For some unknown reason our local neighbourhood park is named Tom Jones Park...the sign is kind of hidden though and no one really calls it that, except for our family. The kids often tell people they went to "Tom Jones" and get a bewildered response. We started calling it TJP now which may not be any better.
Anyways, we rode our bikes to TJP today and it was a bit of an adventure. We were there for about five minutes when an eight year old boy decided to ignore numerous warnings and disrupted a bee hive. He was stung in the head and ran around the park holding his head and screaming and crying. I was distracted by this drama and I didn't even notice that little B was being bossed around by a 6 year old girl. R was very concerned and came running over to tell me about it, "Mommy, that girl told B that he had to sit there and he wasn't allowed to move!". By now the incident was over and B had carried on. R wasn't ready to move on though...she insisted that the little girl be told off. I tried to convince her to just drop it but that just didn't sit right with R. She marched over to where the 6 year old girl was on the swings with her eight year old (bee-stung) brother and her ten year old sister. Little 4 year old R walked right up and gave her a piece of her mind. I couldn't quite hear the conversation but R was obviously standing her ground. She came back satisfied. I asked her what she said to the girl and R said, "Oh, I just gave her a little talk!"...R truly is bold as brass! R must have been nice about it though because a minute later the same kids asked her to play "Grounders". It was so funny because the other three each did the classic "1-2-3-not-it!" and R simply beamed, raised her hand and proclaimed, "it!"...she didn't mind being it - she was just naively happy to be included.
The drama didn't end there though. We got onto our bikes to ride home and B promptly bit it on the pavement. His balance bike seemed to have failed him and his lip was bleeding and he was screaming his little face off. Head thrown back, big tears and bloody mouth. Hugs, kisses, and even promises of marshmallows couldn't get him back on his bike so I carried a whimpering squirt, his bike, and pushed my bike home. Every day is an adventure with these two!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Our Star Seahorse
R got her first taste of the spotlight today and I think she liked it! She was a galloping seahorse in King Neptune's Sea, and if you ask me her lines were fluid, her movement was graceful, and her timing was impeccable. No really, she rocked that under the sea scene!
As you can see - she took it very seriously. She practiced really hard and she remembered the routine very well. Her teacher complimented her on her memory and placed her at the front of the line - booya!
True to tradition, her daddy and her little bro brought her a bouquet of flowers to congratulate our little ballerina on her first big show.
A star is born!
(Well, maybe...on the way to the show she informed me that next year she would like to skip ballet and take belly dancing lessons instead!)
As you can see - she took it very seriously. She practiced really hard and she remembered the routine very well. Her teacher complimented her on her memory and placed her at the front of the line - booya!
True to tradition, her daddy and her little bro brought her a bouquet of flowers to congratulate our little ballerina on her first big show.
A star is born!
(Well, maybe...on the way to the show she informed me that next year she would like to skip ballet and take belly dancing lessons instead!)
Thursday, June 23, 2011
My girl
I adore my little girl for many reasons, especially her...
love of dress-up
willingness to join in
strong spirit
company in our bed when RKA is away
zeal for cleaning windows
unbelievable memory
sense of justice
quirky dance moves (like when she does the one armed chicken wing move)
competitive streak
vivid imagination
enthusiasm for tea parties
independence
disgust with the rain
brilliant smile
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Toddlers and Tiaras...
Okay, well not tiaras necessarily but giant red bowties... 
B had his dance photos today...there were a dozen two year olds sporting polka dots and lycra. I'm still not sure if it was cute or not. But of course I think this little one was adorable in his ridiculous costume! Dance has been really good for B - it has taught him how to follow directions from the teacher, how to hold hands with other kids, and it has been an outlet for his tremendous energy.
In the fall, B will be old enough to start sports at the rec center. He will be thrilled...sports are his thing. He is already an avid hockey fan! Go Canucks Go!
I love the fact that B has balance and I hope that he grows up to be a true renaissance man. RKA has already been teaching him how to cook...Right now, I am just happy that he is learning to use the potty!
B had his dance photos today...there were a dozen two year olds sporting polka dots and lycra. I'm still not sure if it was cute or not. But of course I think this little one was adorable in his ridiculous costume! Dance has been really good for B - it has taught him how to follow directions from the teacher, how to hold hands with other kids, and it has been an outlet for his tremendous energy.
In the fall, B will be old enough to start sports at the rec center. He will be thrilled...sports are his thing. He is already an avid hockey fan! Go Canucks Go!
I love the fact that B has balance and I hope that he grows up to be a true renaissance man. RKA has already been teaching him how to cook...Right now, I am just happy that he is learning to use the potty!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Updates, etc...
Okay, so things have been nuts around here for the past three weeks. We've all been sick, various illnesses to varying degrees but B had an over-nighter in pediatrics to rehydrate after five days of barfing and RKA is upstairs hacking up a lung as I type this. I had the ear infection and R had the spiked fever so at least we can be grateful that the symptoms were spread out amongst the four of us. We are now returning to the land of the living.
