GV Zoo

So today I accomplished one of the things on my list of "things to do yet with the Girls". We have 1 month to go, that's it. Seems like we've been having great weather, however it seems like and has been that we get the lousy weather on the weekends and come Monday morning the sun shines bright! Kinda annoying!
After school yesterday I took home 2 of the students with us, in exchange for a night Jade and Sara went to their place when I went on my weekend away.
Last night we went scrapbooking til midnight... it was great fun!
Then today I looked outside and at the weather network to see what we could do today. It was supposed to rain today, but only a 20% chance, so I took that chance after much comtemplating and took the Girls and Elijah to the Zoo today! Jason and Samuel stayed home.
What fun! And it didn't rain one drop on us which I am grateful for and glad that we took that chance and went today! We are running out of time to do the things I want to do yet with the girls.
We saw the Lions and Tigers feeding, we went on the train around the park and on a bus into 2 of the encounters. This zoo is mainly large, wild animals, not small animals one after another in small cages... so the park is huge, but we did great walking around it from encounter to encounter. Check out some of our photos:

and now, It's a Girl!

A long-overdue, well-deserved CONGRATULATIONS is sent out to my friend Jamie and her Family on the birth of their daughter... Calleigh Ann!!! Calleigh was born last night at 2:30 in the morning...
A Girl! That's so fun, Jamie! I bet you are so excited... bless you as you recover after a long go at this, this time 'round.

Look forward to hearing all the details!

It's a Boy!

Congrats to Brian and Korinne on the birth of their son!!! Koby Strom born on May 20, my brother's birthday!
I stole 2 photos off of Korinne's blog for you to see (but chances are you've seen them already b/c you visit her blog too)You look great Korinne!

May Long Weekend

This weekend we were busy (yet again)!
It started right after school on Friday with Jade's birthday party at the pool, continuing at our house for the evening. It was fun!
We dropped off the girls and boys Friday night with my Family so that Jason and I could enjoy one last horrah across the line for some shopping (before Baby comes)... and in "celebration" of Mother's Day, my Birthday, Father's Day and Jason's Birthday. It was a nice time away.
We picked up the kids Sunday evening... and then Monday we headed out to the Vancouver Children's Festival. Our time there began with a show put on by Kenya Alive. They were amazing acrobats from Kenya... a show well worth it! Then we spent the day doing the different activities for the kids. Check out the slide show...

26 Degrees

Last week Tuesday I took the boys to the park after lunch... it was up to 26* that day! The boys bi-passed the park and headed straight for the bushes & walkway around the lake. So I followed... we had a nice little HOT walk and then a short play in the playground before heading home for naps:We ended up going to another park at this lake with KFC for dinner too that day; Jason's idea!

Happy Birthday Matt!

Well, today this young fella turned 25... Happy Birthday little Brother!!Here is Matt 19 years ago (really?)... turning 6!

My Backyard

I got some lovely gifts for Mother's Day and for my upcoming birthday... My Mom and Dad brought over 2 hanging baskets like this (it was on my list)...they are beautiful! Thank you!Jade and Sara had made me a picture and cards for Mother's Day and Elijah did too...as well as a bunch of tulips, 5 of them-one from each of them (Jason, Elijah, Samuel, Jade and Sara). Some other things I rec'd was a Cozy Home Certificate (can't wait to spend it!! thanks Matt) and some snowmen things to add to my Christmas collection...thanks Paul and Carla!

While taking a picture of my hanging basket, I snapped this one of a rhodedendrum (spelling?) for my Saskatchewan Friends! Apparently these aren't in Saskatchewan; well, maybe they are and now this would help you recognize such a bush (and maybe they aren't). Isn't it beautiful?

May Celebrations

Well, this past weekend we celebrated ALL the May Celebrations with my Family. There are a lot! Mother's Day, My Birthday coming up on the 19th, Matt's Birthday on the 20th, Paul's Birthday on the 30th and this year Jade too, her birthday is Wednesday! We do it all at once... here are a few photos, I didn't take many and 2 of them happen to be of the same 3 people, but that's okay:Uncle Matt with SammieTaking a turn blowing out our candles. We sang Happy Birthday twice... first for Jade to have her own turn and then for the three siblingsHow many boyfriends Jade?

Children's Sports Day

Ok, I can't even remember if we've been to this before or not... but this is an amazing FREE event put on by an Early Childhood Organization in town. We spent 3 whole hours at this Sports Day... it was fantastic. Free snacks, free juice boxes, free bottled water, free lunch (Panago Pizza yet)...lots of games for children under age 6 to do. We had a great great time (Alexa, you better try to get to it next year before your kids are too old!).
We ran into many people we knew like Dana and her Girls and then we saw Brian, Korinne and Mercy just in time to enjoy some pizza for lunch together!
Here's a glimpse of our fun:Hula Hoops (Jamie, this photo is for you... FYI everyone out there, apparently Hula Hoops help bring labour on. I know there are a lot of you due soon, so maybe pick up a hoop from the store next time out!)Ronald McDonald, of course!Elijah had to take a full sponge and squeeze it into this cup to fill it up; one of the activites on the field for the kids to do.
Hope you made it there if you were planning on going... it was a beautiful day too!

