Music for Minds

Terrific Tabitha.
Today she sings with her choir at the mall at noon. Pip and I will attend.
Snow today! This morning I trotted out to run with Fernando through the seep snow. All was fine except the sidewalks were not plowed and the snow too deep to run through in my shoes as my feet freeze up too much and yet the road had salt on it which burns Nando's paws. We survived, cutting our forest run out as the snow was simply too deep.  Then I shoveled the driveway--all this before dawn. Fernando didn't seem like himself this morning--no enthusiasm. Sure enough, diarrhea as soon as we got home. He snuck into the garbage in the garage last night and ate some ancient roast beef--I could not pry it from his jaws and had to leave so I let him have it. Mistake. Today I am keeping him in his kennel run inside to recoup and save me the chore of massive cleanups.
Yesterday I took the girls skating on the pond down the street. It is am amazing pond, surrounded by mountains. SOmeone had shoveled a path all around the circumfrence. It was a most amazing place to be. The down side was that Pip tantrumed--her helmet and skates were too tight and hurt (NOT). Mist's skates were also too tight even though she'd skated in them the day before. At least Tabs, Mick (Tabs friend) and I managed a quick skate while the complainers waited in the van.
Last night I took the gals out to buy new skates and helmets but Pip fell asleep in the van and Mist couldn't find her size. However, the Tabs lucked out and purchased new hockey skates and a helmet. The helmet said it fit 2-five year olds! Yet it fit Tabs fine. Man, just how big are some kids heads???
Mist has decided she wants to try figure skating in the new year. I'll see if I can find her a class. I've become more rigid about their piano practice time: 1/2 h each week day no matter what. They are both very talented and musically gifted so I believe if nothing else, I can influence their musical abilities. They will be accomplished whether they like it on not! Dance is rather disappointing because you either go the professional ballerina route with 2 h lessons/week and exams or are out of the loop. And seriously, I don't want my girls to be professional dancers--they make no money even when they're at the top of their game.  I am disappointed in the Canadian School of Ballet. Their classes are weak unless you prescribe to the professional route. Yet, the girls refuse switch schools. So far I have listened to them. But next year--I may switch them anyway.
Music is different, you can become accomplished without such fierce competition. Mist really impresses me. Because she's had experience playing so many different instruments, she often downloads music off the internet and rewrites it for the piano to try out.
As for me? My thirst for fun and adventure may lead me to take an improv class in the new year. I love being on stage: singing, dancing, acting. I think it would be a fun place to go each week. And no home work!

Kaleidoscope 2009, The Canadian School of Ballet

My beauties ready for their evening ballet performance at the Kelowna Theatre. Tabs danced "Catching Butterflies" and Mist "Stardust." They were both so elegant.
Pip looking like an elegant audience member in her giant rhinestone necklace from her Great Aunt Penelope(name sake).
Granny (my wonderful Mom) with the girls. Gran helped dress and make-up the girls and drove them to the matinee while Peter and I were at the University. She has helped with Kaleidoscope every year now for four years! The second year, she and my sister Theresa did it without us as Peter and I were in Florida (Pip wasn't born yet). They spoiled them silly!
Our family before the big event. The girls received red rose bouquets in the dressing room after their performances.
Tabs, ready for the show (almost--the shoes had to go...).
The Lovely Mist--those are rhinestones in her hair.

We had a great meal pre-show at Earls on the waterfront. I shall post those pics later. It was crazy--I knew nearly everyone in the restaurant that night for some reason. I rather liked that--Kelowna seemed like a small place after all--either that or I was super popular(lol)--either way it was all good.

My sweet (newly blonde bombshell) mom left for home this afternoon. We had a short visit with my sis Theresa and Kyran as they headed home from Salmon Arm. Theresa took home my dear and wild dog Fernando to visit with her dogs. He shall have a 2 week vacation with his cousins (that is if he doesn't first drive Theresa crazy with his antics!). Miss that crazy beast already--go figure?

 Pip has been collecting pet ants lately. She adores insects. I REALLY want to get some preying mantis pods to add to my garden. Apparently they hatch and eat all the insects. And they are adorable! They are the cutest little critters. They hold their food tenderly in their little hands as they eat it. Yes, I not only love spiders but other insects too. Good thing I married Peter--he grew up with insects--his dad was an entomologist.