Family Yoga at Hot Yoga on 20th

Starting October 9th, a family class is going to be offered at Hot Yoga on 20th!


I will teach the class in Hot Yoga's (unheated) studio 2 every Sunday from 10:00-10:45 a.m. It will be a drop-in karma class for children (ages 3-7) with a parent/guardian. We're asking a $5 minimum donation per family, with all proceeds going to a local children's organization each month.
(What does the cow say? MOOOOOO!!!!!)

Little Yogi classes will incorporate books, games, yoga cards and will be very interactive. The focus is always on having fun while learning yoga poses.
(What does the cat say? MEEOOOOWWWW!)

Ladybird Animal Sanctuary 2012 Calendar

Back in July, the Hot Yoga on 20th newsletter had a link to a photo contest for the Ladybird Animal Sanctuary. On the last day before entries were due our family went into the backyard and had some fun with some yoga poses along with Ollie (that dog has the most amazing downward and upward dogs!). We just learned that one of our submissions was selected for the 2012 calendar - whoo hoo!!! Here's the winning photo.


Here are a few others from that day...

Finnegan showing Ollie his downdog.

Both Ollie and Finnegan doing some pretty nice cobras.

My attempt at a bridge.

Tree pose - Ollie wasn't too interested in this one.

Keira's Warrior II

Keira's Star Pose

I'm not sure this one has a name (maybe jelly legs) - good fun whatever you call it!

Check out the full Ladybird Animal Sanctuary calendar when it become available.

What Women Want

Check out the new Momentum Magazine that is online. The one and only time I've managed to get over to the skate park this year (needed to keep my skills honed!!!! ...actually I just had drop into the bowl at least once so I wouldn't lose my nerve) ...

landed me a photo in the September digital edition (check out page 35B).

To the Post Office

Months have passed and I've slacked off on the posting....though I have no end of the photos that have been taken - just haven't made the time to get them on this blog. So enough's enough already! Here are a couple pictures from today.

Here we are heading off to the post office. Long overdue to little Kira in the Northwest Territories!!!

Amazingly warm day again today. I am enjoying these hots days as the snow will be here soon enough.

When we got back home I was feeling kinda zonked and had a rest. I had told Keira I would take her out for a bike ride in just a bit. Tim found her drawing with pen and ink at the table, with as you can see, helmet and gloves on, ready to do at a seconds notice.

May Kidical Mass

Saskatoon's first Kidical Mass of the year was held on Saturday May 21st. Wow! What a turnout! Probably about 70 or so kids and adults participating.

Tim already did a great job posting photos and snippets from the ride, so check it out here on Tim's Bike Blog! I rode on the new Dahon Mu Uno that I won when I bought Tim a lifetime subscription to Momentum Magazine.

On a separate note, here's a photo of me and the kids on the yuba. I'm totally sold on this bike. Here we are heading to the University. It is so much easier riding with them on the back than pulling the big "bike train" and it seems way safer.

Walking for Alivia

Today we participated in the Great Strides Walk to help raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Canada. So many generous donations were made by family, friends and colleagues - our "Walking for Alivia" team raised a total of $1,120 for Cystic Fibrosis Canada and the Saskatoon walk raised over $37,000! I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for your fantastic support!!!

Keira and Finnegan excited for the 2.8 km walk!

Last but certainly not least, we made it to the finish line! Here they are showing off their Great Strides Walk tattoos on their hands.

Thanks again very much to everyone who donated to our team to support Cystic Fibrosis Canada!

Grebe on the River

One of the days in the last couple weeks while riding home across one of the bridges, I saw a grebe out of the water.

My birding skills have waned over the past few years so I have no idea from this distance what exactly it might be, other than a grebe - which onto itself I thought was pretty cool.

Vesnianka Final Performance

Finnegan's Vesnianka final performance was held on Thursday May 18th, the day after the UofS School of Dance performance (these last couple weeks have been crazy with rehersals and final performances). I love this photo (credit to Tim) - I think it's amazaing!

Here's Finnegan during the Poltava dance (I've probably spelled that wrong?).

Here's one of their Hutzal dance. (Photo credit here to Tim)

On stage for some final remarks and awards to some of the older students who will be leaving as of this year.

Here's the entire Venianka group of students. Vitali sure provides an amazing program for these kids.

Pirate's Search

The UofS School of Dance year-end performances were spread over two days; with Finnegan dancing on Wednesday May 17th. Unfortunately due to a possible teacher's strike the School of Dance had been advised to find an alternate venue for the final shows. The dances ended up being at the PAC which wasn't as good the threatre the year before but the show was great none-the-less.

Finnegan and his primary ballet "crew" instructed by Miss Sonja danced the "Pirate's Search". Ya-har maties!!! (The credit for the excellent photo goes to Tim as I didn't manage to get my camera out during the performance. This photo was actually taken at the dress rehersal the night before.)

