DANCE Competition Time Again!

"You have to believe in yourself when no one else does - that makes you a winner right there."

-Venus Williams

"Be thankful for quality competitors who push you to your limit."

-Michael Josephson

"Show class, have pride and display character. 

If you do, winning takes care of itself."

-Paul Bryant

Here is a picture of the scrapbook page from JANA's
very first year of competition...
in a large TAP GROUP called
"MARCHING UP BROADWAY"
1988
(She was 7 years old here.) 

Another page from JANA'S dance scrapbooks.
This one is the final year she competed...2001.
She was just back from her first
TOKYO JAPAN CONTRACT
in time to compete in a Lyrical group
which she also choreographed.
She did a Lyrical duo with friend,
Natalie, from North Battleford, too.

*I LOVE going through all the
DANCE SCRAPBOOKS... so many fond memories!*

Here is a photo of Jana and me last year
having our very first experience of
ADJUDICATING TOGETHER
in Kindersley, SK.
 as a mother/daughter team!
A proud moment for me...and fun, too!

Jana in one of her contracts as
THE LITTLE MERMAID
in Tokyo Disney.
Every contract she did, she had to audition for a spot...
which is like competing!
She was honored to be chosen to do 5 contracts there in total.
(Through the years of 2000-2005.)
Such a great experience for her, and much pride for her
dance teacher/ mom! 

Just last year at Jana's daughter's dance recital.
Soon Mariah will be competing, too!!!
WOW how time flies!!!!!
Now I am the proud mom as well as grandma! 

One of many dance competitions I was involved in.
This was my final year of Teaching... 2008.
Jana and Mariah came to CHEER ME ON,
during some of the TAP SOLOS
I taught at BSOBAD
dance studio.
 

One of MANY times I adjudicated...
Here in CALGARY at CAN DANCE-2008
on a panel with
FAYE FOLEY, from Toronto
 and BARB JACKMAN, from Moose Jaw. 

Another of MANY adjudicating stints...
DANCE POWER in MAPLE RIDGE, BC- 2009
Here with Stephen Grieg, from Toronto,
and Stacey Tookey, from Edmonton. 

A very fun little Adjudicating job for me in Strasbourg
2010... I brought my Lanigan buddy, Linda,
along to be my own personal secretary/writer sticker girl!
( I am known to the competitions I do
 as the "STICKER QUEEN!!!")


Later today I am off to the town
of LANIGAN for their
Annual Dance Competition.
That one always holds a
dear spot in my heart.

This year my daughter, Jana,
is one of the adjudicators at it,
so I am tagging along for a fun weekend
of dance and girlfriend bonding
with my best buddy, Linda.
Both Linda and I will be helpers
as we volunteer to be writers
at the adjudicator table, too!


It seems like only yesterday
when I was dancing in competitions myself. Then I went on to becoming
a dance teacher/ studio owner
 who then entered students
in competitions as well.

In later years my own daughter began
 to compete.  Those are such
fun memories for me to look back on.
I still remember the times Jana and
I would spend doing our
"HEAD to TOE" costume checks
and getting ready
and excited to make many years of fun
trips and experiences at competitions
and festivals throughout
Saskatchewan and Alberta.
I still remember tucking
little good luck notes, cards
and stickers in her shoes
for her to discover back stage!

Another tradition for Jana was
her annual trip to
"Gravity Pope Soul Shoes"
on Whyte Avenue in Edmonton
each year with her dad,
while at dance competitions there!
 This may have been the initial inspiration
to the business Jana now owns...
her shoe store called
"SWANK SHOE LOUNGE"!

Jana went onto a professional
dance career from her dance training
at my dance studio,
DIANE WILL DANCE STUDIO.
 This was not only a proud memory for me,
but a very rewarding experience
for her as well.

Jana has been adjudicating
for the past few years, too.
I started being asked to judge
around 1990.
(Or possibly earlier!!!)
It was that year I had my first experience in Lanigan, as well. I got asked to teach
a dance summer school there,
which is where I met my buddy, Linda.
I went on to teach nine summer schools
 there, and also later adjudicated
five of their annual
dance competitions.
I have also had students compete
in Lanigan when teaching for
Brenda, at BSOBAD.
(Brenda's School Of Baton And Dance)

So now I truly enjoy making
the little road trip out there to watch
their annual events...
it gives me a reason to girlfriend bond
with Linda, too....
which for me is a bonus!

