"SHUFFLE" into "TWOS"-day!

"Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails."
-Max Eastman

our puppy, SHUFFLE, on September 13th, 2008
the day we got her. 

Same dog, same polka dot towel... 3 years later!!!
This is SHUFFLE in a party hat today. 

TWO TOO... or should I say TUTU cute!
This photo is also taken on September 13th, 2008 with MARIAH and SHUFFLE 

Here is a little card I crafted earlier this year featuring
BEAU and SHUFFLE
another adorable TWOSOME! 

SHUFFLE loves to dress up
check out the dress and sandals
(another perfect duo!) 

Here is SHUFFLE in her "PIG"-TACULAR Halloween costume last year,
soon I will have to find a new one for her to wear this year!!! 

Look what I noticed on the GOODLIFE GYM CALENDAR today
according to it... today is
INTERNATIONAL CHOCOLATE DAY! 

T & T...
a DYNOMITE TWOSOME!!!
This pic was taken 4 years ago in September following a group groove class, just before
 TRENT and THERESA had their 40th birthdays ,
I later crafted cards for the TWO of them, and still enjoy classes with them now at
GOODLIFE GYM!

Another perfect TWOSOME... STARBUCKS and CHOCOLATE!


"The 12 step chocoholics program:
Never be more than 12 steps away from chocolate!"
-Terry Moore


"Soul mates are people who bring out the best in you. They are not perfect but are always perfect for you."
Author Unknown



My friend, Arlene, posted this quote on her FB status today and I love it...

"I have a simple philosophy:
Fill what's empty. Empty what's full.
Scratch what itches."
-Alice Roosevelt Longworth

Today I have TWO themes threading my blog together...
Today I am celebrating our doggie, SHUFFLE, whom we got 3 years ago. 
I am also celebrating some wonderful TWOSOMES!

Three Septembers ago was my first season as a retired dance teacher and we decided to get a new puppy! Because I will always be passionate about DANCING, and especially TAP,
 we named our puppy after the
TAP step... "SHUFFLE".

Our little PUG cross BOSTON TERRIER,
other wise known as a "BUG" breed,
is truly a sweet little dancer in spirit, too... especially the fact that she loves to dress up in whatever we put on her... 
kind of like getting her costumes on for 
a dance recital!

SHUFFLE is very good natured and very good with both of my grandkids,
 MARIAH (Who was only 2 when we got her), and with BEAU who has become a really good pal with her, too this past year!

Either one of my grandkids when paired with SHUFFLE make a very cute TWOSOME!
The TWO grandkids are very cute when paired together as well, I might add!!!

Today I decided to take a break from my garage cleaning and take TWO classes at the gym. 
My TWO favorites happen to be back to back on TWOS-DAY(tuesday) mornings!!!

This morning I started with BODY VIVE which is a class that features some dance type aerobics paired with tension balls and rubber bands.
Then I took BODY FLOW which is an awesome combo of yoga, tai chi, and pilates.

I am used to having one of my favorite instructors, TRENT, teach body flow, but he has now moved on to teaching other classes at the gym. Today is his birthday. I posted a pic of him and another great instructor, THERESA, above, from their teaching days at
QUANTUM gym before it closed.

These TWO are both awesome teachers.  They also have many other great ones at GOODLIFE gym as well. Theresa's daughter, Dominique, taught the first class I took today.

On my way out of the gym today I noticed on the GOODLIFE calendar that today is INTERNATIONAL CHOCOLATE DAY...
so with that in mind,
I figured I better celebrate that!

Infact... I think I earned a STARBUCKS and
a CHOCOLATE bar, too!
(after all... I did do TWO classes today!!!)
I stepped out of my comfort zone at starbucks and had a PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE...
and I highly recommend those....YUM YUM!!!

So on that note...
here is a short poem from me today!

Our life changed for the better...
3 years ago today,
That is when we got our puppy,
SHUFFLE came our way.
Ever since that special day,
she's had a waggy tail,
And she has given us so much love
at all times without fail!

