Tiny Dancer

Olivia started ballet....sniff.

Tiny Ballerinas.

I took ballet for MANY years and there are days 

I wish I had never quit.

Like today.

She looked so darn sweet

and from all indications, she LOVES it!

Her demi-plies need some work ;)

but she floated on her tippi-toes like a 

perfect little butterfly :)

 

Please don't judge my absence...

I'm not going to recap.

I'm simply going to start.  

Like I have never taken yet another LONG hiatus.  

I'm also not going to promise that there will never be another long pause.

Just had my first trip to LasVegas!

9 girls for the weekend for my sisters bachelorette/birthday.

My favorite night was the night we went to Tao.

Amazing food, fun company and a great club afterwards!

We shopped, ate amazing food, drank expensive margaritas 

and even had a day by the pool. 

My first time away with NO kids.  

I missed them but the 4 days were lovely :)

We had a lovely Easter weekend too!

Ralph took Friday AND Monday off so we finally had a whole weekend together!

Had the family over for dinner 

and Ralph cooked a delicious meal as always!

Jade is growing like a weed!

She is still very much a puppy and likes to get into trouble.

But just like a child, you can't be mad at her when she looks so sweet as she sleeps ;)

We are preparing for another crazy, jam-packed Summer.

Weddings for BLINK, Olivia starts Little Ballerinas,

Hayden starts outdoor Soccer, 

my sister's Wedding Shower is in May and her wedding is in July,

our 3 week trip to Holland and

LOTS of camping and time spent outside.

Come on weather.....WARM UP!!

Mexico 2011!

We were off to the Mayan Riviera for 10 days....WOOT!

(and it was a bonus that we were celebrating 

Henk & Eveline's 40th Wedding Anniversary!)

We stayed at the Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya and I would say that 

it was one of the nicest resorts we have stayed at.  

The buildings were modern, the grounds manicured, 
the Spa was awesome, 

the beach was calm and lovely and white,

and the rooms were BIG with a jetted tub!

Here are some of my favorite pics:

The first 3 days of our vacation were spent on the sunny and beautiful beach!

We fed the iguanas, built sandcastles, played in the water,

collected over 200 seashells, had yummy food
.....and lots of flying gorillas :)

I have very few pictures of Hayden because he spent 

every possible moment in the ocean!

This picture is a miracle because I HATE the water.

I am terrified to have my feet off the ground.

And I am living proof that not everything floats in salt water :)

 Olivia and I stayed close to shore....
she's a land-lover like her mama!

 Then the weather took a turn for the worse. BOO!

Our resort was boarded up and we were "locked" in our rooms

in preparation for Hurricane Rina.

Ralph and I still went to the spa on Wednesday,  
for a couples massage and

a very cool series of water treatment showers,

then we played by the pool until the rain really set in.

Friday was amazing and calm and the weather was AWESOME!!

We spent the WHOLE day on the beach....
and I drank a LOT of Mojitos :)

It was a really great day....even if it was our last :(

   

Then, to top off our great day, we had a special dinner

at the Japanese A la Carte Restaurant....

In spite of our weird weather on Wednesday and Thursday,

and since Rina turned out to be just a tropical storm,

we had a really great time,

and we have the memories (and tans!) to prove it.

What's up?!

Another busy week at the Deters household......but here's some little tid-bits :)

1.. Hayden is much more into building creative things with his Lego these days.  He comes up with some pretty wild stuff with that budding imagination! His latest creation was a Lego man version of himself.....

 

He made special mention of the fact they are BOTH wearing 

a black shirt and brown shorts.....

 

....and blue boxers underneath!!

 

How's that for attention to detail?!  I almost peed my pants whilst

looking at the disproportionate little creation 

by my oh-so proud and smarty-pants son :)

2.. Soccer on Tuesday was.....interesting.  It always looks to me like Hayden isn't really paying attention but he sure gets excited about scoring goals!

