More Summer?

September was the hottest month this year in Regina. You're not going to catch me complaining about that, because I don't know if I'm going to actually get to the stage where I crave hot chocolate and sweaters and such this year--last winter was too brutal. But I will confess a teensy bit of annoyance that the big kids were already back in school and couldn't fully enjoy all the sunshine this month (except at recess, I guess).

We did our best to drop everything and go to the park as often as was reasonable, but there's a lot going on in September! I learned my lesson last year and signed the kids up for all kinds of stuff this fall. Yes, we're probably a little overloaded for the next couple of months, but driving all over the place between November and March is not at all fun, besides being dangerous, so we're squeezing in as much as we can now. Which means I am officially a mini-van mama. There are craft classes, cubs, ballet classes and swimming lessons (I managed to get ALL FOUR KIDS signed up at THE SAME TIME, and yes I think I deserve some kind of award for this). Toss in a little family home evening and some movie nights, and I'm awed by how fast the time disappears.

Of course, one of the best things that happens in September is the celebration of Addy's birthday. I can hardly believe it has been six years since I first held her, a tiny little angel, in my arms. I remember her birth the most vividly, I think, of all my kids. She was born with the most beautiful golden halo of hair, and I remember just thinking over and over what a peaceful spirit she had. I'm sure that her ability to sleep through the night from early on undoubtedly contributed to my retaining a few extra memories! That peaceful spirit has stayed with her over the last six years. She's the first to jump in and help when anyone is sad or needs help, and she's amazing with babies.

On her birthday we celebrated with a trip to A&W for hamburgers, and frosty mugs of root beer. Her party (the following weekend) was so much fun too! She decided on a Fairy Tale Adventure, so her friends all dressed up as fairy tale characters and joined us for the Victorian Tea that's put on once a month at the Saskatchewan Government House. The kids made crowns and played in the "Once Upon a Time . . ." room before a fancy tea party, complete with cucumber sandwiches, mint tea with sugar cubes and cream from a tiny pitcher, and perfect little cupcakes in little jam jars. The treat bags were my favorite so far, with Jack's magic (jelly) beans, Rumpelstiltskin's (chocolate) gold coins, Rapunzel's hair band, and Cinderella's (candy) necklace. We had so much fun that we decided to go back again with some friends for a girls' afternoon soon.

So yes, aside from the innundation of fruit flies in our kitchen (the dark side of cutting up and freezing a bazillion crab-apples from our tree), and the craziness of Aaron starting a new semester (a new FANTASTIC semester--his audition slots completely filled up and now his choirs are well-stocked with good voices), September was completely delightful. We still need to get our family pictures done before it freezes over, and one of these days I'll be able to get our storage room organized again, but there really is a little more time in each day, so I'm optimistic!

Addy's Birthday and Other Fun

Addy's Birthday Dinner at A&W

There's something about little girls in pink leotards that I can't get enough of





Joy School!! I love the basement area that I've set up for it.
Four boys, most barely 3 . . . yeah, we skip some stuff . . .

Happy Birthday, Addy!

A Fairy Tale Adventure at Saskatchewan Government House

Making Crowns

The "Once Upon a Time . . ." Room

Brave Knights . . .

. . . and Fair Ladies at a fabulous Victorian Tea

Adelaide

Adelaide.

You're a hard kid to live up to.

Right from the start you bested me,

I give you all the love I have for you . . .

and then you return it to me ten-fold.

I can't keep up!

I love looking at the pictures you draw for me,

pretty much every day.

You and me,

sometimes Sera,

(occasionally even the boys--gasp!),

holding hands, sharing secrets,

treasuring together all that is sacred and feminine.

You're the daughter I never deserved,

(my mom used to tell me she hoped I'd have a daughter just like me--

you're not her),

and never thought to hope for.

You see the beauty in the world,

the light in other people,

and the hope of years to come.

Sometimes I like to look at you, when you sleep,

your soft pink cheek against your pillow.

If I could deliver the world to you on a satin cushion, I would.

But life won't be like that.

There will be tears and troubles, times of trial;

Keep with you that tenderness, that gentle love,

it will teach you to be who you are meant to be--

someone I can't wait to meet!

Love

Eleven years.

Twelve years ago this month, I looked around my choral conducting class and saw a rather attractive male (there weren't too many of those in my music classes). He was wearing grey sweat pants and a t-shirt. I noticed after a while that he always came late to class. So I started leaving my backpack on the seat next to me until class started. Guess who started sitting next to me? We talked, flirted, practiced conducting together. He still always wore those blasted sweat pants. In February he asked me out. We went to Romeo and Juliet. I looked cute that night, but he didn't kiss me. So I started dating someone else.

In April, spring term started. Most people went home, but not the attractive male. He worked for university housing and had too much free time on his hands. I took too many classes (I had a minor addiction to doing this). But I still found time to flirt. Which led to a date or two. And then more. And then to me dropping one of my classes. And some kissing. Operas, concerts, parks, long walks. By June we were engaged. By August we were married. And so began the great adventure of my life.

Aaron proposed to me on top of a dormitory. He had it set up with dinner and a piano. He serenaded me and asked me to marry him.

This year for our anniversary we recreated a little of the magic on the top of a friend's apartment building (the tallest in Regina). It turns out Saskatchewan is a bit windier than Utah. We lost a vase of roses (crack! splash!), and it got a bit chilly, but we had the exact same dinner from Chili's that we had back then. Just, you know, with a little more tablecloth mixed in.

What I love about Aaron RIGHT NOW:

5. Musical genius. He cranks out compositions and concerts that blow me away.

4. We have a LIFE together. I never wanted to be bored, and thanks to him, there's always some new adventure around the bend. We go normal sometimes, but only when we're in the mood.

3. He honestly gets hotter every year--without going bald! I mean, I'd love him anyway, but hair is a bigger bonus than I expected.

2. When he drops everything he's in the middle of to hang out with our family or just with me.

1. Fire. He has it, and brings it to everything we do.

Love you, Aaron. Just not enough to post the picture where you look cute and I look gross. Sorry, but she who blogs picks the pics!

BACK TO SCHOOL!

So school started at the end of August. I can't rule out the possibility that the kids were excited.

This one is in THIRD GRADE!!! So far his teacher has been great (she's a former arts and music teacher, which gives her points in our book). He misses being in the same class as one of his best friends, Justin, but manages to catch up enough over wall-ball at recess to survive.

And Addy's off to a fantastic start. She has M. Dube, who is one of my favorite teachers EVER. He's already noticed her art skills and gives her plenty of time to illustrate her journal entries, besides which he CRACKS THE CLASS UP at every opportunity and gives lots of extra recesses. The man knows how to teach first grade, I tell you.

And they both enjoy being back at Ecole Massey, which finally got some much-needed paint, along with a new principal (I was sorry to see Mme. Anderson go, but I like the new one--whose name escapes me at the moment--quite well). I think they'll both have a wonderful year!