I look forward to adjudicating for
dance friend, Barb,
at her annual dance competition
in Moose Jaw
this coming April.

Through my years of competing,
teaching, being a mentor
and a proud dance mom,
I have always enforced
doing the best one can do.
It is really not so much about
 the prize at the end...
but more in the journey along the way.
I would say I was successful on
many levels in my dance career,
but the most rewarding part for me
was the friends and mentors
I had and met along the journey.

A mom is always the
proudest cheerleader...
and in my case that was definitely true.
My mom was always my biggest FAN!!!
She cheered me on and did
not hide her pride at all.
For that I am ever grateful!
I was lucky to have a mom
so invested in my interests.
I also think Jana is lucky, too!
I was not only her biggest fan
as her mom and cheerleader...
but I was her proud teacher, as well.
Now it gives me great pride
to watch her stride forth as an accomplished business owner and mom of two.
I hope many of the values
I've instilled in her throughout
her years help in her day to day life!

A great dance mentor to many
DANCE TEACHERS across North America, RHEE GOLD, now has a webpage called
"RHEE-ALITY Check"
Just recently I read an article posted onto Facebook by a dance teacher.
 It was RHEE saying  that it is always
good to promote good technique in dance,
but in the end, the little beginners
and even the adult classes
who get out there and
wear their hearts on their sleeve
do a lot for the dance world too.
Everyone has an important
spot  in the dance stage life!

Right now my grand daughter, Mariah,
 is a little dancer...and one day
in her future maybe she will compete, too.
For now she is very entertaining
at the stage she is at in her dancing.
And I am at the
"PROUD GRANDMA STAGE" of life!

I have been practicing my skills as an adjudicator lately as I watch the
many reality TV shows such as
American Idol, DWTS, The Voice, and soon
 So You Think You Can Dance
will be on again as well.
I enjoy grading the numbers and
seeing how well my choices
end up doing in the end!

I sure enjoyed AMERICN IDOL
last night, and am glad
I do not have to be responsible
for picking a winner on that show,
I can just take it all in
and be entertained by it!

On a different note...
My girl friend, Lynne,
(also a dance mom from back in the day!)
and her husband, Mike, celebrated
another Wedding Anniversary yesterday.
Tomorrow my twin cousins,
DAWN and GREG
celebrate another birthday.

...and the beat goes on!

I wish all DANCE FRIENDS
near and far
the best of luck as
Dance Competitions
are now in full swing!
KEEP PUTTING YOUR
BEST FOOT FORWARD!!!

Once again it's competition time...
Lots of rhythms and also rhyme.
It isn't really just by chance,
That I enjoy to still watch dance.
I was a dancer in yesteryear,
Then a teacher who went on to cheer!
I was my daughter's biggest fan,
I tried to teach that "YES YOU CAN!"
Now I adjudicate here and there,
I have knowledge that I can share.
But once a dancer from the start,
Dance just stays within my heart!
And I love every single stage...
Dancers at each level and every age!
I've also made so many a friend...
Which is truly the best part in the end!

2 STEPS FORWARD... SEVERAL to the SIDE!

"Focus on what can be done today, even if it is one small step!"
-Pam Farrel


"Small steps taken consistently add up in a big way over time."
-Danna Demetre


"I notice well that one stray step from the habitual path leads irresistibly into a new direction."
-Franz Grillparzer

I think I have included this little "STEPPING OUT"
quote book in a previous blog,
but thought I would share it again as it goes with today's
BLOG THEME.

I had to share this picture and saying on my little
Mary Engelbreit calendar for today...
it says...
"LIVES... GET ONE." 

Here are 2 new pairs of shoes I got at my daughter's
SWANK SHOE LOUNGE
store on Sunday.
Kind of the same but different...
both black loafer styles and super comfy!
Minnetonkas and Toms.

