Bricks4Kidz.....Session 2

Today Sam and Abby had their Lego class....they really loved todays class.  Sam really enjoyed the first one, but Abigail wasn't so sure - this time though, she was partnering a new friend which helped - and they got on really well - the new friend turned out to be the Daughter of an OLD friend of mine :)  It was  really good to catch up with her :)  

While they were in their class, I took the chance to relax in the coffee shop nearby over a London fog, some of their yummy toast and a piece of their chocolate loaf!  Their food and tea is sooooooo good!  It's Aroma cafe in Bonnie Doon mall - now, the mall itself is horrible, but that cafe is fabulous and worth going to the mall for on it's own!!  YUM!!!  I sat in there and art journaled for an hour :)  

Then on the way back through Sears I found the perfect Halloween costume for the party I'm going to on Saturday night - at HALF PRICE!!!  Yay!!!!  :)  And a costume for Susannah at half price too :)  which turned out to be ideal - she took one look at it and I knew she thought I was crazy as it looked awful and childlike on the hanger - and was covered in lace!  But I knew it was going to look super cute on her!  And I was right as usual lol - she needs to remember her Mom is always right hahaha!!  :)  

Anyway, my two, and Abby's new friend were the last to leave the class and they helped tidy up the Lego for the teachers....the girls didn't want to finish - and the teachers were saying how pleased they were to see girls enjoying it so much because 90% of Lego users are boys and it should be encouraged in girls as much as possible!!!  

It's such a great class :)  

I definitely plan to sign them up for more in the new year :)

Ready for Halloween...

Susannah's pirate costume for the school dance :)  

Yikes!!  

What happened to the days when she went as a Disney Princess?????

A lovely evening :)

A visit to my favourite Christmas store, followed by dinner at Joeys.

Such a lovely evening :)

Our Tuesday....

Today was a library day, so we spent several hours at the library, doing work, reading, working on the computers, searching for books, playing games, playing on the wii, and chatting with friends who game by to say hello while we were there....

It's so lovely having a library with a coffee shop that allows you to bring your coffee into the library with you.  I was able to write and art journal with a nice London fog....

Sam read books on flags of the world, pirates and how to look after pet turtles.  Abigail was  reading books on Cats Cradle, Titanic and new fiction she wanted to try.  

I chose some new teen novels that I thought might encourage Susannah to try other authors - she is actually really pleased with the books I chose, so I am hopeful she will find something she likes :)  

I picked a book up for me from te teen crossover section which looks really interesting.  It is called 'The 'Childrens Book' by A S Byatt.  I haven't heard of it before but it sounds really good.  The author makes note of some interesting facts on suicide and the children of writers of childrens books.  You can read that by CLICKING HERE  

And you can read more about the book BY CLICKING HERE

This evening Abigail and Sam went to Lloyds house and I took Laurence and Susannah to Whyte Ave to take one of the Old Strathcona walking ghost tours.  It was FABULOUS!!!  So interesting.  Our guide was one of the writers and producers of 'Creepy Canada' and she has written several books and for several magazines too.  She was really good!  We stopped in front of one old building and a lady came out of a restaurant with big bowls of this most amazing bannock - it was soooo delicious!  She handed it round to everyone....it was incredible - think I have to check out that restaurant one day!!  

The tour definitely made me want to take some of the other ghost tours in Edmonton and learn more about the history of the city - it was fascinating!  The pet cemetery was incredible...and the alleyway where 7 people have died or been dumped in the last 30 years.....and the murder in the Strathcona Hotel...and the Princess Theatre....and the Fringe Theatre....and the Walterdale....it was all so interesting!!

Waiting for the tour to start:

The picture Nadine, our tour guide took of part of our group:

All in all another fabulous day and a great start to our Halloween festivities :)  

Happy Haunting

xxx

tag time...

What's your current obsession?  Sark, Suzi-Blu, Lionheart Art, planning for November - very exciting :)

What are you wearing today?  my brown vest as extra warmth..its chilly today!!

What's for dinner?  lasagna

What would you eat for your last meal?   a roast dinner...a Christmas dinner type of roast dinner..mmmm  :)

What's the last thing you bought?   a couple of Christmas gifts

What are you listening to right now?   The toilet flushing from the bathroom....and Abby rustling in the covers beside me....she had a bad dream so is sleeping in with me.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?  I can't say lol...but it's a long way away ;)  

Which language do you want to learn?   Spanish...but I think we have chosen to learn French instead.

