I'm Back!

Where does the time go? It's been so long since I updated that I'm just going to mention some highlights from the past month or so. The weekend after our Victoria get-away we went to see The Wars at the Playhouse. We were able to make good use of my parents' tickets since they were out of town and couldn't make it. We started the evening by going the Gotham Steakhouse which we've been meaning to try for ages. It was well worth the wait! The steak was fabulous (the best I've had in a restaurant) and the ambience and service definitely made it an experience to appreciate (and repeat!) The play was also fantastic. I'm always so impressed by how a very simple set can transport you between places and times so effectively. We enjoyed it so much we even considered getting season's tickets ourselves; maybe after we recover financially from my year of mat leave!
A couple weeks later we were off to see Maroon 5 with Kris and Claudine. We saw them the last time they were here and they've only become more popular since then. We went to Samba for dinner and opted for the all-you-can-eat menu and did we ever! As the servers came around to offer the varying meats (veal, bison, ostrich, elk, steak, chicken...) we just couldn't say no. Then we headed to the Coliseum for the concert. The opening band was The Hives and they were so entertaining that we are some of their newest fans. Maroon 5 didn't disappoint either. They were so effective at involving the audience and the set list flowed really well. They were so energetic that, despite how full we all were, we pretty much danced the entire show.
The next weekend was also pretty busy. It was Charles's birthday on the Friday but we opted to stay in as we had a busy couple of days ahead. We spent a quiet evening at home and watched a couple of movies after Caleb went down (we love this 7:30 bed-time thing!). On Saturday we were next door at Eric and Lisa's for dinner. Lisa prepared a great lasagne and Caleb had a blast playing with Keira before and after dinner. We ended the evening with a delicious cheesecake (another first for Caleb!)
On Sunday we were off to Mattias's birthday party. Rina and Carl held it in the amenity room of Carl's mom's building and it was the perfect location. There was a lot of room for all the little ones to run around. We had such a great time watching the kids have so much fun together. After the playing, pizza, and presents all the kids (and their parents) were exhausted! I added a few photos from the party.
Last weekend we were at Mom and Dad's for the Charles/Cristi birthday dinner. As usual, Dad prepared a fantastic meal which was made even more delicious with the addition of foie gras, wine, and chocolates from their trip to France. We were all pretty tired (our household had just recovered from the flu and Cristi wasn't feeling well) and so we headed home pretty early for a good sleep!
This past week has been pretty intense. We're looking forward to an evening out with Mandy and Kevin tomorrow, but that's about it for this weekend. Then we'll be working like crazy on report cards next week. It seems like there's so much to do and so little time; Christmas vacation will be here before we know it.

