Sometimes When I'm Not Around

Miss G loves to draw, and whenever she gets free time at school, she is always with the crayons.

No idea where she gets that from...

Anyway.

I love it when I get some of Miss G's free drawings in her back pack.

It's exciting to see what your child does when you are not around.

I would like to start by saying how much I love this picture.

Here is what Miss G says about her masterpiece:

 I made it at school. 

There's a chick. 

It's a chick. 

A chick Easter. 

It makes eggs. 

It makes eggs. 

The little one is me,

and you (me- Mommy, the big chicken) keep an eye on the nest. 

In case you are wondering the purple tree with the grey is the nest, and there are four purple eggs in the nest. 

They are all girl eggs, according to Miss G.

Please take note of the eyelashes.

Miss G loves eyelashes.

Miss G:

This is the sister (big chick),

this is the little brother (little chick),

this is the sun,

this is the flower with the seed and little roots,

and I made them at school. 

Little baby chickies. 

Also, while I wasn't looking one day, Miss A pulled the dining table bench in the kitchen.

I asked her to bring it back, but she said she was busy, so I watched.

But, first, I grabbed a camera.

She got Froggy, Patchy-Patch, Stitch and Eeyore, and they sat on the bench. 

Eeyore left (you'll see), and Mommy Froggy joined along with Grey Elephant, Toopy and Puppy.

Miss A then, promptly gave them all weather words.

I'm told these are tickets.

They are playing soccer! 

Eeyore is goalie, only you can't see the goal because I'm standing beside it.

Miss A was so proud of herself. 

At preschool, Miss A knows you have to wait on the bench until it's your turn,

so she was teaching the toys to be good listeners and patient players.

She's so smart!

Twenty-six Egg-cellent Pictures

So, it was bound to happen.

Mama got sick.

I spent most of this week huddled in my house, trying not to sound like a barking mad seal, but I do. 

I really do sound like a barking mad seal.

Luckily, I only got Miss A's throat thing, cough and fever.

That's enough germ sharing, thank you very much.

I may have simply willed away an nasty stomach bug.  I hate feeling sick.  Blech.

Anyways, today was my second sick day in a row.

I was coughy and oh-so-achy, but my fever broke yesterday, so today was much better.

I only feel like I want a new throat.

Eli picked up the girls from school and brought them home to a very special craft.

I had been feeling a bit guilty for lounging around, encouraging movie marathons while our house was in the grips of a frozen bout of illness, and sometimes if you pretend you are not sick, you feel better... So, I prepared a craft.

The girls were pumped.

This is a super inexpensive way to decorate eggs.

In fact, I bet you have everything in your house right now.

I added food colouring (primary colours only) to a wee bit of water in a small glass. 

It was lots. 

The trick is to add a dallop of rubbing alcohol. 

The rubbing alcohol helps to "seal" in the colour on the egg. 

You can also use a bit of white vinegar instead. 

I've done it both ways before.

The pretty coloured water alone was enough to get the girls excited. 

They patiently listened to the directions, and did very well.   Such good listeners!

Note, they are wearing their smocks with no shirts...

The rubbing alcohol-food colouring mix might not wash out of clothes!

I hard boiled the eggs (I put the eggs in cold, cranked it up to MAX, and left it for about 15 minutes). 

Instead of letting the eggs cool off, though, I carefully dried them off (one by one!) with a dish towel and delivered them to the girls HOT. 

The other eggs stay in the hot water until they are ready to be decorated.

As you can see, I cut up a toilet paper roll to be out eggie holders.

Why on earth am I giving my girls the extra challenge of colouring a warm egg? 

Because the heat off the egg helps to melt the crayon onto the surface of the egg for a more vibrant creamy look.

Genius.

Miss G is nothing if not thorough.

I've seen this done many times before (and have done it a few times myself), but you'll find lots of ideas online like this.  I cannot take credit. 

The girls were very into it.

Look who is hanging out under the table! 

Hi Twofour!

Are you excited about the Big Bunny coming?

Oh!  He is!!  

They were very focused, and thought this was a very fun canvas to draw on! 

But, those colourful glasses... they are just so exciting!! 

A wee bit of waiting, and... 

Delight.

They each got to design and colour four eggs each. 

I think if we had done more, they would have rushed and not enjoyed it as much. 

Four each was a good number.

Miss G's first egg, the obsessively complete purple crayon covered egg, may have somehow affected the blue dye. 

I wonder if it was too hot when we put it in there. 

I think that it's possible that the plentiful wax crayon was not dry and affected the blue's ability to "seal." 

We tired for purple here, but the blue didn't dye.

I think next time, we will just bring a few extra glasses and do the colour mixing in them with the girls.

They love mixing colours.

You could, of course, draw white to seal in a layer of colour and dip again, but my girls were very happy with this process. 

This egg got cracked while bubbling and boiling away.

