Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Perfect May afternoon for a picnic

We did a lot of gardening on the weekend, so today was a rest day for our weary backs.  We packed a picnic lunch and set off for our favorite spot beside the Unmighty Mississippi River. 
We enjoyed the mirror image on the water while we munched our lunch.

After lunch we walked along the water's edge, and discovered four family of geese.  One family had eight babies, two had six, and one had five.  They all kept together in their family groupings, and delighted us with there antics.
AC got as close as he could to snap a few pics when this family came ashore.

From this vantage point we looked back towards our picnic spot, which was just to the right of the redish/brown  building you can see off in the distance in this pic.
It was a fabulous day for a picnic. 

Monday, May 26, 2014

Fun with my new iPod

I was totally spoiled, and got a new iPod Touch for M'sD, and I am having a blast playing with the camera in the snazzy little device.  It is smaller and much easier to use than my little camera, and I can sync the pics with my iPad and laptop as easy as pie! 
Dani wanted a funky hair-do the other morning, and she came in wearing this pretty flower.  We pulled her hair back, added a little braid, and voila....a funky and fab hair-do.
She looked right at home in the tulip garden.
JJ likes to help Buppa in the garden.
Buppa is showing JJ where to cut the daffodils to dead-head them.
JJ learned quickly, and was able to dead-head the whole group for Buppa.
After the gardening is done, both the guys relax in the shade.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Willow Tree

For some reason Willow Tree ornaments really appeal to me.  They are so simple, yet express a ton of emotion. 
This little figurine was the first one I received.  It was a gift for my birthday a few years ago, and it makes me smile every time I look at her.  Happiness indeed.
During the spring a summer months she sits beside this little lamp in the dining room, and brightens the corner where she is.
This was the second grouping I received as a gift, and it is titled "With my Grandmother".  It sits on a small table in the upstairs hall, beside a book Sha gave me to announce that she was pregnant with Danica.  Memories dance and twirl all around every time I pass by that table.  Sweet, sweet memories indeed.

This is the latest addition to my collection - a 45th Wedding Anniversary gift.  I haven't found the perfect spot for it yet, so for now it sits on the dining room table beside the card from Sha and family.  The figurine is titled  
"Love ever endures"  I agree, 45 years and counting!


Thursday, May 22, 2014

Mother's Day - part II

My goodness, in my last blog I said I would post more pics "tomorrow", and here it is a week later!  Sheesh, life got busy all of a sudden, and the computer gathered dust.    Here are the pics...better late than never right?

After breakfast the girls relaxed in the sunshine while the guys cleaned up the kitchen.
Lots of pics were taken...
...while the kids entertained us.  Here is JJ working on his soccer ball skills.
Time for some handstands against the shed...
...then over to the swings...
...then time for races.  I think the tongue helps JJ fly like the wind. 

JJ takes a rest while Dani runs a race.
She is really putting her all into the race.

Nearing the finish line.
Joy at the end of the race. 


Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Mother's Day Celebrations

We gathered at the kid's place for a family brunch on Sunday, and a relaxin' time was enjoy by Sha and me.  The guys did all the cooking while the kids passed around smiles and snuggles, and the moms relaxed.  

The tooth fairy has been paying lots of visits to Danica lately.  Cute huh?
JJ likes to tease Amma.
AC made his famous My-hop pancakes, and they were yummy.
Better than Wheelers.
When I got home in the afternoon, a beautiful bouquet of flowers arrived at my door from the girls in Vancouver.    Pretty huh?
I also got a brand new iPodtouch from the family.  What a surprise.  I have been using an old hand-me-down iTouch that never worked properly for the last 5 years, and I must say it was frustrating to use at times. It would not connect with my computer,  so updating was a tear-your-hair-out problem.  I managed to download my favorite podcasts though, and used it mainly for that.  

What a treat to have a fancy/shmancy new iTouch that takes pictures, has room for my Audible books, music and lots of podcasts too.  Yahoo! 

More pics to come tomorrow of family fun-time in the sun.  Yes, the weather co-operated and sunshine graced our world for the whole day. 






Friday, May 09, 2014

Rainy morning

On mild rainy mornings we wait for the school bus on the front porch. The bus stops just across the street from our house, so it is easy to dash out the door when we see the bus coming round the corner at the end of the street.
Some mornings Dani just has to escape the confines of the porch though, and go skipping, dancing, and twirling in the rain

Always happy to pose for a picture.

Thursday, May 08, 2014

iPads and Playbooks

I have an old iPad, and AC has a new Playbook. Neither have a lot of apps that appeal to the kids on them, but we do have a couple.  The kids know their way around on the devices better than I do.  Sheesh. 
On this afternoon Dani had my iPad, and I thought she was looking for her favorite app - Talking Tom.   The next thing I knew, she was into my music folder, and ended up relaxing on the couch listening to Leonard Cohen.  I thought she would listen to one song, and quickly move on to the next one, but no, she was actually enjoying listening to Cohen, and stayed there for the whole album.   Amazing.
JJ had Buppa's Playbook on this afternoon, and was enjoying an episode of Peppa Pig
Crafts one day, and iPads or Playbooks the next.  I better get some new running shoes so I can keep up.

Wednesday, May 07, 2014

Such creativity

Many afternoons after school, we sit at the kitchen table for a snack, then the craft box comes out. Scissors, glue, paper, stickers etc are all on tap, and the creativity begins. 
Cutting and pasting...fun at any age.
Tape and wooden sticks....what is JJ making?
Who is that behind the mask?

Tuesday, May 06, 2014

Lego never gets old

It is finally warm enough to sit out on the porch most mornings before school, and most afternoons after school, while waiting for pick-up.  It is not a huge porch, but it is our favorite spot to sit in late spring, summer, and early fall.  On this particular afternoon, it was raining, so we sat out in the porch listening to the rain on the roof. 
Soon, JJ got Auntie Ally's box of Lego out, and sister decided to join in on the fun.
They sat there the whole time, playing out their game on this tiny foot stool, in this tiny space.  Huge imaginations  were at play though. 
Lego never gets old.

Monday, May 05, 2014

More Easter Monday activities

After JJ helped me with the morning chores, he directed his energies towards building a city.
Cute little builder huh?
He added Super Heroes and the story began.
Explaining the layout of the city to Buppa.

Friday, May 02, 2014

Easter Monday

The kids had Easter Monday off school, but Mommy and Daddy had to work, so we spent the whole day with the munchkins.
Danica spent a lot of time working on her rainbow loom.
JJ wanted to help around the house though, so he put all the silverware away when we unloaded the dishwasher.
He then did a marvelous job cleaning the windows.

Inside and out, he worked at the task
It was a tad cool outside, but that didn't stop him from finishing the job.  He got his hat and coat and worked on.
I love the determination to get every spot.

Thursday, May 01, 2014

The after party

We only stayed at the Princess Party for about half an hour to take pictures and meet the real live princess.  We joined the family later for dinner at home, and that was raucous enough for us!

Danica is very musical, and has mentioned piano lessons a few times, so we bought her an inexpensive keyboard for her BD, 
She has no idea what is in the big box
I think she is surprised.
How many people does it take to open a cardboard box?
Daddy and Amma play chopsticks.