinks and cookies at intermission!

After the show, Sean took all us ladies out for a very nice dinner, including dessert.

So now all that is left to do is decide what we will see next year. Another tradition is born!

Another Christmas in Caronport

 

The pictures speak for themselves. We missed our “far away family” but managed to find some Christmas cheer right here. After sleeping in until 9:15, the girls opened their stockings and presents while Sean and I sipped our tea. Later we had a lovely breakfast together. Our friends had us over in the evening for a delicious turkey dinner and games. It was a merry little Christmas.

Brookie’s 6th Birthday

 

Our little Brooklyn Grace turned 6 years old on December 18, 2009. It was a great day. When Brookie got up that morning, she found a path of pretty note cards each with a word from the “Happy Birthday” song leading her to her favourite breakfast – peanut butter bread. And because she had been staring at her gifts for a week in great anticipation, we allowed her to open one from Nan and Pops. It was a beautiful, grown-up necklace. Wow.

At school, Brookie had a Christmas party and an afternoon of skating since school was finished for the holidays. But I told her we could pretend that the party and the skating were for her to celebrate her birthday. She thought that was a great idea and so secretly she spent the day imagining that every special thing was in her honour. Fantastic!

Finally, that night we had a birthday dinner of Brookie’s choosing: waffles, whipped cream, strawberries and sausages. It was delicious. The dinner was followed by gifts. Rosie picked out a new set of Disney Polly Pockets to give to her sister, which she loved. Sean and I first gave her a whole bunch of “desk” necessities such as a desk lamp, pencil holder, paper, new pens, tape – all wrapped separately – and each time Brookie opened one, we told her they would be perfect for when she actually got a desk. She was so pleased but the best part was leading her downstairs to where her new desk was waiting for her. Remember when you were growing up and you got the perfect gift? The gift that you had been hoping for? Well, this was one of those moments for Brookie. Her joy and excitement were endless. She held her wee hands up to her cheeks and kept repeating, “Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness.” It was such a wonderful moment.

We finished off the evening with dirt cups and worms (another request from the birthday girl). It was a very good day. Happy birthday my sweet, thoughtful, caring, intelligent little girl. I love you like crazy!

~Mandy

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