What do you love most about where you currently live?    It is mine and it is home.  It has many memories and history and it is calming and full of love.  It suits us as a family....despite its faults it is ideal - like us, it is not perfect, but it is perfect for us :)  

What is your favorite color?  turquoise or jade green..or peacock blue...

Chocolate or vanilla?   chocolate...but I love vanilla ice cream :)  

What were you doing 10 years ago?  I was pregnant with Abigail and living in Scotland getting bigger day by day......

If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?   I'd just put it in my purse and use it as the week goes...there isn't anything I particularly need but it would get used for gas or groceries I'm sure...

What are you going to do after this?   sleep

What are your favorite films?   Bridesmaids,  You've Got Mail,  Going The Distance,  When a Man Loves a Woman, 

What inspires you?  Brave Girls, my children, friends, positive quotes, 

Your favorite books?  Sark, 

Do you collect anything?  single swans, 

What makes you follow a blog?  if it is updated regularly with variety and interesting, inspiring, informative posts or pictures....I don't like blogs with music or advertising or endless giveaways.  I do like blogs that hold classes though.

What was the most enjoyable thing you did today?  This morning we did school work - I worked with Sam while Abby worked and read, and then we did art - both Abby and Sam created the most GORGEOUS canvases and I am so proud of what they created!!!  They are sooooo talented!!!

What is on the top of your to-do list?   Not much for a day or two...

What's your favorite time of day and why?   evenings and night time.....it is when I am most creative!!

Stronger

Think this is my new anthem :)

I think she can read my mind with her Mr Know It All and her Stronger song :)

And this too is soooo TRUE lmao:

Fun in the woods.....

All other pictures are on Facebook :)  

I feel so blessed and grateful to have had this wonderful weekend with the children - so relaxing and carefree...much of it cuddled up at home, playing, snuggling, watching movies, chatting, giggling....and our lovely walk today which was also full of laughs and chatter!  

This evening Sam and Abby watched the extra dvd that was with the Titanic movie - with all information about the ship, deleted scenes, looking down into the wreckage etc etc....Abby has several books out of the library about the Titanic at the moment - it seems to be a favourite topic of hers at the moment.  

I caught up on laundry, Laurence and I ran out and did a couple of errands when he got home....garbage bins had to go down/ recycling had to be done....typical Sunday night chores at this house :)  I'm always sad the weekend is over.

Oh well....Halloween fun starts this week....thats always a good thing!!  

I hope you all made the most of the gorgeous weather this weekend...or at least enjoyed your weekend wherever you were and whatever way you spent it :)  

My Gorgeous Girls.....

A nice quiet Sunday....

Sam didn't feel very well today, and neither did I, so we had a lazy morning and sat in bed together watching Avatar.  I was awake really early despite being up really late last night - I couldn't get to sleep last night as my mind was really active (plus Sam was grinding his teeth next to me and Rosie was snoring soooo loudly omg!!), so I thought I would have slept in, but I was awake early.  I think I have a touch of Abby's stomach flu or something.  Not sure.  Anyway...I worked on the canvas above until Sam woke up, and then painted it while we watched the movie.  Rosie slept on the bed while we watched.  

Afterwards I had a bath and as Sam was feeling a bit better we decided to take Rosie out for a walk and get some fresh air, to see if that would help.  The bug is like really bad nausea and dizziness, and sam was really hot and then very cold - very strange.  

I had to run to Staples for some Sharpies and a receipt book, and then we headed to Jackie Parker.  The main off leash area was really busy, but we found a nice quiet area and played fetch with a ball we had taken for her.  Then we headed into the woods for a lovely Fall walk and for some climbing and playing for Sam :)  

This evenings work....

A canvas I am working on at the moment...I started it this evening and will finish it tomorrow...not happy with the skin texture...and I want to add something to it...not sure what or where....but I know it isn't 'finished'.....hhhmmmm....so I'm going to sleep on it or put it to one side for a day or so and then go back to it.  I like her though :)  

I'm really happy with the canvases I've worked on in the last few days.  I enjoyed working on them very much and I love the results.  

xxx

Great day...

