A-MAY-ZING!

"MAY the 4th be with you!"
-Author Unknown

"If you believe you will do great things, don't be surprised by the amazing things you can do."
-Altoplayer

"The best thing in life is finding someone who knows all your mistakes and weaknesses, and still thinks you're completely amazing."
-Author Unknown

  aMazing
   lOvely
 inTelligent
    Happy
  bEautiful
maRvellous
(mothers are amazing!)

Here is Mariah with her AMAZING Identity fair project on DANCE…
this took place at her school May 1st… and later that day she performed
inThe Performer… (which is what she has curlers in her hair!)

Below some AMAZING live jazz on Broadway last Thursday,
which just happened to be International Jazz Day…
and the end to April, which was JAZZ appreciation month...
I snapped this pic out of the car window  driving by!

The past 5 days I enjoyed some AMAZING dancing at a local
Dance competition called "THE PERFORMER"
I had really wanted photos of Mariah in all 3 of her costumes from the
dances she competed in… but only captured her Hip Hop !

Also got a photo of former student, Kelly, who was a teacher
with some students in this competition.
He broke his foot… but soon to get his cast off!

Jana, Nels and Beau are waiting here in the lobby of TCU place
for Mariah's final performance Saturday!!!

Above are my two AMAZING brothers…
the photo of brother Bob and me is a throw back from 2010…
but is here to honour his retirement this past weekend.

Brother Brian stopped by our house yesterday
and hadn't seen my grandkids in a while...
Beau was so happy to see him, so I got a pic of the two together!
Beau is modelling some doll sunglasses, too!!!

I liked the saying on my little MAY calendar yesterday…

"Your feet can take you in many directions,
but only your heart can tell what direction that is."
-Nishan Panwar

We had an amazing but busy day of babysitting the grandkids yesterday,
while I went to watch some dance in the morning, Brian bought the kids
new hats and treats… then in the afternoon… we had lots of activities
from basement hockey in tap shoes… to dancing in Jana's old costumes,
this basement has endless fun for the kids…and lots of mess, too!
So many AMAZING memories have taken place in this basement.

Beau and I went grocery shopping together…
then he went from being in the shopping cart basket to the little toy basket…
a little basket case!!!... he is a character!!!
He also wanted to make cupcakes, too and took the job quite seriously …
including eating way to many after they were done…
oh what a kid!

Mariah took Shuffle for a little walk…
and then created some dances
in the basement in her mom's lyrical solo costume
 from around1994!
She loves to create dances… she was so into it…
she must have been inspired by all the AMAZING
dances she saw last week at The Performer.

SWANK SHOE LOUNGE is relocating temporarily
for some new AMAZING renovations in the store.
Above is Jana and store owner partner, Melissa, with Brian from last fall.
This morning we visited the new location in the basement next door to
their current address, and already renos have begun.

Last week I got two new pairs of sandals from her store…
and I am ready for some AMAZING summer weather to begin!

In honour of MOTHER'S DAY this coming Sunday…
here are a couple of throwback MOM photos…

My mom and me at a Jazz festival about 6 or 7 years ago…
hard to believe mom has been gone nearly 5 years now…
I sure miss her.

And the picture with Jana last Mother's Day
with our SUPER MOM ice cream cake in mom's honour.
I am proud of the SUPER MOM Jana has become,
in fact in many ways she reminds me of my mom…
a very strong AMAZING woman.



I look forward to Monday-blog day…
to me it is an AMAZING day in my week,
and today we got some amazing news, too…
so even better!
As the saying goes for today a quote from Star Wars
"MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU"…
or I could say "4th"…
or even "FORTH" as we move
FORWARD on this journey of life!


This past week was truly amazing as we said good bye to April and hello to MAY!… April was Jazz Appreciation month… and the 30th was declared International JAZZ DAY.
Last Wednesday, April 29th was
International DANCE DAY…
and what better way to spend it, than to be at a
DANCE COMPETITION watching the many dance talents strut their stuff. I truly love to watch dancing … and when there is as much talent around as there is in our province,
it is so AMAZING to just be a spectator and enjoy.


The Performer Dance Competition is run by a couple of amazing young dancers from Saskatoon,
Sarah Rassmussen, who grew up competing with
Jana in her dance years…
and Shauna Engdahl. These gals put on a very classy competition very well run, too. They had an AMAZING judging  panel as well…all dance mentors I  know from my years as a dancer and teacher…
Kevin Tookey, Sally Ogden, and Susan Mensinger, shared their AMAZING knowledge, expertise and positive constructive advice with the dancers and teachers from the 16 dance studios entered in the competition.


My 8 year old grand daughter, Mariah,
 danced in 3 group numbers…
her Jazz Group called "Cha Cha Heels"
her Hip Hop Group called "Ice"
and her Character ballet group called "Grand Hotel"
Because the dancers ages are combined with the groups…
her groups all competed in the 9-11 AGE category.
She was happy to receive medals in each number.
Some competitions … all dancers receive medals for their mark standing, however this competition is one where a
1st, 2nd and 3rd placement are given in each category.
Thanks to Mariah's AMAZING teachers,
Mrs. Erickson, Mrs. Stark and Miss Danielle
for their hard work leading up this event.
I was a very proud Grandma.
Next year I hope she can compete in TAP, too!!!



