Dancing Queen

Hi.

I'm still here.  

So, I have this new passion.  It's ballet.  It's not totally new.  I started taking Adult Beginner Ballet last September.  I just didn't blog about it, because I didn't really blog about anything last year.  I took classes once a week from September to May.  Our class was not involved in the spring recital, but I helped out, reprising my role as Mrs. Potts with a class of five-year-olds who danced to "Tea for Two."   And then I did a summer session in June and July.  

In mid-summer I bought season thickets to the RWB.  (I am SO excited.  The Music Man and I are taking Monkey with us to see "The Princess and the Goblin" in three weeks!)

Then later in summer I registered for fall classes.  Plural.  I am taking a class on Monday nights with the teens, which is a great challenge.  And Adult Ballet on Wednesdays.  AND ballroom on Thursdays with The Music Man.  And it is all lots and lots of fun. I have dubbed this the Year That I Do Something For Myself.

That's what I have been up to these days (among other things, of course.  Like teaching piano again.  And being the mother of a first grader.  And contemplating very seriously becoming a home-educating family.  but more on that another time...)
 

Flower Child

So, maybe you all knew this already, but I am a bit of a hippie (well, you know, minus the free love and LSD...) I do lots of alternative things (co-sleeping, home birth, extended breast feeding, free range organic food, etc. etc.)  I even kinda look like a hippie.

But today I think I made it official.  For an appetizer before lunch I fed my family Dandelion Fritters.  Yup. Dandelions.  Dipped in batter and fried.  And they were good.  And I'll probably do it again.

Groovy man.

Peace.

First Hike

We had our first family hike of the year on Sunday afternoon on the lake trail. It turned out to be a beautiful day and we had a lovely time. The Music Man was disturbed by the number of beaver-felled trees there were. Monkey hiked liked a trooper and even The Little One managed most of the outing without being carried. We are looking forward to a season of exploration, although snow and rain in the forecast will likely keep us indoors most of this week (you know, because it's Spring Break...)

(gurg. This post was supposed to have pictures, but blogger uploader is being silly. I'll try to add them tomorrow...)

Spring is Sprung...

I am a Daisy What Flower Are You?

And all is now (finally) as it should be

Well, after a bizarre-ly warm and snow-less winter, thus far (I'm making up words today) all is now right in the world. We had a snow storm on the weekend (although I would hesitate to use any descriptor such as "whopper") and we now have a proper Manitoba-winter covering of snow.

Phew.

blerg.

Just stopping in to say we have nine (9!) birthdays in our family between now and Ukrainian Christmas. Let's go shopping...

(p.s. If you are part of my family and planning on having another baby ever, do us a favour and have it NOT in November, December or early January. I thank you.)

(p.p.s. by "family" I mean us, our parents, our brothers and sisters and their spouses and kids.)

FIVE

My little Monkey turned five this week. It is hard to believe it has been that long since he made his grand entrance into this world. That means that I have been a Mother, and The Music Man a father, for five years. It also means (because he nursed until a week after The Little One was born) that I have been breastfeeding a child for five years now.

My little man is growing up. He has started school and made friends there. He had some of them over for a party which was great fun. He is, slowly but surely, becoming a caring and helpful big brother. He is looking forward to the day when he can share bunk beds with his little brother. (that day is coming soon. we have bought the paint for their new bedroom, so hopefully it will be painted and ready to move into in the next few weeks.) He even rode in his first bike race today. He is, in his words, a Lego Expert. And it's true, too. This evening he assembled an airplane from a set labeled 6 and up with no help at all. He is such a fun kid, and often very sweet. Of course he has his moments when his claws come out (literally) but I can almost forget about those moments when he says something wonderful like, "Isn't it a lovely day to be outside and spend time with your family."

I love you, Monkey. Have fun being five!