I told Miss G that it was unique.

So, she wanted it. 

Miss A is in the zone. 

So, the eggs were waiting in the bot of still hot (but not still boiling) water waiting for each girl to finish her previous artistic endeavour before another was brought out of the pot.

Mmm.  Melty. 

Here, Miss A is demonstrating how to flip an egg over to colour the other side.

I LOVE this picture. 

The girls asked me if we could colour some more eggs another day.

I told them, "Of course."  

In the meantime, these eggies are going to live in our fridge. 

(I just saved an empty egg carton and cut it up, so each girl would have egg holders.)

The girls are anxious for the Easter Bunny to see them, and they wonder if he'd like to hide their eggs for them. 

Twofour will diligently pass on the message to the Big Bun.

Did you know that Twofour likes to help out the Easter Bunny each year?

He does!

Many pet rabbits do.

I'll tell you all about it sometime.

Mama's New Toy

I "grew up" in a school with no laminator.

Yes, my beloved school in Nova Scotia had the best families and was super small with an active community, but no laminator.

That was alright.  I didn't really know what I was missing.

My new school has a laminator. 

I've used it a few times, but because laminating is not ingrained in my teaching planning practice, I use it sparingly. 

Mostly, I use it only for important signage and the like.

If I can see myself recycling it, I don't laminate it.

Well, hold the phone!

I discovered a wonderful thing.

Ta da!  My own thermal laminator.

I never ever ever thought to buy one on my own before.

I had always assumed they would be very expensive.

But, then, I was talking to Miss A's preschool teacher one morning and she was talking about the laminating she had done at home.

My scooby ears perked up.

"Home?" I inquired.

"Oh, yes," said she.  "I love my laminator."

"Well who wouldn't?!" (I may have yelled.)

She looked at me like I was an alien.  "You don't have one?"

"No!" Again, my excitement was palatable.

"Well go get one!" and she told me EXACTLY where to look in Walmart.

Not two days later, did I pick up my girlies from my gracious neighbour's house. 

She is so sweet, and runs a day home, and watches the girls for upon the occasional school Professional Development Day.

It was right before Valentine's Day, and she had the girls make us these beautiful Valentines. 

I can't believe I don't have a picture of them... they are hanging in my classroom by my desk. I take pictures of everything!  How do I not have a picture of them??

Sorry.  Back to the story.

Beautiful girlie-made Valentines.

They were laminated.

I looked at her, and said, "You have a laminator?"

She smiled and said, "Mmhmm."

Then, I proceeded to described the exact location of the laminator in the store.

She nodded.

So, I went to the store to buy it. 

The laminating film is very reasonably priced, too. 

I was so excited! 

I started with practical things. 

Like my March calendar numbers (they make a pattern). 

See how excited they are to be laminated?

Just waiting for the green "go" light! 

Ta da!

Now, I'm nothing if not practical.

Eli will tell you that I have been very good.

I've only laminated a few calendar pieces and some game cards for a well-loved Dora game we have here.

So far.

I'm sorting out some of the girls' artwork that needs to be properly preserved for posterity sake.

I don't think I'll be over-laminating, but I'm pretty excited to have the option for some of the girls' special flat creations, and any paper game pieces that need some extra reinforcing.

*Disclosure:  Scotch doesn't know me from, well, you.  Scotch did not ask me to go on and on and on about a product that they've probably had on the shelf for quite some time on my little blog.  I did that all on my own.

Gramma and Miss G's Special Afternoon

Gramma invited Miss G to come over yesterday afternoon to do some baking all on her own.

Miss G was very pleased with this idea.

Daddy dropped off Miss G, and a few hours later, the phone rang.

The conversation went something like this...

Me:  Hello?

Miss G:  Who's this?

Me:  It's Mommy.  Who is this?

Miss G:  Oh.  It's me.  Miss G.  (Except she says her real name, which is super sweet when she pronounces it)

Silence.

Me:  So, what are you doing?

Miss G:  Oh.  I'm at Gramma's house.

Me:  That's nice!  Did Gramma call on the phone or did you call?

Miss G:  It was me.  (Here she rattles off our home phone number)  I know it.

Me:  Good for you!  What did you do with Gramma?

Miss G:  I helped bake.

Me:  Yum.  What did you bake?

Miss G:  We baked (whispering here as she confirms the name of her baking adventure with Gramma) apple dumplings!

Me:  Mmm.  They sound good.  Did you try some?

Miss G:  No.  I don't love apple dumplings, but Daddy will.

Me:  Yes, he will.

Miss G:  Okay.  You can come get me know. 

Me: O--

Miss G:  (cutting me off)  Not NOW, maybe in, um, five minutes.

Me:  Alright, that sounds like a good idea.

Miss G loved her afternoon alone with Gramma.

They also made surprises, which Gramma carefully packed into a bag for Miss G to bring home.