Elijah then, Samuel now

I put this outfit on Samuel today (an outfit I grabbed at a Kids Swap for $1)... and then searched on here for a picture of Elijah in it, 2 years ago... take a look:Samuel, age 16 months

Elijah, May 2005, age 19 months


When Jason came upstairs today to grab some water during his workday, in the corner of his eye, he thought Wyatt was sitting on my lap b/c of this outfit (however it was never Wyatt's) and b/c Samuel's hair had gel in it today and it quite blonde!

Picnic

Yesterday I took the boys for a picnic near our City Hall. I told them it was near the Fountains, when indeed the fountains weren't even on yet. Jason said that was a good thing, because Samuel would have been in there in a heartbeat. We still enjoyed our PBJ Sandwiches...Samuel looks sooooo big to me in this picturenot the most glamorous shot, but action is good! You can see in the background, that's where some of the fountains usually are. That area behind those brick posts would be water, gradually getting shallower like a beachthis would be filled with water too, where they are running around

Boys will be boys... look at what Samuel is doing, little squirt! Step One:Step Two:Step Three:Step Four was me holding his hand while he walked along this wall, I couldn't take a picture!

Elijah was climbing of course, too, lots and lots which is why Samuel was doing it in the first place! Watching Elijah's every move:
This was our second picnic this week, me and the boys... such beautiful weather here! We're lovin' it!

McHappy Day

On Wednesday Jade stayed at Katie's house (Alexa's) after school to play (Sara gets a turn on Monday), so I took Sara, Elijah and Samuel to McD's for ice cream. Thought we'd be in and out, but it turns out it was McHappy Day, so there was a Dance Club performing outside that we watched...while we ate our Sundaes. Here's Birdie with the kids...

Cards for Shane

I just read this post on Sarah's blog. So I just copied and pasted it to my blog... for a new post and idea for you. Really neat. Read it and send a card to Shane! Soon!

"Want to make a little boy have a great big birthday smile? Why not send Shane a birthday card? Shane has been battling leukemia since he was 5. He turns 8 on May 30th, and his one wish is to break the world record for birthday cards... he wants to get 350 million cards!!!!! For more info check out Shane's website.
And to send a card (handmade, or store boughten is great!)
Shane Bernier
PO Box 484
Lancaster, Ontario
K0C 1N0"

Girls Weekend Away

This weekend the Girls and I went away (minus Miriam, although she was able to meet us for dinner on Friday night at least). Our last weekend away (my only other time away) was back in August of 2005, when we all went to the Women of Faith Conference in Portland, Oregon for a weekend.

So it was high time for us to get away again! We started locally, at a spa! Anita and I had pedicures (first one ever for me and it was lovely!); Alexa was in the same room as us having a manicure done

Then we went out for dinner together. Alexa is currently hosting a Chinese Student (Katie) and a Chinese Teacher, from the same group that Jade and Sara are with... and this happened to be the first weekend Cindy (the teacher) was with Alexa, so we included her in our weekend away. She is a sweetie, has very good English... we quite enjoyed her company!

So late nights it was... but I was able to sleep all night long with no children waking me up nor insomnia bothering me both nights! Phew! Just the cat outside the house next door meowed a bit much for all of our liking a wee bit early... oh well.

On Saturday we went to Granville Island, took the little "mini cruise" (seabus) around False Creek stopping in between at Yaletown for lunch at Urban Fair (see Alexa's blog for more info about that!!). Here are three of us on the 'ferry':

Alexa, Cindy and Anita

Then we went to Robson Street for some shopping and dinner... finally making it back to our suite (Anita's Aunt and Uncle have a suite in which they rent out for shorter term stays... it was perfect! Thanks for arranging that for us!) by 9:00pm for scrapbooking/crafting!! It was great!
Here is a picture of Alexa, who's birthday it is today actually... and I. We are both prego! I am 33 weeks here and she is... about 6 weeks behind me, right? So making her about 27 weeks along. (you can tell me if I am calculating wrong)
Again, see ALEXA's blog for some more commentary on our weekend and a few different photos.
Thanks, girls, for a great time away! Jason says we should do this more often (!!!), but I know with new baby's arriving soon...etc, the soonest we calculated another Girl's weekend away is August 2008. That's okay... let the countdown begin!
Cheers!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to Alexa today!!!!!!!
We were away this weekend together with Anita and her Chinese Teacher, Cindy... I have to blog about that yet.
Just wanted to get this on here quickly this morning, in between laundry and going through 31 new emails in my inbox!!! Ahhh.

Check back soon...