Finally finished my photo book

Just finished this photo book. I started this project months back and it only took me oodles of hours that I managed to sneak away from here and there. I used my Pamper points but didn't realize it would take so long. Managed to make the deadline though, with eight days to spare!

Click here to view this photo book larger

In our backyard: herons, and eagles, and bears, oh my!

I love where we live! There's just so much going on around us in nature.
How lucky is it to go walking in your neighbourhood and see bald eagles, herons and even black bears?!

Okay, maybe the bear part is a bit harrowing but it still makes it very interesting to be where we are.

Bear prints on our driveway... either that or the Sasquatch.

This past weekend we walked with Craig to take part in the Terry Fox Run. It's an important event for us, we have been affected by cancer in both of our families and we feel it's important to do our part in fighting it. This year, due to unforeseen circumstances (the kids' illness), I had been reluctant to go with them. However, both of them have been improving so much and it was a beautiful day so we thought a walk down in the fresh air and sun would be nice for them who have been cooped up for so long. On the way there, we caught our local heron at his watering hole, so majestic!

We stayed back from the crowds once we arrived but the kids had the chance to watch the bikes take off and we did walk a few blocks behind the crowd. When they started opening the roads again though, and cars started zooming by, we backtracked to the start/finish line. I intended to wait for Craig but the kids began to do their antsy dance so we began to trek back homewards figuring he would catch up to us.

It has been a lovely September, warm and bright. The kids were running along the trail when up ahead a lady and her dog shouted to us - "Stop! Stop! There's a bear!". Sure enough, he came barreling out of the woods and jumped into the creek where he began splashing around, next to another bear who was already bathing. Some biker was coming up behind me with his two sons so I called out to them that the bears were in the creek. He stopped and pulled out his camera. It really was neat to see the cubs frolicking in the water and the kids took in a good gander as we walked briskly by but I didn't want to be that Mom, who's kids were mauled while I was busy snapping pictures! So you'll have to imagine the lively scene yourselves.

Our brush with bears actually happen quite frequently. At the start of summer, I drove home to one lounging on our front stoop. I didn't know he was there until I opened the garage door. A black head peeped around the corner to look at us as if to say: "hey! I was having a nice sit, what's all that rumbling noise?" He got up and ambled away. Another time, my Mom came back breathless from a walk saying she saw one crossing the street in front of her and she was so scared, she didn't know which way to go. Luckily, we haven't had any more broken fences but I'm sure there will be a few more sightings before they go off to slumber the winter away.

Sunflowers in the Sun

Despite being in lock down for a while, we are getting some of the lovely sunshine. The kids are enjoying our yard and watching their sunflowers grow. I harvested some of the seeds from last year's flowers. I was aiming to have three this year but some wild creature ate one of the buds last week before it could open. So we have two, I think last year's were bigger but then again the kids were smaller :o)

Quarantine!

So on to the fun part of this past week. We visited the museum on Monday. Rhys had been a bit clingy the previous night, I chalked it up to being away from home. At the museum, I carried him 75% of the time. Brea started scratching a bit in the afternoon and said she was itchy. It was warm, I planned on bathing them when we got home, no biggie. Both of the kids fell asleep en route to the ferry as we headed homewards. Brea rarely naps anymore so maybe I should have seen the signs but I was a bit weary from travel too.

When the bath was drawn, I lifted Brea's shirt and she was speckled. Yes, chicken pox. Rhys had had a few dots at the end of August but he had not been itchy and they were so mild we thought they were insect bites. Since both kids had been vaccinated, I hadn't really thought about them getting it. Meanwhile though, Rhys who had this weeks ago should be fine but he was increasingly clingy and distraught with what seemed to be a low-grade fever. I decided to take them in.

Our doctor was a bit puzzled since Brea's symptoms were not classic chicken pox but agreed that with the vaccination, it was probably a milder manifestation. Then she looked at Rhys, one look in his mouth was all it took.: hand, foot, mouth - the Coxsackie virus has struck our household. The poor little boy had blisters on his soft palate which was why he was exceptionally listless and wouldn't eat. He wouldn't part my side for a second during the first few days. I literally had to take him in the shower with me if I wanted to bathe. Aren't we lucky, both things at once!