I was proud on a few other levels as well…
it is now fun for me to watch dancers I once taught  who have gone on to teach dancing...sharing their knowledge with a new generation of dancers.
I also had former dancers I taught who now have their children now competing as well. Mariah actually dances with a young dancer, Jordyn, whose mom, Jennifer,
danced with Jana growing up.
Mariah also dances with a gal named Payton, who is the daughter of another dancer, Kathy, who I taught...
so a little history repeating there.
I had so wanted to capture a photo of those kids and post one with their moms back in the day…
but my thought didn't work out!!!
Mariah was funny about letting me get photos
of her in costume, for some reason!


I was so pleased that my nephew, Alec, also came to watch Mariah in her Hip Hop performance… so AMAZING of him to make the effort on his Saturday to come out
and watch her on his way to work. I know it not only meant a lot  to me, but to Mariah as well.


My good buddy, Ella, and I were able to share our enthusiasm and pride together watching The Performer.
Ella's niece, Amy, from North Battleford, performed in 11 dances total… so we were able to enjoy watching lots of AMAZING dancing together,
while watching our special relatives dance.


On Friday, my oldest brother, Bob retired from his job.
He is such a hard worker and now he will be able to devote his spare time to his hobby of golf… and enjoy his little grand daughter, Jorja … who will be 6 months tomorrow already… and soon Bob has another grand daughter to come this month as well. I know both he and his wife, Arleen, find being GRANDPARENTS just as AMAZING
 as Brian and I do with our grandkids.


I am pretty proud of Jana on her store success
of nearly 6 years. Her and her store partner and
co-owner, Melissa, are renovating their current location to make better use of the space they have for more
AMAZING shoes at their store called
SWANK SHOE LOUNGE!
They will be temporarily located in the basement
between their store and "Ten Thousand Villages"
in the basement at 141 2nd Ave. North,
while they make their store more AMAZING!


While they moved their complete contents of their store yesterday… Brian and I babysat Jana's kids.
They are pretty AMAZING kids…
but they do tire me out…
I am not going to lie!
Mariah spent much of her day watching shows she likes on the Family channel on TV… but during a spurt of energy she  took my dog, Shuffle for a walk, then made up some dances in the basement… she was inspired by the dancing she watched last week, but she always loves to dance!
Beau is bored if not entertained every minute!
So we did several things throughout the day including making cupcakes… which in hind sight seemed like a good idea at the time until he had too many and was extremely hyper for the remainder of the day. I took him for some groceries and while loading my stuff into the car, he decided to moon the people in the parking lot!!!!
He can be quite the character.
He was so excited to see my brother, Brian,
when he stopped by yesterday… it was cute.
I think it meant a lot to my brother too!
I was grateful to hubby, Brian…  for taking a shift with the kids in the morning so I could see one last morning of dancing at The Performer.
He is such an AMAZING GRANDPA!


I couldn't let this blog go by without mentioning my mom,
in view of Mother's Day coming up this Sunday.
My mom was so AMAZING… she was very interested in all 3 of her kids and took on such an enthusiastic role
for each one of us in all of our personal interests.
She was always my biggest cheerleader with all my dance passions, and loved to watch dance competitions with me always. We also shared a special bond each year at
Jazz Festival time when we would attend a lot of the free concerts in the park together. She was very quirky but fun… she was very strong minded, but she wore her heart on her sleeve always. A person always knew what she thought of things… whether it was good or bad! I love her dearly and although she has been gone nearly 5 years… she lives on in my heart and I feel her spirit with me always, especially at things like Dance and Jazz Festivals !
"Happy Mother's Day in Heaven, MOM…
 I hope it is as AMAZING as you always were to me!"
xo your loving daughter


Tonight I will look forward to all my favourite TV shows…
I do enjoy the competitive shows…
DWTS and The Voice and later in the week, American Idol.
I think there are lots of AMAZING talents
on those shows this season.

I love MAY for the warmer weather it brings
and soon we will be sitting on our deck
enjoying Happy Hours
in the great outdoors again…maybe even later today
as we celebrate the AMAZING things to come.


Congrats to the royal couple on the birth of their
AMAZING new daughter…
 CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH DIANA.

Tomorrow is "Cinco de Mayo":
which is Spanish for 5th of MAY...
so put on your "CHA CHA HEELS"
 and make it AMAZING!

On that note… here is my rhyme of the day!


A-MAY-ZING is what this month will be…
I feel it in my bones, and I can just see,
Things shaping up right from the start,
I've lots of great feelings in my heart.
MAY it be a very special month of the year,
Celebrating moms and those close and dear.
It will be amazing each and every day,
Dancing through the journey along the way!

KiCKiN' iT UP A NOTCH!

