Snowy Rustle

This is why Rustle always tries to get into the car when we leave for skiing. Look how much fun he's having today that he got to accompany Sarah and her dad.

Canasta!

Sarah's latest figure skating test was for her second dance, the Canasta. Her coach said she was ready to test it back in October, but this Tuesday was the first test date open. (Why this week, I'll never know.)

Here she is, rehearsing with her coach, Cecilia.



But on to the more exciting part of the story - She was great! The judge commented on her confidence and the improved knees on the second chasé. I don't know what that means, to be honest, but she was very proud to have passed her second dance. Congratulations Sarah!

Happy Birthday, Sarah

It's been a whole decade of wonderfulness! Sarah turned 10 on Saturday (yes, I know I'm late with the post, but this is a busy time of year! Just wait 'til I get around with the other stuff we've been doing...)

Here's our girl preparing to open her presents, with the drama queen little sister's support...


And here she is opening her new camera. I think she's pretty excited. Maybe the next post will be using her camera for the photos....

Tree Trimming

Birthday Party Reaches New Heights

Sarah's 10th birthday party was a tremendously fun event at the University of Calgary's indoor Climbing Wall. Even Mom climbed all the way to the top. Dad made it to the top of the eight foot bouldering wall, which suited him just fine, thank you very much.

Some photos and a little video of the big day....

Waiting for a turn...

The second climb was a bit trickier.

Alison reaching for the top.

Just hanging around....

Birthday Party

For Alison's seventh birthday, we celebrated with friends at a movie theatre. What excitement! What fun! What a mess I did not have to clean up!

The kids enjoyed Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, then had a great time running about, tossing tissue paper in the air, singing Happy Birthday and snacking on cake and pop. Alison got some fun gifts and was incredibly gracious. It was a great day.

And did I mention the part where I didn't have to clean up....

Happy Birthday, Little Star

For her seventh birthday, Alison has sported a little orange star sticker on her nose. See?


At recess, her teacher asked her what happens if she pushes the little star, and this is a dramatization of the resulting answer.





Alison did enjoy the bounty of her birthday. There were lots of fun writing things in that giant box (plus some other presents for somebody else's birthday coming soon), some cozy jammies, and a green ipod. Green! How awesome is that?

The big downside to the day was that her very sad dad got stuck on an airplane trying to make his way home from Montreal via Toronto. Oddly enough, there was a snowstorm in Toronto seven years ago as well....

Anticipation

It's tough when the parcels start arriving before your birthday. Especially when mean old mom makes you wait until your actual birthday.





The arrival of the giant package also inspired this lovely dramatic piece. Enjoy.

Rustle update

As the rest of the family is swamped with activities and the generally harried pace of life around here (and ski season hasn't started yet! Yikes!), it is important to reflect on life as the furriest member of the family.

Rustle is still busy shedding fur all over the dark blue carpet and running at full tilt in the dog park. He still wags his tail with gusto; whap-whap-whapping it against the bed to wake me each morning, or against the washing machine as I return from work each day. His new favourite toy is an old fleece hat which he has taken to carrying all about the house with him.

Happy, friendly, loves-to-be-around-us Rustle is still as cute as ever, too.

Spider-Girl

Sarah on the climbing wall. Woo-Hoo!