The Princess

I didn't think I would be back here with a post for a couple of weeks, but we are having a bit of car trouble that has to be tended to before we take off, so we will be delayed for a day....or two. Groan! Soooo, I have some time to sort through pictures and post a blog.  Enjoy.

Danica loves Buppa's garden and is always smelling the flowers to see which ones smell the prettiest.  I think the oriental lilies would win this contest.

Her dress is made from strips of silk from old saris.  It is absolutely beautiful.

One day before swimming class, I sent her into her bedroom to get changed.  She thought it was really funny to come out of her bedroom with her panties on her head.   I just had to grab the camera.

Fun at home

Not all our time with the kids was spent at the park.  We tried to do some school activities with Danica each day, and she worked diligently on the Grade 1 projects Buppa had planned for her.

JJ has a great imagination, and can play well by himself while sister works on her lessons

Out on the side deck Danica needs some help with some Brain Age problems on the DS.

JJ continues to play in magic kingdoms he has created in his own space.

We will be heading to Riverwood for a few days, so there won't be any blogs for a week or so.  See you when we get back.

Picnics galore

Every sunshine filled day we had the kids, we packed up a picnic lunch and headed for the park

JJ and Buppa kept a close eye on things even while they were eating lunch.

After lunch it was time to climb on the equipment and try out new skills.

JJ was very pleased with himself when he made it all the way across the balance beam.

He then headed over to the chain climber, but wasn't too sure if he wanted to go very high on it.

Sister ventured right to the top, so with Buppa standing guard, he braved the higher rungs.

Danica is such a social little munchkin.  When she sees other kids in the park, she isn't afraid to go over to them to see if she can join in the fun with them.

Sometime they shun her, but more often than not, they are quite happy to have her join in the group.

Enjoying the new deck

We have a very small backyard that suits us just fine as we don't want to have to worry about yard work if we go away for an extended holiday.  We have a screened in front porch that we sit in most of the time during the nice weather, but this year our back stairs had to be replaced, so we decided to extend the  landing enough to make room for two chairs and a little table so we could sit out there and enjoy our early morning coffee or late afternoon glass of wine if we wanted to.  

Comfy chairs and a glass of wine awaiting us on the new deck at the end of the day.

The pansies are having a party...

...and so are we, but I think we need some shade.

Umbrella up...

Ahhh, that's better.

These plant stands were on sale at Home Depot, and I thought they were so pretty we bought two for the new deck.   After a wind storm went through I realized why they were on sale...they are VERY tippy.  We gotta get some sort of anchor for them to keep them upright on a windy day.  But for now, I sure like the way they look, and I just move them up beside the house if a storm threatens. 

They love to watch them too.

Yes, the kids love to the watch the videos Buppa posted of them all swimming in the neighbour's pool.

Did you notice the two tins beside the computer?   No, we didn't forget to put the groceries away, they serve a great purpose for these old minds of ours when we are babysitting at the kid's place.

The kids have two cats, Asha and Abby, and they are always on the wrong side of the door.  Meow, let me in, Meow let me out, Meow, I want back in again.  I couldn't keep track of the furry beasties, and when we went out, I  wanted to be sure both cats were safely inside the house.   So, I devised this system with the two tin cans.  One is labelled Asha, and the other Abby, and each end has a label   IN and OUT.  The computer desk is right beside the patio door, so whoever lets a cat in or out has to turn the appropriate tin can over so we know who is in and who is out.  When it is time to go for a swimming lesson or a picnic we know right away if we have to go searching for a furry critter hiding in the back yard, or if both cats are safely inside.  This system has saved me many a grey hair during out babysitting gigs this past summer. 

So, that's what two tins are doing sitting beside the computer in the living room.  I do have method in my madness.

Outside the Castle...I mean...Town Hall

Once outside the front door of the Old Town Hall, we ventured over the bridge so we could look down the Mississippi River towards the railway bridge we had been on the other day. 

JJ was carrying our new Blue Box, but he soon gave up that task so he could try to climb the railing.

Danica got her toes in the bottom rung and wanted to go higher, but Buppa put a stop to that.

Time to check out the new fountain by the back door of the Town hall.

That's close enough to the edge Danica.  Ah Amma, can't I go a bit closer?