Dance of the Seasons

The University of Saskatchewan School of Dance had a final performance for all the young children on Sunday May 15th. Keira's creative dance class instructed by Miss Tina performed the "Dance of the Seasons". Keira was one of the spring dancers.

This little girl loves to dance! She is very excited that Miss Sonja (Finnegan's ballet teacher) has given the OK for her to start the pre-primary ballet class in the fall. Photo credit on this one goes to Tim.

Happy Birthday Keira

Keira turned ...

5 this May!

We headed to the Saskatoon Zoo in the afternoon and met up with a few families to visit the animals.

Afterwards, we had supper in the zoo and then headed to the park outside the zoo (still in the Forestry Farm) to gather and play with some more friends.

Then to sing "Happy Birthday" and share some tasty tasty upcakes and ice cream.

Keira received a few more 'groovy girls' from Nana for her birthday. She has eight in the collection now - as you can see they are close to overtaking the bed but she doesn't seem to mind too much.

Saskatoon Suzuki Strings Final Concert

The Saskatoon Suzuki Strings Final Concert for the year was on May 8th - so I'm somewhat behind with these posts! Live just has a way of passing by...I'm certainly not the blogger I hoped I might be :) Anyway here are a few pictures from the concert. This was after our family had been to see Riverdance at TCU Place. It finished up at 3 pm and then we all scurried over to the Odeon for the concert and fundraising dinner. We shared the table with Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie Margie and the Kwon family - it was a good, fun day.

Here are all the violinists up on stage.

I think this little guy in front is even younger than Keira and wow can he ever play!

Looks like a good smile on Finnegan!

Here's Keira and Aura playing along as well.

One of the few songs where Keira was facing in the same direction as the other children.

We had no idea what happened but at some point Keira turned around and was playing in the opposite direction - not watching the instructor and staring at one of the other girls.

What was with that?!?!?!?!?

As Keira explained afterwards, Anika had her hair up in braids with some flowers in with the braids and Keira was quite mesmerized by it - literally!

Keira and Finnegan with their good friend, Aura.

Zebra under the Bridge

I think the title of the post says it all. I thought this was really cool and for a few weeks now have been enjoying seeing it under the bridge as I pass to and from work.

Nice thing about riding (and sometimes) bringing a camera with you. Actually the first day I saw it, I didn't have a camera with me and of course wished I had....so the next day I brought it specifically to click a picture.

Big 4-0

So on Thursday last week I hit the big "4-0". I had an awesome day - thanks to Tim and the kids, family and friends.

I took the day off work, so you know it's off to a good start! That and I received two super new paintings to hang up at work.

Finnegan's is a water dragon.

Keira painted the Firebird's crown.

I went to the morning class at Hot Yoga on 20th and had an excellent class (especially since I haven't actually practiced in about 3 weeks!). It was the first time in over a year that I was actually able to sit down in fixed firm pose (albeit still pretty uncomfortable). I'll have to thank Dallas for the sore abs and I do wonder if others sometimes feel the effects the next morning from the classes that I teach? When I had been regularly practicing, I was always feeling great the next day but for about two days after my birthday I sure felt the areas that have not been worked lately!

After lunch, the four of us headed to the Saskatoon Zoo. It's a pretty small place by zoo standards but I like the fact that most of the animals that are housed there are either orphans or are wildlife that have been injured. There are some non-native animals (like the lions!) but for the most part many of the animals are fairly regional.

All along the paths set up for Earth Day were questions about the environment and saving energy. Finnegan read them to us as we visited the animals.

The kids had a good laugh from this swan that was bobbing for something tasty at the bottom of the pond.

Lots of new babies out at this time of year.

We had dinner at Alexander's and then headed home for cupcakes to share with Tim's parents who were supposed to be coming over at 6:30 pm to join us. Originally the plan had been for Tim and I to go out to a movie but with his folks in the process of moving that idea had been cancelled as they were pretty busy (and tired) with the move.

When we arrived home, Keira announced that she "Really had to go pee" so that I would quickly take her into the house. I had a moment's panic as our door was not locked and the alarm didn't seem to be on. Moments later I realized that our house was full of friend's waiting for our arrival with a big surprise party!

Truly a great surprise and I'm so glad that many people stopped by with their birthday wishes and to share the cupcakes and ice cream. We had the best birthday cupcakes you could imagine!

And a pretty nice Bicycle Smile birthday t-shirt too! So far not much different being 40. A few more gray hairs perhaps but nothing that I quick (well 3 hour) trip to Sunday Morning Spa and Salon couldn't fix. Yes - that is purple you see and my daughter didn't paint it on with cool-aid!