HaPpY/ SaD... mix!

                 HAPPY GRANDPARENTS DAY!

Here is a little pic of Brian and me with our Grandchildren
BEAU and MARIAH
in Waskesiu this summer

We feel so blessed to be GRANDPARENTS 

             

My very first ever
GRANDPARENT'S DAY
here with our first grandchild, MARIAH, on September 10th, 2006,
along with our kid's grandparents
GREG, BLANCHE, and my mom, MARILOU


"You can close your eyes to reality but not to memories."
-Stanislaus Lec



"Hope
is like the sun, which as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us."
-Samuel Smiles




"Few things are more delightful than grandchildren fighting over your lap."
-Doug Larson




Today has a happy-sad mix of emotions... 


The world remembers the events 10 years ago on this date and continues to mourn for all the families who lost their loved ones on this date through the horrific events that took place in 
9-11.




Canada has been watching the news closely about the recent kidnapping of a 3 year old boy in BC. Today that story had a happy ending with young KIENAN HEBERT being returned to his home safe and sound.




Today is NATIONAL GRANDPARENTS DAY.
I just looked up the history to find it is a secular holiday celebrated since 1978 and officially recognized in a number of countries on various days of the year.


I know this special celebration is very overshadowed today, but for me I cherish the fact that I am a grandparent, and that I had grandparents, and my children did, too!


We celebrated our very first ever Grandparent day as grandparents to Mariah on 
September 10th, 2006.  Jana was entertaining her girlfriends from Australia in Vancouver at the time, and since she lived in Edmonton, she had dropped off Mariah for us to have over a period of 4 days. We loved having little baby Mariah with us and we celebrated it by having a special supper here with my mom, 
and my in-laws that day! 


I remember documenting everything Mariah did over that four day stretch and typed it out in a booklet for Jana to keep. 
(Not sure if she ever had time to read it!...
maybe one day Mariah will!)


Brian and I have kept busy this past while with everything from funerals, to birthdays to 
charity events.... to garage cleaning!  


We attended the first ever 
"ANGELS AMONG US"  
charity event on Friday night to raise money and awareness for the "BALD ANGELS" organization. It is an organization which recognizes children with cancer. 
The evening was very well attended and a lovely event all round.




Last night we went to a surprise birthday party for a friend who works with Brian, and it was nice as well!




Today we will continue to organize around here, I am now on a roll cleaning out our garage!!!
We just purchased many blue rubber maid tubs and a big utility shelf... 
so my job is only just beginning!!!!


This evening we will have my brother for supper, and we also invited Jana, Nels and the kids, 
but they were unavailable to come.




I'm excited to see the finale of the Canadian version of SYTYCD on TV, tonight, too. I am quite sure one of the 3 girls will likely win... 
Or at least that would be my choice!
I know there is to be a piece choreographed for the top 10 dancers by our friend, 
STACEY TOOKEY, 
so I look forward to seeing that as well.


So today there is a focus on happy as well as sad events and reminders to continue to live each day to the fullest and cherish all memories.




Nine -Eleven is a date I will remember...
A shocking day 10 years ago in September.
It made me see the world in a different way,
It took so many lives on that dreaded day.
Today in reflection of the events of the past,
Those ten years have gone by so very fast,
The memories are deeply imprinted in my heart,
And I think of the ones whose 
loved ones are apart.
But I believe there is a sparkle to every cloud up in the sky,
In spite of how this date still leaves us asking WHY?

2 STEPS forward... 1 STEP back!

Today as I sit down to do up yet another blog...
 I am sipping my yummy hazelnut-vanilla coffee out of the black polka-dotted mug 
with the saying inside....


"KEEP IT SIMPLE" 


My morning oatmeal package today said this...


"One small change can lead to big health benefits."


it also said this...


"Leave time to Dream!"


I received an email forward the other day with these quotes on very cute paintings by an artist named Jane Seabrook...


