International Day 2015!

This year was our sixth annual international day representing Belgium for Evie's school!  I cannot believe it has been six years since the first time we decided to make real Belgian waffles and create a game for the kids to learn something about the country.  That first year I think I served about three waffles, due to the fact that we were in the parking lot of the old school and I couldn't even run a toaster without blowing a fuse.  I also recall a lot of wind, which kept on blowing over my spin-the-wheel-and-guess-the-belgian-thing game. All of that is to say it did not go terribly well... but I do recall having fun.

This year I decided that I would shake it up a bit and create a new activity for the kids and would take a day off of work to get it all put together. These both turned out to be excellent ideas. With (most) of a day I was able to get all of my ingredients, craft a comic book printout game/contest, and create Tinin, Milieu, and Captain Haddock masks. The contest was to fill out the blank comic bubbles with what you think they are saying (in of course the funniest way possible) and the child winner received a pound of Belgian chocolate.  The adult winner received a bottle of Belgian beer.  The kids (and adults) wrote some fabulously funny renditions of a page from Tintin and the Picaros (and two people, Evie's French teacher and one of the 4th graders, even guessed that the strip was taken from that comic).

On the waffle side I got up early yesterday morning and made three batches of waffle mix and then started making those puppies at 9:30 after getting my booth set up.  I was sold out by 1 pm (the event goes from 10:00-2:00) so I guess next year I'd better make 4 batches!  (Or keep Evie and Izzy...and Patrick.... from eating my wares)

The whole event kicked off with all of the preschool and junior school kids singing a few songs in a few languages. You can't see her in the picture but Genevieve is there too.  Then, while I made waffles and supervised comic creation, my Mom took Izzy and Evie around to the games, which this year included a little train and velcro wall.  Thankfully my Mom even grabbed my camera so for the first time I have more than just one photo of the event!

The whole experience was fabulous, and terribly exhausting.  So much so that when we got home all I could do was lie in bed and veg out on bad television for the rest of the day :)

Tucson Girl's Chorus

Back in January Evie decided that she wanted to switch from dance to choir, so she "auditioned" for the Tucson Girls Choir (I put audition in quotes because I have it on good authority that for the younger girls they all get into the choir unless they are totally and utterly tone deaf... which of course is a reasonable concern for a child of mine, but fortunately she takes after her grandma Nicole and not me). This past Sunday was her first performance.  Evie and the other girls in her Ladybugs choir preformed a series of songs for the annual Tucson Girl's Chorus fundraising dinner.  I must admit, the dinner was quite expensive and parents weren't expected to attend, so we didn't actually go to this first performance.  What we did do, however, was help her get all dressed up and get to listen to her practicing her songs for the performance all week long.  Both were a delight, and I cannot wait for her actual choir performance in a few months!

Book Day!

This week was book day at the girl's school.  Evie decided this year to go as Nancy Drew and Izzy vacillated between a number of different characters including skippy jon jones, a cat (from who knows what book), and little red riding hood.  Ultimately she choose the latter. 

We did not, however, have a hooded cape for her, so we gave her a red baseball cap and a red shirt as a cape and told her to tell everyone she was "little red riding in the hood" (Oh we think we are so clever...)  The big challenge with Evie's costume was to find a magnifying glass (more difficult than you would think) and for me to figure out how to curl her hair in a 50s-esque flip out do.  I went so far as to buy a curling iron and then practice the night before.  I am not sure the practice helped much though... Regardless, Evie was happy with the end result so that is all that mattered :)

Talking Dog Movies

A dark and all encompassing illness has struck my household.  About a year ago it began innocently enough, in search of a family friendly film that Patrick and I too could watch (read not Frozen for the 100th time or Barbie Takes Paris) Patrick put on a Super Buddies Film.  After about 10 minutes I felt the life (or was it intellect) slowly slipping from me and decided to save myself from the gloom. I tried to entice the rest of my kin to step away before it was too late, but, alas, they had already fallen under the strange spell of The. Talking. Dog. Movie. Once captured by this strange genre (and yes folks it is a genre... or at least Netflix thinks so) it is all but impossible to shake the icy-cold cuteness of its grip. The illness starts slow, one talking dog movie interspersed with three or four regular movies, but as the sickness spreads throughout the body (and soul) one finds themselves gravitating to nothing but the talking dog movie. 

