The end of the first school year

Well, Ray made it to Grade 1. She had two assemblies to get through, but she's done. And two days later, she flung herself on her bed and wailed, "I wanna go back to QMS!!" I assured her she would, but first, let's get through our busy summer! So here's some photos from the past week (my new DSLR came on Tuesday!).

1. The little paper graduation

caps on top of the cubbies.

2. Where I got to

do my singing gig with the Naden Band. The Cameron Bandshell in the park. Very exciting. I sucked, but the people clapped so I guess I'm better live than on Memorex.

3. An artsy

shot with the new camera.

4. The girls played in the

sprinkler after work the other day. Got some great shots.

This week's flex:

Sun: Church, trial piano lesson for Ray. Finish laundry and so some homework.

Mon: Work, daycare.

Tue: Work, daycare.

Wed: Work for Sailor, academic leave for me. Greta has her preschool presentations in the park, so Ray & I are going. Gotta get some stuff handed in for school too. It's also pick-up day for our veggies from the local farm share we bought into for the summer.

Thu: Work, daycare. Lunch with a good friend I hope.

Fri: Work, daycare. Civi Friday at work! YAY!

Sat: Laundry, hanging out. Nothing planned... what a shock!

More from Fleet Review

So here's the rest of them. Some turned out really good too!

1. The Skyhawks routine. We were too far away to see them well, but the smoke markers looked cool in the sky.

2. Then the Sea Kings flew over head. Good thing they had the SAR Chopper out too ;-P

3. We're not usually so slanty. That's the Sea Kings over some of the fleet.

4. This is a CF-18 Hornet. She wasn't supersonic but she was LOUD! She went straight up, flipped around, then flipped over and came down. I think there was a passenger in there the pilot was trying to make sick. It looked VERY cool though. Fast. So fast, this was the ONLY shot of it that came out!

5. The Snowbirds! What an amazing airshow they put on. Here's two more of my favourites: starburst and their new one for the navy, "Waves".

This week's flex:

Mon: sick day

Tues: day in lieu. Ray has her end-of-term assembly. Groceries. Sailor has First Aid til Thursday.

Wed: Academic Day. Ray has her year-end assembly.

Thur: Back into the fray. Rehearsal with the band, chiro.

Fri: Ray & Greta to preschool. I'm at work, as is Sailor, but in the afternoon I sing at the Bandshell in the park with the Naden Band! I'll try to scoop pictures.

Sat: Birthday party for one of Ray's classmates.

Sun: Father's Day.

Whew! Glad THAT'S over!!

Well... they came. We partied. They left. What a whirlwind this past week was. The ships started arriving on the Wednesday - the USS Ronald Regan the largest of them. The club did no advertising and still made $2K on the bar! Thursday night was the Meet & Greet. There were about 200 visitors and 300 Canadians. Too much fun. Then Friday night we saw the fireworks from one of the best vantage points around. Saturday the Fleet Review itself with Skyhawks jumping in, a flypast, and then the Snowbirds Airshow. Sunday was an after party but I wasn't feeling all that great so I left early. Here's a few photos from the week that was.

1. Sailor and I went to the ZZ Top concert in style - limo ride down and back with our friend's limo service (he was going too) and then seats in the Q's Suite. The ONLY way to concert!

2. The USS Ronald Regan anchored just offshore from our Club. She's large. Very. Very. Large.

3. Me and three of my

new 'friends': an Australian General, the CO of the USS Ronny, and the Chilean Admiral. Nice men all of them.

4. Looking through the "big eyes" - our binoculars on the patio - here's the Ronny and the Vancouver at her side.

5. One of the fireworks. It was a good light show. Took a while to get going, but once it did, they were really well done.

6. This is the Algonquin taking a starboard turn after inspecting some ships. She's carrying the Governor General on board.

More to follow in another post this afternoon. Right now, I'm off to watch Ray 'graduate' from Kindy to Grade 1. And yes... pictures will be forthcoming!