Preschool is winding down and there will be "graduation" (again) and a year end picnic. I was delighted to see a pristine blank line on the potluck sign up sheet beside 2 bags of ice in cooler. Our name seemed to sit just perfectly on that little line! Often we go all out with snacks but sometimes it feels really good to take the easy road! B has managed to hang in there for preschool. He has been attending the Friday morning class because the second teacher is there on Fridays and shall we say, B has a fresher attitude in the mornings than in the afternoons!
R & B have both been taking dance since September. They seem to take after RKA and I in both the music and rhythm departments yet what they lack in style they make up for in enthusiasm! Dance has been a great outlet for their energy and I find myself sitting there with a smile on my face, watching them groove to the beat. However, I was completely unaware of the intensity of the "dance world"...it is serious business - even for two and four year olds. I naively thought that their performances would each require a rehearsal and a show....well my entire June is booked with photos, practices, rehearsals, and shows. I'm griping now but I know by the end of the month I will find myself sitting there in a dark theater watching my little blondies shine and I'll be so proud that I will whip out my camera and take some "illegal" (against the super serious dance studio rules) photos. Yeah, I'm a rebel.
It is now June but my thoughts are consumed with September. In a weird twist of fate, I am returning to work full time at my previous kindergarten position. Best laid plans have been well, screwed. Yup, screwed. Long story, but resigning my position to part time was not an option. I could have rolled the dice and seen where I landed but after so many school changes and grade switches I decided to bite the bullet and return to my comfortable haven. Tough decision for me but things seem to be falling nicely into place. I'm actually looking forward to having a world outside of the four walls of this house, but I know that my whole world will be waiting for me with hugs when I get home every afternoon.
Technically, June is my last official month of leave. Wow. The dog-eared saying, "time flies" or the similar sentiment, "it goes sooo fast" both come to mind. Truisms. Our neighbour a few doors down saw B ghost-riding his bike down the drive way yesterday and inquired incredulously, "Is that your baby????" Yes, that is my baby. He rides a balance bike, climbs like a monkey, has crazy good imaginative play skills, and uses phrases like, "Mommy, the problem is...". Now if only he were rational! As for my other baby - the first baby whom I tried to prepare for with research before she arrived. Well, she is now four and a half and no amount of research could have prepared me for the time I've spent home with my creative, quirky, sensitive, fierce little girl. Being a "stay at home parent" is not for the faint of heart. Just when you think you have it all figured out they grow and change everything on you! Relax. Enjoy. Savour. Brace yourself.
Bring it on, June!
Preschool is winding down and there will be "graduation" (again) and a year end picnic. I was delighted to see a pristine blank line on the potluck sign up sheet beside 2 bags of ice in cooler. Our name seemed to sit just perfectly on that little line! Often we go all out with snacks but sometimes it feels really good to take the easy road! B has managed to hang in there for preschool. He has been attending the Friday morning class because the second teacher is there on Fridays and shall we say, B has a fresher attitude in the mornings than in the afternoons!
R & B have both been taking dance since September. They seem to take after RKA and I in both the music and rhythm departments yet what they lack in style they make up for in enthusiasm! Dance has been a great outlet for their energy and I find myself sitting there with a smile on my face, watching them groove to the beat. However, I was completely unaware of the intensity of the "dance world"...it is serious business - even for two and four year olds. I naively thought that their performances would each require a rehearsal and a show....well my entire June is booked with photos, practices, rehearsals, and shows. I'm griping now but I know by the end of the month I will find myself sitting there in a dark theater watching my little blondies shine and I'll be so proud that I will whip out my camera and take some "illegal" (against the super serious dance studio rules) photos. Yeah, I'm a rebel.
It is now June but my thoughts are consumed with September. In a weird twist of fate, I am returning to work full time at my previous kindergarten position. Best laid plans have been well, screwed. Yup, screwed. Long story, but resigning my position to part time was not an option. I could have rolled the dice and seen where I landed but after so many school changes and grade switches I decided to bite the bullet and return to my comfortable haven. Tough decision for me but things seem to be falling nicely into place. I'm actually looking forward to having a world outside of the four walls of this house, but I know that my whole world will be waiting for me with hugs when I get home every afternoon.
Technically, June is my last official month of leave. Wow. The dog-eared saying, "time flies" or the similar sentiment, "it goes sooo fast" both come to mind. Truisms. Our neighbour a few doors down saw B ghost-riding his bike down the drive way yesterday and inquired incredulously, "Is that your baby????" Yes, that is my baby. He rides a balance bike, climbs like a monkey, has crazy good imaginative play skills, and uses phrases like, "Mommy, the problem is...". Now if only he were rational! As for my other baby - the first baby whom I tried to prepare for with research before she arrived. Well, she is now four and a half and no amount of research could have prepared me for the time I've spent home with my creative, quirky, sensitive, fierce little girl. Being a "stay at home parent" is not for the faint of heart. Just when you think you have it all figured out they grow and change everything on you! Relax. Enjoy. Savour. Brace yourself.
Bring it on, June!
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