"Optimist-someone that knows that taking a step backward after a step forward is not a disaster, it's a cha cha."
-Robert Brault

"The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one has to do."
-James M. Barrie

"I never lose sight of the fact that just being is fun."
-Katherine Hepburn

Here are a couple of photos from this past weekend…
My niece Rowen and my grand daughter Mariah were
having fun KICKING IT UP A NOTCH… just for KICKS!
Brian and I kicked it up and notch, too when we dressed
in GATSBY attire for a fund raiser
for Autism at WDM on Saturday.

Last Wednesday… I kicked it up notch by attending not one,
but two BIRTHDAY Celebrations!

I met my dancing friend, Brenda for a Birthday lunch at Moxies…
and then good friend, Ella hosted a lovely Birthday supper
for our mutual friend, Vern… at her home,
with friends, Bob and Jacquie, too.

I am always in my happy place when ever I get a chance to craft
a card for any occasion… here are few from last week…
Birthdays for...Vern..Brenda …
and this week my son's girlfriend, Caro hits the milestone age of 30.
She also just received her Master's in Social Work… so two cards
were sent to her, she has received them already, so I can share,
even though her birthday isn't till this Thursday.

Last week we also met… Jana and Nels at LEYDA'S for lunch on
Thursday… (Photo is a bit blurry!)
I joined my cousin Gwen for a good starbucks visit… and my friend Gailene
for a visit when I borrowed some costume stuff for the Gatsby event!

Saturday I had Mariah for the day to work on a project she is doing
for school. She did a big board on DANCE.
My niece Rowen came over , too and the 2 girls had fun dancing
and KICKING IT UP A NOTCH!!!
Mariah idolizes Rowen… they always have fun together.
I had a good visit with Rowen, mom, Brenda then, too.

Mariah decided to try on some of her mom's old dance costumes,
as Brian and I got ready for the Gatsby event on Saturday.
Jana drove us in the blizzard to WDM and
 Mariah and I had a selfie in the back seat!

Our friend Dan is the president of the AUTISM Society here in the city,
so he and his wife, Judy were all dressed up in their GATSBY attire
at the Autism fund raiser Saturday night at the
Western Development Museum…
which the ideal setting for an event
of the that era!

Some more pics from the GATSBY event… with friends, Vern,
Bob and Jacquie.
There was a casino, food, drinks, silent auction, and
a dance with Big Band music !

Last night we had family over for a supper…
We even barbecued in the snow!

My nephew Alec joined us as well as Jana, Nels and the kids.
Beau had the smurfs and puzzles out and the hockey was on TV!

Mariah chose to not be in a photo last night…
but I shared one off Jana's FB page from last week
of her and her family in their car!

The weather really kicked it up a notch on the weekend, too…
with 20 some centimetres of snow!
I snapped a pic Saturday night and Sunday morning, too.
I was grateful for my red Hunter rubber boots yesterday!!!
I built a wee snowman on the bbq … which we cooked on at supper time,
but by then the snowman was melted already!

Here is a comparison of the amount of snow we had in December 2014 to April 2015!!!

CRAZY stuff… April looks more like December!!!

Jana posted this pic of my grandson Beau yesterday on FB and Instagram
I decided to share it too… how cute is he?
He is very full of life and always KICKS IT UP A NOTCH when ever I see him.
We love this kid to pieces!
I am always so grateful for not only Beau, but for Mariah, too…
I LOVE being a grandma!!!



Happy Monday to all my blog readers…
and thanks for stopping by to read about this past week!
I actually enjoy Monday each week as I sit down to write and share the fun I had in my previous week.


As the photos display… there was no shortage of things going on around here this past week. I also made it to the gym 4 times in addition to other routine things 
we have to do … so lots going on!


I always enjoy times shared with good friends and family alike. We did enjoy our birthday celebration for good friend, Vern this past week at Ella's. She put on a wonderful meal and was such a great hostess for all the friends who came.
Not only was it his birthday … it was also EARTH DAY!


In addition to lunches, and coffee outings, Brian and I enjoyed attending the GATSBY themed event to raise funds for the "Autism Society" here in the city. As the day progressed, I was actually dreading getting in costume to go out in the blizzard like weather, but we were happy we had gone in the end. We were grateful for rides to and from…
Jana drove us there, and my sister-in-law, Brenda and her hubby, Mark drove us home. One of the favourite things for me was the awesome live big band music played there. It definitely brought my parents to mind, and especially on their rendition of my parents' favourite song, "Satin Doll ."

Special THANKS to former dance student, Amber, for the loan of the flapper costume from the Sr. Tap group I taught in my final year as a teacher… entitled 
"Hit The Dance Floor!"
Amber's mom, Gailene, also provided a lot of extras to add to the costume including the cute black fur shrug!
I had looked through Jana's costumes… 
but I didn't find a FITTING one in our closet full!



The weather certainly decided to KICK IT UP A NOTCH 
this past weekend… with the crazy snow storm…
However, thankfully the weather is predicting plus 25 degrees by this Wednesday, so I am guessing the snow won't be here for long!


