Hip Hop Cuties!!!

Abbey LOVES her Hip Hop dance classes at Danxpress! She practices all the time and couldn't wait until the year end recital. At the last practice, Miss Rebecka told us to have the children's hair and make-up done as well as have their costume on before arriving at the auditorium. Make-up?!?   Yikes...all I own is mascara, blush and lip gloss! On the day of the recital I rummaged through every drawer in my bathroom looking for something resembling foundation!!! I knew my Mom must have given me some in my stocking at some point in my life!! I was successful in my search but I bet Abbey was the only 5 year old wearing Clarins Age Defying SPF 15 foundation LOL! It did the trick for the recital though! 

Here are a few pictures of my little dancing queen before leaving for Horton High.

In starting positions on stage...big lights, packed auditorium!! So exciting!!!

They did two songs; Let's Dance, Let's Shout by Shaggy and Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus. Here's a video of the second one...Abbey's friend Sophie is in this too (Can you see her Mary?) Enjoy! Abbey's on the far right in the video.

DeLaps Cove Hike

Janie and I made plans to go hiking one night after Abbey, Emma and Allison's dance class when Steve and Jean were scheduled to be away for the weekend again. The weather turned out to be really nice and perfect for a picnic and hike to DeLaps Cove near Annapolis Royal.

Here's Abbey and Allison at the entrance to the hike and Abbey near the waterfall part way through. Below there's a picture of the one little creek we had to cross.

Now look at the following picture closely! Do you see anyone with wet pant legs? Of course it's Michael!! He was the one to slip into the creek...luckily he's ALL boy and couldn't have cared less. He laughed it off and kept running through the trail!!!

Here's Janie and the kids having a snack. Overall a super fun day of hiking, eating and taking in the beautiful views along the trail. Sadly the Leroux's are posted to Comox this year. Hopefully our paths will cross again someday!

Supper Conversation...

Kids say the funniest things. Here's a sample of tonight's dinner conversation.

Abbey: Who loves me?
Steve and I: I do!
Michael: I do too!
Abbey: A lot of people love me!
Michael: It's important to love yourself too.
Abbey: Oh I love myself a lot!

They say the cutest things.
A few minutes later as we are contemplating going to Abbey and Michael's school dance...this is NOT so cute!

me: Are you excited to go to the school dance tonight?
Abbey: Are you going to come too Daddy?
Steve: Do you want me to come?
Michael: Yes but I think you should stay home and have a rest instead because you work hard.
me: What the ?!?!?
Steve: laughing....
me: Who do you think works harder? Mommy or Daddy?
Michael: Daddy for sure...he knows all about airplanes.

Why is it the Daddy always gets the glory!!! FOR THE LOVE!!!
Off to the dance I go!!!

E.R.T.

At the end of April, I was chosen to be a part of an External Review Team for a school's Accreditation process in Glace Bay, NS. Having just last year been the co-chair for my own school's accreditation (School Success Planning for Ontario people) process, I was excited to go into someone else's school (Bridgeport School P-9) and hear their story, their goals and strategies for implementing them. 

I bought some new country CD's, some snacks and off I went...bound for Cape Breton for three nights!  Here's me driving along thinking of Mary so I took a pic of her hometown sign lol!

YAY! I arrived safe and sound in Cape Breton!!! 

Being a part of an ERT was an amazing experience...TONS of work but great professional development. We worked long (very long!!!) hours analyzing data, modifying the wording of goals and helping the school and staff ultimately get accredited in four years time. 

When my team (Gary, the director of Education for the CCRSB and Kathy, a principal from the same school board) got up to go to the bathroom one night, I snapped this picture of the table where we were doing work in the conference room of the hotel. It was so dark and we were STILL working! I went to bed mentally exhausted every night...but I have to admit that I LOVED it!

Here's me and the "team"...ERT, principal and co-chairs!! 

Gary is on the left, then me and Firman the principal (interesting character), Wanda and Lisa (co-chairs) and Kathy on the far right end. 