Brian got 3 pairs of shoes at SWANK,
 too, on Sunday!
 His shoes are also kind of the same but different...
all Diesel brand...
2 pairs of dessert boots and 1 pair of loafers. 

These TOMS shoes were a
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY
gift for me
from Jana, Nels and the kids.
I was waiting for their new spring stock
to come in to get them ...
and I LOVE these ones that say
"LET  LOVE RULE"
all over them.

A cute little gift I got from my friend, Jacquie,
 at breakfast on Sunday
in the little HAPPY bag pictured behind the shoes above.
I LOVE that people always think of me when they see
things with POLKA DOTS...
(so sweet of Jacquie to find this and just buy it for me!)

I loved this little EASTER TREE,
so bought it from my friend, ELLA,
who now sells AVON...
I LOVE the polka dots it has as well! 

Jana keeping a firm motherly grip on Beau Saturday night
when their family joined Brian and me for supper at ATHENA. 

Mariah getting ready to color the little kid's place mat color sheet
at supper on Saturday. 

When Beau wasn't throwing crayons across the table
he was hiding them in my camera case! 

A tiny bunny at the bottom of the place mat
that Mariah colored Saturday at Athena!


As I sit down to write my blog today I am sipping my yummy new flavor of
Van Houtte Keurig coffee called
"BUTTERSCOTCH CARMEL"
out of my black polka dot mug that says...
"KEEP IT SIMPLE"

I get SOOOOOOOOO
SIDE TRACKED
lately... and I wonder if it is
just where I am in my life,
or is it that I truly lack focus?!!!

Yesterday I was already to sit down
and write a new blog and I was calling it
"THE SAME, BUT DIFFERENT"
However as my day went,
I just got SIDETRACKED
from one thing to the next!

It is not UNLIKE me
to take a few SIDE STEPS
along the way each day.

So after picking out photos,
etc. for the blog, I got SIDETRACKED
editing photos from as far back
on my computer as the year 2006.

When my blog was not getting done,
I took a little diversion and
went to the gym for
two back to back classes!
It's all GOOD in the end...
however.... I pulled up in front of the gym
five minutes before the class
realizing my runners were still
sitting on my steps at home!

My friend ELLA, was there, too,
so we went for a TIM HORTON
coffee after ward and she brought
me my new AVON order, then as well.
Ella and I discussed that we both
feel so distracted and sidetracked daily,
which made me think it might
just be a stage of life...
(although if that is the case,
I have been in that stage for a long while...
just saying!)

I then came home thinking
I'd make another stab at the blog...
and once again got SIDETRACKED!!!!
IMAGINE THAT??????

YEP, had been thinking about
returning a purchase I got a while ago.
So off I went to WINNERS to return my
DOTTY/ MICKEY MOUSE coat.
I got to thinking how I didn't really need it,
but instead needed some more practical
items in my wardrobe.

That being said... not sure how "practical"
it was that Brian and I made
a casual little stop in at
SWANK SHOE LOUNGE
on Sunday and ended up coming out
with 5 new pairs of shoes!
The store is going out of
men's shoes soon, so Brian decided
 to stock up before that happens.
I am all about comfort, so
I got two more updates for my shoe wardrobe.
It's kind of nice we also get a
"FAMILY" discount there!
Jana told me to wait until spring
when the new TOMS would be in
and I could select a pair as a
BELATED BIRTHDAY GIFT
from her and their family.

On Saturday night,
Brian and I decided to go out
 for a little supper together.
Just as we pulled up in front of the
Athena restaurant, we got a call
on the cel from Jana
looking for a babysitter for Beau
so they could go out for supper!!!!!
He is really not the easiest one
to sit still at the best of times,
let alone in a restaurant!
But Brian just invited them to join us,
and they did.
Beau was lively to put it mildly...
but we did still have a
good supper and visit,
and were well entertained!

Tonight we are all going to a
BLADES HOCKEY GAME
as a family.
I haven't been to a hockey game
since COLIN'S Hockey days years ago.
Should be an adventure if nothing else, especially with BEAU in tow!