View down river from where Danica was standing.

No stones to throw in here, but let's get close to the edge anyway.

We walked across the bridge so we could look at the Town Hall from another vantage point, and the kids found these neat steps leading down to the water.  Of course they had to reach into the water to grab some stones to throw further out into the water.  Again, Buppa kept a tight hold on both little hands. 

Old Town Hall

On one of our adventures, we took the kids for a walk down Main Street, and we walked past our beautiful old Town Hall, seen in this picture below.

It is a grand old building, and when we got close to the front door, the kids asked if we could go inside and look around.  We tried the door, and it was open, so we ventured inside.

What a treat to wander up the main staircase and take in the atmosphere of the fabulous old building.

The kids were enthralled, and looked out the windows at the river below.

Lots of concerts are held in the old auditorium, but the doors were locked today, so we could not get inside that room to take pics.

JJ was quite taken with the place, and asked me if it was a castle.  Sure seemed like a castle to me too.

We couldn't get past the main entrance as the rest of the building housed working offices, and people we hard at work. 

The main entrance was treat enough for us on this day, so after our visit we ventured outside to explore the surrounding grounds.  More on that tomorrow,.

 

Mystery stop before our trip to Dairy Queen

Every day during our babysitting gig we tried to take the kids somewhere special for a little treat. It might be a trip to Tim's for a Timbit and a smoothie, or a stop at the $Store for a craft.   On this particular day, Dani asked to go to Dairy Queen for a milkshake.  So, after lunch, we packed into the car and headed off in search of our treat.

Hmmm, where are we going Buppa.  This isn't the way to DQ. 
We are going to make a mystery stop first.  said Buppa.
Where could it be?  We wondered

Buppa parked in a little wooded area, and lead us along an overgrown path, up a little hill and out onto this gravel path.
Hold on tightly to my hands.  Buppa said
So, both kids held on tight, I manned the camera, and we set off down the path.

Oh my, we were on the old railway overpass.  There were guard rails on the section going over the road,  so we could get right to the edge and look down at cars going under the bridge...

...then we walked further along, and found ourselves looking down at the Mississippi River.   It was a bit harrowing with the two kids, as there were no guard rails here, and it was a steep drop to the fast moving river below.  Yikes! 

The stones were a real temptation for both kids, as they wanted to pick up as many as they could, and then get as close to the edge as possible so they could throw the stones into the river below.  Buppa tried to keep them both in the middle of the path, but they were itching to get close to the edge. 

We certainly had a beautiful view of the old Town Hall from this vantage point.   It was quite exhilarating to be so high up, out in the open with the wind blowing around us, and the water rushing at quite a clip below us.   JJ turned to me and said.  "This is better than going to Dairy Queen. "

We did stop at Dairy Queen on the way home though, and wouldn't you know they were doing some excavating next door, so we had to stop and watch the men work for a while.  What fun. 

Rainy morning

We had lots of sunshine this past week, but we also had one very rainy day.  Kids and cats both wanted to go outside, but it was a bit too wet and windy for the cats...

Danica and Abby looked longingly out the side door while the rain pelted down outside.

...but the kids managed to brave the raindrops and had a splashing good time.

JJ looks like he belongs in the flower bed in his bright yellow rain coat and boots. 

They were both splashing in the puddle a minute ago, but I didn't capture the splash.  Darn!

Big smiles for Buppa

Helping Mother Nature wash the car.

I'm back...

Yes, our holiday ended, and we rushed headlong into a week with both kids. I took lots of pictures, but by the time I got home each night, I ran out of steam and didn't get anything posted...sorry. I do have quite a few pictures to share with you now, so will start with activity time, after our trip to the $ store for a craft.

Danica got a sequined butterfly picture to work on, but it was rather difficult and time consuming, so I don't think it will be finished any time soon.  Perhaps during our next gig with the kids at the end of August.

JJ got magic paper to colour on and he thought that was just grand.

Every afternoon we had a swim in the neighbour's pool, and it was enjoyed by all.

After the swim each day it was time for more crafts at the kitchen table, or...

or some time on the computer.

It was a busy but fun week.  We now have another three week break before reporting for duty at the end of August.  I'll try to get this back-log of pics posted before we head off on another adventure.  Stay tuned....