Cyclovia 2015

This past Sunday was an important Lacroix milestone (yes families have milestones too...) For the first time ever we all set out on a bike ride with each of us on our very own bike.  Now we didn't get terribly far (only about a mile) and one of us (Izzy) didn't have any pedals, but we were all on two wheels nonetheless!  This milestone is of particular importance to me because I have fond memories of growing up in Phoenix and going for weekend family bike rides along the canals and bike paths (in all fairness I also have memories of complaining bitterly about being "forced" to go along on said bike rides).  Because of these experiences I am anxiously awaiting the day when the four of us can set out along our own fabulous (albeit canal-less) bike route near our house for weekend adventures. 

Sitting at an ice cream pit stop

This past weekend, via the annual Tucson Cyclovia, showed me that, while possible, such an event is still a few years off.  Izzy, powered by legs alone was understandably tired after only about a mile of the 5 mile Cyclovia route.  The event, however, was a perfect opportunity to catch a glimpse of our potential bike riding future, and have some fun on a lovely Sunday afternoon.  Cyclovia, for those not familiar, is an event held once (or sometimes twice) a year in cities where miles of road are closed to cars and the people are free to ride bikes, walk or otherwise self propel.  Along the route are activities like booths to decorate your bike with fur and flowers and games like grabbing a newspaper and trying to throw it into a basket as you whisk past.

Patrick helping Izzy dress up her bike

Unfortunately, perhaps as is per usual, we didn't plan terribly well, and about a mile out Izzy was totally kaput.  Fortunately though I realized that I could sit her on my panyard rack and give her a ride and Patrick managed to hold her bike and continue to ride himself. Also fortunately she had a helmet and is just old enough to trust to hold on while I rode down the road.  The only problem was that at one point she lay her head on my back and I could just feel that she was falling asleep... which would have also undoubtedly equated to falling off.  After a few loud shouts in her direction though she woke up and we made it it mile or so back to the car unscathed.  When it is all said and done though Izzy is a pretty mean balance biker... who knows, next year she might even be able to roll with us on a bike with pedals!

Birthday Party!

The big 8th birthday (day... as opposed to the entire weekend celebration in the days before) began with a day at school, where Evie's English teacher apparently greeted her with a big hug and Happy Birthday Genevieve written on the board. It ended with a family party consisting of quiche and cake. Oh and presents... of course there were presents... which consisted of a spy kit from Patrick and I, origami set and roominate expansion kit from Mina and Papa, a bracelet making set from Mimi and lots of fun sweets from Uncle Brendy.    

Road Trips(s) - Part 2

To continue the road trip recounting...  Perhaps the most exciting part of our road trip to San Diego was on Saturday and Sunday when we went to the San Diego Wild Animal Park and stayed there for (almost exactly) 24 hours.  Before our trip out to the park, however, Genevieve requested that we stop in at an art supply store near our hotel to buy her a journal and some pencils to draw with so she could sketch the animals at the zoo.  We decided to all pick up sketch pads so all Lacroixs could try to be artists.  After the visit to the art shop we stopped in on the Saturday farmers market in little Italy for some fabulous crepes.  Izzy, being the foodie she is, preferred the french cheese, meat and mushroom crepe, whereas  Genevieve went for the sugary sweet (and chocolaty) crepe... and that pretty much sums up the differences between those two :)

After some seriously fabulous crepeness we drove away from downtown San Diego and to the Wild Animal Park.  Once there our first stop was new hats for all of the girls because Evie and I didn't have hats and Izzy's hat was decidedly too small.  Fabulous hats were found all around....

What is perhaps not obvious about Izzy's hat is that it is not only a cheetah hat, but a cheetah hat with flip down sunglasses attached to it....

Hats secured we headed for the carousel for a ride.  We then visited with meerkats (and drew some pictures), flamingos (and drew some pictures), and gorillas (and, you guessed it, drew some pictures). I generally leave the art (at least the pencil or brush kind) to the rest of the family, but I must admit I got a kick out of standing there trying to transfer the animal I saw into an animal-like item on a page.

The subject...

The artists hard at work...

After a late(ish) lunch we wandered through a lemur exhibit and over toward the main attraction, the savannahs, big expanses of park with the animals just roaming around.  On our way to the savannah areas it came to our attention that at 3:30 each day the bring out a cheetah and let him (or her) run at top speed.  Given that we had a near cheetah fanatic in our mist (Izzy) we decided to splurge on special front row viewing of the cheetah run. It did not disappoint, with a brief (or rather speedy) view of a sprinting cheetah and then a too cute display of baby cheetah-ness and the baby's best friend, a lively lab puppy.

After the cheetah run we checked in for the main event - Roar and Snore - an overnight adventure in a tent, in the park, on the edge of the savannah.  Months ago Evie and I found this as an option and she decided that this is all she wanted to do for her birthday... no extra party, just a camp out in the wild animal park.  The evening in the park started with dinner looking out at the savannah (rhinos and giraffs and water buffalo, oh my!) and then we "checked" into our tent, which was specially decorated for Evie... she thought that was pretty cool.

