Mother's Day 2008

We've just had a very mellow, nap-filled Mother's Day weekend. This kind of weekend was very overdue, and soooooooo lovely. This morning we got out for a hike and took some time to throw some rocks around.

Today's dinner highlights were a bottle of Cougar Crest wine and some "Strawberry Dream Cream" made by Mina and Pappa. Strawberry icecream from Mina's new cool cookbook, Simple in Season for Kids, from Aunt Leanne and Uncle Phil!



Mother's Day 2008, Mamma and Mina, freshly five


Mother's Day 2003. Mina was just two or three days old.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you!

Hitting the milestone of five...

Mina, June ‎26, ‎2003

Mina, May 9th, 2008

With much dancing, music and celebration, our dear daughter has officially turned five. It is really hard to believe. 'Five' seems like a milestone and as a result, we've really been reflecting on this passage. Reflecting both on where we've come and where we are going. For me, the birth of Mina also meant a significant life and career shift. I remain truly thankful that i'm able to stay home with the kids, and for all the time that we have shared. I will always cherish these early years.

Five also brings the realization of another 'shift' that is quickly approaching and will change our daily life. Thankfully, Mina is rather excited to enter kindergarten in the fall. On her birthday morning, she quickly plotted it out "i'm five now!!! that means summer and then kindergarten!!!". We expect the transition to kindergarten to be fairly smooth, largely because she already goes to preschool at her elementary school. I also believe that this integration has built up the excitment of becoming a true elementary school student. She's had a wonderful introduction to school life and has enjoyed her preschool time there very much. We have a fun summer planned with a number of camping trips and summer camps, but i want to balance that with mellow family time and sibling time for M&M. Fall will come quickly enough, and i'm going to really miss our little girl.



We had a fun birthday for Mina, complete with sunshine. Pappa met us for lunch at Red Robin. She took strawberries and grapes to share with her preschool friends. And at the hour of five, she had four friends over to help her celebrate the big five. So five, at five to celebrate five! Mina was really happy to see all her friends and to host a drop-off party. It was a 'Dan Zanes dance party', which was an idea that Mina had months ago. We followed a similar program as when her cousins were in town for a party, dancing and playing to various tunes from her favourite singer. I also made some Dan Zanes colouring books for the girls, and everyone made their own pizza for dinner. Mina wanted Dan Zanes to be on her cake so we did one of those cakes where you print a picture on it. It turned out awesome. This was the first time we bought a cake and it will remain a memorable one.








Mina had the first piece and requested his guitar! Later pal Izie requested his head!

Thanks to everyone for all the wishes and joy for Mina.

Update on the crazy number of tomatoes

I haven't counted them lately but the bulk of the tomatoes have done really well, and survived the extra TLC from Mina and Miles. True to the dedication of gardening, I started everything under a grow light which was sitting in our spare bathroom tub. I would often find Miles in their giving his special touch to the plants and watering all around. But they survived! The plants recently got kicked out of the extra bathroom for guests, so they are out in the greenhouse now!

Video of the Olympic flame on Everest

This is a cool video of the flame traveling up Everest. This event also marked three months till the Olympics will begin.

Tropea, Tropea, Tropea

This past weekend, we also celebrated our eight year wedding anniversary. We got out for a late dinner at a favourite Italian spot in Redmond, Tropea. The food tasted INCREDIBLE! INCREDIBLE! INCREDIBLE! Perhaps it was because we hadn't been out for dinner in a REALLY long time, the wine or the occasion... or all of the above. But it was amazing. Rich and i discovered this place back in Feb 2000 when Microsoft flew us out for a house hunting trip. We were staying at the nearby hotel and ended up walking by, and thankfully going in...

For our anniversary, we got a couple of cool chairs for camping and life...REI Comfort chair I just can't wait to take the chairs (and the family) camping!

Anchor Hocking Glassware

I've been searching for glass storage containers that are truly all glass, i.e. including the lid. I fell in love with these ones from an old American glassmaker, Anchor Hocking. The size is great, the lids aren't plastic, no worry in the dishwashers and I love opening the fridge to see them!

Dan Zanes/Owl Birthday Party!

The month of celebration continues! Our family from Vancouver came down for a party full of dancing to Dan Zanes and acting like owls!

Making a train for to "CHOO CHOO BOOGIE" (Catch That Train album).

Rhythm sticks!!! These were a hit.

I always love when we have enough kids for the parachute!

Cousin Simon trying on the owl toss game. :)

Keeping with the owl half of the theme, we ate mice instead of cake!


Dan Zanes/Owl Party Play List! songs/game selected by Mina and Mamma

1- JUMP UP – jumping, jumping, jumping
2- THE HOKEY POKEY
3- WEST INDIAN COUNTING SONG – hot potato
4- MANGO WALK – freeze dance
5- NIGHT OWL- flying like an owl
6- ALL AROUND THE KITCHEN- like a chicken and recommended actions
7- CHOO CHOO BOOGIE – hands on shoulders, train walking
8- LET’S SHAKE – follow song actions
9- SKIP TO MY LOU - skipping
10- QUE FORTUNIDAD- rhythm sticks
11- WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD -bubbles
12- SMILE, SMILE, SMILE – parachute slow
13- MALTI- parachute fast
14- SURROUNDED BY FRIENDSHIP – hanging...

Hoot! Hoot! Mr Miles is TWO!

Some cute pictures of my boy on his owl-y birthday...

Dan Zanes

Our family loves Dan Zanes, and we felt lucky that his concert matched our birthday season! As a family present we went to see his show! This was a first concert for Miles. A friend took this family picture at the concert. It was an awesome concert with great music, dancing and an opportunity to watch the musicians up at the edge of the stage. Afterwards, Mina came running in the house and grabbed her ukulele!

Dan Zanes has a new album focusing on music from Latin America. You can sample a couple of these songs on his myspace page. At the concert, he mentioned that this is his pro-immigration album. :)

Mina is having a Dan Zanes themed party for her upcoming birthday. She even wants him on the cake!

Bioplastics: friend or foe?

Here is a rather interesting article from the Guardian,
'Sustainable' bio-plastic can damage the environment.

Looks like we still need to find ways around plastic in general! Not to mention, relying less on foods that feed our world.

On a side note, there was an Earth Day exhibit hanging around the bookstore the other day and Mina picked out these,

Recycle, A Handbook for Kids by Gail Gibbons

Where Does the Garbage Go? (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)