Mariah has an event on this coming week at school called "Identity Fair"… where they have to do a board on what they like. Mariah chose "DANCE" as her theme… 
and asked me to help her put it together… 
I do love a project, and what fun we had doing it together. 
I will also attend the fair day at her school. Mariah will also be KICKING IT UP A NOTCH again this week when she competes in her second competition of the season, here in the city at TCU in a competition
 called "The Performer."
She dances 3 numbers one on Friday and two on Saturday.
I will look forward to watching her dance there, along with many of the other studios who will be competing then, too.


I always enjoy this time of year when lots of my Facebook Dance teacher friends post many of the pictures and results from various dance events they are involved in… festivals, competitions and recitals, etc. I remember this as always being the most fun time of year when
I was a dance teacher…
it was the time we could see all of our hard work
coming to life on stage, as all the dancers
KICKED it up a NOTCH!


I am still enjoying the DWTS on TV and look forward to that show every week. This week will be different as my favourite dancer on the show, Derek Hough, is being replaced due to an injury he had following last week's show. He adds such a great talent to the show… he always knows how to
KICK IT UP A NOTCH!!!


In addition to DWTS, I have continued to enjoy and critique the singing shows, too… The Voice and American Idol.
Hard to believe those shows will soon be done for another season… but then we will KICK IT UP A NOTCH with the new season of "SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE"…
and the best goes on!


I continue to acknowledge family and friends on their special days… yesterday was my nephew JEFF'S 38th Birthday.
Last week was friend, Vern's Birthday. and the week before was friend, Brenda …
 This week,
my sister-in-law, Brenda and her husband, Mark 
will celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary on the 28th.
On Thursday, the 30th, my son's girlfriend, CARO, will celebrate her  birthday as she turns the milestone age of 30.
(Do they still call it your "Champaign Birthday"?
 when you turn the age of the date… 30 on the 30th!!!)
I hope everyone KICKS IT UP A NOTCH
for their special occasions!

On that note… here is my rhyme of the day…

This past week was so full of fun…
From the start until it was done.
We kicked it up a notch or two,
And oh the time just really flew!
From celebrating and going out,
Just kicked it up, and there's no doubt,
It's always fun to just review ,
The fun things we had time to do!

LiFE MiLESTONES and SWEET OCCASiONS!

"Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments."
-Rose Kennedy

"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all."
-Laura Ingalis Wilder

"Don't save things for a special occasion. Everyday of your life is a special occasion."
-Thomas S. Monson

Last week my friend, Jacquie treated friend, Trona and me
to a delicious lunch at a new restaurant in town called MILESTONES.
We were actually celebrating Trona's Milestone 50th  birthday
which was on the 7th of April.
As it turns out… Jacquie and I both re on milestone years in 2015 too.
My Birthday has passed already and Jacquie's is in June…
So it was a fitting place for us to dine!

Later in the week we met with our good friends,
Joan and Gerry for fun evening
and meal at Mano's.
Every time we connect it is a SWEET OCCASION!

My good buddy, Linda, from Lanigan came to the city
on Saturday…and it is always tradition for us
to not only have a latte at STARBUCKS … but
to capture it , too. sometimes we have to do that with a
"selfie"  or two!!!
We have shared many sweet occasions and milestones
together in our lifetime!

I love every chance I get to craft a card for
a sweet occasion and or milestone…
here are but a few in this past month of friends' with birthdays.
I have made more, too, but can't share them yet until the
recipient sees them first!

We sold our boat last week.
We had many a sweet occasion on it, but were not
getting as much use out of it in the past couple years, so it was practical to sell it.
The top right photo is some shared fun from a couple of years ago on the boat.
The other pics are Brian on the day we sold it.

I am super proud of my grand daughter who works one or two days a month at
a dog adoption for about five  hours each time.
It is a huge commitment for an 8 year old…
but she loves it and seems to be very responsible.
We babysat the grandkids on Saturday night and
shared some fun with them then too…
We had fun in the little dollarama glasses!!!
Sometimes it's all about the little things.

We enjoyed our time with Beau on saturday night, too.
He was so into the glasses and the puzzle making. We popped by
my mother-in-law, Blanche's place too.
Beau and her were having a cute conversation in this photo.
Every little memory is a sweet occasion!

Saturday would have been my father-in-law, Greg's
MILESTONE 90th Birthday…
but instead he had his first birthday in HEAVEN!
Mariah and Beau sent wishes to him in balloons
to the sky on Saturday night.
We turned it into a SWEET OCCASION,
knowing POPPA GREG will live on in our HEARTS forever!



Thanks for popping by my weekly blog post
to see what we have been up to.
Mondays are always a
SWEET OCCASION for me as
I recall all the positives in my life.
I am forever grateful for all the wonderful
LIFE MILESTONES and SWEET OCCASIONS,
as well as all the people who help to
make them that way!