The problem with this obsession is that there are hours (days!) of viewing to feed the disease.  From the well known like Beverly Hills Chihuahua (1, 2 and 3!) to the obscure like Underdog (a charming story about Shoeshine the police dog with, you guessed it, superpowers that, yup, saves the city) Then there are the Buddies Movies, which I am pretty sure there are a dozen of...Air Buddies, Super Buddies, Space Buddies, Santa Buddies, Snow Buddies, Treasure Buddies, Mall Buddies, Office Buddies, Vacation Buddies, and Inane-Formulaic-But-Oh-Too-Cute Buddies. Other household favorites are Santa Paws (Christmas in July, and June, and February, and April), Bingo (way to be creative naming your dog and movie), Cats and Dogs (this one almost had me because of the alien theme....), Beethoven (and sequels 1 through at least 5, right?), Marmaduke, Scooby Doo (this is Izzy's preferred dog movie...although almost not really talking dog), Milo and Otis (OK this one is a classic...), and the movie of last weekend... Good Boy.... a sweet story of a boy who finds an alien dog (again aliens, so I was intrigued) sent to earth to determine if earth dogs had, in fact, taken over the world as they were sent to do. With this much fodder for their doggone disease it is no wonder I have lost my family to the canine cinematic chasm that is the talking dog movie.  Sigh. 

Evie the Artist

Ask Evie what her favorite day of the week is and she will tell you Friday.  Now Friday has a lot of things going for it anyway. First and foremost, it is the end of the week. Friday is also  mahjong day (at lunch time), which also generally involves pizza at lunch (so long as I remember to sign them up). Furthermore, there is a bi-weekly after school ice-cream experience (I am pretty sure at this point I owe the PTA mucho bucks because they always give the girls ice cream and I cannot remember the last time I ponied up). Despite all of these other fabulous things Genevieve will tell you that the reason she loves Friday is because that is when she has her art class.

Evie's art goes beyond the classroom.  At any given time she has a pad, notebook or scrap of paper in hand and is drawing pictures.  It has been really fun to watch her art change over the past few years. To put some images to this post I just went around the house a collected a few of her most recent endeavors:

Yesterday Genevieve decided she was going to draw caricatures of each of us.  This is Patrick.

There is a contest at school for the best invention.  This is Evie's current idea... Her other ideas included a flying bird wash and bunk-walk-bed house (a house that was also a bunk bed that could also walk)

A water color of Rapunzel

Random princess (this is Evie's title)

Oil painting that she worked on with Patrick yesterday.  It is titled "Backyard"

Sedona

Last weekend we renewed our family tradition of a February weekend in Sedona via Patrick's family court conference (last year we missed it because Izzy got pneumonia and the two years before Patrick had decided not to go). In years past it was a highlight for me because Genevieve and I would hang out together during the day while Patrick was in the conference and then the three of us would have fun at night.  This was the first year for Izzy to join in on the fun.  While perhaps not quite as chill as when it was just Evie and I, it was certainly more fun.

In keeping with our (rather odd) tradition, on Friday afternoon after we got there and Patrick went into his meeting the girls and I walked over to the Gap outlet and went shopping. Among other treasures they found caps that looked like something Patrick would wear and they were only 3 bucks so they walked out even fancier than they walked in.  We then spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out at the pool (it was ridiculously warm... and the pool was heated).

The next morning we went for a hike up Bell Rock.  At first Isadora was four-square against the idea, but fortunately I made her solider on until she was no longer scared because once she was over her fear she had a blast.  She "walked" Sadie most of the way up the hike and it was hilarious to see the two of them together bounding up the rocks.  At one point Evie and Izzy decided they were no longer girls but in fact ponies (as in My Little) and that I had to play as well.  They informed me that I was to be pinkie pie, which meant (for some reason) I had to hop everywhere.  I gladly played along (except for the hopping, which would have surely spelled disaster for me... I just can't hop down rocks). That afternoon we once again headed to the pool...

On Sunday I took them out for another little hike.  The place I had originally planned on turned out to be a bit too much of a 4x4 trek for me to do by myself and in the little time we had before Patrick was finished, but the hike we did do was still beautiful and a place I had never gone before in Sedona.  After the conference we headed home via a stop at Montezuma's Castle, Rock Springs Pie Shop, and the outlet mall (which was an emergency food stop when Rock Springs was too crowded and we were all getting hangry).

It is so much fun to take off for a long weekend, but I must say this week was a bit hard because all of the weekend fun wore me out for the week!

On the Banks of the Rillito

This past weekend we have had an incredible amount of rain.  I can't remember the time it rained for so long for so many days (like almost 3 whole days... yes that is incredible to a desert dweller). 
 Round about the 2 day of the rain the Rillito River started to run.  The rain slowed down this afternoon, so we decided to brave it and head down to the river via scooter and balance bike to check it out.  Luckily for us, as we got to the river path the remainder of the clouds parted and it was a sunny and warm afternoon, but with water in the river! 