"I would be unstoppable. If I could just get started."


"Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections."


And this quote was posted on FB yesterday...


"I believe life is to be lived, not worked, enjoyed not agonized, loved not hated."
-Leland Bartlett

My cute munchkins after their little sleepover on sunday...
I am sort of missing them this week!
They have both taken STEPS in different  directions this week...
BEAU to daycare, and MARIAH to kindergarten.

Beau and me at Jana's last sunday when we were there for supper.
Friday would have been a babysitting day for me, but not today... he is now at daycare!
I do miss him... but I don't have to worry about him on our STEPS any more...

SHUFFLE is always ready to go when I say WALK!
We have taken many STEPS FORWARD this week...and she is loving it1 

YIKES...... nope this is not an episode of HOARDERS!!!!!
This was my garage yesterday before I took some STEPS to clean it up!

Many STEPS later... making some progress! 

A found TREASURE!
These POINTE SHOES of STACEY TOOKEY'S
would have taken many STEPS!!!
She gave these to Jana signed with a message when Jana was a teen.

Jana idolized STACEY TOOKEY as a dancer growing up, so when STACEY signed these and gave them to JANA they hung in our basement for years! The message on the right shoe says...

"JANA:
Your a great person and a wonderful dancer, don't ever change and don't let anyone tell you any different....."
And the message on the left shoe says this...
Believe in yourself and the SKY is your limit!
Come visit again!
Luv always,
Stacey Tookey
P.S. BLONDISSIMA!!!"


Well where do I begin??????
This week has been a mixed bag...
sort of all over the map!

So lets begin with the trips I made to the gym... Those STEPS were the forward STEPS!!!
I am making a real effort to get there more often and to more classes again now that I am not babysitting as much.
I enjoyed BODY FLOW and BODY VIVE at GOODLIFE GYM so far this week...
hope to do more too!


I have also tried to get SHUFFLE out walking daily too, which we are both loving. I enjoy our walks in the park, the weather has been
SUN-SATIONAL and I love hearing my tunes on my ipod along the way as I think about the STEPS I will be taking each day!

I do get sort of sidetracked along the way, though... hehehe
 sort of 2 STEPS forward and 1 STEP back...
thus my title for today's blog theme.

I have had lots of mixed emotions lately with the start of a new season and new chapter in my life. I'm not going to lie... I do miss my little BEAU... but I knew it was time for both of us for his daycare to begin. I get to pick him up today, though, and I know there will be other days when I am needed along the way,
so I will still see him lots.

I talked to MARIAH on the phone today and she was doing an impersonation of her kindergarten teacher for me ... apparently her teacher has an English accent, and Mariah can say "KINDERGARTEN" with this accent...
so adorable! She is such a little actress!!!!



Now that my days are not as filled with babysitting, it was time to set foot into my disaster of a garage and
begin to sort out my life!
I have so much stuff out there...
How does one accumulate so much STUFF?????

Jana was over yesterday hunting through the basement clutter to find something and came across the pointe shoes she received as a gift from her idol STACEY TOOKEY
when she was a teen.

Those shoes meant so much to her growing up. Now we watch STACEY as an accomplished "Choreographer- extra-ordinaire"
On the American and as well as the Canadian versions of  the reality TV series
"SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE"
... in fact this coming Sunday, STACEY'S choreographed a piece for the top ten dancers for the finale show of the
Canadian SYTYCD
 show for this season.
I'll look forward to that!

Jana was telling me I was a HOARDER and needed to get on cleaning and sorting... so with that tip... I got right on it...
I spent the entire afternoon in the garage yesterday. I made some progress...
but it is going to be a process!

This afternoon I am attending a funeral for a dear friend's father who passed this last weekend.

