Week before Spring Break

Some may use the few days before a week long trip to pack and plan...but there have been so many things to distract me from doing that.  Allow me to share.

I got a Golden Girls (Rose) Chia Pet.  You read that correctly.  I asked for it as an early Mother's Day Gift.  I even got one (Blanche) for my friend who is letting me stay with her when we are back in Wichita for Spring Break.

Lucy our dog actually caught a squirrel.  It didn't die, but it was not going to make it.  So, Jake and Pops "finished" the job with some shovels.  This was a very stressful moment, but I promise this will become a frequently told story.

Owen asked for me to buy him an electric razor.  That's right!  Owen has developed a faint mustache. It was starting to bug him, so he wanted to shave it off.

He also is graduating to a REAL cell phone.  He is one for doing research, and has selected the Razer Phone 2.  It's a total upgrade from his "burner" phone with all the cracks in the screen.

I got to visit a friend from Wichita, who was in town staying with her daughter. Carla Cannata was my CBS Children's Director for several years.  When we first moved here, Carla sent me her daughter's cell phone number to introduce myself and ask any questions I may have.  We texted a few times, but were never able to meet, until today.  It was such a good visit.  2 1/2 hours later I'm driving home with a loaf of homemade pumpkin bread.

Lights...Camera...Action!

Allie did AMAZING!!!  The role of Alice's older sister Margaret was PERFECT for her.  I took video of both the beginning scene and ending scene that she was in, but they don't want to load.  I also bought some DVD's of the performance for me to watch when she's all grown up.

It was a LONG week of practice after school every day until 7:30, but she LOVED every minute of it.  The rest of the cast did a great job.  Several of the characters were picked wisely for their parts.  But I will still say, Allie's role was made for her.

Luck of the Irish

Today my moms group met for a basket raffle and fundraiser.  We were raising money for the "Jonah Project" here in Spokane.  They help individuals that are involved with sex trafficking.  This organization is AMAZING!!!  They not only are helping hundreds in the Spokane area, they send supplies to other "railroad" organizations around the world.

The baskets for the raffle were put together by several circles in this moms group.  Some individuals even contributed baskets themselves.  There were approximately 35 baskets total.  Every woman who came today got a ticket to put in a basket's bucket.  Then we could purchase more tickets ($1 each).  ALL the money went to the Jonah Project.

When the raffle was done, our moms group raised over $3700.  And your's truly got to take home 2 of the baskets!!!!  It helps that I bought 100 tickets.  I'm sure we will be doing more for this organization in the future.  But to take the advice of a fellow mom walking out of the church with me, "You are sure lucky!  You got 2 of the baskets!  You need to go buy a lottery ticket!"

Margaret Kingsleigh

There is a theater company from Missoula that travels all over the country putting on plays in elementary schools.  The production practices last one week after school each day until 7:30.  Then on the following Saturday, they put on 2 performances.

Today was tryout day for the play "Alice In Wonderland".  Allie got the role of Margaret Kingsleigh, Alice's older sister.  They also asked if she would be in the choir as well.  She's very excited!  I plan to buy a tee shirt and attend both performances on Saturday.  I will post after for everyone to enjoy.

Sound Bath

Yep!  It's as "hippie" as it sounds.  The other evening, Jake and I participated in a sound bath at our yoga studio.  Allow me to describe this event.

Imagine a warm room.  At the front of it are 4 large gongs hanging in a row.  On the floor is a semi-circle of varying sizes of bowls.  You see a few projection lights that make it look like waves on the walls and ceiling.  In the corner is a long wind chime and a large rain stick.

Several people have already set up camp in an array of mats that continue the semi-circle giving the illusion of a flower with many rows of petals.  These individuals have pillows, sleeping bags, blankets and props to make their mat unique to their own tastes.  Jake and I find a spot by the wall to roll out our mats.  We use a couple of the blankets and bolsters from the studio.

The female instructor of the duo walks around asking if anyone would like some oil.  It's Mercury in Retrograde A.  So I apply it to my wrists and pass it on.  The male instructor is documenting the room with a few pictures.

Once the room is at capacity, they begin by asking us to get comfortable with our heads towards the front of the room.  The lights get dim and we close our eyes.  A rain stick is being used.  The person with it is walking around the room.  A few minutes into the rain, someone begins beating a drum.  (I didn't see that, so it surprised me.)  After the rain, I hear someone waking around with a sound bowl.  They are purposefully sounding it above each person on the floor.  The vibrations are very relaxing.

In fact, that is probably the best way to describe a "sound bath".  It's experiencing vibrations of different frequencies that relax you.  However, they also included a dialogue.  This part didn't help the relaxing too much.  The female instructor had a microphone, as to be heard over the gongs, drums and bowls.  Her monologue was very specific and I had a hard time imagining the details.

But in the end, I was very relaxed (due to the vibrations) and ready to go home and get a good nights sleep.

Picture Window

This is my favorite window.  It's the one I stare out during my yoga classes.  It's my peace.  There is hardly any wind, so the pine cones and snow stay on the branches.  Some of the needles have turned brown, but most are evergreen.  The blue sky peaks through to let you see the rays of sun light up the rest of the world.  So I will just stare out and breathe.

Party Invitation

Yesterday, Allie tells me a classmate invited her to her birthday party.  I asked her for the details and all she knows is that it is tomorrow?!  So I did my detective mommy skills and texted another mom if her daughter was invited and if she had the info.  Luckily her daughter was invited, but they are out of town so she didn't have any knowledge to share.  But she did send me the girls cell number, which I had Allie text and find out.

It was a "Skating Party".  I was nervous that Allie might get hurt being she hasn't really skated before.  I took her to Target to buy a gift and dropped her off at the rink.  The mom was VERY nice.  There were a handful of girls at the party.  Allie had a BLAST!  One of the guests may have broken her wrist, but thankfully it wasn't Allie.

This was an impromptu invite, but the beginnings of a friendship.

Worst Winter?

That was the topic..."This is the worst winter in Spokane over the last 100 years."  I'm not sure if they are saying "most snow" or "coldest temps".  Or what factors actually qualify it as "the worst".  But I have to say,  I'M LOVING IT!

There is hardly any wind and most days the sun comes out.  The snow is fluffy and white.  The trees look like they are from a Bob Ross painting.  The ice cycles look like crystal sculptures hanging from the houses.  It's exactly what one would think of when they think "Winter Wonderland".

I can see how some people would be annoyed by it.  The roads get messy, so I have an all wheel drive SUV with Snow Tires.  Besides, this city is on it when it comes to plowing streets.  Also, we bought a snow blower which makes clearing the sidewalks and driveway that much easier.

If this is the WORST,  I think we may have moved to the perfect place for us.