The Sunshine Coast

We arrived in Powell River a couple of days ago to visit with Papa Harley & Grandma Helen, and it has not stopped raining since we got here! Despite the rain, Emma is loving all the attention and playing with Max the dog.

Emma asks everyday to take Max for a walk and she loves leading him around on his leash. Max is a very good sport about it, after all, he usually gets a treat from that little girl after every walk.

All the flowers are in bloom here on the coast, so Emma has to smell every last one... they really are beautiful. I don't miss the rain, but I do miss all the lush green trees/shrubs and of course, all the flowers!

We have managed to see some old friends and today we are off to the Recreation Complex for a children's fair. Hopefully Emma does not think we are going swimming, as I did not bring her swim suit!

The sun is suppose to shine this weekend, so stay tuned for some more photos... in the sun (after all, we are on the Sunshine Coast)!!!

Busy Five Days

Our activities began Wednesday evening when Grandma and Papa arrived. Emma was very excited and could not wait, as we celebrated Grandma's new hip with Black Forest Cake (mom had hip replacement surgery at the end of January and everything seems to be working well for her these days)

Emma thought the Black Forest Cake was going to be the Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake that I made last week, and she was rather disappointed at first, but she warmed up to the cake immediately, especially the white cream & chocolate sprinkles on top!!

The next day, Dann, Emma & Papa headed out for a morning adventure. They started at the "hardware" store, then went for coffee @ Tim's (Emma got a hot chocolate & Tim Bits) and last but not least... to the Dinosaur Park, which is three parks in one!

Emma loves to climb the different structures, hopefully she does not like standing behind bars in her future!! Emma takes some time to pose by the alligator (or I think it's an alligator?) before...

a quick rocking ride on the purple dino, and then it was off to the swings!

Good Friday arrived and it was time to color Easter Eggs. This was a new experience for Emma and fun was had by all. Truth be known, Dann really got into it and spent a good 30 minutes on one egg... he's soooo creative!

Emma loved coloring on the eggs first with wax crayon and then she would drop the egg into the dye... we had to catch a few eggs so they would not crack. Hard to explain "gently" to a excited three year old!

The final product... notice the green & yellow egg on the bottom right - 4 o'clock position. Yes that is Dann's master piece (hard to see it, but it turned out darn good for a boy)!!

We had Easter Dinner on Saturday instead of Sunday and Emma was very excited to wear her new summer dress. She thought she looked good, which she did! We actually headed to a Birthday Party that afternoon before dinner and of course, Emma had to wear the dress there!

Easter morning started late (Emma decided to sleep in, which is VERY rare), but the hunt was on when Emma realized the Easter Bunny hid the eggs overnight while she was asleep. Emma is rather attached to Max & Ruby, thus we had to act out the "Max's Chocolate Chicken" episode. Emma kept saying all week... "If Grandma finds the most eggs, she gets the chocolate chicken, if Papa finds the most eggs, he gets the chocolate and if I find the most eggs, then I get the chocolate chicken!"

Emma was on a roll... finding eggs everywhere!!!

And in the end... Emma got the Chocolate Chicken (like there was any question)!!

The Chicken's head was the first thing to go....

followed by the tail!!!

Nothing wrong with a little chocolate by 8:00 a.m., before breaky!

I hope this finds you all well and that your Easter was as enjoyable as ours (filled with family, love and chocolate!!)!

HAPPY EASTER!!!

A Place For Everything

Here are some photos of the new cabinets we purchased for the "toy" storage.

Dann is going to stain them dark brown next week!!

After a couple of hours, all the toys were organized and had their own "labelled" bin for a new home. I told Emma about keeping her toys organized and when she takes out a bin, the toys go back in the same bin when she is done playing with them. She said, "Okay Mom"... time will tell if she remembers! At least I don't have to look at the mess in the corner anymore!

Just Another Day

Our appy social went well and the cheescake was a hit!! Emma loved the fact that we walked there and she got to ride in the wagon! She danced and played all night long and then when it was time to leave, she was very excited to look at the stars and moon while we walked home.

Once we arrived home, Emma insisted on brushing her teeth, because she had chocolate cake (all our nagging has paid off)!! After that, out came the braids. Emma thought she looked darn cute with frizzy hair and stated,"we should take a photo." Maybe she is getting into this blog thing too, as she is quite aware of all the photos we have been taking!