This evening we are attending a charity dinner ... so the list of things to do is endless...
sometimes it is hard to stick with any project until it is done, but I'll continue to plug away at it,

2 STEPS forward and 1 STEP back!

Life presents so much STUFF along the way,
Something to deal with in each new day.
But STEP by STEP, it will get done,
Some days will just be way more fun!
And when the stuff is sorted out,
The fun will likely start... no doubt!
Never a dull moment, not too slack,
Moving 2 steps forward,
and 1 step back!

LOST... in the "SHUFFLE" (Ball Change!)

"Life is not the party we had hoped for... but while we are here we might as well dance!"
-Author Unknown


"Thousands of emotions well up inside me through out my day. They are released when I dance."
- Abraham Lincoln


"Everything has rhythm. Everything dances."
-Maya Angelou


"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% what you do with what happens to you."
Author Unknown

These photos were taken and I  scrapbooked them in the fall of 2006 when I coined the phrase
"TAP into something SiMPLE and make it SPECiAL everyday." 

Some photos I took in fall of 2007 that hung on the dance studio bulletin board,
 and later got crafted into TAPPiNESS cards and or calendars!

Fall of 2007 we gave Mariah her first  pair of TAP SHOES!
Here she is in her darling dance outfit eating a cheezie 

A cute pic of Mariah from fall of 2007 turned into a card. 

One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE photos that I ever took.
this was taken on the day we got SHUFFLE, our little puppy,
SEPTEMBER 13th, 2008
This photo was featured in the OUR CANADA MAGAZINE last summer, too! 

The first attempt at a book I made on our MAC computer
this one features all pictures of Mariah from September -December 2008
wearing her dance outfits.
entitled... "BEENA BEENA BALLERINA"
 

The first page of the book following a little poem! 

A special 3 generation dancer photo taken last fall on
Mariah's first dance lesson of the season with her Mommy and Grammie D! 

Let's not forget about this little charmer!!!!
Here is BEAU the other day after a sleepover here... stepping on the legs of his adorable sleeper!


Today as I took my doggie, SHUFFLE, for a little walk in the park, I got to thinking about what I should write about in today's blog! I had a mix of thoughts going through my head...
and many ideas for the blog, but really felt a little LOST in the SHUFFLE (ball change)!...
therefore today's blog theme.

I have been soul searching a lot lately trying to decide what my next next chapter of life will present for me,
now that my last chapter is complete!

Yesterday I heard the song "TEA FOR TWO" come on my ipod and instantly began to TAP in my kitchen even though I had my FLIP FLOPS on. It was a sign to me, that I still
LOVE TO DANCE! ...and especially TAP!!!
I will never lose that passion.
TEA FOR TWO has always been known as a classic TAP song choice. I have used many different versions of it during my years as a dance teacher, too!

I have many other interests and lots of them involve CREATING!
I LOVE to craft and scrapbook as well as to write poems and ofcourse my little blogs about
"this, that and the other!"

So basically my life revolves around
RHYTHM and RHYME!

So with that thought in mind I am hoping to expand on my creative ideas of crafting and writing and keep TAPPING into new ideas that I can use my creativity to incorporate all those things together.

Beau is enjoying his new chapter at DAYCARE while MARIAH is adapting to her new adventures at KINDERGARTEN.

I know that I will still be called upon on occasions when needed to do the GRAMMIE D duties of helping out here and there with the kiddies, but now, for the most part I am free to continue into a new chapter of my life
where ever it may lead!
I am really ready to TAP into to some
new fun stuff soon, too.

I really enjoyed the time to think about all my new thoughts and ideas while walking SHUFFLE this morning. I love FALL too...  it has always been my favorite season and the weather here is so fabulous...
which  made the walk even better!

So on that little note...
TiME for yet another RHYME!

Lately I'm trying to sort out my time...
Thinking about the RHYTHM,
and also the RHYME!
I often feel real "LOST IN THE SHUFFLE"
... (ball change!)
And now my schedule has nothing to rearrange.
I am now searching for something to do,
I'm reaching towards something fun and new!
But in looking back over hobbies from the past,
I really think I have an idea... at last!
I need to collect all my ideas and start,
To just follow through with all of my heart!