Today's blog is my 430th post since I began blogging in December of 2010. That in itself is quite the milestone!
I am glad I began recording my fun things in life back then and was able to continue doing so, now it is in my records for me to check back on when ever I feel the need to
recall a date or occasion and or photo along the way.
I often check back to previously written posts, too, to see what I was up to back around the same time in previous years. Fun to see the growth in my grandkids, too.
Beau was only a baby when I began writing…
and he will be 5 soon, and
Mariah is coming up to her 9th Birthday next month!
Time sure flies … when you are living the life with all it's milestones and sweet occasions along the way.


I have many good friends who had birthdays in March and April. Just this past week, my dancing buddy, Brenda had a birthday on the 17th and we will celebrate her on Wednesday at a lunch. This Wednesday our good buddy, Vern is having a birthday as well and my friend, Ella is throwing him a party at her place that day. so lots of birthday celebrating on that day… which is also EARTH DAY… something else to CELEBRATE!
The cards I crafted above are some of my other great friends who celebrated Birthdays in the last month…
Ella, Lynne, Linda, Trona… and the list goes on.


At the end of this month, my son, Colin's girlfriend,
CARO, is celebrating a MILESTONE BIRTHDAY
when she turns 30 on the 30th!
I believe that is called a CHAMPAIGNE birthday, too when you turn the age of your date… SWEET!
She also reached a MILESTONE last week, when receiving her internship as a social worker in Montreal… which is a huge accomplishment… we are so proud and wish her all the best on all those SWEET OCCASIONS!


Although my dad and my father-in-law are no longer here on earth… they are still in my heart. I did recall both of them as they had birthdays in the past month, too…
on the 8th and 18th.
I do hope they could celebrate their sweet occasions together in Heaven.


We enjoy any chances to go out with friends and we try to do that often within our week. Last week we managed to get in a few sweet occasions with lunches, suppers and starbucks dates… as shown in the photos above.
We also shared a lunch with Jana last week, too.
We didn't capture it with a photo, but we enjoyed our time with her. She is always so busy, so we cherish the times we can bond with our daughter… and with her family!


I truly enjoy all the TV shows pertaining to music and dance and competition, so much so… that I have decided to write down critiques of the shows… 
I really loved the "DWTS" last week on their Disney theme.
I also enjoyed "The Voice" as well as"The  Idol",
giving all the numbers a score and
comments in a little note book.
I am kind of a nerd that way, but I find I am more invested in the shows when I record my thoughts on it… must be the adjudicator in me coming through!!


We are super proud of Mariah and her commitment to the dog adoption she works for.
They do have a Facebook page which is called
"We All Need a Rescue K9 Rescue"
The dog adoption is held at a place in the city called "Cowtown" , and Mariah's Great Auntie Bev has taken Mariah many times to help at it.
Bev and Mariah along with my nephew, Sam
 are all very passionate about dogs getting adopted, and
volunteer their time for this adoption
and for these little doggies.
It is always a sweet occasion when ever any dogs do get adopted into loving and caring homes.


My nephew, Jeff is coming up to a birthday on the 26th.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEFF!
He is enjoying his fatherhood…
his little girl, Jorja will soon be 5 months old.
It is such a milestone to become a parent.
It was a wonderful milestone for me to become a
GREAT AUNT, too, for the first time.


Soon I will be a Great Auntie again… when my nephew, Brad and his wife, Janelle have their first baby in May.
That time is coming quickly… very exciting!


There are so many reasons to be grateful
but it's all the sweet occasions,
big and small along the journey of life
that make it all worthwhile!


On that note… here is my rhyme of the day!

Life is full of MILESTONES
and OCCASIONS that are SWEET,
From each day's adventures … to going for a treat!
Life is like a journey, and that is really true.
It's all about the little things… and the big things, too!
So take every occasion and turn it into fun…
Making just the most of it, until the day is done.
Life is what you make it… so always give your best,
Live out each occasion and milestone full of zest!

HiP HoP HOORAY for GRAND Memories!

"The Grand Essentials of Happiness are:
something to do, something to love, something to hope for."
-Allan K. Chalmers

"The expert in anything was once a beginner."
-author unknown

"Simple memories with your grandchildren become priceless memories."
-Pam Baron

Here are a couple of photos Jana took in North Battleford last week
when Mariah competed there.
The left is a darling photo of her and the boy, Kelden,
in her HIP HOP group… called "ICE"
which won first place last week.
The photo on the right is a GRANDE Battement…
(which is a large kick) and here Mariah is holding it and stretching…
I see GRAND improvement in her dancing and flexibility this year.
I made some GRAND MEMORIES this past week
being a proud GRANDma!!!

Mariah and Beau made many MEMORIES playing in the Theatre lobby
at the Dekker Centre For The Performing Arts in North Battleford.
I bought Mariah some nice flowers in celebration of her
dance performances in NB…
along with crafting a quick congrats card.

Because we somehow did not capture Mariah in her Ballet or Jazz costumes
at NB… here are some photos of her in them at Christmas time
when she got her costumes from the studio  to take home.
Her ballet is called "GRAND HOTEL"
and her Jazz is called "CHA CHA HEELS"
These photos are missing all the trims… but they give the main look!
She did a GRAND job of performing both of these dances,
I loved her little animated face in the
character ballet number, especially!!!

