Sunday, September 23, 2012

Scavenger Hunter

We went for a walk the other day and Sancho had to make a quick getaway with O back to the house to use the bathroom. It was a special treat to walk leisurely (most of the way) back to the house with A. We had the bug catcher with us. 'A' handed it to me to open it and put something in it and then back to me to close it again. This happened a few times, but then A was picking up speed with the amount of 'treasures' (including dirt clumps) she was finding, so we left it open. So cute. I eventually picked her up and brought her home because it was clear we would otherwise never make it. Here she is examining her treasures:





Friday, September 21, 2012

Project Run and Play Sew Along: Fashion Icon

So this week's project run and play theme was fashion icon. I decided to do a remix of a Jackie O look. Because the fabric that I used for last week's challenge was so stiff, I wanted to do something comfy this week. So I used jersey material. Not the best choice for a paper bag skirt (doesn't hold shape well), but I learned a lot!



I had a terrible time taking pictures of A. She would not stand and do nothing (imagine that, a 1-year-old who doesn't want to sit still!). Even though the picture below isn't great, I included it because she isn't  chewing on a plastic hockey puck or carrying rocks!


Thursday, September 20, 2012

Stanley Park


We managed to fit in a lot during my sister's visit. Here we are at Stanley Park. 






And a rare occurrence: a photo with me in it!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Greater Vancouver Zoo





Before my sister arrived, O overheard Sancho and I say that we might go to the Seattle Zoo when my sister and family came to visit. Despite repeated explanations and being told that we would discuss it further, O did not seem to understand the might in the sentence and became entirely preoccupied with going to the zoo. The first thing he said to Heather when she arrived is "Are we going to the zoo?" So, we went. Not in Seattle though. We were able to borrow a few extra bikes, and we had a great time. Sorry, I didn't get many good pictures of us with the animals. Notice the girl cousins are wearing matching pants!

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Pacific National Exhibition

 
 
I haven't been to the PNE in, oh, maybe 22 years. It was a good year to check it out again. O totally enjoyed it. We went with my sister when she was here with my niece and nephew and had a great time. We started off in the painting area. The kids loved it.
 
 

 

And now for some fabulous pictures of my handsome nephew and beautiful niece.




 I absolutely loved the Discovery Farm exhibit at the PNE and so did A. Unfortunately, we came back on another day when I didn't have my camera, but I took some fairly terrible iphone pics, maybe to be posted later. Each child puts on an apron and goes around the farm collecting things (apples, carrots, milk, honey, eggs, fish, wool, etc.). A caught on really quick and wanted to do everything by herself. She was collecting white eggs, and Marina asked her for a brown one. She immediately switched sides to where the brown ones are and, with much effort, reached to the back of the 'pen' and grabbed a brown one. So cute.

 
 




Friday, September 14, 2012

Project Run and Play

 At 8:00 pm  last night I look at this week's challenge for Project Run and Play, and debated whether I should attempt the project. I have made a few things for my kids, but never modified a pattern. A skirt is probably the best place to start! The top is a modification of the envelope tee pattern from Growing Up Sew Liberated.
 





 

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Maximize your Mornings

I started following Inspired to Action last week and have been trying to follow Kat's advice to maximize mornings. Her idea is to wake up an hour before your kids so that you have time for personal worship and exercise. Every morning there is a new post to inspire your worship, exercise routine, and encourage you to raise your children for Jesus. Well, I decided that it is time for some discipline, people. Here is how it's been going:

Day 1: Worship, check. Exercise, 20 push-ups, 20 crunches, 20 squats.
Day 2: Worship, check. Exercise, nil (so sore; pathetic, I know).
Day 3: Worship, semi-check. Exercise, nil (won't even try to make up an excuse).
Day 4: Worship, check. Exercise, back to the push-up, crunch and squat routine (still only like 5 minutes of exercise).


Anyway, yesterday morning's post included a clip on living for eternity by Francis Chan ("What are you living for?").  Only four minutes long. Such a simple concept, but it made a big impact on me.