snow party!

The girls and I always look forward to our Christmas reunion with Bryanna's China Group 70 and today was the day! We packed the car and headed to London for a fantabulous day at the Ramundos.

Our seven girls laughed and talked and talked and ate and talked and opened gifts and played in the snow (yes, more on THAT in a minute) and talked and giggled, while the adults drank wine and talked and feasted and talked and drank more wine and talked. Glorious!

While the bigger girls chatted and snacked, the two youngest staked out the Wii set...

Back to the weather - we had left Toronto in sunshine and had a great (dry) drive to London, but within half an hour of arrival, the snow dropped! And so out they all trooped for some snow fun...

They came in happy with rosy cheeks and smiles...

Then a wonderful lunch - the table for the younger crew...

And an elegant and festive table for the mature group...

Crafts and presents and more time to catch up ...

And then it was time to face the trip home. Nick dug us out of the driveway (thanks Nick!) and we were on our way. My normal 1 hour 40 minute drive took 2 and half. Wow!

When we reached home I breathed a sigh of relief. I looked around our neighbourhood of dry roads and lawns still showing green and just shook my head.

But even with the first real blast of Winter, it was an amazing day.

All because of our amazing girls.

On this day

Today is Kim's birthday...she won't mind me sharing that tidbit as she is SO much younger than me. ;-) She may mind this photo...but what can I say...it's all her!

Through the years she has been by my side through all the momentous times and the everyday ones.

To this brilliant thinker, inspired photographer and artist, loving and thoughtful mom and wife...and sister extraordinaire - happy birthday, my friend.

Love you!

Wicked!

It's been a challenging few weeks. Not even going to go into that here but enough to say that on Thursday evening, a long awaited excursion downtown to see the musical Wicked (with good friend Shauna) did not come a moment too soon.

Photo thanks to Shauna's iPhone!

I rushed home from work, grabbed the babysitter for the dynamic duo and we set out for downtown TO...I haven't been on Yonge Street at Christmas time in years and both Shauna and I were like little kids looking at the lights and people. We met Janet for dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and I loved the amazing food and gazing at Yonge Dundas Square where the enormous Christmas tree made of lighted spheres was the focal point.

After a relaxing hour, we bid farewell to Janet (wished she could have joined us) and then off we went to the show. I love the Canon Theatre (previously the Pantages where Phantom of the Opera played) - it is just gorgeous.

I've read the Wicked books...love how the story was turned upside down to show a different side of the witches of Oz. However, the books did depress me...after capturing the reader's imagination and encouraging an understanding and love of Elphaba (the wicked witch), the poor woman never seemed to catch a break. That same passion and melancholy is captured in the Broadway show but the musical does deliver a slightly happier ending and so I was much more satisfied.

Shauna and I left the building 3 hours later and though it was raining, we were grinning ear to ear. A wondeful show and an evening away from our respective responsibilities -- what more could we ask! I've since downloaded a number of the musical numbers to my iPod (I believe Shauna has done the same) and even my girls are singing along and asking to see clips of the show on YouTube.

We (okay, me) are now slightly obsessed with Elphaba and her mantra to defy gravity (listen here as Idina Menzel sings). So much so that we have made the change to green!

What a great night - hope the show returns so I can take the girls one day!

picture fall - the recap

As mentioned a few weeks ago, my sister signed me up for the Picture Fall online photography workshop as part of my birthday gift...the 31 day program ended yesterday on Halloween.

I have to say that I had a wonderful time despite my hesitation when Kim first suggested it. Initially I felt overwhelmed when viewing some of the amazing photographers who took part, but in the end I enjoyed the challenge of every day's themed prompt and, with help from my talented sister, actually ended up with a few good shots. Another bonus... the supportive comments of this group was a lift to the spirit on a daily basis.

So, here is a look back...28 days of photos because I missed 3 due to crazy schedules!

Learned how to do this from Kim!

And if you are thinking of developing (hah! no pun intended!) your own photographic self, the next course starts on December 1 - check here for more details... Picture the Holidays

all hallow's eve

After a bitterly cold day and a couple of snow showers, the weather cleared just in time for the trick or treaters to appear!

I whipped up a chicken dinner with all the trimmings (gotta love that M&Ms !) for the Thompson clan before the dynamic duo suited up for Halloween 2010.