This morning we are off to do a bit of shopping and Dann is hoping to have a load of gravel delivered for his back walk way. The weather has been great, so all the "men" in the neighbourhood have been out cleaning up their yards and pressure washing. Dann even went out and purchased a new fridge for the garage (Costco special). After all, we need a place to put all that beer when we are entertaining friends & neighbours this summer!! I guess you could compare the behaviour around here to a bad episode of "Tool Time".

I on the other hand, am excited about the two cabinets we purchased (Dann put them together) to store all the unsightful plastic ornaments (toys) that have accumulated over the last 3 years. I will be organizing and de-clutterizing my living room. Operation "clean sweap" is now on!

Emma & Molly...

While we were having dinner last night, Emma announced that she was done her soup and that Molly had to eat her dinner now. Emma excused herself from the table and went and got Molly. Emma put Molly onto the stool, put a bib on her and then stated she needed some clips in her hair so her hair won't get into Molly's dinner.

Once Molly was bibbed, clipped, and beaded, it was time to eat. Emma decided a hard boiled egg was on the dinner menu and proceeded to get a plastic egg from the Easter basket and a spoon. Emma spooned fed Molly the egg and I am sure Molly loved every bite (even more if there was a chocolate inside the egg hey Molly!).

For those of you who do not know who Molly is, she is Emma's long time companion. Dann bought Molly at Wal-Mart for $5 on a sale rack, and it was the best purchase made (along with the bouncing ball horse of course). We cannot go anywhere with out Molly. Needless to say, Molly is well travelled and worldly for a rag doll!!

Spring Days

While I was at work, Emma ventured outside to play on the swing set with her friend. Of course they only lasted awhile before they wanted to come inside and play dress-up and hair dresser. Rowena braided their hair and they loved it. Although Darby is 2 years older than Emma, they play wonderful together and no fighting. Our neighbourhood is great for young people around... it's a nice change!!

I am off to work "again" this morning, but I had stricked orders from my boss to come home early and bake a cheesecake for tonight. Our crew is getting together for a appetizer/dessert social. Who am I to argue about leaving work early!! I am making the same cheesecake that my friend Marg made one Valentine's Day get-together in Powell River a few years back...

"Chocolate Hazel Nut Truffle"

YUMMY!!

(thanks Marg)

Live Eagle Cam on Hornby Island

No photos of "us" tonight, but Dann made an interesting discovery while waching the CBC news last night (go figure, you can actually learn something from the news!). There is a man who lives on Hornby Island who rigged up a live cam to an eagles nest on his proprty and now some internet company wants to show the footage 24/7.

Look up: www.infotecbusinesssystems.com/wildlife/

It's pretty cool to watch!

A-B-C... It's Easy As 1-2-3

Emma has known her ABC's for a long time now (singing the song etc), but Dann figured he was going to go through the alphabet one letter at a time and make sure Emma knew every letter and things that start with each letter.

It was a long project as Dann and Emma would cut out & learn approximately one letter a week, sometimes two. They would always pin up the letter on the wall, which was part of the fun for Emma as she got to do a craft with her Daddy!

As of last night, they were finished and Emma was soooo proud of herself!! She had to make a phone call to spread the good news.

It is pretty cool now, because when we are going to a store or something, Emma will comment, "Hey that's a letter 'C' " looking at the Costco sign etc. She is also able to spell her name now and show us which letters start with different things. Maybe Dann should have been a teacher instead??

The Alphabet Wall

Baby Up-Date

13 Weeks... WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR BABY

Measuring in at about seven centimeters crown-to-rump and weighing about two ounces, our baby-to-be will spend the rest of the pregnancy concentrating on growing and becoming strong enough to live outside the uterus. The baby's intestines have now moved from outside the body to inside the abdomen. While the baby won't be saying "Mommy" for some time, vocal cords are now developing. The fetus also has developed many reflexes and will squirm inside of me if my abdomen is prodded.

Happy Days... Happy Toes

While I have been busy at work, Emma has been busy playing up a storm with Rowena. Emma adores Rowena and we really like having her as part of our family.

A couple of days ago I went to the spa for a manicure and pedicure (Christmas gift from Dann). It was nice and relaxing and of course my feet & toes were very happy after the spa lady bucked off all that winter crap and made my feet look beautiful once again (not as nice as Richelle did in Powell River, but a close second).

Anyway, after Emma saw my pretty toes, she decided she needed pretty toes too. Emma thought of this all on her own.... take a look at the final product!

GORGEOUS!!!!

I am still waiting for our mini-holiday trip photos, so I am unable to post them to date.