LiFE iS A JOURNEY!

"It is good to have an end to journey towards, but it is the the journey that matters in the end."
-Ursula Le Guin


"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson


"We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey."
-Stephen Covey

A JOURNEY on the Kinsmen Park Choo Choo Train last night!
Mariah chose to ride in the Caboose!

Beau on his very first Merry Go Round Ride...
he didn't last long on the mini horsie, he wanted to be on a big horse! 

Mariah on a bigger horse, by Poppa...
she has had many rides here at Kinsmen Park,
and loves the JOURNEY everytime!

These two love to DANCE... here is one of many little DANCE PARTIES they have had...
Beau not only dances with his body, but his tongue goes in time to the music as well... so hilarious! 

Beau playing the little Xylophone from Poppa Brian on Friday...
Mariah in the background playing with her streamer on a baton! 

Mariah creating her own little dance with her new dollarama treasure! 

One sucker ... two kids... OH OH! 

Beau having a turn to have a little lick of the sucker! 

Beau finally was content to just have a POPSICLE with his POPPA! 

Mariah decided she wanted a popsicle, too... so then Beau had the sucker again! 

Beau enjoying his little visit with my brother Brian...
 they were doing their funny noises together! 

Beau sharing a conversation with Poppa! 

The two kidlets after their sleepover here last night!
Mariah was enjoying one of the SYTYCD episodes recorded on TV.
Beau managed to sit long enough for one pic before he was on the go again!

The love of balloons continues... long after Beau's birthday a month ago!


I have been thinking about the whole
 life journey thing a lot lately.

Friday Brian and I had the two kiddies all day as daycare was cancelled.
It is always a day full of LiFE
whenever the kids are here!

That day my brother in law Bruce turned 60... and the journey of life continues...
celebrating milestones along the way!

I have spent some time this past week getting the studio bulletin boards ready for yet another new dance season...
and that journey continues as well!

Last night we were invited for a delicious supper at Jana and Nels's house. We offered to take the kids to the Kinsmen Park afterward,
which ended up in a little sleepover!

On our way to the car from the park, Mariah noticed the City Hospital, where my mom spent her final 10 weeks of her life last year at this time. She instantly went down on her knees right there and then and said a little prayer with her hands clasped... telling my mom up in heaven she loved her!
It was a "moment in time" in the
JOURNEY OF LIFE!

The kids have been enjoying doing many little dance parties lately... and it is so much fun to see them laughing together and having fun just living their lives to the fullest!

I find when the kids have been here...
I am played out when they leave to go home!
I guess this is all part of the journey of life!
My energy runs out long before theirs does,
it seems!!!

I am still pondering daily which direction my life is headed next... but it is really the journey along the way that is important, and even if I take a long time to decide where I'm headed...
there is no deadline to decide...
it is all part of the life journey!

I know I have captured so many pictures of just living the life in my journey along the way,
and those memories will all be so important
down the road!

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

The journey of life continues each day,
And sometimes I choose to go a different way.
Each day's a reminder to enjoy every minute,
And simply appreciate everything in it!
Whatever the path is, I travel along...
Singing and dancing to my own special song.
Reaching for tomorrows
with things that are new,
But treasuring the moments along the way too!

NEW Beginnings!

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."
-Lao Tsu


"Do not wait until conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes conditions perfect."
-Alan Cohen


"It's a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy."
-Lucille Ball


"Be willing to be a beginner every single morning."
-Meister Eckhart

My sweet grandkids here on Monday ...
they are both BOUNCING toward the new BEGINNINGS in their lives! 

Today as I turned the page to BEGIN a NEW MONTH...
I loved what the MARY ENGELBREIT calendar had to say about it!

"Happiness often sneaks in a door you didn't know you left open!"
-Anonymous 

My little BEAU-MAN... looking very pensive as he SWINGS to his next chapter in life! 