Cassidy fell in love with the sparkle of Cleopatra's collar when she saw it in a Halloween outlet store in Newmarket, and so decided to become the Queen of Egypt this year. Friend Julia also chose to be Cleopatra and Anne Marie took some fantastic photos of the two of them that day.

Cass bundled up under her veils and skirts and with a touch of eye make-up, voila! the queen had arrived!

Bryanna wanted to be something different...not a person, not a ghoul. A crayon!

You can't tell here, but she has blue eyeshadow, blue cheeks and a blue nose!

As the sun disappeared, that bitter cold did settle in...the moms (and nanny!) shivered in our winter coats and wondered how the kids kept going...I figure sugar and the adrenaline rush is the answer. Cassidy was a trooper and only reluctantly came in as we finished our regular circuit...

A cup of hot chocolate warmed up my little eqyptian while her sister continued with the big girls and another mom for one more hour.

Another great halloween goes by...we hope all your loved ones had a wonderful adventure too.

Till next year!

halloween comes early

"Why must this happen to me?"

*sigh*

the purge continues...

Miz C's room has been driving me CRAZY. That girl is the polar opposite of her obsessively neat older sister.

So with friend Anne Marie's recent help in purging the kitchen, I was inspired and leapt into the disaster zone on the second floor. Six hours, 2 garbage bags, help from Nanny with clothes, 1 bag going to Goodwill, 2 boxes of books for giving away and a major re-organization, and I am one happy mom.

BEFORE...

Oh how I hated this closet

AND AFTER!!!!...

love it love it love it

Next...my walk-in closet!

giving thanks

What a gorgeous thanksgiving weekend this has been!

We celebrated, as we have the last few years, by going to an inn with Nanny and Papa for thanksgiving dinner. Our current favourite destination is the Aberfoyle Mill near Guelph...

We walked around their back property a bit to soak up a little more of the warm sunshine...so pretty, though my camera can't quite capture the quality of that late afternoon light.

Then inside to the 100 year old mill, to enjoy a scrumptious thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings.

The sweet potato soup...yum. Miz C ate every drop.

One of the reasons we love this place is the owner - he recognizes us every time and sweeps the girls into big hugs. As we leave, he always pauses to make them a balloon animal - such a joy to be there.

We hope all of you enjoyed the Autumn weather and delicious get-togethers - we give thanks every day that you are a part of our lives.

picture fall

This seems to be the season when my artistic side is getting a full workout!

My sister (who is an amazing photographer) signed me up for an online photography course called Picture Fall by Tracey Clarke for my birthday. While I hesitated at first (how was I going to find time to take a photo every day through the month of October?), I am really enjoying it and finding myself challenged in a way I haven't been since the days of my writing group.

My photos cannot compare to some of the stunning images that they share space with online, but it is fascinating just to look through those and find new ideas and inspiration. I am posting my assignment submissions to Flickr and if you're interested, you can see them by clicking on the Flickr photostream in the right sidebar. The daily assignment theme is the title under each photo.

And if you feel so inclined, sign up yourself! If not for this course, then the next one around the holidays...you might suddenly see the world around you in a whole new light.

wonder woman

For the last few weeks, I have been the grateful beneficiary of the organizational super skills of friend, Anne Marie.

AM has a flair and a passion for organizing; it is almost like magic how she can stand before a cupboard and as easy as saying bibbedy bobbedy boo! visualizes exactly how that pile of kitchen paraphernalia can suddenly make sense.

A month ago she prompted me to to purchase a label maker (?) and a number of plastic bins. Then a week ago she arrived and while the kids played (and stayed up very late) we emptied out every cupboard in the kitchen including the hall panty. We piled up the vast collection on tables and counters and then methodically went through it all. Whenever I started to fade, or felt overwhelmed by how much STUFF there was, AM kept us going.

And at five minutes past midnight we were done! Three bags of garbage, another for goodwill, and 2 bins of recycling cleared the way for a kitchen that had room for every single thing. A few more purchases this week (with coupons found by AM of course) and the kitchen is now one of my favourite places in the house!

Very happy - hopefully I can maintain the energy to tackle all the closets throughout the house now!

Anne Marie's magic touch