Pippi's Scooby Doo Mystery Party

The party gang

Scooby Doo Mystery Treasure Hunt

Treasure Hunt in Our Backyard

Birthday girl Pippi and cousin Artemisia

Birthday Baby and her Scooby Doo Cake (she forgot to make a wish--as we discovered at bedtime!)

After the party: Birthday baby passed out asleep on my bed

Pip is adorable. About an hour after the party, I couldn't find my little darling. She had passed out asleep on my bed--I snapped the Pic without her waking up. Last night she came into my room crying hysterically. She realized she'd forgotten to make a wish when she blew out her candles. I assured her she could shut her eyes, make a wish and blow right then and there and the wish would count. She did it and was happy again.
Went for a morning bike with Peter along Mission Creek in the beautiful sunshine--looking for the Blue Heron rookery. But the trees were empty. They'd all ready fledged :(  

Now, I must prepare a power point presentation on my thesis for the conference that starts tomorrow morning. Then I will attempt to tighten up my thesis. So tight--no one will be able to tare it apart at my defense. I've had to seriously down size my schedule and focus exclusively on my thesis. Once I have defended, I will open up my mind again and attempt to take on the world. 

I miss the world already.

Birthday Baby

Tabitha's 10th birthday party. Pictures from top: 1.Tabby's cake she decorated herself (the centre part) 2. Tabs and Nem Karaoke 3. Mist and friend Karaoke 4. Musical chairs.
The party was a great success. The two 3 year olds (Pip and Artemis) found musical chairs too much stress for them. They were the first two out and the tears...oh those little tears!
A busy weekend. Friday night Tabs party. Saturday I had class and Pip had a party to attend and Mist attended a party Saturday night. Today I took the girls and Nem to H2o Centre for an afternoon of swimming.
Thank goodness Peter is now our weekend chef. I LOVE not cooking on the weekend. Peter has again made his specialty of burgers and home made fries. I give him complete autonomy to make whatever he wants even if it doesn't meet my nutrition standards.
I watched "Cairo Time" the Canadian movie. It was VERY good. I loved it.
Tuesday I have the good fortune of taking Pip and Artemis to "Cup-ccasions" field trip--a tour of a cup cake bakery. It will be a busy week as I have to prepare a presentation for Friday.
Feeling good about my new workout style. I am no longer all about PUSHING myself harder, farther, faster, heavier, steeper, longer. NO more. I am doing my usual weekly exercise but on the weekend it is Saturday completely workout free and Sunday I only do a family sport with the little gals. No more having to do a major hike or run on those mornings. YAY! I am looking forward to having much more fun and laid back weekends.
I also must devote myself to more meditation. I have slacked off and my mind is weaker because of it. I love Buddhism. It makes the universe make sense to me and it is quite comforting to read Buddhist philosophy.

January at the Duck Pond

Pip and I out and about yesterday afternoon.
Tabs Birthday party tonight. Twelve little girls. Karaoke, piniata, musical chairs and hot potato. Tabs insisted on an in-house party. She also insisted on a DQ cake with yellow and blue roses around the edge. She is going to decorate the rest of it herself using icing tubes and gels.
Beautiful sunshine today. Spring seems to be here rather early--but I am not complaining! Rented "Whiteout" last night partly because it is a Canadian film and partly because it is supposed to take place in Antarctica. It was entertainig enough. Made me realize that I have lived through -60 oC with the wind chill! I remember being so grumpy (as a sales associate at Filenes Fashions) if anyone dared come into the store because I thought the entire city of Saskatoon should have shut down and was irritated that I had to go to work in that weather. Oh, those prairie winters--what doesn't kill you makes you stronger--they never leave the psyche.
School for me tomorrow. I had too big a break from it. My mind isn't there. I am nervous to start again as I feel so removed from my Masters at this point.
As for travel...Tibet is a no go for me. But it looks like Peter and I will do Malaysia and South Asia--if we can find a babysitter! My dream is to visit the orang utan refuge and photograph the orag utans and then paint a portrait series of them.
I am still leaning toward doing a PhD after this MA. But of course, these are big, hard decisions.