Hell Week 2 Comin' UP!

Well, this past week was a breather before heading into the fray called International Fleet Review Week. Here's some pictures from the past week.

1. The lifejacket Ray needed to wear for swim lessons at the school.

2. Face-painting at the Eco Fair at a local French immersion school. Took a long time to get all that off her face!

3. Pretty flowers on the table at Ray's school. It was a going-away tea for their Head.

4. A bald eagle in the tree. Spotted from the Walmat garden centre at the north end of town. He was being harassed by some hawks or ravens.

5. My shoe-storage solution. Won't be like this for long though.

This week's flex:

Sunday: ZZTop concert! I won tickets to the local radio station's box, so gave away our tickets (which were in the posh seats anyway) to our friends as a thank-you for driving Ray in to school and picking her up. We're hitching a ride with friends... who happen to own a limo service! WooT! $25 for round trip, door to door transportation. Free drinks in the box and we don't have to worry about driving home! Wide Mouth Mason is opening. This is gonna be FUN! And totally ruin any other way of seeing a concert for me.

Monday: Sailor is duty, so after work, the girls and I are having a quiet night.

Tuesday: Work and school for us all. I have an Executive meeting and then a dental cleaning.

Wednesday: Sailor works, girls go to school, and I have three assignments to get through. I'm spending 2 hours in the hair chair too, missing out on Greta's beach day (postponed due to lousy weather last week). That afternoon I'm picking up some MK for a customer and then Ray from school. Then we're going to a local farm that we're buying shares in for the summer to drop off our cheques.

Thursday: Work and school for us all. That night I'm hosting a Meet & Greet at the Club for 200 foreign sailors and 200 Canadian sailors!!! EEEKS!

Friday: Work and school for us all. I'm going to try to go with Ray to the beach for HER beach day (and bring Greta with me too) if I'm off. That night we are hosting spouses and members (and any foreign sailors that are off their ships) at the Club for a band and then fireworks at 10pm. Another late night. Sailor is overnight on the ship.

Saturday: Fleet Review Day!! The Governor General is reviewing our fleet and the visiting ships. The Skyhawks are dropping in to start, then the Snowbirds are flying over to end it. The Club is inviting all their families and friends down to watch with a bbq and magician on hand. That night, there's the Navy Rocks concert in town, and the Club is showing UFC 115 for those interested. I'm staying home!!

Sunday: After the sports tabloid earlier in the day, we're holding a small party with a band playing for three hours and I get to sing a couple songs at the end. I might need a sitter...

Goodbye May, Hello June!

May's Hell Week is over. Ray and I had the technical rehearsal on Wednesday starting at 4. So Sailor got a ride to the theatre, picked up the car, and got Greta. Then he came to get us around 6:30.

On Thursday we had the dress rehearsal. This time, we met him at the theatre (we were a little late) and he came to get us around 7.

The dances were incredible! I didn't see anything of the first act (The Ugly Duckling), but the costumes were amazing. The second act was Around The World and the last group to go on were the senior girls with two boys, doing an East Indian dance, "Jai Ho". AMAZING. Simply stunning. My favourite I've seen so far. Ray's group did Little Grass Shack and they were so cute! Did great too - not one kid with stage fright!

Our group did our Can Can and the first night, the audience clapped along with the music which was completely unexpected! The afternoon crowd was silent for the most part, and Sailor couldn't get Greta to sit in the dark theatre, so they went home, got a flashlight, t

hen returned. They were inside in time to see Ray dance and I saw them standing to the left of the stage watching us dance. The whole way home, Greta kept saying, "nice dancing, Mummy!" SO cute. Saturday night's house was full, and they loved the show! We had a huge applause and lots of laughs. I screwed up a little bit, but I hope I covered it well enough. I guess I'll find out when the dvd comes in July.

