Rowan Family Tree

Kung Fu panda girl!!!

Kung Fu panda girl!!!

I’m at Kung Fu watching Sugar, who is at rapt attention. She’s watching a VERY muscly woman teaching to say ” stop! Back off!” then punching and kicking a dummy.

I want to sure about the whole martial arts thing… But we needed a high energy activity fir Sugar that she could cal her own. I don’t really like the idea of sparring and competing in tournaments really isn’t her personality. But the when I was at spice’s piano lesson, another piano mom said her twins went to King Fu. And voila! It was perfect.

It’s like speedy Tai Chi. There are no tourneys or sparring until years from now. It focused and she is very attentive. She gets to run around like crazy and has a strong kind female teacher. And there are kids from all walks of life and just as many girls as boys. Perfect!

Nov. 25th | Posted by 4 comments

When they grow up

Nov. 19th | Posted by 0 comments

In case you were wondering what the girls want to be when they grow up…

Spice wants to be an entomologist. Sometimes she wavers and wants to "work with frogs and lizards too", but most of the time she's into bugs.

Up close:

And Sugar?

Well, she wants to be a chef. These are some of her first creations – corn tortillas that she made from Gramma this summer. She always talks about owning her own restaurant, and what she's going to make us when we visit!

Children are pretty amazing, aren’t they? Some people think twins are alike, but even if our girls are identical, they are such their own souls. It’s amazing seeing them flourish and grow… and I wonder what they will be one day.

We gave Spice a bug house for her birthday, to go with her net and magnifying glass. Spice got her first cookbook. Their teacher came over for tea this past week, and they both got to show her their treasures. I think their teacher was pretty amazed how long Sugar could talk about food!!!

Two years later…

Nov. 17th | Posted by 5 comments

And just for the whimsy factor… have a look at what two years does!

Spice hamming it up in a fish costume. 2009

And two years later…

Spice hamming it up in a fish costume… 2011

Driving home from Vancouver in October 2009…

Ready to rumble. We don't exactly pack light.

Driving home from Vancouver November 2011…

Little hams – Spice pretending to be me driving, and Sugar pretending to be Daddy sleeping and navigating.

At the Pumpkin Patch

At the Pumpkin Patch

One cool thing about Jrock being at home so much now is that he’s available to help out at school. He went to the pumpkin patch with the girls’ class this past week, and had a great time. It’s awesome that they only have 12 kids in their class – like when does that every happen in public school? So Jrock was in charge of a third of the class, which sounds inpressive until you find out it’s four kids, including two of his own! Still, I think it’s really great that he’s getting involved. It’s good for the girls, but good for him too.

 

Nov. 3rd | Posted by 0 comments

Lions and Tigers and… oh my!!!

Lions and Tigers and… oh my!!!

Ok, so the girls had the cutest Halloween costumes ever. This year, it was full-bore run around the neighbourhood from house to house to house! Jrock and I had so much fun just trying to keep up with them. Then we let the lion and tiger gorge themselves on candy until the passed out in sugar comas later in the evening.

In the morning, they woke up with candy hangovers and were in dire need of some tums. “That was SO much fun!!!” Sugar the lion decreed.

Sugar the Lion

Spice the Tiger

Out on the prowl

Nov. 3rd | Posted by 5 comments

Dancing Twins

Ok, so my twin girls love dancing…. but these twin boys rock!!!!!

As a mom of twins, I have to say that even if you dress them the same, they so are not the same! Look in the first video how the one boy can’t help but sing, but the other has the swinging hips and better rhythm. So cute!

 

Oct. 14th | Posted by 0 comments

At the Park with Gramma

Oct. 7th | Posted by 0 comments

Guess noone told Gramma they're not allowed to climb the slide…

We’ve had the pleasure of having my parents here with us all week… however, it’s a testiment to my current state of busy-ness that I haven’t taken one picture. Luckily, Gramma was on it – so here are the ragamuffins at the playground today.

Sugar belly!

They’ve missed me this week… I’ve been so busy because I am leaving for most of next week. Thank GOODNESS for all our wonderful friends – the girls are doing three nights of sleepovers while I am away, and my friend T is doing their hair so they don’t look like, er, well, like Daddy did heir hair! in the school photos on Thursday.

