Spring Thaw

Having the snow melt really has invigorated everybody.  It seems like we're all more energetic and happier.  Maybe we've been in a dark Winter gloom.  That can happen when it has been cold and snowy for 6 months.  It is amazing the freedom that not having to put on snow pants, boots, scarf, mitts and a toque (beanie) can give somebody.  The kids want to be in the backyard all the time jumping on the trampoline and also love making snow balls out of the last remaining snow.

This particular day, the big thrill was watching the snow melt.  Chloe made some mini snowmen with her snow ball maker and the kids basically just sat there until the sun melted it enough to make it fall over.    Here you can see the baby snow man.  And there they are are just watching him sit in the sun.

And this is what they've been waiting for:

Then they'd laugh like crazy and do it all over again.

There has also been a big excitement over hoola hooping lately because Chloe's good friend had a hoola birthday party and she came home with this enormous hoop made out of pvc pipe and hockey tape.  And not to be outdone, we got Tati a hoola hoop at Dollarama.  ;-)  Check them out.

Here's Tati with a long winded and funny tutorial.

And here's Chloe with her mad skills.
So happy the snow is gone.  Now we just have to hope that it stays gone.  Happy Spring!

Kwasi

Tati's brain is very special. 

Me:  Do you want peanut butter and jelly for lunch?
Tati:  No.
Me:  Do you want a quesadilla for lunch?
Tati:  No.
Me:  What do you want for lunch?
Tati:  How about just a tortilla?
Me:  Ok.  Sure.

A few minutes later as I'm getting a few side dishes in the kitchen to go with the tortillas.

Tati:  (Giggle, giggle.) Look Mom!


And what do I behold?

Sporty Spice

Chloe has been playing basketball this year.  Honestly we aren't very sporty people.  I mean I guess Greg was in high school but not really since then.  I don't enjoy any sports where people have to defend me or when there is any sort of pressure put on me so that pretty much rules out any competitive group sports.  I do however really excel at shooting things into the garbage.  And I play a mean game of P-I-G or H-O-R-S-E depending on how much energy I have.  Greg and my first date was actually us playing H-O-R-S-E together and I wooped him.  I won him over when I sunk a shot from half court.  So maybe Chloe gets it from me.  ;-)

Her coaches are really great.  They focus on drills and skills and not so much the game part so it is all the parts of basketball I would really enjoy.  Anyway, if she isn't tripping over the ball while she's dribbling, she's really good and being open for shots and passing and really good at rebounds because she doesn't make too many shots.  Still it is fun to watch her and fun to watch her team.  There is a little boy on her team that just gets tired of running around and lays down on the court sometimes.  And there is a girl who goes into her own world sometimes and starts jumping around like a frog.  So there is lots of entertainment.  She's got another set of games this month so it should be fun to see if there is much improvement.

Gavin and Tati have really been enjoying themselves too.  Tati loves to run around and shoot the ball and Gavin just loves the freedom a large gym provides.  He can also be lured to sit still if you're playing a video game and he can watch you.

Old Ladies

So it turns out that I really love doing embroidery.  Who would've known?

I decided that this year for birthday presents, I would sew my childrens' friends a purse or bag with some embroidered embellishments.  It has been great because it keeps me sorta crafty but it is something that I can do in spurts and really is relaxing.  Embroidery books however are super dumb.  They are written in a language I don't understand.  They are in the same language as word problems, health insurance pamphlets, tax information, and overly detailed period piece novels about the British class system.  My dear, sweet, husband who speaks all of those languages except the last was able to help me visualize the stitches and translate the words into my language.  I've been adding a few, new stitches to my repertoire.  I've been laughing at myself at how excited I've been getting at dorky things like embroidery hoops that are really tight, or a really sharp needle, or even adding beads and sequins to things.  Apparently this excitement has been contagious because Chloe has been really wanting to do some embroidery too.  So I gave her the chance.  At first I thought it was over her head because she wasn't listening to all the instructions before trying the stitches and she wasn't watching me the way I told her to poke the needle or hold the needle and I was getting frustrated and impatient.  So I told her she had better listen or she wasn't going to get to sew.  So she listened and I explained it all again.  Then I gave her a simple straight line to sew.  She did it.  So I gave her a another straight line to sew.  She did it.  Then I gave her a straight-ish line with a little bump in it to sew.  She did it.  Then she said she wanted to sew her name.  And lo and behold, SHE DID IT!  Now I need to come up with some project where she can sew her name.  I'm so proud of her.  Honestly, she exceeded my expectations.  See for yourself.  Now we're both turning into old ladies.