They give out awards after the Saturday night performance, and I didn't see the screen well as I was to the side, but it seems that Ray came in the top three for her exams! Ray said she wasn't up there, but the sweet woman whose daughter received the ballet award said that Ray had a cute picture on the screen!

So now I have a purple lycra dress. It would

make a good Flamenco dress with a few more ruffles sewn on.

I even managed to finish my 3rd assignment for my Economics course too! Amazing. Now I need to tackle the Comms course, then try the Accounting assignment without crying.

Here's the pictures from the week:

1. Ray and her friends rolled

down this hill continuously for about 30 minutes. They had a blast! I used to love doing this.

2. The geese have the right-of-way on the Base. They start out as fluffy little chicks then seemingly overnight grow into larger goslings. They follow one parent while the other one brings up the rear. All vehicles must stop for them as they cross. It's not much of an inconvenience, unless, of course, you're in a hurry!

3. At the technical rehearsal, we were able to watch most of the dancers. This girl is in Grade 12 and will be going to UVic in the fall. She did two shows, this one is Morocco. Absolutely stunning! She can dance up a storm, too!

4. These are our skirts, how they flow and swirl. And yes, that's really the colour purple they were! They were quite heavy and both of my underarm seams are split as it was a TIGHT fit to get into and out of. A couple times I thought I'd need the jaws of life to come extracate me!

Nevertheless, it was an experience, that's for sure!

For some reason, the Blog is cutting off parts of my photos. I'll try to work on this.

This week's flex:

Sunday: Church (if I can tear away from the computer and go shower! Thankfully it's a 10am service!). Then groceries and housework. So glamourous!

Monday: We're putting Greta into Preschool, but taking Ray onto Sailor's ship for a surprise! It's Day Sail day and we're going out for the day. She's going to lose her mind.

Tuesday: Work for me and Sailor, school for the girls. That night I'm supposed to go to one of the dancer's homes for a spaghetti supper. I have a chiro appointment, then the designer for the Mess is dropping off her design package to us! Then we just wait for CE to appoint a project manager... then we can start getting our mess redone!

Wednesday: Work for Sailor, school for the girls. I'm off for Academic Advancement. I'll read to Ray, then spend the forenoon at the beach with Greta. Then the afternoon will be spent buried in books before getting Ray from school. I think I'll drop off some books at the store too.

Thursday: Work for me and Sailor, school for the girls. I have rehearsal with the Naden Band today for our concert in June! Wheeeee!

Friday: Work for me and Sailor, school for the girls. Ray's out early today. I have a lunch date with a retired Admiral who is one of the sweetest men I've ever met. I was so honoured to have worked with him on the Homecoming Statue project.

Saturday: NO DANCE! WooT! We have a tea at Ray's school and a goodbye-lunch to the Head who is moving on. She was wonderful. A nice, fun, relaxing day.

Sunday: Sailor and I are getting limo'd to the ZZTop concert! We know the limo guy and he's going, so we're hopping in! $25 there and back. Cheaper than the gas and parking it would cost us if we went alone, not to mention the least stressful trip EVER! Wheeee! I haven't been in a limo since before my wedding!

Hope you have a wonderful week.

Long Weekend Life

Well what a nice long weekend. Sailor is duty on Sunday, which wrecks his long weekend. Good thing we don't camp - it's raining like mad... off and on. But, we have Phineas and Ferb so all is good. Financial Accounting homework is driving me mental. I'm getting it, but not as quickly as I'd like.

My friend Cathy is in Sudan, Khartoum, on deployment. She and I were wondering, if you had any clothes for little girls (newborn+) that you'd like to donate, she'll take 'em. Please mail a box, no larger than a 24 beer box or photocopy paper box, to:

K25 512 140
Hayduk, CM
PO2
OP SAFARI
PO Box 5225 Stn Forces

Belleville, ON K8N 5N6

These are mostly for little girls of 2 years and older who have no new dresses to wear while their brothers get soccer outfits and cleats. One dress can give a million smiles.