Speaking of Colin....
we had a nice phone call
 from him last night.
Brian and I are planning
our next trip to MONTREAL
to see COLIN in July,
so we were just firming up plans
and dates with him.
He sounded in very up beat spirits...
maybe due to the romance he is in with his sweet girlfriend, Caro!

I am taking a small road trip with
Jana this weekend.
She has been asked to adjudicate the
LANIGAN DANCE COMPETITION
this year, so I am just tagging along.
I will stay at my friend, Linda's house.
I have adjudicated that competition
five times since it began years ago.
It is a fun one to judge,
so I know Jana will enjoy
her experience, and I will have fun
watching from the SIDELINES
and getting in a little girlfriend bond
as well!

I did get to the gym again today
so I got in some
STEPS FORWARDS
as well as SIDEWAYS!
Today I did remember my runners
as well, which makes
those STEPS much easier, too.
I am so happy with "GOODLIFE GYM".
The classes and instructors
are all truly "GOOD" there.

Well I managed to stay focussed
long enough to actually
complete this blog!!!!

I came across a very good quote
the other day and will share that here...

"The purpose of life is to discover your gift.
The meaning of life is to give it away."
-David Viscott

So on that thought,
here is my poem of the day....

I'm the QUEEN Of SIDETRACK...
with a hard time staying on task.
Is it my age or my lack of focus????
... I just have to ask!
It's just how my life seems,
I'm not afraid to hide,
I start moving forward
then get pulled to the side.
Many a day I have lots to do
along with a very long list,
But I only start on some of it...
and that is just the gist!
I always stay fairly happy,
so I guess that is a good thing.
But 2 steps forward
and several to the side,
is what my life does bring!

AcTioN & SoNg to BooT!

"Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see the exquisite picture, and if possible, speak a few sensible words."
-Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe


"Human beings must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it."
-Albert Einstein

My little ACTION FIGURE
 in his HUNTER BOOTS! 

Beau and Mariah checking out the bucket of toys...
Mariah decided they were needing a bath!

The BOOTS that inspired my blog title!
How cute are these little HUNTERS??????
Trust Jana to get a pair small enough for Beau!

Beau decided he wanted to have a bath with all the toys,
This kid loves water! 

 The kids watching the MUPPET MOVIE!
They kind of look alike in this photo.

My little BASKET CASE!!!!!

Mariah got into her JB Jammies, and got comfy!
 

Beau in his scarf and hat!

One can never have too many blankies!!!!
Beau LOVES his new boots, too
and wanted to wear them all day. 

Mariah crafting telescopes for her little boat set up! 

Beau up close!

Playing a hat game!

Mariah enjoying hot chocolate while checking out how to make
a Mermaid birthday cake on the computer! 

Playing on the cushions in the boots.

Mariah dreaming up her craft... with Beau looking on!

Singer, Carol Welsman signing a CD
for me after her concert last night.

The signed CD...
This one entitled"I LIKE MEN"...
(Reflections of Miss Peggy Lee)

Yesterday was an action packed
day from start to finish!
I started out by getting both
of my grandkids to babysit
for the full day from 9-6,
followed by a wonderful
Carol Welsman jazz concert
at 7:30 last night.

The days are anything but dull
when both grandkids are here...
they wasted no time deciding
the mini toys in our bucket
needed a bath!
Beau had fun throwing the toys
in and watching them make a big splash
 in the water, until he decided
he wanted to be in there, too!

After the toy clean up came a movie.
Mariah picked out the Muppet Movie
to watch, so luckily I am starting
to get better at working
the many TV remotes.
Beau lasted about five minutes
into the movie and then was onto more mischief. He decided he liked
to sit in the laundry basket while
I pulled him around to give him rides!

He went through various stages
of dressing and undressing...
and seemed to want his new
HUNTER BOOTS on!
They are just the cutest,
but somewhat big and clumsy
on him so he had the odd
little trip and tumble!

Even Mariah ended up wanting
to change... but into her jammies
for more comfort!
She spent time watching things
on the computer about various
crafts to make and do.
She got an idea to turn the
family room into a boat and
was busy crafting telescopes
for that little adventure!
Mariah has an
incredible imagination.

