The latter half of the week

We're ending the school year in a FRENZY of activity! Unfortunately, David has a cold, but he did insist on being at the year end party at Al Anderson Park. It was pretty low-key and lots of fun.

Paigey, you're adorable! We're gonna miss your snuggliness next year :(

Crazy Jadeybug.
And David pretty much spent the whole day playing in the sand. When it was time to go, he was mad that he hadn't gotten to play in the water park. But it was probably a good thing considering it wasn't all that warm.

The Lyths got a new backyard toy and I am SO jealous (even though we don't really have a flat spot for our own trampoline yet anyway!) I hope they go camping or something this summer so I can sneak over and spend the whole time they're gone bouncing...

Ellie
David doing his best "daddy" impersonation.
Apparently this is my mini me, though I think she's much cuter. Little sweetie.

And since the weekend I'd been forced to cut off all Andrew's hair and my mum's. So I was in the mood to go nuts. Poor Davey was my hapless victim :)

We headed out to Chilliwack this week to visit our friends the Abelmans. David is really into making beaded jewellery lately so we brought some beads with us.

Meanwhile, Elisabeth, Seth and Charlise played outside.

David found a pair of glasses and looked adorable shooting up the neighborhood.

And on the way home the kids played with my sunglasses.

For Father's Day, we let Andrew decide what he wanted to do. He chose the beach (surprise, surprise!) Let me tell you, it was FRIGID! I had layers and towels for everyone but me; I was so sure I'd be fine in two layers of short sleeves and my down vest. Nope! Luckily someone left a bonfire smouldering on the beach and I furtively fed it all afternoon!


Andrew decided it was time to move to the next stage with his castle building so he brought some heavy duty tools. But first, they had to dig up some sand.


Then he showed the kids how to sculpt it.


Elisabeth got too cold around this time, so she came to snuggle under the blankets with me.

While the boys kept carving.

The finished product:


By this time the tide was coming in pretty fast, so the race was on to fortify the house.

Random pictures from lately

Ellie got new glasses!

It's barbeque season!
David and Elisabeth using chalks on their easel.

It's a cat bus!

Kindergarten Fieldtrip to Vancouver Aquarium

I never would have planned for us to make two trips to the aquarium so close together. On the other hand, it was very nice to be able to take our time on one of the trips (with just the family) since the school trip felt really rushed. We pretty much had two hours there, with the dolphin and beluga shows mandatory. Not long, but if you have extra kids it feels like long enough!!

First up was the dolphin show. We got there a few minutes early (since last time I couldn't even see the water, let alone the dolphins!) and had a snack.

Next, we wandered through the dolphin and beluga underwater viewing areas. The kids really liked this exhibit:

Mostly cause the screen changed when they ran their hands on it, not because of anything they were learning!

We ate lunch by the beluga viewing area again. It's a great spot to sit and watch some wildlife!

On Sunday afternoon we decided to go for a walk at Williams Park. David brought his soccer ball and we had a little impromptu game of soccer.

Then, we headed down the Stairs.




I love this part of Williams Park. Little meadows separated from each other by forest glens. So peaceful and beautiful. Just through here you enter the Forest proper and the trail follows a creek.
But before we found the creek, we needed to stop for some soccer and

HUGS!



Finally we walked through the forest and found a little beach along the creek. The boys threw rocks in the water while Elisabeth found a little pool to paddle in.


My fambly :)
On our way back to the car we passed lots of trees with little caves. I thought maybe this would be a cute little fairy hole. David jumped right in and started shooting. *sigh* boys!

As we were walking, we noticed this stair case through the trees. I'd never noticed it before...so we decided we'd better see where it led!



And there were forest creatures! Ents?

And bridges!
As we got deeper and deeper into the forest, I had visions of Hansel and Gretel's predicament!

So I made sure we'd find our way back.

We made our way back through the forest to the bridge. Elisabeth decided to fish off the bridge - time for supper?



Then, in typical little boy style, Mr. Bigger Better had to fish with a tree trunk.


Before we left the park, we had to stop to wade in one more creek. And the heavens cleared and the sun came out and it was just too peaceful here. So we stayed for a while.

The kids found caterpillars. Fake caterpillars.

And threw rocks.

And then we went back up top and played in the playground. The teeter totter (see saw?) was a big hit!

When we got home, it was so nice out that we pulled out the dinosaur pool. Oh dino pool, we've missed you!