The girls enjoyed the walk a lot, but I think their favorite part was going down to the river bed and playing in the sand.  For me the best part was momentarily closing my eyes, leaning against the retaining wall, feeling the sun on my face and listening to the water.  I almost felt like it was summer and I was up on the Blue... oh heavenly!

All about Isadora

Isadora is fast becoming a big girl. Her favorite colors are shiny pink and shiny purple (absolutely not regular pink or purple).

She is very concerned with eternity, and or has no concept of time, I am not sure which.  When you tell her it is time to go to bed, to wait in line, or that you are taking shirt away to be washed, her first (and usually only) question to you is: FOREVER? Or, Izzy no TV today... NOT FOREVER? Today we went to the Tucson Botanical Gardens and we were talking about plants and how if you don't give them water they die. Her first question was... FOREVER? and I said yes, and then she said, "but if you take one of their seeds and plant it and give it water the plant will be alive again."  She is a clever kid!
 
She likes to make inventions. One of the most notable is the mermaid tail, whereby any regular old doll can become a mermaid with the simple addition of a kid's sock over the doll's legs... voila, multicolored mermaid tails. She learning to count.  The other day she asked if she could have a pez. Patrick told her she could have 2. I asked her what would she have if she ate one more and she said 3 pez. Patrick then asked her what she would have if she ate 3 and then had 1 more. Izzy responded, "A lot." Awesome.

She is very fond of her friends and her best friend Leo in particular. Before Christmas she was in REI with Patrick and found a collared striped shirt that she decided Leo just had to have.  Patrick bought it for her and we finally gave it to him this week. She was so excited to give it to him and then kept asking me afterward, Do you think he liked it? She also makes friends very easily. Last weekend Patrick and the girls were at the park and Izzy made a new friend that now every day this week she has been asking if we can go over and play with her. Finally, she is very fond of her big sister. If Evie would let her she would sleep on the top bunk with her every night. The two of them are like peas in a pod most moments and have gotten into making up elaborate shows for Patrick and I to watch.

For all her friendliness, Isadora can be tentative too. She always insists on grabbing my hand as soon as we get out of the car.  I never have to ask her to hold my hand when we are anywhere near a street (and often she is holding my hand even when we are no where near a street). At the Gardens today we went to the butterfly exhibit and she spent the first 10 minutes glued to my back and grabbing onto my pant pocket for dear life. (I have no idea why she decided it was safer behind me instead of holding my hand... I think I was serving as a human butterfly shield) After about 10 minutes though (and a magnifying glass) she warmed up to the situation and started looking at the flowers and the butterflies with guarded interest.

In the sandbox, note the Anna (ee) doll waiting behind her.

Isadora likes to put an "e" after the things she says.  For example,  she is madly in love with the Christmas present Evie gave her, but instead of calling her Anna, she calls here Anna-eee  Anna-(ee) must go everywhere with her, including tied on with a "seat belt" to the front of her balance bike. Her other favorite possession is the guitar that Santa brought her for Christmas.  Starting in about October her mind was set that a guitar was what she wanted, and man was she excited with the rosy-cheeked man delivered. She currently plays it more like an upright bass, holding onto the top and strumming it.

Last, but not least, Izzy is silly. She is always cracking jokes and making silly faces, both of which crack her up (in addition to the rest of us).

 

Ph(D)inished!

This weekend there is cause to celebrate!  It is my first weekend in 4.5 years where I have had not one single thing to think/worry about for my Ph.D.!  It is such a relief.  Patrick and I kicked the weekend off with a silly 5k run where they threw colored corn starch at you.  Luckily for me he was very patient, my running (and physical fitness in general) has definitely fallen off these past four months.  Even despite all my quick walking though we managed to finish in about 33 minutes, which sets a good baseline for improvement for this year.

During their last week of break they got to spend time with my Mom and Patrick. Patrick, among other adventures, took them to the Air and Space Museum... I think they had a good time :)

In other news the girls started back at school this week.  It was a mercifully smooth transition.  I think they are both happy to be back with their friends, although I know Evie is not too happy to be back to homework.  This morning, while we were at the dash, my Mom graciously took Evie over for an audition with the Tucson Girls Chorus.  Evie is super excited to start singing with them next week as a "ladybug". It is a neat thing for me because this is the first time she has really asked to do an activity (as opposed to Patrick or I suggesting and her acquiescing). After the choir audition we all hung out outside for the entire afternoon, sometimes it is just wonderful to be in Tucson in January!

Happy New Year!

Well 2014 was a pretty awesome year (for the blog, well, not so much).  We had told Evie she could stay up until midnight, so we sent 2014 on its way by watching the NY Times Square ball drop (we thought that watching it live would make it so we could go to bed 2-hours earlier... Evie called our bluff though) and then lighting some sparklers... as it snowed.  Pretty awesome, albeit cold.