Mini-Vacation

On Friday I received a fantastic surprise. While I was in the library with the grade sevens one of Charles's students arrived with an 'Urgent' envelope for me. When I opened it I found an invitation from Charles to join him and Caleb for a weekend in Victoria. I had been dying to see the Titanic exhibit at the Royal BC Museum and Charles had arranged for us to go this weekend (the final weekend of the exhibit!). We left early Saturday morning and had some time for lunch (at Sam's Deli - a favourite of ours) and to check in at the hotel before heading to the museum for 3:00. The exhibit was spectacular. It was so fascinating to see the wide variety of objects that have been salvaged from the shipwreck - from clothing to suitcases to vials still containing perfume. I've always been so interested in the tragedy, and learning so many personal details about many of the passengers really made it seem like it was not so long ago.
After the exhibit we continued on to the Natural History part of the museum to share some of my favourites with Caleb. He loved seeing the Mammoth (which he woke up just in time for) and the Coastal Forest display. We spent a long time at the Water Fowl section as he kept pointing at everything and wanting to go right up to the glass to get a closer look.
We took a little walk along the harbour on the way back to the hotel and stopped to see one of the street performers (it wasn't Red the Juggler, a regular who I remember from when I was a kid, but he was very entertaining!) Then we headed back to the hotel for dinner only to find that the restaurant was completely booked for the entire evening. So, we decided on room service instead and made reservations for Sunday morning brunch. We spent a cozy evening playing with Caleb in the room before putting him to bed and watching a movie.
On Sunday morning we walked through town to have a light breakfast. It was so peaceful as there weren't too many people walking around at 8 in the morning! When we returned to the hotel we all went for a little swim before going for brunch. Caleb had his first taste of french toast (Peaches 'n' Cream French Toast, in fact). After eating we spent a few hours doing some shopping in Victoria before leaving for the ferry. We love how they keep so much of the original architecture - it really gives the city a distinct feel. On the way home, Caleb had a great time playing with all the little kids on the slide; it tired him right out. We arrived home just in time to put him to bed.
It was a fantastic weekend for us all; what a great little family I have!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wow - after the week we had at school we sure needed this long weekend! Luckily, we had a great weekend which helped to fade the memory of last week. On Friday we went to the pub with our staff to say goodbye to our head secretary who is leaving to go to a school closer to her home. I really don't know what we'll do without her expertise. When we got home we packed Caleb up and headed to Kris's parents' house for the evening. Kris and Claudine prepared a fantastic seafood pasta and we brought along a Caesar Salad. After dinner we put the kids down and then indulged in a fantastic dessert created by Claudine. We spent the rest of the evening relaxing in the hot tub visiting with a few drinks. It turned into a late night (especially for a Friday when we're so exhausted) but we really needed it.
On Saturday I had my reformer pilates class; it's a great way to start the day as I always feel so good afterwards. In the early afternoon we headed out to the Alibi Room to celebrate Cristi and Chris's engagement. They had a really good turn out and everyone had a good time visiting over appies and cocktails. We headed home just after five so we could be at home for Caleb's dinner and bedtime routines. After watching a bit of tv we turned in early.
Sunday started pretty early as we wanted to get out to Metrotown for some shopping before heading over to Mom and Dad's for Thanksgiving dinner. The shopping trip was very successful (I love it when I find exactly what I'm looking for) and we got home just in time to prepare the potatoes and get over to Mom and Dad's. We were joined by Aunt Nan, David, Cristi, Chris and Chris's parents who are visiting from Manitoba. She's a special ed teacher and he is an ex-NHL player (very interesting people!). Caleb was the centre of attention and he enjoyed playing with everyone. As usual, Mom and Dad made a fantastic dinner (complemented by my now-famous potatoes) and Cristi provided a delicious pumpkin chiffon pie for dessert. We had an early dinner and were home in time to put Caleb to bed around 7:30. (I'll add some photos soon.)
Today we may take in a matinee (it feels like ages since we've been to a movie) or we may just take advantage of a day with no plans to relax and prepare for another school week. I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!

Autumn Update

Well, by this point we're all firmly settled into the fall routine. Charles and I are back in the classroom and, despite a rough few days in the beginning, Caleb is settling well into daycare. I am really enjoying teaching again and it makes coming home and weekends that much more exciting as I get to look forward to spending time with our little guy.
Caleb is transforming so quickly that I can barely keep up. He is now walking all over the place and he says 'mom' and 'dad' (and even associates them with the correct people!). He is having so much fun at daycare playing with the other kids that the other day he cried when we took him away from his friends and toys to go home! He is such a little boy now and his personality is definitely developing.
We've also been able to make it out for a few evenings thanks to a fantastic network of willing babysitters. We went to see Justin Timberlake in the beginning of September and it was definitely the best concert I've seen. We've had a few dinners with Chris and Claudine - at their house and at ours. It is so nice to have friends close enough that we can pull together impromptu dinners. I also went out for dinner with Chris and Harjit who I haven't seen since Junior High. It was so easy to just be ourselves and have a blast getting reacquainted. This past weekend we also went to see the Blue Man Group which was a lot of fun. We went for dinner at Wimaan Thai beforehand (on Mindy's recommendation) and it was fantastic - we'll go back for sure.
Today we had Caleb's first birthday party. We had originally planned on holding it at the local park, but the weather had other plans. We moved the party to our house and it was a full house. Caleb was surrounded by friends and family and he had a great time playing with everyone and his new toys. He won't be getting bored anytime soon. People started arriving around three and pretty much everyone left around seven. It was perfect timing for us to get a very tired little boy off to bed. Thanks to everyone for your gifts and, more importantly, your company!