A blissful Saturday of art and listening to music.  Susannah has been decorating her bedroom, Sam has been on the computer as well as doing some art.  Abigail did some baking and hsa been making everyone snacks and drinks - which is what she loves to do (she was MOST infuriated that her Grandmother wouldn't allow her to make a cup of tea or do any baking last week while she was at her Dads - I tried to explain that old people are set in their ways and that her Grandmother still sees her as a very little girl - hence the gifts she buys her - but it didn't make Abigail feel better.  Miss Abby Banana is so independent and loves to bake and cook and make tea for everyone...so a whole week of being told she was too young must have been very frustrating for her lol!!  Abigails response was that she doesn't like old people lol)!

I got some work done and have two canvases that just need a final protective coat of soul glue.  They are already up on my Etsy store and my Lionheart Art Facebook page.  I'm impatient ;)  

Now we are off to the library, then to Vals to pick up Titanic, then home to play a board game and watch the movie.  

Laurence is off to a sleepover at his friend Wyatts and then to the waterpark tomorrow.  The twins are staying there too so he should have a great time.  

Tomorrow I'm not sure what our plans are...another fairly slow day I hope.  Today has been lovely!

Clue!!

Tonight we all sat down by the fire and had a big game of 'Clue'...it was great fun.  We had a big tub of  Candy Corn to enjoy and sat and played while we nibbled....

It is so different from the game of Cluedo from when I was young.....the names of the characters are all different...the rules are different...the papers are different - the cards and even the weapons and rooms are different!!  It was like learning a whole new game!  

IN the end though it was still great fun and it was a race back to the swimming pool to be able to tell who the murderer was!  

Laurence won....It was Reverend Green (although that isn't his name any more)...and he was in the Living Room with the Candlestick......hmmmmm

And there I was thinking it was Mrs Peacock!!!!  Sigh.....

Homeschool Science Day!!

Today was Homeschool day at Telus World of Science.  Abigail was signed up for two classes, and Sam was signed up for one.  Sam took a class called 'Colours, Colours' and enjoyed taking part in various experiments involving mixing and separating colours of the spectrum using various techniques including water, prisms etc etc...

In the afternoon I took him to the star theatre to watch Dr Agar's Halloween show which involved a few tricks involving fire and pumpkins etc and a bit of dancing to Thriller and other old songs...

Abigail took part in a class called Green Scene which was all about the environment - she came out with a fertiliser treatment for plants made from a teabag!!!  She really enjoyed the class!  

In the afternoon she took part in a class called 'Cauldron Brew' in which she made all kinds of things including a bouncy ball from some kind of polymer!!

We ran into a few homeschool friends - although not as many as we expected to - in fact one friend even commented that she didn't recognise anyone there - it was really strange as the classes were packed but with all new faces!!  We did see Garrett and Margo though which was nice...and Brandy and her girls...and a few other friends we know...Abigail of course knew a lot more people than I did as she knows quite a few of the children from park days and various classes and events.  

It was quite a hectic day - running from one class to another...dropping one off....filling an hour....collecting one..dropping the next....making sure they got fed and watered in between classes (lol) but all in all it was a good day.  They enjoyed it and learnt a lot anyway!  

My Baby is back :)

While I was at the Science Centre today, I got a phone call from the Auto-body place to say my truck was ready!  I was really surprised as it had taken them half the time they had said it would!! 

I arranged to meet Sharon from Birch Bay just before they closed, so after our science classes finished, e headed over to the car rental place and met her there, she paid for the rental car and then drove us to the autobody store.  We checked the truck over - it had been waxed and also vacuumed inside yay!!  And it looks so good now it's fixed :)  So Sharon paid for the body work and then we left and headed home :)

I have my truck back and I have to say it is soooo great to have it back - I did NOT like the Kia Sedona at ALL!!  The last minivan I had was really nice to drive - I think it was a Caravan????  but this Kia was horrible to drive!!  Not impressed at all!  

As soon as I got back in my lovely truck, I felt right at home!  It might be old and have rust spots...it might not have a tv at the front or a heated steering wheel, but it is all paid for and it's lovely to drive.  It feels safe and it can get me and my kids and our dog just about anywhere :)  I love it :)  

My Facebook Business Page :)

Lionheart Art

‎39 year old British mixed media artist, living in beautiful Alberta, Canada. Single Mom of 5 (6 if you count my ever-faithful golden retriever). I live on an acreage that is endlessly inspiring. When I'm not painting, I'm homeschooling or spending time with my wide circle of wonderful friends that I've been lucky enough to find since coming to this amazing country!!

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You can find my page by CLICKING HERE