The weather has been so odd this spring. Stretches of rainy, miserable weather and then one day of sun. Then days and days and days of rain before we even get one day of sun. So when Saturday dawned sunny and warm, I made my family get up and dressed and we were at the beach by 930 am. I think I've been in withdrawal!

Andrew and Elisabeth walked down the beach while David and hung out by our stuff. When David saw them coming back, he took off towards them.

Awww Davey, I had no idea you liked her so much!

The tide was out when we got to the beach and there seemed to be a lot more tide pools than usual. And there was a lot of activity going on in those puddles! You know the phrase, teeming with life? I know what it means now! This particular pool was covered in sea weed and it was in constant motion with all the crabs, fish, shells etc. that were moving all over the place.


Catching crabs with their shovels.


Perfect!
Oh man, check out how dirty my girl got! She (and Andrew) dug a hole in the dirt until they hit water. Then she proceeded to sit (or lie - belly first) in the hole and play. UGH!

The tide was out so far. From our perspective it looked like it was almost out all the way to the Tsawassen/Point Roberts peninsula. Elisabeth and I decided to see how far our we could walk. See all that beach behind her?


Yeah, it was pretty amazing. And kind of scary too.

Lunch time!

An older lady showed up and plonked herself down near us. The two children were close to David's age and immediately wanted to play with our kids. Yay!



Last year I bought Andrew a book on Sandcastle building. In the book it tells you to scoop out wet dirt and plop it down (hand stacking) the way David is doing below. This process makes the dirt piles really strong because it keeps the water in the dirt.

Then you can use tools to shape the piles however you like.




Unfortunately we had to leave before David and Andrew finished their castle. But you can see the stairs they built - stairs are their specialty!

oh sheesh

I haven't been updating the blog because I thought there was nothing to update with. And then today I emptied the camera and noticed that lots of things have been going on...I'm just dropping the ball...oops!

So, back to when Andrew's parents were here. Grandma made Elisabeth this dress and the kids posed together so we could show off Grandma's handiwork!

I love the jazz hands :)
A couple of days later, David had a friend over. They were playing pretty hard and then David decided he needed war paint. Thank goodness he used washable crayola markers.

And the next day was sports day. They started things off with a wheels parade around the gym. David was really scared to scootering in front of all these people. But he persevered!


The first race...they had to run with water in a dipper and pour it into a 2L bottle. First team to fill up their bottle won.

Team spirit!
Later that week, we had new friends over for dinner...only they brought all the food. Home made Korean and mannnnn was it good!

Chatterbox

This morning, after we dropped David off at school and read with the kindergartners, Elisabeth and I headed to South Surrey to do some birthday present shopping. Have you ever been trapped in a car with a preschooler? No? Well, let me tell you, you're in for some kind of conversation.

With both of my kids, it's almost non-stop chatter and the topics hop faster than I can keep up with them. But I'll try and regurgitate some of Elisabeth's here now:

Me: Ellie, last night I applied for a job at Starbucks. Do you know what that means?
E: No, mama, what does that mean?
Me: That when you come into Starbucks, mama could be working there. I could be the lady that makes your hot chocolate.
E: Oh. I have an idea mama. You can do the dish washing.
Me: ?!

**************************************

Me: So I tried to call Daddy and tell him that we were going to get coffee. I thought he might like to come with us. But he's in a meeting this morning.
E: oh. But mama, what if there's a girl in the meeting? What if he decides to marry the girl?
Me: ?!
E: But don't worry, mama. We'll try and get rid of her for you.

**************************************

E: Do you know what would happen mama, if a wolf came?
Me: No Ellie, what would happen?
E: He would huff and puff and huff and puff and huff and puff. And then he would die because he wouldn't have any breath left.
Me: (well, at least you're not talking about Daddy's next wife anymore...)

**************************************

E: You know what mama?
Me: No Ellie, what?
E: One day, daddy will walk away from that girl and then you can come back.
Me: You mean the girl in the meeting?
E: Uh hunh. One day, daddy will walk away from her. And we'll keep you safe until then and then you can come back.
Me: Okay. Thank you, Tinky.

**************************************

E: Mama?
Me: Yes, Tinky?
E: I wish we were robots.
Me: ?!

**************************************

E: Mama?
Me: Yes Ellie?
E: My shirts keep disappearing. I have almost no shirts left.
Me: Really? Where are they all going?
E: They're at Uncle Dave's house. He takes them and makes them too big. And then he gives them to grandma to wear.
Me: uhhh
E: Mama?
Me: Yes?
E: Do you like Roast Beef?
Me: Yes, Ellie I suppose I do. Do you like Roast Beef?
E: No, mama, it makes me sad. Cause then the roast beef has to die.
Me: Well, do you like chicken?
E: Yes.
Me: But chickens have to die too.
E: Yes, but chickens are naughty. I don't like chickens.
Me: Hunh.

**************************************

E: Oh mama?
Me: Yes, Ellie?
E: I have an idea! I will do chores at Starbucks too. Mine will be to make the coffee and apple juice.
Me: How come you get to make coffee and apple juice and I have to wash the dishes?
E: Because mama, that's your chores.

**************************************

And a few weeks ago, when we were doing our groceries, Elisabeth looked over to where our favorite coffee shop used to be.

E: Mama?
Me: Yes, Ellie?
E: I think we should kill those builder guys and make the BBQ place our coffee shop again.
Me: Uhm, Ellie?
E: Yes, mama?
Me: Killing those builder guys isn't a very good idea. Maybe we could just go across the road to Starbucks some times?
E: Okay mama. Can I have a hot chocolate?

Queen Elizabeth Park and Granville Island

Our last trip, on holiday Monday, was to Queen Elizabeth Park. We'd never been there before but Leona had heard that the park was pretty phenomenal. And it was!


There are some of these growing in a ditch near our house. I've always wondered what on earth they are, but because they look like rhubarb, I call them the giant rhubarb. Turns out, that's what they're called! Leona was fascinated by them too and wanted a pic. So I made her and Andy stand with them for scale. They're pretty neat plants. But not for making giant pies with apparently :(


Hopping across the rocks at the waterfall.

And taking a break on the way up the stairs.

We went inside the Bloedel Conservatory. There were so many amazing kinds of flowers, plants, trees and birds. David really liked these ones.


I really liked the feathers on this bird!

And all the orchids.


All the birdies were pretty cute too.




I was excited to see these plantains. What a crazy flower they grow on!

Then we walked up to the dancing fountain.

And posed at the lookout point.

Then we strolled back down the hill and had a picnic. Last time we were here, I think I was pregnant with David and at a game at Nat Bailey Stadium. Okay, the only other time I've been here....


There was lots of day left, so we headed to Granville Island to stroll around the market.

Where I spotted some fiddleheads. Funny because we'd just been talking about them. I remember trying these when I was about tink's age. In my memory they were delicious. Next spring I'll come back and buy some to try again.

The flower market is my favorite, yet I've never bought anything there. And no, I didn't see any banana plants.


I know most people would be creeped out by these buskers, but they were actually really sweet. And they could sing too!

Then we walked to the docks to check out the house boats. As it turns out, it was a gorgeous afternoon.