Sweet Pea and Sugar Lump

Sunday, March 3, 2013

R Plays Triolak by Bartok

R is standing behind, to the right of her teacher.

R had her violin recital in January. Her dad accompanied her on the piano. They chose the piece together and R's violin teacher helped her learn the notes and the complicated rhythms. We're very proud! Enjoy!

You might be able to hear little F in the recording asking about her turn to play. That is also the reason why the camera is quite shaky throughout, she was climbing on me because she realized that she wasn't going to play. We've decided with the violin teacher that F should start lessons next Fall.

The next couple of video are a peak into the play, give and take, patience, inspiration and guidance the two girls live with each other every day.

Montreal Chic!

Saturday, March 2, 2013

F in Conversations with Dad

P received an iPod for a birthday gift and he's quick to use it to record some of his conversations with little F. Her ideas, expressions, joy and enthusiasm are always entertaining to us. We hope you enjoy it too.

This first video was taken in May 2012 when F was 23 months. We like that she is play acting being scared. Usually it's tigers that are the scary element of most stories for F. She is fascinated with them.

This second video was taken in August 2012 when F was 2 years and a couple months. She definitely has her own mind and agenda when out on a walk. We are never surprised when our walk down the street (which should only take the average adult 10 minutes) takes us an easy 45 minutes with F's leading!

The two videos above are taken in Fall 2012. F likes to play around the steps of the church where the bus lets us off. It has become the Tiger Place, where she imagines the tigers live and where she can be like a tiger if she wants.

These last two videos are quite recent. F like to tell stories, and the attention we give to her when she tells/performs them.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Dancing!

F posing after R and friend T dress her up.

F likes dancing. We thought a nice blog post could show how her style has evolved since she was just toddling. Enjoy!

This video was taken in October 2012. Our kitchen serves as our primary dance floor.

This video was taken while F was still just finding her feet.

This one is from late spring 2012. More running than dancing here.

This one is from late fall 2011.

Reserve Faunique Papineau-Labelle

Our last summer trip this year was a four-day stay with friends at a chalet at Papineau-Labelle. The lake was beautiful. There were several row boats there for our use. Each family took a turn making supper for everyone. I made a slightly spicy indian eggplant recipe from Vij's cookbook. I suppose R and F are pretty used to that because other parents had to rush to the kitchen to make something else for their kids- oops!

The kids loved the hammock that was set up. The adults loved the petanque games. Everybody loved the badminton games over the volleyball net. The kids caught many minnow and unfortunately let them dry out in the sun. Parents intervened when frogs were taken prisoner to suffer the same fate.

I caught up with my buddies P&K who had moved to Vancouver about 8 years ago and met their newest addition. We made new friends with K&A and their two kids (both of whom play violin under the tutelage of R's violin teacher). It was a very social trip.

Wandering Fawn

The kids, busy on the dock

Wide-eyed F, looking out over the lake

R experimenting with the fishing rod

Casting practice

A small pyramid

F preferred this suit at the beach

F & Baby E in the hammock

F & Baby E

Badminton! R is serving.

Camping at Voyageur Provincial Park

The girls and I took a camping trip (three nights) to Voyageur Provincial Park. It was F's first camping trip and of course it was so exciting that I don't think she took a single nap. The tent itself was so exciting that she didn't manage to fall asleep until very late the first night. Part of her excitement came from being able to touch the ceiling!
R enjoyed the park workshop on the invasive European Water Chestnut. We all enjoyed our guided night hike to learn about the voyageurs that gave the park its name. The beaches were great especially since the swimming areas were really shallow. R didn't leave the water for long and had a ton of confidence because she could go far while always touching bottom.
To get to the beach closest to our campsite, we would walk a path through a cedar forest which the was a fun place to explore. The deer that nibble at the lower branches give space to walk around and play amongst the trees.
We were sorry we couldn't stay a whole week to catch all the activities and workshops. During our hike through the woods, F said that we were in the "animals' house". Since then, we refer to any woods or forest we walk through as the animals' house. A good thing to remember!