Needless to say we are on quarantine this week. No visits anywhere. Slightly bummed because we always do the Terry Fox Run but Craig will represent. It is not very wise to take them into large crowds. The kids are on the mend, Brea's climbing the couch and Rhys is finishing his popsicle as I type.

The start of the school year is always so much fun.

A Dino Adventure

I had the fortunate chance of taking the kids for a trip over to Victoria to see the Dinosaurs Exhibit at the Royal BC Museum this past weekend. I LOVE this museum and think we are so fortunate to have such a marvelous facility to visit.

We went with my cousin and her son, Aidan, and boy, did the kids enjoy themselves. I was quite taken right away by the welcome at the front door of the huge display statue... the kids ran after a stray seagull. But once inside, the fun began. We followed some dino-sized prints all the way up the escalators to the special exhibit. There were huge models and bones displayed, from the brontosaurus to the stegosaurus. The kids were able to poke their fingers into select displays and feel the fossilized dinosaur bones. They were most taken by the mechanical model of a walking dinosaur. Brea exclaimed as she ran up - "look Mommy! That dinosaur is on an exerciser!".

We visited most of the permanent exhibits as well. Old Town is an especially favourite of mine. The kids enjoyed walking the cobbled streets and we spent a bit waiting for the train to arrive in Port Moody Station. My cousin and I had a blast showing the children some of the "artifacts" we grew up with. We had a laugh at the changes in cell phone technology - they had a honking huge one there - it looked ghastly when she held her iphone next to it. Aidan couldn't believe we ever used something like that. Brea was taken by the My Little Ponies and wanted to know if I had any still that she could play with. Finally, there was the Wooly Mammoth. Aidan ran up to the diorama and climbed onto the rocks to touch the waterfall. The guides there didn't seem to mind. "Brrrr... I'm so cold now!" he said. Brea reached for a feel and also shivered. My cousin and I looked at each other smiling at their wild imagination. Mr. Me Too (aka. Rhys) at this point also wanted to take part so I lifted him up. As I reached with him, I realized it was REAL ice in the display, the whole wall filled with icicles and a frozen waterfall was real! When I inquired, it turns out they have a giant freezer behind that wall that keeps the water frozen and they didn't mind kids touching it because they always get a kick out of the parents who all think the kids are making it up until they touch it too.

It was a great weekend... mostly... you'll have to wait until the next post to get to the real fun that followed .

ROAR!

A mechanical model to show how dinosaurs moved about.

The resident Wooly Mammoth. Unfortunately, not available for a ride.

In front of the 80s-90s display of artifacts.

Oregon ho!

We made it away to Oregon again this summer. It is a beautiful place and we are so lucky to have some wonderful people (Nana and Grumpa) invite us to share their place with them. We mostly spent our days relaxing, playing on the beach and driving to nearby places while Rhys was napping in the van.

The Tillamook Cheese Factory was a hit. When we arrived, Craig had his trusty Kindle in hand and told us to enjoy ourselves while he had a little read. Brea did pause to say, when Craig reminded her that Daddy didn't eat cheese or ice cream, "that's SO sad!". Little did he know that we wouldn't return for nearly an hour! We entered and made our way to the cheese sample line that the kids had to go through twice and then upstairs for a view of the factory. Brea and Rhys were fascinated by the going-on of the machines! The cutters, the packagers, the sorters... there was also a very friendly factory worker who kept waving up at the kids in their audience. They would have happily observed forever if I hadn't mentioned the ice cream. Brea made her choice of Rootbeer Float flavour while Rhys and I shared a sampler of: cherry, marionberry pie, and s'mores. So yummy! We would also stop at the Tillamook Country Smoker to pick up some pepperoni snacks to munch on for our drive back. Finally, on our last day, Nana and Grumpa took us to the Pacific Oyster Company in Bay City for some scrumptious chowder and oysters. It was fun for the kids to see the oysters being shucked and the tuna being filleted while we dined. The clam chowder was absolutely divine!

Aside from the eating, we of course loved, loved, LOVED, the scenery. There is nothing to compare the beaches of the Oregon coast to, they are stunning!

She would only let me bury her up to her ankles.

A walk in the mist with Nana.

I finally managed to get one of them to look up.

Rhys's tough guy look.

Shrimp and cocktail sauce, delish!