3.. I started back to school myself on Tuesday nights.  I am taking DUTCH 100 at UofC.  (Scott, my brother-in-law, is my school-buddy) Our teacher is awesome.  She is funny and interactive and helpful and not condescending when we are trying to speak some difficult words and sentence structures.  I look forward to having some "real" conversations with the Dutch family in my near future.


4.. Hayden got his school photo proofs back today.  Not loving the poses, and he's in a goofy smile phase when he's forced, but feel free to weigh in on your faves!  Especially the grandparents ;)

By the by, I think it looks like they had him doing the Macarena in Image 2.  What is with his hands??  I personally like Image 4 and Image 5.

5.. I am totally undecided as to whether I should do the makeup for my sisters wedding in July, or whether I should relinquish the duties and just be her Matron of Honor.  It's a hard job to leave to someone else, but I don't necessarily want to "work" on her wedding day.

6.. I have purchased my super hot Matron shoes.  Must have dress measurements in soon.  Eek!

7..  We are luck enough to have scooped some tickets from Tessa for Cirque de Soleil on Friday night.....WOO-HOO!  I can't wait to see OVO and give my 2 cents.


8.. This sweet sleeping face equals success for Mommy.....she completed LOADS of piddly little errands today :)

9.. The kids did some chalk art on the driveway today.  Easter eggs.  Weird.  Hayden was practicing patterns so it was super cute all the same.

Just for the record, my daughter did NOT go out in flip-flops and no jacket today.  Only for a photo op and unveiling of their hard work.  She wore leggings and a coat and sensible shoes today.  Unlike her mommy ;)

10. Ralph is sick and now I have a sore throat.  Seriously?!  

 

My thoughts for Thursday!

1..I've missed Blogging. I realize that now.  And I am jumping back in with GUSTO!!

2..Is it possible that Hayden is smarter after only 3 1/2 weeks of Kindy?  His painting/coloring repertoire has expanded significantly, he comes home with a new story every day, and his memory boggles my mind!  Yesterday was the Terry Fox run and Hayden told me Terry's whole story.  And he illustrated it.  Amazing.  

3..Among Hayden's new skills is a love for scissors.  He made art out of Kleenex yesterday.  When I wasn't looking.  He gets his craftiness from his mama ;)

4.. I am trying to find new sunglasses.  I think I tried on 87 pairs yesterday, and kept texting the photos of myself to Ralph for his opinion.  I drove him crazy with the constant buzz of BBM and  I couldn't make a decision to save my soul!  Everything I really thought I liked, he did not.  Too bug-eyed, too tom cruise, too big......Aaarrgghhhhh!! Why does it have to be so difficult?? Do I have an oddly shaped face??  And, after all that, I left with NOTHING.  I need a personal shopping assistant.

5..It is hard to get a photo of all 4 of us these days.  Thanks Megan for snapping one on our camping trip in Elkton Valley!

6..I think my Spring cleaning mode was delayed until Fall.  I am suddenly in the mood to clean and purge and have a GIANT garage sale to get rid of stuff I don't really need.  Today I clean the walls......

7..I am FREAKING OUT!!  3 weeks till Mexico! I need to tape my mouth shut, stop snacking at night and lose 10 pounds.  Ambitious I know.  Please email me a crazy-good cleanse if you have one :)

8.. Does everyone know the children's book the Gruffalo? If you don't, you NEED to own it.  My kids LOVE it.  AND, we found the 1/2 hour movie adaptation (narrated by Helena Bonham Carter) which is extra awesome.

9.. I got a picture of my cats together.  (Bella-left, Gia-right) It's a miracle!  And it's only because they were waiting to be fed :)

10. I LOVE Fall.  I want to go shopping for Fall sweaters and boots and jackets and hats and scarves.  NO SOCKS.  I am really going to enjoy these precious days in the crisp air and lovely warm sunshine. And make an extra trip or two to the park.  With a pumpkin spice latte.  Skinny with no whip :)