It's been a while since I blogged again. I'm just too busy to get to it these days. And I'm not bringing the camera along as much as I used to. I think it might be the weight of four years of pictures I need to get printed and albumed hanging over me...

Anyway, I think this beach day was Easter Monday? It seems so long ago...I'll try and get these pictures on Facebook in real size format, but for now, here's a collage. Mum, don't look at what time this album was posted. No wonder I'm exhausted and accident prone. But I had to keep playing SSX3 until I beat Andrew. And then I remembered the pictures...

Last Wednesday, Davey was sick. While he recovered from the barfs, me and Tink played dress up. She really got into it.


Spring is officially here! Everything is sprouting but the watermelon! Tomorrow our dirt delivery will arrive and I can start with the outdoor veggie garden. For now, here's what the indoor one looked like as of last week. The sprouts are HUGE now. And we've even got tomato sprouts, though my dad assures me I'll be lucky if I have tomatoes by Christmas. I guess I'll buy some more mature plants just to play it safe...

And my big boy. I'm sure liking four. It's such a helpful age. And he loves learning. I taught him how to spell his name (first and last) in about half an hour. He reads everything, including the little signs on sky train windows. Though, by read, I mean recognizes the letters and we say them together. With help he can sound out words, but we haven't tried to get that far yet. He can count and read prices. And today the kids had to come to work with me. He helped unload the station wagon and carry boxes of caps into the room where we were setting up for cap and gown distribution. He's such a great kid!

Tinker Walks!

Splash 2007: Part Two

This is from last Sunday. If you're in BC you'd know for sure since it was gorgeous last weekend and today it is pouring like it could only have done in Noah's Day and here.

Andrew decided to get the play house covered before the monsoons started. Tinker helped.

And bossed everyone around.

I'm impressed with my husband. I think he must know how to do everything. Look at those roof trusses!

Meanwhile, I was in the kitchen with Neerje and Christina from work (and Dave, Christina's fiance). We learned how to make butter chicken. Dave and Alexis were there too.

Meanwhile, Elisabeth watched Indian dance music. She was completely absorbed in it!

And the house. We still need to put the monkey-bar thing on and one more ladder. But for now it's great for the kids to play on.

We had guests at our house for ten days. On Wednesday morning they left and to distract the kids from their sorrow, we painted Easter Eggs. I looked up some hints online and saw that you could marble eggs by mixing oil in with the dye , vinegar and water. I wasn't super impressed with the results, but we had fun.

Crayons made for more interesting eggs, and I thought Daveys were the nicest.


Next we went outside to start some of our seeds for our garden. We only planted the ones that we are going to start inside. In the next few weeks I'll make up my mind as to where we're going to have a small patch for potatoes, corn and onions. Tomatoes, Lettuce, and herbs will grow in containers on our balcony. We'll run some watermelon and pumpkins around the perimeter somewhere. And I have another project for the backyard that will involve sunflowers and wood. But that's still in the planning stages...





While we were working, there was a very convincing Mike Holmes impersonator installing a railing on the stairs by mum's house.

And here are our little pots.

Dress up!

On Thursday I spent some time going through old pictures to get some photos printed and framed to hang around our house. I didn't get very far though, for two reasons.

First, the kids wanted to look at pictures with me, so we just concentrated on that.

Second, there were a lot of pictures of them in costume, so they decided they wanted to put their costumes on and have a photo shoot. I happily obliged...

Splash! 2007 Version

Well, We Didn't Go To the Beach

We didn't go to the beach today after all, though it would have been the perfect day to go! But this afternoon we did walk up to the playground and then go for a walk in the forest. I think we made the right choice. We got to see so many signs of spring (ahhhhhhh) and Davey discovered he isn't scared of forests after all! Bonus!

So here is Tink (or Mowgli as I'm going to call her from now on. Doesn't she look like she was raised by a pack of wolves with that hair?)

I told Davey not to get so close to Tink while she was climbing. He responded, "I'm standing here so I can catch her if she falls." ahhh what a sweetheart!

Cute boy. He's holding three dice (what's the plural of dices? Dis??) he found at the park (thus the funny hand positions. He's showing them off for you all!)

Andrew says Tinker looks like a surfer dude here. I said dude was the operative word. Sheesh, someone brush her hair already!


These beautiful flowers were growing (or about to bloom) all through the forest. Andrew says they're Trillium. I seem to remember seeing them in other colours than white when we were in Ontario. Am I imagining that??


Climbing on a stump and waving.


As Davey was climbing up this hill, he suddenly turned to me and said, "Are we at Grossmeuti's?" I only wish.


Back home both kids wanted to play in the pool. Tink was going to slide into the pool but decided Davey should go first.

But he just slid to standing position and walked out of the pool.

So then Tink tried and landed on her butt. COLD!


A Truly Great Day! I hope the sunshine lasts :)

Let's Play Catch (up)!

Okay, this one's for all of you who can't see my facebook pictures...

Andrew booked a couple of days off last week ostensibly to catch up on some of the projects he hasn't had time to work on lately. Thursday dawned bright and rainy. Horribly rainy. So after letting him play in the garage for a few hours, I begged him to come and play with us. We headed to the river (Derby Reach) for some lunch and a bonfire.

It was so wet, we had to hold an umbrella over the fire until we were sure it was burning properly. That's how wet it was...

Mnn, toasted tomatoes. Yummy! Actually, Andrew hates tomatoes and when I ordered his sandwich I forgot to get them to keep them off. So. Burn 'em baby!

Meanwhile, Davey roasted chicken strips over the fire.

The traditional Roll Up the Rim picture.

Unfortunately, Davey was a big, fat, non-winner.

Mnnnnn...cajun-style french fries! Delish!

Tink, the only one who came prepared for the weather!

This is from Saturday. Elisabeth is totally into makeup right now. So when she found a black sharpie decided to give herself a makeover!

On Sunday we met our old neighbors in Stanley Park at the Aquarium.

First stop was the dolphin show.



Bobs and Lolo were performing in the underwater beluga viewing area. We happened to see a song by them last week (on tv) so we actually knew who they were. Very talented. So we were really excited to get to see them in real life. In fact, Davey went right up and introduced himself to Lolo. I think he would have followed her backstage if I hadn't made him come back. But he didn't have to wait long for both of them to come out and the show to start!

Apparently my kids take after their parents. Not much good at dancing. In fact, while all the other kids danced all aroudn them, these two stood like statues...mesmirised by the performers.


And super, duper cute!

The beluga show! Paul and Andrew saved seats for all of us while me and Consuelo watched Bobs and Lolo with the kids. I was very, very glad we weren't in the splash zone! Maybe in August we'd be up for it.

The resident octopus!

And a jellyfish.



A davey in a fishbowl.

And a Rain in a fish tank!



Then the kids played Vets in the play room.





Poisonous frogs.



Starfish!



Paul and Andrew sunning themselves by the fountain!

And the four cute kids :)

This guy was with BC Hydro Powersmart. Hetook a picture with Davey...and then asked us to sign a waiver to use the picture in advertising. Obviously not parents themselves, since most people would ask first, then take pictures!

And on the way home we stopped in West Van for drinks.