I'm officially a Twit too. I mean, I'm on Twitter. So, if you follow me here, you're more than welcome to follow me there: @canadianharmony. I'll try to keep it pithy and funny and suchlike.

Here's a couple of photos to catch up.

This was where I took a hike for Sports Day on Friday - Thetis Lake. The rain held off which was nice.

The deck with my veggies: the hanging basket has strawberries, then there's cauliflower, cabbage, peas (just sprouting up), zucchinis (with two cuke plants that didn't make it), and four tomato plants in the corner. Just out of sight on the table is a container of salad greens. I wish the lettuce would grow back faster. And the spinach too.

This week's flex:

Mon: playdate, ironing, etc.

Tue: school & work. I have a brief to give.

Wed: school, no work for me - study day. It's also Tech Rehearsal for Ray and me in the afternoon.

Thu: school & work. Dress Rehearsal for Ray and me in the evening.

Fri: school & work. Performance 1 for me and Ray at night.

Sat: Children & Apple Pie Festival (if we have time), then a 2:30 and a 7:30 performance.

Sun: Should try to get to church.

It's Official

I now have too much on my plate!

The Blog (I still take pictures, but finding time to post? HA!), dance class, three classes through Uni, work (where I'm on so many committees it's hard to keep them straight!), working out 4-5 days a week, if not more, gardening (veggies in containers on my deck), Ray's dance, Greta's gymnastics camp...!! ARG!

At least dance will be over the end of the month. But then it's the end of the school year, so we're gearing up for that. Oh, and Fleet Review Week too in June. And I get to sing with the Naden band too!

Then July is dance and gymnastics camps and two exams for me and a vacation at the end of the month. Thankfully Niece is coming for the month to hang with the girls and me.

August is church camp, and Sailor is sailing during our family holiday time, then it's his birthday. Lovely.

September, Ray starts grade 1 (!) and Greta goes into JK at the same school, and they start up dance classes again (or gymnastics if Greta would rather), and Sailor and I celebrate 8 whirl-wind years together.

October is birthdays (girls), Thanksgiving, birthday (mine), and the CNC Ball.

November is Remembrance Day and Christmas practice stuff.

December... that's just black with all the stuff we're doing!

So, we're busy, but hopefully we can enjoy it. This week's flex:

Fri: Sailor was supposed to have the day off, but it may be cancelled. He'll know at 0800 tomorrow. I'm going to sports day then Costco.

Sat: Ray's dance class. Groceries. Laundry. I have to finish sewing my costume too. My first Open Comms assignment is due.

Sun: Church. Laundry (never seems to end around here). Costume bits to finish off. Sailor's duty.

Mon: HOLIDAY!! We're aiming for a picnic with friends over lunch time.

Tue: Back to work. I have a briefing to give. Girls to school.

Wed: Academic Leave. Two assignments to do and hopefully finish for Econ and Fin Acct. I'll be able to read with Ray, then she has swimming during her phys ed class. Our Technical Rehearsal is tonight. Greta is staying late at daycare.

Thu: Back to work, leaving early though because Ray and I have our Dress Rehearsal (EEK!) tonight. Greta will stay late again and Sailor will meet us at the dance hall to get the car to get her while Ray and I dance.

Here's some pictures from the past week or so for the Blog....

1. The books from church. The blue one is our hymn book and the green one is the Book of Alternative Services.

2. My homework from last weekend on my Open Communication's course. Pretty funny. I had bought it this past summer because Sailor raved about it, and here it has come in handy. It's still a good laugh.

3. Dinner from last week - a chicken and sauce stir fry with veggies on noodles. Too yummy.

4. Ray saw this painting and fell in love with it.

5. Greta loves to swing. She has learned to swing herself now!

6. The Geese and their Goslings on Base. They have the run of the place and here they are, going along the lawn in front of the gym.