This was the 35th Annual Battleford Dance Festival…
and the first one held in the brand new Dekker Centre,
which  was a
GRAND place to hold it!
All 3 adjudicators were excellent, and I continue to
learn as I listen to their feed back even as a spectator now!

Here is a GRAND MEMORY for me… it is a photo of Jana in her jazz group
called "LOCOMOTION" which performed in North Battleford when Jana was
Mariah's age, 8 years old.
It is fun to watch history repeat as we dance through each generation.
Oh the MEMORIES!!!!

My good buddy, Linda from Lanigan, was with her darling GRAND daughter,
Cadence … who performed in a festival in Edmonton on the weekend…
called Terpsichore. I taught many Lanigan dance summer schools
which is how I met Linda back in the nineties when our girls were 8 and 9.
So I once taught Cadence's mom, Teresa dance, too…
so another GRAND MEMORY of history repeating.
I know Linda was a proud GRANDma… or GRANNY as she
refers to her self on the weekend… and she was busy texting photos
to me along the way…
I believe, her tap was SUGAR & SPICE,
her jazz was ITSY BITSY SPIDER
and her ballet was a production type number
to WHOOVILLE…
all these dances did well, each earning a high mark and medal.

Some more GRAND memories for me this past week…
Brian and I went for supper and sat in my nephew, Alec's
section at Mano's where he works now.
Later in the week we met friends Ella and Vern for  a foursome Starbucks
outing… we have made many of those grand memories along the way!

Friday was international SIBLING DAY…
so I am sharing this photo taken last fall, with my wonderful big bros…
Brian and Bob.
I have many GRAND MEMORIES of growing up with them, too…
they are the best brothers a girl could ask for!

It is always a GRAND MEMORY when the weather warms up
enough to sit on our deck for a Happy Hour!
Brian and I shared our very first one of 2015 this past Friday…
Hip Hop Hooray for happy hours on the deck…
and  the warmer weather!

We made a GRAND little road trip to Regina this weekend,
to visit these very dear friends… once our next door neighbours…
Lynne and Mike…
We had a GRAND time for sure,
from shopping ...to game playing, from kaiser cards to scrabble
... to the delicious meals…and just Rockin On!

Mike and Lynne are truly the hosts with the most… and Mike out did himself
with the yummy meals he prepared for us, too.
Thanks to these GRAND FRIENDS
for making our weekend one full of fond MEMORIES,
to add to the many we have shared together along the way!

Last night I went to a little jazz concert here in the city
and made a very GRAND MEMORY.
Although I went on my own… I truly felt the spirit of
my parents with me at the show.
They instilled my love of Jazz music in the first place!

Here are some more GRAND MEMORIES from April 2014, just one year ago.
My dear father-in-law, GREG, passed away in August of 2014,
but this weekend he would be celebrating his 90th Birthday if he were still here.
He was a wonderful man… husband, father, GRANDPA and GREAT GRANDPA….
and friend to so many people, too.
Here are the GRAND MEMORIES of him at the time of his 89th Birthday
with his two only GREAT GRANDKIDS, BEAU and MARIAH…
who refer to him as "POPS"!
We made many GRAND MEMORIES with GREG…
and now he lives on in all of our hearts.



Hip Hop Hooray for MONDAYS…
It has recently become a favourite day in my week when I do my blog and sum up all my happy and grand memories from the week previous and some throwback memories as well!!!


This past week was very full of GRAND MEMORIES on many levels. Not only did my Grand daughter, Mariah, dance in the North Battleford Festival, showing GRAND improvements… it brought back so many memories of the days I took my dancers to compete in that same festival. Some of my happiest competition memories of that are the years, my daughter, Jana grew up competing in it.
Regardless of how the medals and awards came out,
the memories live on forever.


It was at North Battleford Festival in 1990 that my friend, Linda from Lanigan approached me to teach a summer school out there. I went on to teach 9 of those almost consecutively each summer in Lanigan .
Most years I stayed at Linda's house and we have remained grand buddies since! Her daughters, Teresa and Kim also danced… and now Teresa's daughters dance in St. Albert at a studio called "Zero Gravity"… one I am not familiar with, but according to Linda they are a GRAND studio after watching them this past weekend on the
Meyer Horowitz stage in Edmonton… a stage where
we have shared many GRAND MEMORIES together
over the years, together, as well.


Our GRAND friends… Lynne and Mike, who now live in Regina… go way back, too…and not only do we share a GRAND friendship… dancing was a big part of our lives as well. Their daughters grew up dancing and their paths crossed at many dance festivals, competitions,
workshops, and summer schools etc.
with my daughter Jana as they grew up.
Now Lynne and Mike are proud GRAND parents to 3 grand daughters and one grandson… I am quite sure history is soon to repeat with all those little girls in dancing, too!


Mike and Lynne are always gracious hosts when ever we are able to fit in a little road trip to our schedule. We shared a  lot of fun with them just this past weekend… and I send them a GRAND THANK YOU for the great times!