My doggie, SHUFFLE, who has literally been "lost in the SHUFFLE" lately...
is hoping the new chapter will include many more walks in the park for her! 

Beau slowed down for long enough for a quick little snuggle with his Poppa Brian
 on Monday while here briefly...
AHHHH... a moment in time! 

A very excited little KINDERGARTENER!!!!
We took her for a special night out for supper on Tuesday night...
(Beau was quite ticked he didn't get to com, too!) 

Our dear friend NICOLE who runs the restaurant,
was having a special night for valued customers as her family have recently sold the restaurant. 

I crafted a little booklet of photos we have taken over 

the years of us coming there, 

as a little THANK YOU for all they did for us!

Here is just one of the pages in the little Thank You booklet!
Nicole always took Mariah to make a special dessert , every visit we made...
here is a cute pic of her with whip cream on her nose!




SEPTEMBER has always been a month of
NEW BEGINNINGS...
and this one is no exception to that rule!

As I have mentioned in some of my most recent blog posts, this is an exciting time of year for many beginning new journeys in life.
I always loved this time of year as a kid, and as a parent to kids and as a dance teacher, too.
The start of a new season was always fun with hopes of the the next chapter to BEGIN!

I have spent many hours at the BSOBAD
Dance Studio where I once was a
DANCE TEACHER
and the studio TAP DIRECTOR.
I have many fond memories of those years in my life and in order to stay connected in some way, I now create the studio bulletin boards.
It may seem like a small job, but there are about 10 bulletin boards I am responsible for making new and fresh always.
I do enjoy this connection there, and especially at the BEGINNING of a new season!

This week was the BEGINNING of a new chapter for my grandkids, too!

MARIAH had her first day at KINDERGARTEN this morning and I'll be anxious to hear all about that. I know she was pretty pumped and showed me her filled BLUE SPARKLY BACK PACK on tuesday when we dropped her off after our special supper outing.

BEAU started his journey at
DAYCARE this week.
After my year of bonding with him until he was ready and old enough to BEGIN there...
we are both ready to BEGIN a new chapter!

Our dear
ATHENA RESTAURANT
OWNER FRIENDS...
will be BEGINNING a new chapter as well.

The KATSIRIS family who have owned and operated ATHENA RESTAURANT for many years have sold the business and are ready to move onto new BEGINNINGS in other fields.

I first met this family  when I taught dancing to two of their three daughters...
LARISSA and MARIAH, but it is the oldest sister, NICOLE we have enjoyed getting to know most through our meals at ATHENA.

Nicole, ...
(whom my Mariah refers to as "M"ICOLE)...
has always been so pleasant and kind and treats our Mariah so royally every time we come.

They always make a special dessert each time. Mariah calls it "ASSERT"! They always had some WHIPPED CREAM on them!!!!!
Mariah will miss making "ASSERTS"
with "M"ICOLE!


We share our heartfelt THANKS to them for the wonderful service and food we always received and I wish them the very best on their new BEGINNINGS!


I am hoping to make a
NEW BEGINNING on SOMETHING soon...
but for now am sorting through the many thoughts and ideas I have in mind,
until I know what  my
NEW BEGINNINGS will involve!

Tomorrow Beau's daycare is cancelled due to the long weekend coming, so I will have another day to bond with him. I hope to have a scattering of those now that I am no longer his regular babysitter anymore!

The first song to play on my ipod when I turned it on this morning was  this one sung by Rosemary Clooney...

"So always look for  the silver lining
and try to find the sunny side of life."

... and on that note... here is my poem of the day!


As I head to a new phase in life, 
I'm like a BEGINNER!
But starting out fresh 
is a good way to be a winner.
Every new chapter inside of my life book...
Is a reminder of all the steps I once took,
And as I look back on them all
and even beyond,
To remember the times that 
I have held dear and so fond.
Those memories still live on 
right here in my heart...
As I step to the future, 
making a fresh NEW START!