Spring Break Part I

Last week was spring break for Isabelle. The start of the week was quiet and the weather cool. Paul was off Monday, we had play dates on Tuesday and Wednesday and mostly stayed close to home.

I wanted to go to Columbia one day (see Part II) which was dictated by the availability of doggie daycare so that was set for Friday. Thursday morning we headed to the dog park to give Maggie a good run so we could leave her home in the afternoon while we went for haircuts. Unfortunately our usual place was booked (I hadn’t counted on all the people getting their hair cut before Easter weekend), so we headed down Woodruff Road. Now, let me assure you that there are no shortage of hair salons here – for men, for women, the spa style salons and the quick, no-appointment needed places. For some reason I decided to take Isabelle to a kid’s place, the first one we came to was Snip Its.

Well, Isabelle must have thought she’d died and gone to heaven. It was bright and cheerful with books and crayons and a movie playing in the waiting area. I wondered if it was all gimmick but was thrilled to see that Isabelle’s stylist had very curly hair,if nothing else, she would know how to deal with Isabelle’s curly locks.

Isabelle played a computer game while she had her hair cut and was rewarded with a prize when the cut was finished.

As you can see below, it was a successful haircut. Isabelle had her hair washed, cut and styled, complete with a new clip. The stylist could tell Isabelle's hair was very dry - partly since she spends a lot of time in the pool and made some shampoo and conditioner recommendations (bye-bye, Johnson's no-more-tears). All in all, it was definitely the best cut she has had in SC and maybe even the best ever.

BeforeAfter

Another Snow Day

As of 8:20pm, Isabelle’s school has been cancelled for Tuesday. So early night here so I can keep her busy tomorrow. Today was a good day, Isabelle was up and dressed to go outside before I could drag myself out of bed. She even got herself yogurt for breakfast! Then we went off to the ball field in the subdivision where everyone was sliding on the berm. After three runs (not even equal to one run down Gorsebrook or Berger Hill), she was wet and cold and ready to go home.

This afternoon she spent quite a while out front with the older girls who were negotiating the rules of engagement for a snow ball fight. Lots of rules – not many snowballs.

She did have her swim lesson this afternoon. All and all we had a pretty tired girl on our hands tonight.

Plans for tomorrow – maybe some baking, maybe a trip to the pool, maybe a trip to the library, maybe Maggie will get to the dog park – it will all depend on the state of the roads.

Snow Day

By 8:30 tonight, Isabelle’s school was listed on the local source for school cancellations. So, after three rainy days, Isabelle, Maggie and I will be home again tomorrow.

Why you ask? Well, this is what the back deck looked like just moments ago.OK, nothing like the winter Nova Scotia has had so far but enough for us to get out the sleds and try to building snowmen!

Lincoln – A Four Year Old’s View

A few weeks ago Isabelle had a long weekend with President’s Day on Monday and a day off on Friday since she didn’t have school cancelled due to snow/ice. On Friday, we went to Charlotte, NC and visited the Discovery Place. A large portion of the building was closed for construction but there was a display about circuses which was apt since we had just seen the circus in Greenville. You could even walk the high wire and go on a trapeze although Isabelle was to small and neither Paul nor I ventured to try it.

President’s Day coincides with Lincoln’s birthday (did you know he was born the same year as Darwin?) and Isabelle learned about Lincoln in school. And it must have stuck, one day we were listening to a radio piece about Lincoln and Darwin and Isabelle piped up that Lincoln stopped slavery. I asked her what slavery was but she didn’t have a grasp of that. She did say that some people wanted slavery and some didn’t. We asked what happened to people who didn’t – she said they had to move away which is an interesting interpretation of secession.

This week she learned about George Washington…now I guess I have to work on some Canadian content…should I start with the alcoholic MacDonald or the occult loving MacKenzie King?

Zing Zang

ZOOM!

We decided to take Isabelle to the circus. As Paul gets into in his post, we know there are many arguments against circuses; however, we felt it was an experience for Isabelle. I was also unsure whether she would like it since, in the past, she has shown an aversion to animals and loud noises. Well, I think she found the animals were at a safe distance and the noise was fun.

Here, for the record are some pictures of what Isabelle saw at the circus:

The Results are in!

I was in two seminars yesterday which convinced me my exhibit would get a bronze or maybe a silver-bronze. As a two frame exhibit, it has gotten a silver but I wasn’t sure how it would do as a single frame.

So, it got a Silver again. I am pleased I didn’t get something lower and not surprised I didn’t get any higher.

MMMMmmmmm, steak

I arrived in Texas with no issues (ok, a little late). It was a great flight with clear skies the whole way. I took a few pictures from the plane, I think this is the Mississippi around Greenville, MS, on the Arkansas border.This is likely all I will get to see of Dallas since the show is actually in Arlington and my days are just packed here.

The stamp show is great – I even have found a few Nova Scotia items for my collection and  some familiar faces. Today I find out how my exhibit did.

Last night a group of us went to dinner – the proposal was steak, the recommendation was Saltgrass. It was perfect – I started with a spinach salad and had Pat’s Ribeye with grilled asparagus. I wasn’t sure if I could eat 12 oz of steak but that wasn’t a problem, it was so good. 

Well, back to the show, I made it to about 1/3 of the dealers yesterday so lots of work today!