We all March on.

 Things went well with the surgeon.  The prognosis is very good.  The cancer is small.  The surgeon expects the surgery will take about an hour.  Her surgery will be at the end of October.  So she'll still be able to come to visit in a week and a half.

Oddly enough, my dad is having surgery on the same day.  His is much more complex and will take a lot longer.   

I went back to the dentist for my cleaning and crown installation.  The cleaning was fine.  Surprisingly, there were no glaring issues.  The crown wasn't quite right.  It needed to be about a millimeter longer.  So it got sent back to the lab.  It was supposed to e ready on Thursday, but the lab was running behind, so I'm going back on Tuesday.

Bertram's first soccer lesson wasn't great.  He spent a lot of time complaining.  But the lessons have gotten progressively better.  I think he would be good on a running team.  I may need to try to find one.  I signed him up for some yoga/mindfulness classes.  He didn't like it at all.  But he has three more, because I already paid for them.   

Bron had a cough, starting last Saturday.  So she was out of school on Monday and Tuesday.  She still has a lingering cough, but no more fever, and she's not feeling poorly anymore.

Bron had her first ballet/tap class last week.  She really likes it.  She isn't meant to be a dancer, but that's ok.  She's not the best listener.  

Aaron was going to go on the cub scout campout with Bronwyn, and possibly Bertram.  But it's while my mom is here.  Apparently, he said I was going to go too.  When he told me, I asked if he was joking.  I do not camp.  I like being outside, but at the end of the day I want my bed, and indoor plumbing.  They might not be going.  I'm not sure if they'll go.  I won't be going.

I donated whole blood last Sunday.  Nothing too interesting about that.  It went fine, without issue.

On Monday, I'm going to Rosh Hashana services with my dad.  I'm thinking about Judaism again.  I'm not too interested in organized religion in general, but I want to have somewhere to hang my hat, so to speak.

I can't think of much else for now.  Here are pictures from the last week or so.

Playing chess, and acorns.

On a hike

Reading after school

Ready for her first dance class

I can't remember where we were going.  He was all dressed as a Pokémon trainer.

First week of soccer.

When she wasn't feeling well.

Bertram had to do another self portrait.  He had to bring this one home as well.  But he persevered, and did the assignment without much complaining.  His perfectionism came into play a bit, but not nearly as bad as the first portrait.

He drew this hedgehog.  It might be my favourite drawing of his.

How has it been two months?!  I can't remember everything, so I'll go through pictures.

 

I went on a bit of a macaron kick.  It's awesome when they turn out, and frustrating when they don't.  I've made a few batches and only have a 50% success rate. I made a pistachio batch that was really good.  They are tricky, time consuming, and fussy cookies, but so yummy.  One issue is the use only egg whites.  I have not had success with boxed egg whites, so I end up with  left over yolks, and thus far, I am not a good custard/pudding maker.  I need more practice.

I counted (not including the macarons) I think I made something like 360 cookies for Christmas.  I made grandma's Christmas cookies, which I didn't take a picture of, for some reason.  I made the gingerbread pictured above.  It actually tasted good, unlike all the gingerbread I've had previously.  My piping needs work, but I enjoy the practice when I can get it.  I also made cookies for my dad and FIL for gifts.  I think I did chocolate chip, a short bread type and peanut butter.

Christmas Eve

Christmas day. I really didn't take a lot of pictures this year.  We all had matching PJs.  Kids got too many things, but lots of books, which I can get behind.  We had a nice dinner with the extended family.  It was kind of weird.  The holidays went by fast, and didn't see as fun, I think because we didn't have Grandma.  I'm still not sure I've acclimated to the new normal.

We went up to the Legion of Honor with my dad to see the Tissot exhibit.  We left Bron with Aaron's mom.  Bertram had a good enough time.  I really try to expose him to as much as possible, even though he hates it.  

The kids both got new scooters.  They both need more practice.

We went to the mall on New Years Eve day.  They did a Noon-years eve.  So we watched the balloons come down.

Bron got some necklaces.  She really likes them.

We went to the library for Music and Movement, but it was cancelled that day.  So they just played.

Bertram got a Giant Bubble maker for Christmas.  They both really enjoyed that.  I need to buy some more of that solution, and bottle it when we're done, so we don't waste it.

We went to the Aquarium on the last day of Christmas break.  Aaron took the day off.  It was a Monday (because we restarted on a Tuesday, for some reason).  So it was fairly empty.  I got Bertram's (blurry) picture with the scuba diver.  The octopus was moving around, which is always neat.

I signed Bron up for a parent and me ballet class.  She really likes it, but definitely follows her own rhythm.  

Bron got a tea set for Christmas.  She really likes it.

Bertram has lost two teeth!  

Playing

It's 100 day at school this week.  We glued 100 eyeballs.  

Bertram has Pinewood Derby today for scouts.  This is the evaluation of the car.  I did all the painting, but Bertie did the design.  

Bertram played a "prank" at school on Friday.  I'm not entirely sure how it was supposed to be a prank.  He cut the hole, and said it was an accident, the joke (I guess) was that it was on purpose.  I'm a bit bummed, I really liked that shirt.

We got these cool "high" chairs from Ikea yesterday.  They are like normal chairs, but tall.  And they're some kind of firm plastic, so I can clean it easily.

And lastly, the most exciting (and secret) thing: WE'RE GOING TO DISNEYLAND!  I had been looking at prices, and we have decent savings (and taxes will be in soon).  Bertram has been wanting to go for probably 2 years.  We're going to surprise him on his birthday, and then we'll go over Spring break.