Feels like April Fool's Day around these parts!!!

First, we woke up to no power this morning...  AK and I managed just fine to get ready for work / school without power, but it was interesting to explain to her what uses electric power and what uses battery power...  and I must admit it was a relief to come to work and find the generators going as I was in need of a cup of coffee!!!  The outage was island-wide and I do believe it's caused a few issues for businesses today. 

Second, word on the street is that the Cayman government is planning to impose a 10% (!!!) tax on expat workers in Cayman!  No word on when it will become effective but it is a bit surreal to get news like this.  This also involved a suspension of our pension contributions.  I'm not so much opposed to the taxation as I am to the suspension of my pension contributions.

Such is life...  sounds like the power is coming back on, I should be able to cook supper tonight and finish up my laundry!  I was starting to think I'd have to pack dirty clothing for my yoga retreat as I have a couple of loads of laundry to do tonight so I can pack tomorrow.  At least my yoga clothing is clean :)

Annabelle has been really lovely to hang out with lately.  On Sunday, she and Richard and I spent some time out in East End at a beach house that some friends had rented, that had a private pool and beach.  We swam, played in the sun / shade, and then AK crashed in the bedroom and watched some cartoons.  It was a perfect idyllic day, and I look forward to many more of those!

xo

Forgot one little story from last night.  AK and I were at the grocery store and she was hanging on to the basket, pulling on it and swinging it around, and I was getting annoyed and finally said "AK, can you please stop doing that, you're driving me up the wall!" and she pouted and said "I don't want to drive you!!!".  Ha ha!  At least she made me smile and stopped hanging off the basket!!!  

Alright, I'm back!

I know, I know, I've been slacking on the blogging again...  here's a few random things to get us back into the swing of things.

First up, album of photos from England. 

Second up, a photo of AK with bubble wrap.  See the concentration on her face?  Take that times about two hours.  SO.  MUCH.  FUN!!!

And one last story for fun!

  A while ago, I wanted to chat on the phone but AK was a bit ornery.  I just ignored her and called up my parents anyway.  She kept coming into my room and glaring at me, not responding when I asked her if she wanted anything.  She'd shrug her shoulders at me, give me a dirty look and walk away.  Whatever...  Can't give her what she needs if she won't say it out loud, right? 

After a while, I noticed her walking by with the salt shaker.  I was talking with my grandma at that point, and mentioned that to her and said I should probably get off the phone.  What did I find...  but little piles of salt and pepper EVERYWHERE in the apartment!  About three piles in the living room, one in the dining room, one in the hallway...  even one in my bathroom, and she would have had to go past me to get in there, and I did not see anything in her hands!  I asked her why she had done that and she said "well, I asked you for an apple and you didn't hear me".  Ha!  I couldn't even get angry with her as it was so mischevious and she is very rarely naughty.

The best part was when I told my mom about it the next day and her response was "well, she's certainly her mother's daughter!".  Ha!  Guess I'm getting a taste of what it must have been like for my mom :) 

See you soon!  AK has a dermatologist appointment tomorrow as she's had a rashy toe for quite some time, but of course Murphy's Law dictates that the toe has pretty much cleared up now, right? 

AK's ballet recital

Showing off her sash for passing her first level of exams

Flowers from Jess!

My bashful ballerina

AK's first ballet recital was held while I was away in England so unfortunately I had to miss it.  I was able to convince Jess to go to the concert for me and take some video and pictures.  I'm waiting on the video, so will share that once I receive it but I am happy to share these photos with you! 

I'm thrilled that AK enjoyed her first year of ballet lessons and I plan to sign her up in the fall once again. 

First Day of Big Girl School!

Ready for the first day of "big girl" school!

The new classroom

I have SO much to catch up on...  but we'll start with a few stories about AK and her transition to her "Big Girl" classroom at school.  Wee Care has a tradition of moving children up to their new class at the beginning of July so that when September rolls around, they are already familiar with their new classroom and teachers.  The students in each class seem to stay the same, so that helps a lot with the transition.  AK's old teachers worked very hard to get the students ready for the change, and AK was quite excited to make the move.  She helped pick out her outfit for the day and walked very confidently into the room when we got there.  As soon as she saw her friend Marley, she took off and I didn't even get a goodbye!

The kids hang their bags on a hook outside the room and take only their lunch bags into the class.  They also no longer have bathrooms attached to each classroom...  they must go down the hall to use the washroom.  How grown-up!

I had neglected to organize myself well enough to get thank you gifts together for AK's old teachers on her last day in that classroom.  We went shopping last weekend instead and AK helped me do the thank you cards by writing her name in them.  (Yes, she can write her name now!!!  As well as type it on the computer)  She questioned what I was doing while I wrote my words of thanksgiving in the cards, and when I told her, she asked me "Why don't you just send them an email, Mommy?".

Tonight AK asked me to "download Umizoomi for me please, Mommy".  How on earth does she know about downloading???  Guess I'd better learn how to download movies...

As AK was saying her prayers tonight, she thanked God for her new classroom upstairs.  She seems very proud to have moved up to a different classroom.  She also told me that "When I turn 5, Mommy, I go to..." and I prompted "Kidnergarten" and she said "Yes, kidnergarten, what's that, Mommy" and I replied "That's REALLY Big Girl School!" and her eyes got so big, she was so excited! 

Lots of posts coming up hopefully, I need to update on AK's birthday, my trip to England, maybe even my mom's visit?  I need to go back and see what I've put up and what I haven't!!!  xo