Skeeters!

Looks like my kid has teh same sensitivity to moquitos I do - we putz'd in the veggie patch for a few minutes... and she came out covered in these welts!  She is mighty afraid of the mean "moteekos" now!  Guess I'll be weeding alone!

Victoria Day 2012

This weekend was filled with the hot sun, some new faces and the ever present yardwork.  Aside from the manual labour (wait, I actually LOVE the yardwork too), it was a really relaxing, wonderful weekend for Shae and I.

We went to the town of Goderich to meet Mike's parents, who gave us a warm welcome and place to stay for a night.  It wasn't more than an hour before Shae and Mike's mom were giggling in the backseat on the way to the beach.  For a shy kid, it was awesome to watch them connect so quickly.

Goderich's beach is really spectacular - lots of shallow wading, hot sand, shade trees, and some kick butt play structures.  After a good play and ice cream, followed by a home cooked meal, Shae capped the day with a 9pm bedtime...

Rising at her standard 6:15am anyway, we went off for one more play at the beach and a yummy lunch at Park House we were off for home. 

We spent the actual holiday Monday working on the yard, playing with the neighbours and running through the sprinkler (listening to our other neighbors in their pool - buggers.).

ACTUALLY going for the granola bar, not the kill.

Planning the best way to get that bunny to stay put.

Cooling off on a hot day

The Fortress

The butterfly that landed on my belly!

Mother's Day 2012

Mother's Day was extra special this year!  Shae is old enough to be excited about the secret things she makes for me at daycare - and that ramps up the whole day, since we're both excited to see what she's created.

This year, Mike helped her hide my gift in the garage on Thursday, when he picked her up from daycare (I was out of town).  On Saturday, he told me NOT to look in the cabinet in the garage Sunday morning.

So first thing that morning I exclaimed, "Shae, it's Mother's Day today!"

Shae, hesitantly, "But I can't show you anything, right?"

I said, "Um, I think you CAN show me stuff today."
 

Shae, suspiciously, "Let's ask Penny." (daycare provider)

I was in stitches at this point - it was sooooo cute how secretive she was being!
 

Me, impatient and being very sneaky, "I just talked to Penny.  She said it was okay to show me something on Mother's Day."

So she got a BIG grin and whispered, "Its in the garage! Come on!"

So we went out to the garage and she showed me the cabinet. Inside was a potted begonia, a necklace she made me (those foam flowers with metallic paints - It's HUGE - and I wore it to the zoo all day), some cookies, and a hand print plaque! Penny did so much with her! So cute!

We spent the balance of the day at the zoo, enjoying each other.  We saw a peacock in full regalia, a wee goose family, and Shae proved herself a grown up by riding the camel on her own.  A wonderful day.

400940595309 Days, One Post

This has been one amazing spring, but before I tell you, I MUST preserve this photo forever, immediately.  It lasted about 5 seconds after this photo... but there's some hair play happening over here.

We had our first cold of 2012, so with indoor sick days, we have indoor "make your own fun":

We were still sick but we headed out to Glenaura Farm to hang out with Andrea, Chris and Hanna along with a pile of other families for some Spring Fling fun:

Mike and Shae

Egg Races!

Fishing

Hanna and Shae - vegetating

Mike, luring Shae to the Sack Race.... (fail)

With a little help from the neighbor's tiller, and some slave labour (Mike), I turned the old garden, grass seeded most of it, and will plant the rest with vegetables:

And... we have already had to break out the sprinkler for some sun relief:

My favorite post play pic:

I just love her face in this one... :)

And her gorgeous smile: