Tricked him!

Finally got this guy to Choir!Choir!Choir! and we were singing "The One that You Want" euh euh euhhhhh

Getting her greens

Soph is really taken with making smoothies recently

This one is "Green" - avocado, spinach, etc topped with coconut. It was yummy!

Celebrating our nominee

The Canadian Screen Academy hosts a nominees luncheon. And since it was 5 minutes from work, I insisted that we go (Yes, I got to be a +1!). It was fun to meet other nominees (at our table were people working on documentaries and educational games), the "light" luncheon was delicious and the panel on "vocal audiences" was interesting. And who can turn down some Buck's Fizz at lunch?!

A quirky free spirit

I can't decide if she looks like a medieval nun or someone recovering from jaw / skull surgery. But it's actually her Petit Bateau nightie from 5 years ago - on her head, of course

Spreading her love around

When you have 2 grandparents visiting (last weekend), you plunk yourself down in between and reach out to both. 

High Tea with the ladies

Heading off for High Tea at the Windsor Arms last week during March Break

Me & my gal

How delicious it was!

We ate almost every last crumb

The lobby

So this happened

Ms Bouman has approved for our 12 year old to go on pointe.

Needless to say, she is very excited

first you plie in 1st

the short list

They focus on the breadth and length of her feet (my wide ball and her dad's slim, long foot) and are interested to see that she has a "disappearing heel"!

Our kind friend, Meghan, joined us. She danced for years with the English National Ballet and now teaches across central Toronto

When you ski through your summer campground!

Skied Arrowhead again on Monday. Sticky conditions but lovely temperature and lots of fun.

There's the dog beach. What? you can't see it?

and that dot on the right is where we fry up polenta for 20 every Canada Day weekend

Here's the other entrance to "our beach"

Teen food

 Seb wanted a taco salad - I said I didn't know what that was, so I would get ingredients and he could make it for us. Turns out that it is a deconstructed taco (i.e. ground beef, salad, salsa, cheese, beans, crumbled up taco shells/nacho chips) on a bed of salad - unless you are Seb, in which case minimal salad in a taco salad, thanks!

Kicking off March Break 2019

For the 8th year (?), we kicked off March Break with a trip to Mabel's Fables and some bagels...

Dear Evan Hansen

And so the evening "dawned". We were heading off last Thursday to Dear Evan Hansen - the tickets being our main family gift at New Year's. Two young and talented song-writers had stormed the Tony's a few years back (the show won 6!) and gone on to great success with other projects (La La Land & The Greatest Showman) too.

Ready to go with his fancy shirt and Dad's jacket

Trying to get our teen to crack a smile

There it is!

I was ready with my supplies

While we knew we were leaving Mary Poppins and Caillou in our rearview mirror, I am not sure that we parents were fully ready for this bittersweet musical about teen suicide, belonging, and parent-teen relationships. There were some laughs, there were some tears, and then we headed home...

She lights up our lives

When the furnace fails...

When the furnace fails mid-winter (-21 with windchill)

The house went into single digits briefly...

You do what you do best - borrow electric heaters from the neighbours, sleep with hot water bottles and the dog

Make soup with your gloves on

and huddle by the fireplace

Fortunately it was fixed within a day! I have an old schoolmate who is on Day 22!!!

Snow dawg

We have had so much glorious snow (far, far better than the iciness) this winter. Darwin loves it.

Dog & his beloved ball

After 2 minutes in our yard. It takes about as long to get the snow clumps out of his fur and to dry him off!

Gang of pals

Sophie is starting her new contract cycle at school this week. It will run till Easter (minus the week of March break). But the last day of the cycle is "Contract Due Day"!!!! You get your grades for that contract, and if everything has indeed been handed in and done to your potential, you are released from school at noon!!

Last "CDD", her pals chickened out on "testing the mattresses" at their local Sleep Country store, and instead headed straight over to our place. They grabbed some pizza, played Just Dance on the Wii and had a merry old time. She has really found a lovely group of 12/13 year old girls.

Weekends are for brunch

We brunched not once but twice this weekend!!