I would jump at the opportunity to work with both Gary and Kathy again and I hope to be asked to take part in an ERT again. Right now...I'm enjoying being back at home with my family! Thank goodness my job doesn't take me away from home very often!

Hockey Banquet

Our first hockey season is officially over! Today we attended the Greenwood Bombers Hockey Banquet. Although Michael wasn't feeling 100%, he wanted to attend to finish off his season. The Banquet was held at the Annapolis Mess and the executive did a great job planning it. The IP1's (Michael's group) were the first to receive their trophies. They were all so proud! The pictures aren't great (sorry) but there were a ton of parents around and a lot of trophies being handed out so I had to be VERY quick with the pics. Here are some pics nonetheless...

Here's a close-up of Michael's first trophy! He was so excited that it had his name on it!!! Now Abbey says she wants to play hockey next year!! (I think it may have something to do with getting a trophy! ha!ha!ha!)

Easter Fun!

We had a beautiful Easter long weekend here on the East Coast! Awesome weather, fun times with great friends and of course a visit from the Easter Bunny!

Up and at 'em early, Abbey and Michael were eager to look for their Easter eggs. They were everywhere (we actually found another one two days ago)!!! The kids had a blast and we had just as much fun watching them.

We even discovered a trail of eggs that led to the back shed. We were all quick to put our shoes on and out we went, baskets in hand. Here's the pic of Abbey and Michael following the eggs from the house to the shed.

And here's the video of what they found inside!!!! The Easter Bunny was quite generous this year (apparently he got help from a consulting firm in Ontario ha!ha!)

By Sunday afternoon (after church of course Mom...don't worry) both Abbey and Michael were confident on their big new bikes!!! I have TWO children old enough to ride without training wheels! When did that happen?!?

Happy Spring everyone! xo

Florida 2010

Well Florida has come and gone for another year...boohoo! So much planning and excitement and then it's done before you know it and it's back to reality! BUT...we had just as much fun at Disney World in 2010 as we did in 2009! On the first day we arrived it was raining (warm rain so not too bad) but we didn't let it damper our spirits. We purchased Disney Ponchos (at $7.50 a pop...for the love!!!) and off we went! Here we are waiting for the bus to Magic Kingdom in front of our hotel.

To tell you the truth, our rainy day was one of my favourite days at Disney. There were virtually no line-ups for rides and we were able to see tons of characters! The rain was a non-issue really and we truly made the best of the day! I have a ton of pictures, so choosing only a few is very difficult but here are some of my favourites. Here's Abbey and Michael with Mickey, and Abbey with Cinderella. 

We were lucky enough to get reservations at Cinderella's castle again this year. Last year, we did supper with Cinderella (the Fairy God Mother as well as the mice were there too) but this year, we did breakfast with Cinderella and ALL the princesses came. Abbey was so thrilled! She met Cinderella, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Belle all in one morning!

Here's the family on the "set" of Cars! Michael was in heaven being so close to Lightning McQueen! 

This year Michael and Abbey were tall enough to ride Space Mountain. Michael couldn't wait to get on. Abbey on the other hand decided that she would pass on it. Michael was scared out of his mind but LOVED it in the end! He says it was his favourite ride at Disney this year! (his pale face at the end of the ride told 

a different story but ?!?)

On our last day at Disney, my parents drove up from Siesta Key to meet us for the day. We were having breakfast with the Disney characters at our hotel when they arrived...just in time to meet Pluto! 

We all had a great day together and it was nice for them to have the magical Disney experience with Abbey and Michael while they are still young. I took this secret video of my Dad and Abbey dancing in the streets at one of the many parades. Sebastian is atop the float singing!

 

I love ALL the parades at Disney but the night time Wishes fireworks show at the castle is unbelievable!!! My parents were there for this too and I was beyond excited for them to see it! I swear Disney should pay me to do a commercial! I really DO believe it's the happiest place on earth!