Love this quote!!!!

The silver lining in going to school and reading journal article after journal article after journal article is that every once and a while you come across a quote that jumps right into your lap and stays for a visit. I had one of those moments recently and so I thought I'd share the quote with you.

"The mastery of any skill - whether a routine daily task or a highly refined talent - depends on the ability to perform it unconsciously with speed and accuracy while consciously carrying on other brain functions."

Benjamin Bloom (1986)

So for all you moms who feel like a broken record in asking your kids to perform tasks you think they should be doing with out prompts just remember that you are helping them to master skill which need lots and lots of practice to make them become automatic and that doesn't happen over night. Practice isn't usually fun but it is necessary to change our "effortful" tasks into "uneffortful" automatic responses that allows us to move onto developing in other ways as well. So every time you ask one more time to pick up their toys or put something away, be glad that you have a hand in helping them to develop that skill.

Catch up

Yep. It's true what they say, when you get a little down time that's when the flu bug hits...Its soooo nice when its gone.

Really I wanted to catch you up on the results of the last entry. I did do better than the first test in that class. I raised my mark by 17% over the first one. Now the results are inconclusive as to why I did better the second time.

I have been working on a couple of projects though....

This is a book purse...Yes, once it sat on the shelves of the local public library and now it wanders the city slung over my arm. What a fun way to reuse hard covered books.

These beauties are made out of placemats... cool little totes. The green handles are made of ribbon and the brown handles are from an old belt. I love recycling....

Funny thing happened on the way to the Opera....

Not that we should enjoy someone else’s misfortunes, but every once and a while it’s nice to be reminded that we are all human with off days. I went to write my quiz today and was feeling a little bit stressed. Sat down, got out my pens and was mentally preparing as the papers were being past down the row and then it happened…they stopped at the person before me and there wasn’t one for me.

So I got up and left.

 

Just kidding!

I had to wait 15 minutes while the Professor made a phone call and someone came to make photocopies and bring them back. It reminded me that we all have bad days when things just don’t go right and we do the best we can with what we’ve got. It did end up being a bit of a stress relief as 12 of us sat in the hallway chatting as we waited for more tests to come….blessing in disguise? I’ll let you know when I get the mark back…

This Is Exciting!!!

I just got off Skype with Toshina, Brian and Maren and Maren is walking! Took her first steps today. Hope Toshina gets it on video and puts it on facebook to show you...Or maybe you should Skype them and see for yourself!!!

For Sisters Far Far Away....

I asked Toshina's permission to blog about the youngest member of our family so that specifically Heidi and Mishel who are on opposite sides of the country could see their youngest niece. I love the squishy face smile.

I love the clicking of the tongue. That is how she gets your attention (well that's what she was doing at the end of August..she may be on to bigger and better things such as "hi" now). As you will see in the next little clip. Maren is in front of the boxes before moving day. Her mom came to the rescue to get her to crawl for me.

Enjoy!!

Catching Up

So I thought I would update multiple things within one post.

First – for May and June I signed up for art classes. Something fun to do that will help me to gain some talent...here’s a few pictures of what I learned.

The 1st class was on basic drawing – shading. Check out that egg!

Second week we drew a bee...shading to make things rounded.

Third week was colored pencils and because that was my LEAST favourite there is no picture from that week.

Four week I missed because I was in Montreal

2nd class I signed up for was on perspectives. It was four weeks as well doing one-point, 2 point, 3 point and shortening. Here are the pictures that I finished (somewhat).

Maybe next time I’ll post my superman drawing...

So I mentioned I went to Montreal. I went there to present a paper with the Professor I work for and the other research assistant that works for the same Prof. It was at Concordia University. The conference took up most of the time with dinners and mingling that we didn’t get to go touring very far from the university. Next time I go to Montreal I hope to see Old Montreal but the shopping on Saint Catharine Street was plentiful. We stayed at the Gray Nun Residency which has an interesting history dating back into the early 1800’s. Smelled the forest fires in the middle of the night which I didn’t know were happening and so consequentially thought the building was on fire!

In June I also got to attend the Ballet with Toshina in Toronto. Grannie Annie babysat so that Toshina and I could go while Brian had to work. We came home to find out who was really in charge while we were gone...

That girl sure had Grannies arm in a twist and chomped on that thumb to show her who's boss. The love of a grandmother!

We also took that cute little girl to fireworks on July 1st. After she woke up and we covered her ears from the big booms, her eyes were as wide as saucers. Loved it!

So that is the big update...

The Parent's Spring Ballet

In life we look for those little moments of joy from seeing something beautiful. Most times, at least in my life, these moments come when they are least expected or sought after.

Well I was able to capture one of those moments of joy on camera in a series of shots that I'd love to share with you. Of course I'm not a professional and I'll never have a gallery show but I'm calling these pictures "The Parent's Spring Ballet".

Well maybe it really should be called the "Death of the Dandielion Ballet" but you can't see any dandilions in the pictures so...

While these pictures were being taken, my parents were unaware that I was capturing their movements on camera but that is what makes it precious because it is authentic.

So I'm just so proud of their cooperation, symmetry and flexiblity.