Caleb sure is having a social week! After Alex's birthday on Saturday, we had Rina, Carl, and Mattias over for a bbq on Sunday evening. We hadn't seen them since their moving day, so it was really nice to catch up. The two boys hadn't seen each other in ages since Mattias was with his grandma on the day that they moved. Caleb was so excited that he didn't eat his dinner very well because he just wanted to play. Since he's normally such a good eater, we weren't too worried about it! We barbecued hamburgers (Caleb later loved his!) and Rina and Carl brought over a delicious salad and dessert. After dinner Caleb and Mattias played for a bit longer before Caleb had his bath and was off to bed. There are photos of the boys in the August folder. We were able to finally see Rina's photos from Greece - I definitely want to go one day - and we heard all about their rental house in Nanaimo. They have a fantastic flyer outlining all the features and showing great photos. It is such a cute little house; they'll have no problem renting it out.
Caleb is growing so fast! I know that I've probably neglected updating you all on his progress over the past little while. He's stands on his own for quite a while now and we're pretty sure he'll be walking soon; he walks all over the house with his walker and is getting really fast at it. His 'vocabulary' has expanded greatly and he really enjoys singing along with us; he also learned to scream after being around all the kids at Alex's party (great!). For mealtimes he's eating more and more of what we are having and he really enjoys the independence of feeding himself (with his hands). His newest skills include clapping and using sign language to indicate when he wants milk, daddy, or mommy. He also points at everything wanting to know what it is called and is in the routine of giving good-night kisses to all his toys (and mommy and daddy). I can't believe that he'll be a year-old soon - I'm already planning his party!

Half-Way Point

Well, we're half-way through summer and, for the most part, it's been great. The Bard-B-Q was fantastic. We saw Taming of the Shrew and it was hilarious. They used a Western theme for the play and, although still in Shakespearean English, they spoke with southern drawls. It was amazing! In the intermission we had a great salmon bbq and following the play we were directed to a private seating area where we had coffee and dessert while watching the Celebration of Light Fireworks (Canada performed). The next morning we helped Rina and Carl move to their new place (closer to us!). On Tuesday, we had the great news that Kris and Claudine welcomed their newest addition, Amelie, into the world. We went to see them in the hospital on Wednesday and everyone was doing great. That evening, we went to Jessica's to see China's fireworks show. She has the perfect roof-top balcony to view the fireworks as she looks right out onto English Bay.
The following weekend, I set off for a surf weekend with the girls. We left on Friday and it was pretty difficult for me as it was the first time I've been away from Caleb. Although I knew he was in Charles's capable hands, it was still pretty tough for me to say goodbye (even though it was only for three nights!) Mandy, Cori and I drove to the ferry together where we met up with Kelly and Christina. Cristi, Laura, and Suzanne caught an early morning ferry and were already at the house in Ucluelet when we got there. We had surf lessons through Bruhwiler Surf School on Saturday and Sunday mornings for about three hours. By the end of day two, we were all very comfortable with and somewhat addicted to surfing! I can't wait to do it again (perhaps in a warmer climate next time!). We were provided with wet suits which kept us warm and the weather remained dry throughout the weekend; the afternoons were actually quite sunny. We headed home on Monday afternoon and, despite having our ferry break down, driving to a different terminal, waiting in line for hours, barely getting on the 4:30 ferry, and redocking once we reached Horseshoe Bay due to a broken ramp, we eventually made it home.
Since then we've been kind of laying low. I was so happy to see my little family again that I just wanted them to myself for a while! We did go to Kris and Claudine's for an impromptu bbq a couple of days ago. Amelie alternated between eating and sleeping while we were there and Caleb had a great time playing with Alex and his toys.
Last night we received the sad news that Grandpa Larson passed away. He had been in the hospital for about a week and was apparently rested and peaceful when he died. Cindy had gone in to see him that morning, shaved him, and put on some music for him to listen to. After a full life of 100 years, he was ready to go. We all love and will miss him greatly. Will Yogi Yorgensen ever sound the same again?
Today we're getting ready to celebrate Alex's second birthday and Rina, Carl, and Mattias are coming over for dinner tomorrow. After that, who knows...?