Beau is just busy...
he likes to throw things lately...
anything in sight.
Amazingly so no one got hurt,
and nothing got broken...
but he is like a little wild
monkey on the loose!

I was trying to teach
Beau to say "GRAMMIE".
But he still insists on calling me
"POPPA"... it is actually kind of funny!

I had won 4 free tickets
(valued at $30.00 per ticket)
to a jazz concert
off a radio station contest
on facebook.

Our friends, Bob and Jacquie
had been away for the past 7 weeks,
so we decided to share our tickets
with them, as they are jazz fans, too!
We got to the event early and
had a chance to visit first.

I have seen Carol Welsman
a few times
at previous jazz festivals
here in the city.
I was thrilled to get a chance to
see her again.
Her concert did
not disappoint... in fact I loved it,
as I thought I would.
It was held at the very beautiful
Third Avenue United Church.
It makes a great setting
for a venue like this.
The acoustics in there are amazing.
She had a couple of renowned
artists playing with her...
a drummer
(who plays with Doc Severendson)
and a bass/guitar player
(who has played with greats such as
Herb Alpert and Sergio Mendez).
Her regular guitarist was unable to
make it due to yesterday's
Air Canada Strike.
The musician ship was magnificent,
so there did not seem to
be a void of a band member at all!
Carol Welsman is a great performer
and is very gracious as well
as warm with her crowd.
She even invited a local
trumpet player, Dean McNeil,
to join on a few tunes.
So all in all it was a very enjoyable
evening after my very busy day.

I am one who always like to
have music playing in the back
ground at all times,
and my personal favorite
genre for the last several years
has been jazz and standards...
so this concert put a
real song in my heart for sure!
(Mom and Dad would
have loved it, too!)

Today I slept in till almost 8AM,
but needed to get up for my
8:30AM Body Vive class at the gym.
I, too, needed BOOTS
after the evening SNOW
we had again last night!
I will continue to try to put
my best foot forward in
whatever footwear I am wearing!!!

Now I just returned from a fun visit
with cousin Gwen over
a yummy Starbucks latte...
and soon Brian
will be home from work.

So on that "NOTE"...
my poem of the day!

I love my two grandkids,
they sure are cute...
But when they're both here,
there's action to boot!
From running to jumping
to singing with the odd dance.
There's never a dull moment...
NOPE... not a chance!
From the moment they
come through the front door,
There's a trail of activity
and so very much more.
Movies and crafts ...
and even bathing the toys.
Things for grown up girls and
for wild little boys!
But as the loving GRAMMiE,
I wouldn't change a thing,
These two sweet little kidlets,
just make my heart sing.
I even heard sweet music
in a great concert, too...
My day was filled with fun from
the start till it was through.
Action packed or otherwise,
it's truly plain to see....
I really am so lucky for the joy
my life brings me!

Remotely Random!

"So much life, it seems to me, is determined by pure randomness."
-Sidney Poitier


"I wish life came with a remote. Fast forward hard times, rewind back to good times, pause happy times and stop so it will restart."
-Author Unknown

Mariah doing a little
RANDOM
Free-spirited dance here yesterday. 

Fairly RANDOM pose here...
in a REMOTE costume of her mom's! 

Jana and her kids here yesterday...
both kids enjoying popsicles! 

A REMOTELY RANDOM pic I took today!
... does anyone else ever feel overwhelmed by
REMOTES??????? 

I RANDOMLY
decided to bake
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
 today with our over ripe bananas on the counter! 

One of the RANDOM bulletin boards
 I updated at the dance studio yesterday
changing from St. Pat's to Easter!

A photo after a little outing
with a former dance student, Kelly,
 last week . He is promoting a fund raiser...
called "AEDAN'S ANGELS".

Today I RANDOMLY WON
4 tickets to a
CAROL WELSMAN JAZZ CONCERT
here in the city tomorrow night.
Above are a couple of her CDs
I happen to have in my collection, too!

Today was one of those
RANDOM kind of days...
I wasn't sure what to write
about in my blog,
so this is kind of a mixed bag!