I am so passionate about dancing and pretty much have loved it all my life. I grew up as a little beginner who started out at 4… and carried on through high school until I began teaching for parks and recreation and later opened a studio, which I had for 28 years. When I chose to close and amalgamate with "Brenda's School Of Baton and Dance",
I taught for 6 more years until becoming a social director for that studio. I loved teaching and have many GRAND memories from those days… but when I TAPPED OUT from teaching… I moved to the next chapter in my dance life… and it is one of the proud GRANDMA! I still enjoy watching dancing at many festivals, competitions recitals, etc.
 throughout our province and beyond. I do still get asked to adjudicate, too, but have chosen to
take a break from that chapter lately.



My parents installed a love for not only dance in my life, but were a big influence on the styles of music I loved.
One of those styles of music is "Jazz"… particularly
Big Band and Standards which lend themselves so well to Tap dancing, which is my favourite dance genre to this day!


Last night I went to a GRAND concert at our Broadway Theatre here in the city. It was an impromptu decision  once I knew there were still a few tickets available.
So I went by myself to the DENZAL SINCLAIRE concert, and felt my parent's spirit with me. They too would have loved that show. But somehow I feel like they enjoyed it along with me from the seats up in the clouds!

I will quote parts of the review in the program
from that show…
"Denzal Sinclaire is one of Canada's most popular jazz vocalists and is ranked  among the finest  jazz singers of his generation. A graduate of McGill University's Jazz Performance program (Montreal, Canada), he possesses that rare ability to achieve, from the moment he steps on stage, a profound interaction with his audience."

The review did share much more about his skills… but I will add to that, by saying he not only has a very warm quality and quick sense of wit and charm, his long lean build and animated face just add a lot to the performance. I first saw him perform at a Saskatoon Jazz festival years ago with my mom… and we loved the show then, too. I next saw him as a warm up act to another Jazz great I love, Holly Cole!


I truly felt I got full value for my JAZZ LOVING and ENTERTAINMENT dollar last night at that show.
Also on Friday I went to the BASSMENT in the city and enjoyed some local entertainment there by Martin Janovsky.
I was joined there by my gym buddy, Ella…
we had a fun time together as we always do!


I will look forward to the shows I love on TV again this week… all pertaining to DANCE and MUSIC…
two of my GRAND PASSIONS…
Tonight "DWTS" is doing a DISNEY THEME…
and also this week, I'll enjoy
"THE VOICE" and "AMERICAN IDOL."
I have watched each one of these shows since they began years ago… and now I am so into it, I find myself practicing my adjudicating skills by scoring them all in a note book, myself, too, as I watch. So I now have many grand memories in writing to go with those shows, as well!!!


I will look forward to watching Mariah dance again soon when she competes in a festival here in the city called
THE PERFORMER from April 29th- May 3rd.
I feel badly I missed seeing Mariah's HIP HOP GROUP in NB, so I hope to catch each of her dance numbers here in the city… and I know it is open to the public, too, for any other dance enthusiasts to come out and watch and cheer them on
HIP HOP HOORAY!
Some festivals give medals to all dancers and others have a 1st, 2nd, 3rd format… which is what Mariah was exposed to this last week. Although she only placed in her HipHop… 
I saw GRAND improvement…and she looked so adorable in her Jazz and Character ballet, numbers I thought.
I may be biased, but I see GRAND things 
in her dance future!!! hehehe


This coming weekend, we will be recalling my dear
father -in-law, GREG, on April 18th.
This is the date he would have turned 90 years old. Instead he will be having his very first birthday in Heaven this year… and although we miss him dearly…
he will always hold a very GRAND spot in our hearts,
and his memories will definitely live on.
He was not only special to me,
but also to everyone who knew him…
GREG was such a wonderful and well loved man.


On that note… here is my rhyme of the day…

I love to keep my memories close at heart and hand,
Remembering the details from the little to the grand!
When I get a reason... or even get a chance,
To share these special memories
of people, song and dance,
I love all the passions that fill space up in my heart,
And hold a special spot there, from the very start.
Memories earned their early spots,
from our families, dear.
Although our loved ones can't all be here,
I know they're always near.
The things we love and  pass along right until the end,
Can always be made way more grand,
when shared with a good friend.
Grand memories just continue to grow from day to day.
And thanks to those grand memories,
I say… "HIP HOP HOORAY!"

"EGG"-STRA FUN FOR EVERY "BUNNY"!

"The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra."
-Jimmy Johnson

"Today was good. Today was fun. tomorrow is another one. "
-Dr. Seuss

"Smile it is the key that fits everybody's heart."
-Anthony D'Angelo

Last week I was getting into my Easter spirit and taking
some fun photos with Shuffle and me in the Bunny Ears!

It seems my family isn't as interested as I am to get on the bunny ears,
I had a little EGG-stra fun putting out the Easter table, too!

It was fun to look back on my grandkid's first Easters…
both of them sitting with the big Easter Chick!

Good Friday we had Jana, Nels and Beau along with friend Vern for a big
Easter Turkey supper. Mariah missed that night as she was at a fun sleepover.
Beau and I coloured eggs after supper, too…
and we had some EGG-STRA fun doing that!