 

The next morning we woke up to a snow covered catalinas (and tortilitas and rincons).  It was positively beautiful!

Evie Philosphy

After playing a game Goblet with Genevieve the other day, where I won quite a bit and then she managed to best me a few times too, she informed me (and I wrote it down word for word so I wouldn't forget):

"I think that when parents let their kids win it is mean because someday that kid could go to a board game contest where the prize is 1,000 dollars, and the kid would never have to work again, and if their parents always let them win the will think they could win but really they couldn't and miss a chance of a lifetime."

Ahh 1,000 and never have to work again....

Winterhaven

A zoo in lights... this went on around the corner... it was pretty spectacular

This year we decided to visit Winterhaven after Christmas.  I think we all really enjoyed extending the Christmas fun by one day (or more, Patrick was just listening to Christmas music in his office...) so this may become the new tradition.  Also in the spirit of newness, we walked down roads we have never visited before and were surprised to see the water and light show set to music that I thought had gone from the neighborhood... It was smaller than the old one, but no less delightful.

Almost able to get a picture of all three of them...

I think my favorite part this year though was the massive snowman.  The girls were enchanted with the "snow" aka bubble machine. I felt a little bad that this was as close as they'll get to snow this Christmas season, but not really... they did spend all day outside yesterday playing in the yard in just pants and a long sleeve shirt.  It is all about the tradeoffs :)

Merry Christmas!

 Merry Christmas!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas and lead up to Christmas!  On the 23rd we took a trip to the zoo for zoo lights and the annual trip to see Santa.  Although Izzy insisted she would not sit on Santa's lap, when push came to shove she jumped right up there and chatted with him as if she knew no Santa fear.

 Christmas eve was a fabulous time of family and fun. Evie finally had Izzy open her present (an Anna doll from the Disney Store), which she had been waiting paitently for a month to give to her sister.  After presents, the night was complete with songs on the piano and a buche de noel from a French bakery.

Geneveive was also pretty excited about the minecraft books I bought for her.

Buche de noel and cuteness.

Izzy with her doctor set... which originally was a present for me (the new, almost, Dr.) designed by Patrick to hide the amazing ring he picked out for me.  I think the nerdy look suits her.

 Today Santa brought a bike and clay charms set for Evie and a guitar for Izzy. Patrick and I hosted (for the first time ever) the big Christmas dinner at our house (although my mother and aunt took pity on us and brought all the food... so it was really only a quasi host...  I did buy Christmas place mats... a big hostess step forward for me :)

It is now chilly and just started to rain... who knows, we might just get snow tonight!

And the holidays begin...

Last weekend we kicked off the Christmas month (aka December) with a breakfast with Santa up at one of the fancy Tucson resorts.  Our inspiration for this new event (because goodness knows we need another Christmas-related activity!) was Genevieve's school choir, who is asked to preform at the breakfast each year.  It turned out to be a good time.  We were watching my teenage cousin this weekend and the two of us even went up and sat on Santa's lap and had our pictures taken, which gave me a strange sense of silliness and joy.  Evie's choir did a great job and then she and Patrick were off for another rehearsal for a Christmas dance performance that we'll go to next week.

While they accomplished that task Izzy, my cousin, and myself went on a very important mission... find Sadie a nice warm cozy sweater.  Said sweater was of critical shopping importance because little miss dachshund has decided it is too darn cold (yup as nippy as 40 degrees in the morning) for her to spend enough time outside and do her business.  She was running outside, running back in, and then relieving herself inside.  The mission was successful, sweater was acquired, however, it was made for a regular dog, not an extra-long one.  As a result if you try to put the back straps on her legs she ends up walking around like she has a diaper on and looks decidedly uncomfortable.  It's tough finding sweaters when you are long in the torso. 

Then in the afternoon we all went out to find our Christmas tree.  My cousin tried to convince us that we really should get at least 3 of them, like her family does... fortunately we resisted.... among other things I have no idea how we would have fit two, let alone 3 trees on top of the Subaru.  The challenge every year with the tree au natrual is how the heck to get it perfectly upright when it is a far from perfect thing because, well it is natural.  In the past we have managed to give a semblance of straightness by putting shims under the tree stand in key places or just by rotating the tree until you couldn't really tell it was leaning.  This year, however, the tree was so very leaning that there was nothing to do but go out and buy a new fancy tree-stand that would let us adjust our leaning tower of treeza until it was just perfect.  Patrick came back from his mission with not just a new tree stand but fake snow and tinsel...  I am afraid my cousin is a terrible influence on us.... We now have a straight, well tinsled tree surrounded by a halo of fake snow.... so much for au natrual :)