Caleb's First Trip

We returned home last night from Cusheon Lake Resort on Saltspring Island. The resort is one that Charles took his class to a few years ago, and since then we're returned three times with friends. The first time was with Mandy and Kevin, last year with Rina and Carl, and this time Mandy, Kevin, Rob, and (of course) Caleb joined us.
We arrived amid sprinkles on Sunday afternoon but by Monday afternoon it was clear and we enjoyed the sun on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sunday was spent getting settled and unpacking before dinner. After Caleb was asleep we all played Tricks followed by Catan - Cities and Knights which took us into the wee hours!
We attempted to visit two local bakeries on Monday (both were closed!) and we were pleased to find the Saltspring Island Cheese Factory open. After selecting a few varieties, we enjoyed a picnic lunch on the grounds. In the afternoon Rob and Charles took out one of the canoes while Caleb napped and Mandy and Kevin went into town. That evening we took a break in between games (Bang and Tricks) to go down to the hot tub.
Tuesday was a beautiful day and we began by driving out to Mount Maxwell which has spectacular views of the islands. On the way back to the cabin we went into town for lunch and then returned for Caleb's nap. Later that day we all trooped down to the lake for some swimming and sunning on the dock. Charles and I took turns with Caleb on the shore where he made some little friends and really enjoyed wading out into the water with us. We had a somewhat earlier night and finished up with the games around 11:30.
Wednesday morning was spent enjoying a leisurely breakfast before packing up. We went into Ganges and spent some time in the galleries and shops before having lunch and heading out to the ferry. I've added some photos in the Saltspring folder.
We were a little nervous about how Caleb would handle being in a different house again - would he think we had moved again?!? There was nothing to worry about, though, as he adjusted just fine and slept pretty much as he would have if we were at home. The trickiest part was when Charles and I would head off to bed; Caleb was sleeping in our bedroom and since it's been so long since he's slept in a room with us that we were sure that he'd wake up as soon as we opened the door. It turns out we were worried for nothing - we should have been more concerned about him waking us up as it turns out that he talks/laughs in his sleep A LOT! He is so active that it's no wonder that he is such a great sleeper. He had a fantastic time showing of for and playing with Mandy, Kevin, and Rob. I wonder if he's now wondering where everyone went!?!
This weeked we'll be heading out to the Bard-B-Q and Fireworks performance of Taming of the Shrew with Mandy and Kevin and then on Sunday we'll be helping Rina and Carl move. Then it will be less than a week to Surf Camp!!! Somewhere in there we're hoping for news of Kris and Claudine's new baby!

I know, I know

It's been ages since I last updated our site!!! I blame: moving, Caleb, houseguests, and facebook so I think I can be forgiven!? We've definitely had our hands full the past few weeks. After moving in we've had workers here a few times a week to finish up little jobs that didn't quite get finished. The problem with buying in the last phase of a development (and getting pushed back by two weeks) is that all the trades have left to work on new projects and it's very difficult to get them to come back to finish off on their last project. Luckily we're both home now, so that's helped with scheduling. We're almost finished chasing down all the 'professionals' so pretty soon we should have our house to ourselves.
It hasn't been all work, though. We did manage to go out to see Amos Lee at the Commodore last week. We went with Cori, Kelly, and two of Kelly's friends. We had dinner at The Banana Leaf before-hand (it was fantastic) and really enjoyed the concert. Neither of us had been to the Commodore for a concert before and we really enjoyed the venue. We've also had Rina and Carl stop by a couple of times, Kris, Claudine & Alex came over for a bbq, and Trish and Tyler stopped by for a visit and tour of the house.
Charles' birth-mom, Laurie, and her two sons Austen and Landon are also here for a visit. They arrived on Saturday and are staying for one week. We took them to Fort Langley the other day and yesterday they were off to the Capilano Suspension Bridge while we stayed home to deal with more people coming out to the house. I think we'll be heading to the beach today.
I've added some family photos (June 2007) and will be posting some of the new house soon.

Moved In

We're moved in! We could not have done it without our wonderful helpers: Rob, Mandy, Kevin, Rina, Carl, Jitt (thanks Trish for freeing up Jitt so he could come and help), Chris, Cristi, Kris, Chris J, Matt, Friedhelm, Joyce, Mom and Dad; thanks guys! It took multiple trips over two days but eventually we got everything here. Mom and Dad were also a huge help as they watched Caleb throughout the move and Dad barbequed burgers for everyone on Saturday. For now our days are full of unpacking, reorganizing, and having workers into the house to finish those last-minute tasks that didn't quite get done. I'll add some pictures as soon as the house is 'show-ready' (provided I find the camera!).

Two More Weeks to Go!