 The evening was then filled with a series of crafts, animal encounters and games.  Patrick and I felt like we were at a summer zoo camp along with the girls, it was great fun.  Patrick seemed to particular enjoy decorating tubes for the meerkats...

 I really liked meeting (and touching!) a 3-banded armadillo...

Evie, when asked, said her favorite part was seeing a giraffe pee (apparently on its baby... I was not there, so I cannot corroborate this event), which just goes to show you that scheduled activities are not necessary what leave the lasting impression :) 

We all went to bed around 10 pm to the sounds of the lion roaring.  At one point during the night a bunch of coyotes from outside of the park started yipping and then the lion "answered" them with a roar, yup that was pretty awesome.  The next morning we went on a number of other behind the scenes tours, including getting to meet an echidna.

A bird was very interested in Genevieve's sketches...

That is an echidna

Izzy checking out the wildlife

The adventure culminated with a tram ride around the savannah that we had spent the last 12 hours looking out across.

Then it was to the car and a 6 hour drive back home.  In all it was a fabulous 4 day adventure but I think this picture of Izzy sums it up for all of us:

Happy Birthday Geneveive!

Favorites:
Color - Pink
Animal - Puppy
Book - Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew and "every book exactly"
Music - Beethoven's 5th, made up songs, and more made up songs
Movie - Most girlie movies and Nancy Drew (I think there is a pattern forming here)
TV Show - Magic School Bus, My Little Pony, and Horseland
Subject(s) in School - English and French
Game - "I like to pretend that I am a spy" (which is probably why she really liked the spy kit we gave her for her birthday)
Activity - Odessey of the Mind (an afterschool club all about solving puzzles and creating skits)
Food - "Mina's kind of mac and cheese" (my hippy mac and cheese apparently is not a favorite... or maybe its just that she eats that kind all to often :)
What she wants to be when she grows up - Veterinarian
Best Friends - Nanan and Isabella
Best thing that happened while she was 7 - Met her friend Darsha... who moved away last week :(

Notable things -Really learned how to read in English and French, really got the hang of the bike and started roller skating, went to sleep away camp for a whole week by herself, learned how to write (but not necessarily spell), got really good at math, started Tucson Girl's Chorus, and made lots of new friends.

Road Trip(s)!

These past two weekends have been a fabulous flurry of fun on the road.  Last weekend just Patrick and I took a 3 day 1,240 mile journey across Arizona, New Mexico and a bit of Texas to visit with Abu and Oma (aka Gerard and Monique). The main purpose of our journey was to acquire all of the "accessories" for our newest baby...  a 1958 MG-A, which Gerry and Monique decided to sell to us, and conveniently arrived at our house from her original home with Gerry and Monique the day after Patrick's birthday.  (And yes, Patrick sang a little Happy Birthday to me song) The car, however, was only part of the package.  Along with the car itself we journeied to Texas to get the much needed top, side curtains (both of which need some TLC), a heater, and tons of other bits and pieces (including models and books) to help two new Brittish car parents along their nubile journey.  (Perhaps most important is a highlighted MG-A moss motors catalog of all of the additional bits and pieces we could acquire to maintain and improve our newest addition).

Patrick and I fully enjoyed our duo roadtrip, taking stops to eat at a gastropub (now there is a new oxford word for ya) in El Paso, hang out with Monique and Gerry until almost (gasp) midnight, and  leisurely walk the streets of Sanderson.

Patrick sipping his beer in El Paso... the only child who came with us was Sadie... she enjoyed the only child time immensely :)

Then this weekend we went on a grand adventure, this time heading West to San Diego.  The point of the mission was to celebrate Evie's 8th birthday, which also means this blog itself is about to celebrate an 8th birthday...I guess it turns out reporting on the kiddos is habitforming.

Anyway,  on Thursday we packed our bags and headed out of town.  The girls, as is per usual, were great travelers and only complained bitterly toward the end of the 6 hour drive. Their reward for the long drive (which Izzy later told a random person at the hotel "made my butt really hurt") was a short walk from our hotel to the most fabulous playground I think I have ever seen

The playground had fountains to splash in and then a ton of complicated playground equipment that looked like atoms and molecules.

 Unfortunately I don't have too many pictures of the playground because I was too busy playing too :)

The next day we took a short drive over to Balboa Park where we first wandered around and then went to the science museum.  Izzy was not terribly happy with the idea of a museum, all she wanted to do was go back to the park from the previous day.  She did soften up a bit though after getting to spend some time playing on a crocidile (dragon?) sculpture.

Once at the science museum we were treated to exhibits on cells and building bridges (among other things) and a dome imax presentation on humpback whales (probably my favorite part of the day). From there we rushed back to the harbor for an afternoon whale watching tour (in hopes of seeing them not just in the movies).  The girls seemed pretty worn out at this point... and made little places to lay down on the deck.

In the end we didn't see any whales, but for Evie and I it was a nice trip out on the ocean.  For Izzy and Patrick, who got sea sick I think the would have rather settled with just a whale imax....

So bedtime calls... I will save the rest of this post, or rather our fabulous 8th birthday adventure, for tomorrow or maybe next weekend...

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"