We Are Home

Hi Everyone... We got home from Edmonton early last night and fun was had by all. The only unfortunate part of the trip was that I forgot my camera at home, thus no photos of us enjoying ourselves (this makes for boring blogging material)! Our friends took some photos, and I hope to have them emailed to me in a day or two, so I will blog more then.

I must say, I have enjoyed reading all my friends Blogs and their adventures... so keep it up gals/guys, as you are my inspiration!!

Doodlebops

Sorry, we do not have any photos of Emma at last night's concert, but it was a hit. The sold out show started at 7:00pm and the Doodlebops played for 30 minutes, took a break, and then performed for another 20 minutes. Emma was thrilled and very surprised, as Dann & I did not tell her about going to see the Doodlebops until we got to Edmonton.

Our seats were awesome... Emma stood up and danced through the whole show, singing & then clapping her hands after every song. When the curtains closed I told Emma, "the Doodlebops are over." Emma said, "No Thank You". I had to tell Emma that the Doodlebops went to bed and then she was okay about leaving. Fun was had by all, including me... I do not want to admit this, but I found myself singing along to the tunes too!!! YIKES!!!

Just another day...

Today our day started at "Princess Auto Parts"... Dann thought he had died and gone to heaven. He was like a little boy in a candy shop... I should have packed him a bagged lunch, and he could have spent the day (cheap day-care). Emma and I made our way through the aisles and watched Dann pick up every little item, commenting how cool it was. Of course, Dann showed me some "gift ideas" for the future!!

While looking around, Emma announced she had to poop, so it was mom's job to find the washroom, as dad was much too busy for things like that. After Emma and I returned for the "ladies room" Dann showed us this "go-go-gadget" tool which has a spring type tube and has little clamps on the end to pick up little items in hard places. Of course I acted surpirsed, while thinking to myself, "whip-tee-do", another tool. Little did I know, Dann was only thinking about his sweet little girl and the "lost" Step-Mother... Some of you may be wondering what I am talking about now, so here's the story....

NOTE:

(The small hole between the railing and the steps!)

Emma received this great Cinderella Play Set, Castle and all, from her Auntie Phyllis and Uncle Wayne for her third Birthday. The set came with a Cinderella, Prince, two Step-Sisters, and of course, a Step-Mother. There are snap on clothes for the figurines and Emma loves playing with it, especially with Rowena, as they get down on the floor and play it for hours (okay maybe a half hour tops, but that's darn good for Emma's attention span).

Anyway, one day, Emma decided to drop all the figurines down a hole in the steps, where the base board is suppose to be, but has not managed to get put back on after our floors were re-done. Emma told her daddy about what she did, and asked him to retrieve them for her, because you know, her dad does walk on water (in her eyes). Well... two hours later and a thin stick with duct tape on the end, Dann manged to fish out everyone except the Step-Mother and her dress. Emma was devastated, but life went on. If you asked her, Emma would tell you the story about how the Step-Mother fell into the steps and Daddy could not get her out!!

Well.. this is where the "Go-Go-Gadget" tool came into play today. Dann was able to fish the Step-Mother and her dress out with ease... hine sight, should have went to Princess Auto in January!!!

NOTE:

(Here is the Step-Mother... and her dress!)

Only One!!!

Dann and I went for our first ultrasound today, and the technician told us there is only "one" baby, which appeared to have a strong heart beat and everything looks good.

We did not get a photo of our "little peanut". Literally, that is about how big the baby is right now, the size of a peanut in it's shell. In "peanut's" place, we thought this photo seemed appropriate. Look hard... is it a tree or a baby??

GYM KIDS

Emma started her "Gym Kids" class last week and she loves it. At the start of every class the teacher gets the children to retrieve balls and bean bags strategically placed through out the gym. Emma loves finding the items and runs quickly to place them in the bin.

Next are the stretching exercises, Emma is a lot more flexable than Mom or Dad!! After they are warmed up, the teacher has the kids doing different jumping, running and socializing activites. Last week there was a trampoline set up, so of course Emma was looking for it this week... but instead there were ribbons and climbing activites. Emma was abit confused, as she thought she would spend her time "bouncing" but she adjusted quickly and got into other fun activities instead!


















Emma learned how to climb across a ladder... Her comment to the event... "It was very tricky Mom!" Emma was very pleased with herself.











That is what our Monday mornings consist of now (for 6 weeks anyway). Dann and I think we will enroll Emma for the next session as well, she burns off a lot of steam in one hour!!