getting better... maybe

look not a whole month and another post - must mean I am getting better at posting - was there really a time i posted every day ? can i blame facebook for taking over that bit?  warning this is a bit long and photo heavy...

anyways its been busy on every front - happy, sad and frustrating on every side but its been good too.
major things this month:

Lily got a local school place - which was awesome news in our house after the battle to get her even in the school system.Does make me feel sad that she will be old enough for school soon.

Fay earned her first stripe at TKD. She was bouncing off the ceiling for days as she loves it and wants to do well at it. which means we follow the mess that is Aaron Cook's place on the uk olympic team. He should be on it but isn't due to politics. sucks.

Fay is really enjoying learning to play guitar but is frustrated it requires practice. we're grateful to friends who've lent us a 3/4 guitar for her to play.

Ian got a new phone (galaxy note - free with a 2 year contract!!) that Fay commandeers every night to read books. I suspect a kindle might be part of her birthday present. This does mean though that i've got his blackberry - its strange to have a cell phone again after many years.

We had fun at the local water park (Edmontonians will scoff at its tiny-ness) but the kids enjoyed it even if we went in the torrential rain (it was half term so the rain was expected)

We got our photos back from Vision Photo Studio where we used a groupon coupon to get some family shots done.  They turned out ok and I got printing rights for the photos so happy about that.

We've been watching a lot of baseball - cringing at poor BlueJays and wondering what happened to the RedSox... and we've been following the Stanley Cup - rooting for LA Kings to win but it was awesome to follow Will Wheaton (la kings fan) and Kevin Smith (NJ devils fan) on twitter.

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee happened this month and it was an awesome event - some of you might have seen the layouts i made about it over on the MME blog...the girls has good events at school - once they explained that the Queen is the Queen of Canada too.

and Fay had World Book day at her school where they could go in costume! Fay picked Tintin and thankfully work come to the rescue with the clothes and Lily kindly lent Fay her doggy as we couldn't find a pure white one in time. a lot of hair gel wax went on but she looked awesome.

We had a very good Half Term - Starting with seeing a good friend who we haven't seen for 3 ish years. Lily has a little baby last time. i think the girls getting so much older was a tad freaky to acknowledge given us grownups don't seem to change much - except maybe for the odd beard or two. We've known this grown up nearly 11 years now... scary.

and then we had a BBQ with this crew - the Adults we've known nearly 13 years.

and then we had a lovely day at the Grandparents feeding the ducks and hanging out.

Other good things: 

Fay is hereby know as "loophole Girl" ... superhero power: "Teacher Bafflement". She has figured out how to make the project assignment she gets fit into what she wants to do. that and the fact she adores wikipedia and quite often comes out with facts that the teacher doesn't know.  She's now part of the ICT club and the Drama club on top of brownies and tkd and guitar club, this girl  is busy but thankfully is a homebody too.

Lily is know to be known as "Obvious" girl because you would be taking about something say how cricket (the game) is scored and Lily will come out with the fact crickets are a kind of grasshopper. It is awesome to see how her mind works and what she decides to share with us - me who she referred to as her "DNA" the other day. She also thinks its silly that not all grown ups have teddy bears of their own to hug.

 

Sad things that happened:

a ton of stuff i cannot share publicly as they are friends but to those who are hurting, we send our love and wish we could help more than is possible right now. The lost babies, the lost adults - they will not be forgotten and their memories will be cherished.

Other things that happened but not directly related to us except for they were big news in our house...

Neil Gaiman's university speech was very cool to listen too, The successful launch and re entry of SpaceX's Dragon rocket, the horribleness that was the closure of 38 studios, If i had time i want to take part in this art projects all done on index cards,  and if i had money i want this guy to do portraits of my favs - nick scurfield is awesome,  I wish i could think like this guy and turn sinople punches into some of the best cards i have ever seen, a second coming of Hobbes that made me nearly cry, and been listening to lots of TED talks that have just been released.

We've been enjoying life in Southsea, making friends with both children and grownups, working and living - basically putting down roots again. and it doesnt really get any better than that except maybe for homemade Apricot flan.

hope you are all having fun - I am going to try and update this blog more and more as my life evolves. I suspect not all of you will follow along with me int he future but I am thankfull you have been on the journey so far with me.

Comments

[Lacintha]

Hello Darling...what an awsome post...loved catching up on your beautiful family. Looks like you're getting all settled in :)
I look foward to your posts here and on FB and to seeing how you guys are doing...no idea what drama has been transpiring, but screw 'em, doll ;)
hugs and kisses from me...

[Bianca]

I will be following :) also another awesome picture in front of the pier! I really need to try that one

[kathy b]

Wow, you are amazing. I just found you tonight and I really like you already. I am sorry your challenges are coming to an end, but I understand. I will try to pop in and read your blog occasionally. I am sorry people were rude and nasty to you. That is totally unnecessary, as we can agree to disagree. If we all felt the same way, the world would be a dull place. Best wishes to you and your beautiful family!

kathy b

[Kathi R]

Great photos and peek into your life.

I'm glad that you're bouncing back after the stupid ugliness on FB. People. Sheesh.

Hugs.