M&H, J&G, T… WE THANKS YOU!!!! in advance.

Spice belly!

We’re all looking forward to our family getaway to the “castle”… we leave the day I get back! Where are we going? Well, you’ll just have to see…. (or guess!)

They’ve been pierced! Sugar and Spicce get earrings

Oct. 5th | Posted by 6 comments

Spice and Sugar with their new white gold studs.Sugar was up first – such a brave girl!Sugar was up first – such a brave girl!

That’s right – now that Gramma has seen them in person, I can announce to the world what they’ve been announcing to everyone they meet. “Look! I have earrings!”

It’s funny, because Jrock refused for them to get earrings for the last two years… he said he didn’t want to mar their perfection. Fair point. But the girls really really wanted earrings. This was especially after a few Ethiopian ladies commented on their lack of pierced ears around Jrock… “why aren’t their ears pierced? All Ethiopian girls have their ears pierced!”

Well, true or not, the culture card worked. Jorck relented in a discussion coming back form Vernon this summer. We told the girls that it would hurt, but when they were ready, they could get their ear pierced.

We were in the mall on the weekend, and Spice was eying up some earrings in a jewelry store. I reminded her that if she had the gumption, we could go ahead. So off the three of us trotted to Claires. Much to my surprise, the ladies there were completely professional, hygienic and completely girl-friendly. But one the earrings were picked out, Spice chickened. She said “Maybe when I’m 6.” Which is a long time away!

Spice instigated the whole thing – but waited until her sister went through with it first! lol

Sugar decided to get hers pierced, and Spice added to the pressure: “If you don’t cry, then I’ll get mine pierced too.” Poor girl. So they gunned down, abut even though they were welling up in her eyes, Sugar held the tears in. Spice immediately decided to jump in the chair too – and to my shock, didn’t cry either.

Well, since they have been insanely diligent about cleaning their ears and didn’t even cry, I guess they were old enough, right honey? BUT, I have to admit… I looked at them with those tiny bits of white gold and saw the last of my babies evaporate away. Nothing but little girls in earrings left. [sigh] They grow so quickly.

Oh – PS. My mom didn’t let me get my ears pierced until I was 12. She said I was too young, but when I stopped chewing my nails and she couldn’t, I won the bet and got them pierced. True story. lol

Prima Ballerinas

Oct. 3rd | Posted by 2 comments

Fun fun fun – stage make-up!!

I don’t know what you would do for a few moments of peace so you can have a quiet cup of tea with a friend – but there isn’t much I wouldn’t do. lol The girls had their friends Z and X over and they dressed up in too-small ballet outfits and decorated in over-the-top stage makeup. We put some music on and it was bliss for 1 hour… yeah!

Harmless fun, I say. Let’s hope they don’t apply makeup like that when they are older, though!

First position!

Walk to School Month!

Oct. 3rd | Posted by 0 comments

Hi folks – did you know that it’s International WALK TO SCHOOL month?

In fact, in Kelowna this week is Walk to School week. Now, we walk to school every day… we only live two blocks from the girls’ school (on purpose.) But some people live a little further or just haven’t found the time to try it. Now’s the time. I have to say what I like as much as spending 10 quiet minutes of the day with my kids is the 10 quiet minutes walking back alone from the school. I often read when I walk, so that’s 10 minutes a day to chip at a novel, too.

Purposeful bliss, I say. But if that doesn’t tempt you, here are some other reasons to try walking to school!

International Walk to School is more than just getting together with children and going for a walk to school as a special event. This is certainly important, but the event’s greater aim is to bring forth permanent change in communities across the globe. Below are just a few of its goals:

Encourage physical activity by teaching children the skills to walk safely, how to identify safe routes to school, and the benefits of walking

Raise awareness of how walkable a community is and where improvements can be made

Raise concern for the environment

Reduce crime and take back neighborhoods for people on foot

Reduce traffic congestion, pollution, and speed near schools

Share valuable time with local community leaders, parents, and children

First Day of School

Sep. 7th | Posted by 6 comments

All ready for the first day of school!! Sugar / Spice

Well, it’s official. My preschoolers aren’t pre-schoolers anymore!

