Pup Loves Pip

 "I know what Pablo is thinking when he looks at me. He's thinking, I'm going to marry that girl when I grow up," said Pip.

Mon Petit Singe (monkey)

The other morning, Pip wanted me to watch a puppet play she was creating with her Playmobile theatre.
She said, "OK this is the scary part," and she proceeded to have the bad guy shoot the grandmother.
 I said, "Oh, no, this is scary. I hope the grandmother isn't dead." Pip said, "No. Don't worry, the ending will be lovely. There will be blood but she won't die."
That is Pip's idea of a "lovely" ending.

Will work some more today on the thesis finally. Pip is home with me. I believe we will attempt the Starbucks office again: Pip on her computer playing Club Penguin and I on mine.
Mist is in vancouver on a band trip. Tabs has soccer tonight. Tomorrow it's a girl's night out: I am taking Tabs and Pip to Soul Surfer. Pip assures me she won't be too scared and knowing her, she won't be.

Discovered much travel ahead for me in the next year to look forward to: Spain this summer, Hawaii at Christmas and next summer Hong Kong again and I think we'll do China while we're at it (take all of the girls this time). I adore travel, it is one of my greatest adventure-pleasures.

Also discovered UBC has some pretty amazing courses in freelance journalism--Continuing Studies courses. May take them to find out how better to contact publishers. Since I spend my days writing and photographing everything, perhaps I can make a little money while I'm at it :)
So on that front, once my thesis is finshed, I will take a Renaissance painting workshop and the UBC journalisms classes--be self employeed (Painter, writer) until I find a good job with benefits.
If the employers are as scarce as hen's teeth, then I shall become my own employer in every way I can. And I am not forgetting Zumba--I am practicing each night--preparing the choreography gradually for the time I am ready to teach my first class. 

New Year Refiguring

So happy all my babies are home with their momma again. Mist and Tabs had a wonderful time and I thank Auntie T for  being Uber-Auntie and providing them with an amazing holiday and Uncle John for driving the crew through the Blueberry Pass to visit Auntie.
These crafts above were made by Tabs with supplies from Gran: penguins, mice and cardinals.
 Today, while I was a Chapters, Pip redecorated the living room adding lovely and inspiring twists to displaying mundane objects: coasters placed in unusual places at odd angels on coffee and side tables; dog toys hanging precariously from furniture; sofa pillows displayed on top of sofa backs; dog bed placed standing on its side against piano; drapes pulled out into the room and draped on furniture. She toured me around the room proudly, pointing out all the fine details.
Tonight will be an adventure. Peter and the gals off to a party while boring mom continues to recuperate. I am prepared for my dull day with a movie and new Vogue magazine. I almost purchased the Dalai Lama's sequel to his "Guide to Happiness" but I couldn't bring myself to purchase any book. My mind is all over the place. It actually made me realize that I have been too restless to read books for months.
So, while I am boring in my convalescence, I have decided to get back to basics and figure out what has gone astray with my spiritual quest. I haven't meditated in ages, can't read for enjoyment etc.
Life and love are oddities. Just when you think you've got a mandala for navigating them, you realize you are so off course your mandala isn't even touching you!
I also believe that motherhood and "marriage" combined are exhausting pursuits in the modern world and that trying to keep the family going takes up all a woman's energy and she is left confused and exhausted!
That's what New Year's is for... refiguring, new mandalas.

Piano at the Mall

Photos of our family last night at Mist and Tabs' Christmas concert at the mall. The girls played beautifully. Both Mist and Tabs did one duet with their teacher, Marla. Mist's friend Lena came and Juliet (who did her own thing at the mall).
A very busy chore day: tape bedrooms for painting, order hardwood flooring, take old furniture etc to dump, drop off excess furniture etc at Bibles for Missions and Miranda's (her German Phd candidate and his family need things).
Recovered new dining rm chairs yesterday and zenned my kitchen (blue glass collection in storage).
Looks like MOnday afternoon will be family skating time. The rink should be empty from 3-5. I'll pick the gals up from school. Skiing/boarding will wait a few more weekends as I have too many house renos to do: painting rooms etc.
Tried to do an ethics review tutorial but the site refused to let me on it! SO frustrating and time waiting! Will complete all that "work" stuff next week while the girls are still in school.
Pip is so amazingly adorable: last night during the concert she looked at me with concerned eyes and said, "Mom, my tummy hurts. When I have my baby?" I couldn't believe it! She thought she was in labour!
She'd been watching a DVD (with her sisters) about a woman who went into labour the night before (Full House--Becky gives birth to twins).
She has taken to reading me books. She loves it and after she finishes she always asks, "want me to read this one again mom?" I always say yes and she obliges about four-six times!