Ice Cream And Heartache

J was the only happy person in our house tonight...AndreaClaire came over to watch the hockey game with us and it was dismal...

And now our city is on fire.

Pink Bag

I got this bag as part of one of those promotions where you buy a special offer and get coupons. The catch is going back to redeem the coupons during the [small] window they're valid. It was a good deal. It was a company I shop at and have for years (I even shopped there when I lived in London) and all of the products are ones I'll use! Yay me! And this bag? It's perfect for our swimming stuff!

Tinkerbell

Birthday goody bags are way fancier than when I was a kid. This Pez dispenser is just one of the many little goodies J received at the party yesterday. Other loot included an Etch-A-Sketch (with a pen, not knobs), a skipping rope, other goodies, a butterfly mask, silly bands and I can't remember what else! Tink looks a little grouchy, hey?

Power Nap And Trampoline And Vanilla Yogurt

We had a busy day today - J's cousin had her third birthday party this afternoon. And it started during J's nap time. And it was a 45 minute drive away. So, I made J lie down early for her nap...which usually doesn't work.

But today it did. When I came in to wake her up, I found her on top of her caterpillar, asleep on the floor.

She had a great time at the party, especially when she discovered the trampoline and daddy agreed to be her trampoline buddy. She waited patiently for her turn. There were a lot of bigger kids who go to go first. She really didn't want to leave.

But it was worth it...after the party, we were going to visit my aunt and uncle. It turned out the party went longer than I thought it would, so we were going to grab a bite to eat, then pop in for a quick hello before rushing home, but instead we got ourselves a dinner invitation. And what a dinner it was (sorry no pictures): my uncle's friends brought over homemade manicotti, there were HUGE, butterflied garlic prawns, some lovely salmon and to J's absolute delight, thick, vanilla Greek yogurt with berries and apple strudel and cookies. I think J ate almost all the berries and pretty much all the yogurt herself.

What a great day!

Elephant Rider

We had dinner with Fiona and Jess tonight and after dinner we wandered down the street to the park. J had a great time - this elephant was definitely her friend. On the way home, she wanted to know if we could move there to be close to Fiona's park. Because it's fun. [Side note: Hanging out with F&J in their neighbourhood made me yearn for a house with a yard even more! I love their neighbourhood!]

Boo Boston

J has figured out that we don't want Boston to win the Stanley Cup (sort of...I don't think she understands the concept of the Stanley Cup yet). Tonight after the game, she stood at her bedroom window and yelled "GO CANCUKS!" and "BOO BOSTON!" to all the fans wandering past our building after the game. She's hooked...Canucks' fan for life!

Ready For The Day

J is ready for daycare, eight pony tails and all!

New Favourite Place

J's new favourite place seems to be the deck. Whenever I can't find her in the house, this is where she is. I can't wait to one day have a yard so that she can play outside properly while I make dinner!

Prepared

Alex brought the fans up from the basement...because we know the warm weather will be here soon!

Buzzing Downtown

I don't know what this picture is supposed to be. I took it. I know. I should know what it is. I just know that it was taken downtown around one o'clock and downtown was already buzzing in anticipation of tonight's hockey game...

Deck Rider

Our deck isn't at all big enough to ride a bike on, but J was anxious to get started before we left for our walk/bike ride...she loves her new bike!

Party Clothes

We're off to another birthday party today and J picked her special summer party clothes herself. I love the little shirt the most!

Too Many Choices

J and I went to the park and for a walk along the seawall after dinner tonight and I just couldn't decide which picture to choose.

J at the top of the big slide - she loved to sit at the top and bang her feet really loud to get everyone's attention before zooming down the slide with her crazy hair flying behind her.

The new almost roof on BC Place

The pond beside Charleson Park...it totally reminds me of the ponds in Hampstead Heath. Different but the same to this girl who misses her other home...

Doubly Connected

We're trying out a different internet provider's internet service...so, for the time being, we have two routers in our house...and one computer. Makes total sense. Doesn't it?