Sugar and Spice had their first day of school today. It’s a gradual entry to full day kindergarten, so today was 1 1.2 hours with the teachers, tomorrow is a 20 minute interview, Monday is morning only, Tuesday is afternoon only and then they start full-time Wednesday. It’s really good for the kids to start this way – but holy smokes, it is a bit of a juggle for the parents. Luckily, my mom decided to come home with us from camping this past weekend and is helping us with childcare, so I can work – oh, and maybe even post about their first day! lol

I really felt like we were crossing over this morning – my babies aren’t at all babies anymore. I think the maternal feelings are flowing. Hurry up little Basotho boy! I need another small person around!

Ooops – quick back alley shoe change. Guess those new shoes weren't a great idea.

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Reading with the librarian… so fun!!!

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Having our snack and examining the new backpacks given by the school.

Happy 5th Birthday! to our darlin’ little cowgirls

Aug. 29th | Posted by 6 comments
The cowpoke gang!

Spice riding a pony.

We had a lovely birthday party for the girls on Sunday. Thanks to all our friends who came, ate, rode horses, and had a gallupin’ good time. Also, a special shout out to all of your who made donations to Vulnerable Children Society. The girls decided to ask for donation instead of presents, and boy o boy were they proud that they raised $210!

The day started off with good news – Jrock took Maggie into the clinic and her blood was definitely looking better (and was improved again today.) Then we had a big waffle breakfast (the girls got to choose) and opened their birthday gifts. We gave Spice a bug catcher, which she has been using on lady bugs, spiders and earwigs ever since, as well as a big 5 year old girl puzzle.

Sugar riding a pony.

Sugar got a paint-by-number shadow box from us, which she worked on for 2 hours, as well as her first cookbook, which she is excited about using this week. We spent a total of about $15 on the girls’s presents, but in our experience, small thoughtful gifts go just as far.

Besides – they had an amazing birthday party too! We rented an arena and had ponies give the kids rides yesterday evening. The kids loved it – it was so much fun. We adults lounged around and ate ate ate… including cake. This year, Sugar ordered a blueberry cake with vanilla almond icing and sugared blueberries on top. Spice had a dark chocolate cake with cherries baked in, with vanilla icing and dark chocolate shavings. Those cakes are a labour of love, lemme tell you – but um um yummy!!!

The girls had a wonderful birthday – and that’s not all. Apparently, as of yesterday Spce can now reach several light switches she couldn’t the day before (when she was four years old) and can even reach the sink in the bathroom without a stool. The miracle of 5 YEARS OLD!!!

 

Random Summer Activities

Aug. 25th | Posted by 1 comments

Unexpected visitor

Aug. 22nd | Posted by 0 comments

A couple of weeks ago we had an unexpected visitor – Sugar and Spice’s friend C! Remember this sweet little boy from Harambe?

Well, his mom had appointments in town, and she brought him along for the 7 hour drive to spend the day with the girls. We had lots of fun, including a few first for C, like eating sushi. C wasn’t too sure about it at first, but then he just dug in.

We then chased dinosaur foodprints downs the streets of Kelowna until they met with a scary surprise!

THEN we had a small pool party with our friends Tigger and Chuckles. Pretty good times.

He probably thinks we have this much fun all the time. Oh wait – we do!

His mom was thinking of trying to get to the Mehaber Camp where we will also be in two weeks – what a nice surprise for the girls if he can make it. The adoration is mutual!!

   

 

New bedroom furniture on its way!

Aug. 18th | Posted by 0 comments

On a completely lighter note, I ordered the first of the girls’ new bedroom furniture today. Most of it we will source second hand, but I fell in love with these two chairs from Target. We live close to the border (2 hours) so I have them shipped there and then just pick them up.

Aren’t they cute?

We also decided on the girls’ walls – Auntie Ena is going to do 2 foot high Matryoshka dolls all along one wall.

They will be in traditional costumes from a variety of countries – I’m sure the girls will want some from Ethiopia, as well as China, Lesotho, Swaziland and other countries they have friends from.

Sugar would like me to add that they will not be “all pink-skinned like these ones – they will have brown skins too!”

It will be so cute!

BTW, our new guy will have the girls’ current bedroom downstairs – they are taking over the guest room.