My day started out with a little RANDOM win on my Facebook home page.  The radio station, MAGIC 98.3 FM
made a post saying
the first person to respond
to it by email would win
4 tickets to
CAROL WELSMAN.
I ended up responding...
and apparently was the fastest, because I won!

I have seen JAZZ ARTIST,
CAROL WELSMAN,
before at some of our previous Saskatoon Jazz Festivals.
I have been a fan of hers
for years, infact, co-incidentally
I danced a tribute to my dad
in my 2000 year end dance recital
to her version of the classic tune
"CHEEK TO CHEEK".

I have spent some time
with Mariah this week.
Yesterday I had her briefly
after her dance lesson while her mom went to a parent teacher interview at her Kindergarten.
She was busy creating little
random dances to perform
for me and my cousin Gwen,
who popped by for a little visit
yesterday, too!

Jana had Beau with her
when she came to pick up
Mariah and asked me then
if I could babysit the kids again tomorrow. So tomorrow will
be busy with babysitting
in the day and a concert
to go to in the evening!

Today I went to the gym with
my friend, Ella and we did our routine "roll up the rim to win" coffee at Tim Horton's
afterward. Neither of us were winners today on our coffees,
but we both enjoy our visits!

I have mentioned before
how I get frustrated with
the many REMOTES
we have around here...
It seems in this ever changing technological world we live in...
one needs to know a lot about REMOTES and how to
operate them!
Brian bought a new one
this week that he is programing
so that we do not need so many different ones, but instead
will be able to do everything
from the one!
It already seems
complicated!!!!

Last week I met with
former dance student, Kelly.
He is working on a fund raiser
for a a family he knows
with a child who was born with "Severe Acidosis with a Perinatal Hypoxic Ischemic Injury."
What this means for
Baby Aedan,
is the diagnosis of
"Severe Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy."
 Kelly has created a
Facebook page called
"AEDAN'S ANGELS",
and is doing his fund raiser
in the form of a fine arts performance show
and silent auction
to be held on
June 16th, 2012 at
St. Joeseph's High School.
I hope he, with the help of many contributers, are able to do
lots of fund raising to help this family out.
It will be a very
RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS
on Kelly's behalf!

Tonight I look forward to the American Idol Results
show on TV.
I have been enjoying many RANDOM SHOWS lately,
and often tape the ones
I like and watch them later
to cut back on the many commercials.

I often enjoy a day like today
to just do random catching up
on things like groceries
and even baking!
I had some over ripe bananas
on my counter, so made up
some muffins, which I know the grandkids will enjoy when
they are here tomorrow...
I tasted them and they are
yummy,
if I do say so myself!

So on that note...
I'll do my RANDOM poem
of the day...

Once in a while
it's nice to devote...
My day to the things
that are not so remote!
Things that are random,
and go with the flow,
And also to see
where my day will just go!
Fly by the seat of my
very own pants...
Feel all the luck of
a song or a dance.
Step out of my box
and follow no theme,
Enjoy a good coffee
with sugar and cream!
The simplest things
are the best in the end,
Creating something
or being with a friend.
Watching TV brings me
plenty of pleasure,
There are many programs,
that I do treasure.
If I get the remote that
can tune it all in...
Then all is real swell,
and it's a win-win!

GRAND & GREAT!

"All grand thoughts come from the heart."
-Luc De Clapiers


"Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation."
-Lois Wyse


"All great achievements require time."
-Maya Angelou

A perfect "GRAND & GREAT" photo...
Mariah with her GREAT GRANDPARENTS yesterday! 

Mariah with her GRANDPA on Sunday
getting ready to watch the movie RIO on TV! 

Mariah enjoying a GREAT ice cream cone
 for dessert on Sunday night! 

A GRAND time in a bath tub full of bubbles!

Mariah ready to settle in for a GREAT little story time
at her sleepover here Sunday night. 

The inspiration for my title of the blog today
and our newest favorite snack around here. 

Mariah yesterday with me at Walmart picking
up some photos for the studio bulletin boards.

Smilin' BEAU-MAN here on
Saturday night... shamrock glasses in one hand...
cupcake in the other! 