Giant Leaf

Alex has been working some day shifts lately which means he finishes work around 7:00. We have been trying to meet him on his walk home. J and I don't get very far, very quickly because we have to stop and check out all the leaves and trees and dirt and cars.

Water Doodle

I don't know what this thing is called, just that it is a blank sheet for J to write on with a special pen filled with water. I love it...it's so hard to make a mess with and it's safe for travelling. We took it on the plane with us at Christmas and it was perfect!

Slow Loading

I've started loading songs onto this baby...it's taking forever...and we have hundreds of CDs...sigh...I keep telling myself it will all be worth it!

Max is 3!

Today marks the beginning of birthday season...I think we have a birthday party a week for the next few weeks. I loved this cake because it was perfect for Max, yet it was so simple as well!

I'm A Big Girl Now

My parents stopped by today with something new and special for Miss J...a big girl bed! It originally belonged to one of J's aunties and the bedding was mine, so she felt super special to have our old stuff (I'm so glad my kid is happy to have hand-me-downs!)

Melon Mouth

Scooting

Daycare has some pretty cool toys that sometimes we get to borrow. J was one happy kid tonight!

Stanchion

I should probably be wishing Alex a happy birthday, but instead, all the talk today is about the stanchion.

Go Canucks Go!

She Dressed Herself

Victoria Day Migraine Cure

Blerg...that's all.

New (Motor)bike

J got this bike from her grandparents this weekend. She loves it and calls it her motorbike.

Stop!

Cupboard Dweller

Here's J with her many pony tails before we left this morning. That's "her" cupboard and she's in the gates. Just ask her.

Swooping Sidewalk

Evening Wander

J and I have been going for walks in the evenings before bed time. I think she covers three times as much ground as I do, but she has a great time!

The Courilof Affair

My Toes Are Sticking OUT!

See down in the lower left corner? That's a toe or two. J is a little too long for her blanket these days and we often wake up to a yell in the middle of the night because her toes are sticking out. Time for a new blanket!

Fruit Salad

We were out of town last weekend for Mother's Day so we had Alex's mom and grandma (and his dad too) over for brunch this morning. I made a fruit salad to go with our lovely baked French toast with blueberries. I LOVE this bowl. It's one of my favourite dishes.

Holey Mattress

I was digging around in J's closet for something (and it's full) and I found this. It has had a hole in it since I lived in the Hobbit Hole, but for some unknown reason it has continued to live with us...for over five years. It left our house today. For good.

Little Skype-er

One of J's favourite things to do is to talk to my mom and dad on the computer. That cup has water in it. No coffee for munchkin (you can see it in action here as a smoothie cup)

The Best Word Book Ever

Stand Up And Be Counted

Last time I had to do the census, I got the long form. This time we had the short form and it was all online...very quick and easy.

Gift From J

Mother's Day Card

Loader Driver

J loves her big machines...Uncle Mike made J the happiest girl in town and took her for a ride this afternoon. Between cement mixers last weekend and a loader this weekend we're not sure what to do with J next weekend!

Edited to add: See here for a full recap of the loader adventure.

Learning How To Make Pizza

Grandpas are the very best...Bop showed J how to make pizza dough tonight. And then we had delicious pizza for dinner...yum!

There, There

J and Uncle Sammy have been buddies since she first started visiting Kelowna. This year she's taller than him and she went right over to say hello.

The Sticker Chart

This is THE chart that is helping to keep J in her bed...see the smiley faces and stars?

Bathing Beauty?

I went in to check J before I went to bed tonight and discovered she was asleep in her bathing suit. She definitely had pjs on when I put her to bed! I'm not sure how comfortable that's going to be, but I guess I'll find out in the morning...

Stars

The stars are part of the staying in bed tactics

...if J gets a whole row of smiley faces, she gets a star. Eventually she will get a trip to the aquarium...

Happy Faces

Sleep has been an huge issue at our house recently...so these stickers are part of the solution. J gets one if she stays in her bed all night. She is great when she finally goes to sleep, it's getting to that point that is difficult!

Tube Slide

J loves going to the "big" park. It's a bit of a walk from our house but there are lots of slides and swings and climbers.