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?

Grid Road Adventures

Monday evening was a perfect time for a bike ride. Brookie and I set out to tour Caronport and stop by the school playground. Sean took Rosie with him in the car out on the grid roads so he could measure out his next run. Later that night, after the girls had been in bed for some time, Sean and I heard crying coming from their room. Sean went in and found Rosie crying and wide awake. After some probing, Rosie shared that she was sad because she had enjoyed her drive out on the grid roads with her dad so much and hadn’t wanted it to end. Sean asked her what it was she liked about it so much and she said, “the wind in my hair.” Sean comforted her by explaining that they would be able to do it again very soon and Rosie drifted off to sleep,most likely dreaming about open roads and the wind in her hair.

Tuesday morning, Sean woke Rosie up early and took her out again for another drive.

That evening after our dinner, we decided to all go for a drive. We left the dishes behind and all piled into the car. (As a side note: I always feel like I am doing the right thing when that thing requires me to leave the dishes behind.) The girls sat in the hatch back with pillows and blankets. I brought along some peanut butter cookies and we headed out. After a few wrong turns, we made out way up to Signal Hill. It is the only real hill for miles and it got its name from the signal tower that stands out on the horizon.

When we arrived at the summit, we all sat in the hatch together, listening to music and eating our cookies. We could see forever in all directions. The wind played in the long grass. It was so silent – the only sounds were the wind, our breathing, our heartbeats. We listened and laughed together. It was just us. No hurry or rush to something else. We were the main event. It was absolutely beautiful. The kind of beautiful that catches in your throat and makes you ache a little because you know it can’t last.

We stayed as long as we could,watching the shadows stretch out before us, the evening creeping up the hill to meet us. Then we packed up and drove home.

~Mandy

Final Performances

March was a month of endings. Rosie’s highland dancing lessons came to an end with a little dance recital. It was in our friends’ home on a Saturday morning. All the families came to watch the girls show their honed skills. And then after the dancing, we shared a delicious brunch together. It was another one of those positive small-town moments here in Caronport.

This is by far my favourite picture because it captures Rosie’s personality so well. She is there, dressed properly for the occasion and everything but still has her own casual approach, leaning on the kitchen stool, waiting for the photo shoot to be over.

This month also brought the end of the girls’ figure skating lessons. Of course the end of skating means another big performance. The girls were in the same group and performed a Caribbean number, complete with appropriately floral costumes.  They were the hit of the night. Both of them managed to stay on their skates while turning, jumping and skating backwards. They have learned so much in such a short time. My favourite moment of the night was during their number when Brookie fell and Rosie stopped to help her up. We were very proud of them.

 

Who knows whether the girls will continue with either of these activities but they had a great time. Next up, swimming lessons!

~Mandy