First Quarter 2015

Hard to believe we are one fourth of the way through the year already!  It's been an interesting first quarter to say the least.  Major surgery had me down for a good chunk of time.  It was a long recovery, but I'm glad to say that it finally feels like distant memory.  I'm so grateful for good health and moving forward!  Despite the life interruption I did manage to capture a few of the year's highlights thus far.  

 Trevon's baptism in January was a really special day.  While we missed the presence of family, we were joined by so many lovely friends.

 Mother's Day this year was a real treat.  I was truly spoiled by my wonderful husband.  He treated the whole family to a wonderful special afternoon tea at the Royal Opera House.  It was a magical afternoon of good food, music, a spectacular setting, and sharing it all with the ones I love most.

 Madeleine has spent the better part of quarter one in rehearsals for the whole school production of Oliver!  It has consumed her life since Christmas, well all of us really, but it has been an incredible experience.  Madeleine played the part of an orphan child as well as a role in Fagin's Gang.  Last night was opening night, and it was just amazing!  As Dallin put it, a "proper good" show!  Amazed by the level of quality of this production.  So glad she was able to participate.  And sitting there watching I was a bit taken off guard by my own daughter, how grown up and poised she is!

Crete

You win some, you lose some.  Just have to call this one mostly a loss.  Despite what this first photo might betray, our trip to Crete was quite literally a total wash out.  We arrived to brisk windy conditions  that gave us a few hours of sunshine and blue skies, but it quickly gave way to heavy rain clouds.  It was nonstop torrential rain with a healthy dose of gales for literally 5 days straight, day and night.  We tried to get out and see a few things, but for a few days we had no choice but just to stay put holing ourselves up in our not-so winterised villa.  Gratefully we were traveling with our good friends again, so we passed the days playing games, watching movies, reading and doing puzzles.  But as for sunshiny Greece, I call a do-over!

 One of two moments we saw sky the entire week . . .

 Hanging around the villa . . .

 The "heated" pool that couldn't keep warm, but didn't stop these polar bears . . .

 Opa!  Don't worry, those are water shots!

 More games . . .

 More freezing dips . . .

 Squeegeeing the marble patio . . . and making mini homemade ice-lollies

 Ringing in the new year on the roof, in the freezing cold in a tiny village in northern Crete . . . as you do.

 Celebrating Trevon's 8th birthday . . .

 Complete with a custom-ordered cake from a local bakery!

 Birthday night swim . . .

 The nearly 4000 year-old ancient palace of Knossos.  Neat to see, despite the rain . . .

 The rainclouds gave way to blue skies just for a moment on our visit to Iraklion for lunch . . .

 Empty streets and squares of Iraklion . . . we were one of two sets of tourists in the entire city that day!

 A happy restful lunch at the Green Eye in Iraklion

 Not photographed (but felt!): torrential downpour!

 Poseidon breaking the banks!

 A rainy stroll through our sleepy village, Maroula . . .

 A lovely visit to the Arkadi Monastery, really beautiful . . .

 A drive to the south side of the island, yep windy and rainy there too . . .

Our finale Greek meal in Rethmynon.  Crete, it was real.