I packaged up a pail for the grandkids with lots of chocolate treats.
Below are the EGGS Beau and I did together… complete with crazy hair!

Saturday night the kids were over to get their Easter Treats from us,
I managed to get a quick photo of the two of them with their
Easter pails and crafted cards!

Easter Sunday morning EVERY-BUNNY was having fun at our traditional
breakfast at Fuddruckers… I think every bunny had EGGS, too!

More Easter Bunny fun…
Brian , Shuffle and Me on Easter morning.
My adorable GREAT NEICE, JORJA, sitting by her bunny
on her 4 month old birthday…
(they will continue to snap photos of her by that bunny
each month for her first year to show her growth!)
The beautiful flowers at Trinity Manor when we went there for
supper last night with my mother-in-law Blanche.

A beautiful appreciation day…
My friend Brenda treated some of the co-ordinators from her SPRING STARS
competition last week… to a delicious lunch and the gift of a giving key…
Mine says BELIEVE on it… each one has a different word and can be passed on
when someone needs it more… but I know I will be keeping mine for a while!
THANKS BRENDA… so thoughtful and generous.

SPRINGING from one DANCE FESTIVAL to ANOTHER!
Here are the many faces of my grandkids in the car on route
to and from the North Battleford Dance festival this morning.
They had many faces along the way,
but I think EVERY BUNNY had FUN!

Even though this is a blurry photo… it is a very fond memory
and significant one at this time.
This is my dad, Roy, and my father-in-law, Greg…
years ago sharing some spirit at our house.
Neither of these fine men are with us any longer ,
but they are both coming up to birthdays…
APRIL 8th would have been my dad's 89th Birthday,
and his 15th one in Heaven.
APRIL 18th, my father-in-law would have turned 90… and will be
celebrating his first birthday in Heaven this year.
I am so hoping the dads can share their birthday cakes in
HEAVEN together this year.
We miss them dearly but they both live on in our hearts.



Another Easter has come and gone… and seemed to have gone by quicker this year for some reason, but EVERY BUNNY did have a chance for some EGG-STRA
fun none the less.


We celebrated with a turkey supper with all the trimmings on Good Friday here and then shared a nice meal with my mother-in-law, Blanche, on Easter Sunday at her home.
Both were tasty meals and great celebrations.



We also had my nephew, Alec, who recently moved to the city from Vancouver, over for a meal last week as he could not join us for Easter. My sister-in-law, Bev also stopped by that night, too… but I did not get any photos!
We did enjoy the visit, none the less.


I was treated for a lovely lunch outing with friend Brenda, and the committee co-ordinators of her SPRING STARS DANCE FESTIVAL at a great restaurant in the city called LEYDA'S. She bought us all a giving key as well… her festival raised 30,000.00 to support cancer treatments here in the province. What a wonderful dance festival it was.
I felt I was happy helping with that festival, but am grateful for Brenda's thoughtful and generous gesture, as well.


I also had friends, Ella and Cathy for a nice coffee visit this past week… but once again no photos were snapped! I feel I have the best friends and I feel so fortunate I have time to share quality time with them.


I also made it to the gym last week a few times as well… which I hope will balance out all the chocolate I ate over Easter. One of our gym instructors, PEG, also brought Easter treats to share with her GOODLIFE gym class on
Good Friday, too.


Today was the start of the North Battleford Dance Festival… one I once attended as a dance teacher and a mom to Jana…and now the traditions continue as my grand daughter Mariah danced in a large jazz group this morning there. I was a proud grandma. The trip was very early as her session began at 8 AM… so up early and off to get there and ready to perform very early… with the family in tow!
She danced her heart out to her jazz piece called
"CHA CHA HEELS " …
(kind of appropriate seeing as her mom has gone from dancing to selling shoes! )


Tomorrow she will return to North Battleford for her Hip hop group and will go again on Wednesday for her Ballet group.
So lots of trips back and forth…and later this season she will compete in a competition here in the city called
"The Performer". I was so hoping I had got a photo of her in her adorable costume today… but things were very rushed…
maybe tomorrow will be easier as her performance is in the evening instead of the morning!


I was home by early afternoon and was able to share a coffee visit with my good friend Ella this afternoon at her house, before getting on my blog post of the week.


Tonight I look forward to my favourite night of TV… "DWTS" and "The Voice"… and by then I will be ready to hop into bed… as it was a very early morning today!!!
WE were up EGG-STRA early but
I think EVERY BUNNY had fun.


So as mentioned above... this Wednesday I will be blowing kisses to the HEAVENS above on my dad's birthday.
I sure miss him… but his spirit lives on in my heart daily.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the BEST DAD
I could have ever hoped for!


On that note… here is my rhyme of the day…

Another Easter has come and is done…
And once again it was EGG-STRA FUN!
EVERY BUNNY was feeling great,
Lots to do and celebrate.
CHOCOLATE EGGS were every where,
Many left to eat and share.
Easter time has come and gone,
Now time to DANCE and just ROCK ON!