Beau enjoying a GREAT BIG cupcake.

Beau performing on the fireplace hearth...
to him that is like a GRAND stand stage!

A quick break before on to the next adventure! 

From enjoying some little fishy snacks... 

...To being a little fishy ...
after leaving a "STICKY FINGER"
 trail everywhere!
 

Beau loves his time spent in a tub
full of toys and bubbles!
His GREAT smile says it all.


"Each day my heart is filled with the joy
of being GRAND!"-Author unknown

Grand kids bring out the GREATEST
"GRAND" in me!
I had some special time to bond individually with my two Grand kids this past weekend.
I do feel so very lucky to have them in my life.

Saturday night we had Beau here
for a few hours, and he kept us on our toes,
and well entertained.
From his sticky finger trail everywhere...
to watching him run, dance and giggle.
He is all fun and really very full of beans.
He is a typical little guy, too...
he loves to climb and hide and throw stuff!
He is a real little fishy...
and LOVES to be in a tub filled with bubbles.
I was pooped out after chasing after him,
but enjoyed every minute of it, too.
I'm so glad to call BEAU my GRAND son!

Sunday we had Mariah here for a little sleepover. She was fun, too...
we watched the movie RIO and went out for BUGS & CHEESE at
Boston Pizza for supper.
WE went to Shopper's Drug Mart
to get a new tooth brush and
tooth paste for her, and while there, she suggested getting a "CHAPTER BOOK".
I wasn't sure what she meant by this...
but she just meant a big book
with lots of chapters!
She cannot read yet, but she ended up choosing the one photographed above
called "GRAND and GREAT" which is a "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book about Grandparents and Grandchildren.
 I think the picture on the book's cover
was what got her attention...
she noticed the GRANDPARENT'S finger
held by the BABY finger.
I thought it was cute she picked
this book to be her chapter book
at GRAMMiE'S!
I love having MARIAH for a
GRAND daughter!

She is becoming so delightful
to have around ...
so grown up and appreciative!
Yesterday I took her with me
to pick up some photos for
the studio bulletin boards
at Walmart.
We then we popped by
my in-law's house. There is something so special about the bond between
GREAT GRANDPARENTS
and their GREAT GRANDKIDS...
Blanche and Greg were thrilled
with our little visit!
I'm so glad I got a chance to snap
a photo of our visit there as well.
Greg made a copy of it right away on
his little in home printer, too.... so cute!

This past while I have been evaluating
just how lucky I am in my life
to have such a GREAT family...
and just how special it feels to
be called GRANDMA!
I feel like I could write my own
little "CHAPTER BOOK"
as Mariah calls it,
on this GRAND and GREAT CHAPTER
of my life.


Every chapter of my life
has had so much to be GRATEFUL for.
I do recall my earlier childhood days
when things were simpler.
I was reminded of that yesterday
when Mariah wanted me to rent
a movie off of our TV.
I kind of liked the days when there
was only one channel on TV
and no remotes...
I was getting rather frustrated
with the FIVE REMOTES and
so many channels on our TV,
and the lack of what to do with each
to get it all to work!...
That is when being a "GRANDMA"
is hard... but with her help
we got  it all figured out.

It is becoming such a TECHNOLOGICAL
world now a days... and people are
so wrapped up in it, that there is
little time to just enjoy the
good old fashioned things of yesteryears.
That is what gives new meaning to
GREAT and GRAND...
because we remember the good old ways,
but are being forced into learning
the new ones as well.

This morning I enjoyed a GREAT body flow class at the gym with my friend, Ella.
I was lucky and won a free coffee on my
"roll up the rim to win"
at Tim Horton's after ward, too.

Oh life truly is GREAT
on so many levels, and I am GRATEFUL
that  my world is also filled with so many  GRAND people and things!

So on those thoughts...
on this first day of spring this year,
here is my poem of the day.

Each day is like a brand new start...
To reach really deep into your heart.
It's like the very first day of spring,
A breath of fresh air, and that's the thing.
There's lots in life to celebrate,
So many reasons to just feel great.
There's always something close at hand,
To create memories truly grand!