B-girl practicing downrock at the studio

Morning Message

Sometimes we send out a morning text to friends and family.  Here was today's.

After Dance Camp

Every day, after dance camp, Lillian goes over to Aija's house for a playdate until I come to get her after work.  Aija's house has a horse swing!

Deep thoughts

Last night, before Lill fell asleep, she and I had the following conversation:

LILLIAN: Mama, did you know that if you don't tell the truth and it's funny, then it's a joke.  And if you don't tell the truth and it's silly, then it's a trick.  And if you don't tell the truth and you can't prove it, then it's a lie.

ME: Who told you this?

LILLIAN: I just thinked it in my brain.

Dance camp

On the second day of dance camp Lillian was ready with her outfit and her shoes.

We were the first ones this morning at the studio.

Agave plant

A 10 minute walk from our home is a beautiful greenhouse called, "The Allen Gardens."  For the next two weeks, an agave plant will be blooming there.  The reason this is special is because the plant is monocarpic (it flowers only once).  It lives for about 80 years, then blooms once, and dies.  Agave plants are two feet tall for most of their lives.  When they begin to bloom, a stalk grows from the center of the plant to be about 20 feet tall.  The flowers blossom at the top of the stalk.  The entire blooming process takes only five months.

The agave plant at the Allen Gardens has grown so tall that they had to break the roof to accommodate the blossoms.  We went to see it today.  It's a once in a lifetime experience.


Oh, and we also saw 20 banana plants, which is awesome because we live downtown Toronto.

Pirate princess

Lill woke up this morning insisting that her "new thing" was being a pirate princess and demanding that I make her an eye-patch. 

Daddy!

daddy snuggles

Mandarin Camp

For the past month, Lillian has been attending Mandarin immersion camp.  She loved it.  Her favorite things to say in Mandarin are, "Hello, teacher," "I don't like this," "Get in line," and "The cars go BEEP BEEP BEEP!"

Question: why does wearing awesome gloves make us want to sing?

Play date with Inara

Lillian's swimming buddy, Inara, has an awesome foam surf board.  We get to borrow it on our play dates.

Scalalazka (that's Russian for "lady rock climber")

Harness

Chalkbag

Braids

Ballet leotard

 

she's ready to climb

Celebrating birthdays twice ...

In our family, we love to celebrate birthdays as many times as possible.
Here are two of the meals that were celebrations of Anna's and Peter's birthdays.

Sushi dinner at Solo Sushi (note the heart-shaped soy sauce dish and Cinderella on the table).

Pop corn at an Ethiopian restaurant.

Exploring shadows

Lill is always fascinated by the early morning shadows.

Anna's and Peter's birthday party

Lillian compliments Peter on making an AMAZING traditional Kelly chocolate birthday cake by eating six pieces!

New summer braids

Play date with Sophie

pool party with friends

Thank you for the popsicles, Mrs. Angotti!