Included in the bag, of course, was "plum pudding" (AKA chocolate pudding, but Miss G likes to call it plum pudding, like the character in Strawberry Stortcake), and some cards.

Miss G liked this card. 

She says it was her favourite, and Gramma gave it to her! 

Inside, Gramma wrote a note.

Miss G keeps it by her bed. 

Miss G made this card for Daddy.

He keeps it in his shop. 

Miss G is flying because she is magic. 

Miss G made this for me, with "the sun that shines shines shines, but does not hurt my eyes."

There is a lengthy message, but Miss G can't remember what it says.

I love it anyways.

And, I love the little butterfly she drew.  It's very expressive.

After two cards, Miss G was tired and didn't want to make one for Miss A, so Gramma did.

Miss A loves it.

And, it did make her feel better.

Little Peanut is still battling this fever that has decided to stay around unless treated with medication.

The endless fever to accompany the endless winter.

Thank you, Gramma!  It was a special day!

Doggone It!

Here are four doggy tails... I mean TALES from this past week.

Doggone It #1

Last week, my girls and I walked over to say "happy trails" to a good friend I've made since we moved here, Heather. 

Heather and I happened to meet on the plane when I was returning from Nana's celebration of life. 

Heather was moving here from Nova Scotia, sight unseen, with her dog and two cats and all the clothes she could pack. 

Brave girl.  I can relate.

We, memorably, got delayed in Calgary, and Heather and I sat next to one another on the flight from Edmonton to Yellowknife. 

Heather's dog, Boulder, LOVES the girls because they will play catch with him continuously, and they have piggy tails, which he thinks are pretty fun.

He doesn't have enough fur for piggy tails, so he has piggy tail envy.

"What are you laughing at, Kid?  I'll lick your earmuffs!!" 

Last week, Heather and Geoff moved into their new home in Hay River.

Congratulations, home owners! 

The girls entertained Boulder outside while the movers loaded up the rest of their stuff.

It's a real bummer to lose a good friend so soon, but Hay River is only a five and a half hour drive south of Yellowknife (which is a heck of a lot closer than most of my friends). I think it is the perfect distance for a weekend road trip, wouldn't you say? 

Doggone It #2

Last night, I took Miss G out on a date.

Little Miss A stayed home with Daddy for movie night because...

... this is how she looks during a self-initiated afternoon nap. 

Fever and stomach bug. 

She's getting much better though!

Kid Doggie joined Miss G and I at NACC, the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, to see a Ukranian dance performance featuring kids and adults.

Miss G says is was better than "The Nutcracker," which is saying something, considering how much she loves Clara!

Doggone It #3

This morning, Barry came over to visit with his beautiful daughter and his little dog, Von Bon. 

Von Bon is very debonair, and knows lots of tricks, much to the girls' delight! 

"Do you like my snow booties??" 

"How about my yellow parka?" 

The girlies LOVE Von Bon, almost as much as they love Barry.

Barry has three skidoos.

Very important.

I caught Eli playing on Barry's skidoo in the garage this morning... 

He says he was just "testing something," but he was in his pajamas and sitting on the seat making vrrrrrroom noises.

Okay, I made up the part about the skidoo noises, but the rest is true.

Eli's heated garage is preferred place to work on skidoos... 

It's Yellowknife, and it's cold here... 

Barry and Eli bond over many things, like skidoos and fishing and shooting...

That makes them "cool" to the girls.

Doggone It #4

Miss A is so much better, today, than earlier this week!!

So, we bundled up in the sled behind Eli's snowmobile to take in a Northern event.

Check out our snazzy matching snowmobile helmets.

We took the girls to Frame Lake to see Day 2 of the Diavik 150 Canadian Championship Dog Derby, as part of the Longjohn Jamboree this weekend. 

You can see the museum, the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in the background (the arced building). 

The girls went dog sledding earlier this month, and they were excited to see a race on the frozen lake! 

It was not freezing (about -10 without a wind chill), so we were pretty comfy. 

We timed it so we got there exactly 11 minutes before the race began to see the exciting start.

They're off!

Each dog team starts in its own lane, then all the lanes merge into one. 

We positioned ourselves right at the final merge position. 

The girls were cheering on all the dogs.

Check out the lead dog on the lead team!

He reminds me of...

Monique's dog Asha. 

How about here?

Do you see the resemblance? 

Here? 

What do you think Asha would think of dog sledding? 

I bet she'd be pretty excited to see the teams running by!! 

Okay, Asha... now you're just showing off...

And that green grass is such a tease.

The mushers were very friendly and waved to the kids and adults cheering on the race along the course. 

It was a pretty spectacular event to see. 

And, the beginning was over in a flash. 

See how Eli strategically incorporated his snowmobile in the background?

He just ordered those blue skis with the red detailing.

He just gets cooler every year.

So, those are my doggy days of March for you.