This week has been a vast improvement! We are starting to see real progress in our house; all the kitchen and bathroom cabinets are in as is the laminate flooring. The ceilings have been sprayed and most of the linoleum floors are down. Now they need to paint before installing the countertops, mirrors, and carpetts. On the outside all of the siding is done and they are just working on the board and batten section. Of course this means that we finally have to really start packing.
We didn't get any packing done this weekend as we were pretty busy. Rina and I took the boys to Aquafit on Thursday. Both of them are really enjoying their time in the water. It seems like they both really get into it at the end of the class so we stayed in the pool playing with them for a while after the class was over. It was really relaxing for us all. On Friday we went for dinner at Pearl with Rob to celebrate his new job. They have a new chef and so there are some big changes to the menu; however, they've also kept a few of their signature dishes. We all really enjoyed our meals and, although we all shared a Creme Brulee, we we still able to walk up the beach for Gelato afterwards. On Saturday we took Caleb for his swimming lessons in the morning - he's getting really good at blowing bubbles! In the evening we went for an early dinner with Kris and Claudine at Wings. They've been telling us about the wings there for a while and we were glad to finally have the chance to try them out. They were great! After dinner we tried to get to the early show of Pirates 3 but it was sold out so we headed over to Chapters/Starbucks while we waited for the next show. Despite the fact that it's received some negative reviews, we really enjoyed the movie. Today we're going to head out to do some shopping between Caleb's naps so we can enjoy the afternoon in the sun!

Week From Hell

I am so relieved that last week is over! It started with finding out that our house is delayed by two weeks on Monday and something negative happened every day for the rest of the week up until Saturday. I won't get into it all here, I've been able to vent a bit to friends and don't really want to think about it anymore.
On the up side, we did have a great time at Claudine's birthday barbeque last Tuesday. We had a delicious dinner and really enjoyed our time with friends and Kris's family. Thanks guys - it was definitely a bright point of my week!
Caleb had a fantastic week. He got into a sitting position by himself on Monday, started crawling on Tuesday, and waved bye-bye to us as we were leaving for the barbeque. We've had our hands full as he is becoming more and more mobile. No matter how many more foam mats we buy for the tile floor, he remains determined to get off the mats and onto the floor. Today he got the first of what I'm sure will be many bumps on his head. He cried for about a minute and then was back to his cheerful self.
So far this week has been much better and I hope it continues that way!

Mother's Day Weekend

This past week, Caleb and I had company at Baby & Me Aquafit as Rina decided to sign up for the next set of classes. Mattias was right at home in the water and Caleb is becoming more and more playful during the class now that he has completely examined the pool and its surroundings. It seems that he needs to truly analyse his environment before he begins to trust it.

I spent some time on Friday getting a group together to go to the Roxy Surf Camp in Tofino. So far there are five or six of us planning to go and I'm sure it will be a fantastic time! The camp includes three hours of lessons a day for two days and all of the necessary equipment. All that is left for us to figure out are accommodations. I can't wait! Although I imagine it won't be the same as surfing on Maui!

In the evening, we went out for dinner with Kris and Claudine at East Side Mario's. We hadn't been there before and enjoyed trying something new. Then we went over to Colossus to see Spiderman 3. I definitely wasn't blown away. It felt to me that the movie took too long to build up and that there was a whirlwind of action to finish the storyline. Although the main characters had already been established in the first two movies, some of the new characters weren't developed enough and, as a result, the motivations for their actions did not ring true foilr me. The special effects were fun to watch, but overall, I found that the movie actually seemed long (I haven't felt that way about a movie for a long time!) Nonetheless, we had a very enjoyable evening with Kris and Claudine.

I spent Saturday renewing my first aid certification with Mom. Now that Caleb is venturing further into the world of solids I really wanted to be sure that I felt confident in my ability to help him if it ever becomes necessary. While I was out, Charles took Caleb to his first swimming lesson. I was really sorry to miss the first one, but I'll definitely be joining them for the rest of the session. They did a lot of singing songs and just moving around in the water. The only part that Caleb seemed wary of was when the babies were dipped underwater. We'll just keep working on that part! When I got home, we went to check out a daycare near our school. It was recommended to us by another teacher at work and when we called a couple of months ago they were full for September. Luckily for us, one family unexpectedly has to move away in the summer which leaves one space for an infant open for us! She has a fantastic set-up and her rates are quite reasonable so we're signing up for the available spot starting in September. It is such a relief to have everything settled for the school year. We stayed in for the evening as we were both exhausted! We watched some TV (The Office & Grey's Anatomy) and caught up on Facebook before turning in early.

This morning I woke up to flowers and gifts for my first Mother's Day. Caleb managed to select and purchase some fantastic items from Lululemon and Charles presented me with some of the Mums for Moms which benefit BC Women's Hospital. Then we enjoyed some waffles for breakfast and now Caleb is settling down for his nap. Today we're going to go see our Moms and stop by the new house to see the progress. Three more weeks...

House Cooling

Last night we had friends over for one last big get-together before we move (less than four weeks now!). People started arriving around 3:00 and we had a good time visiting and nibbling on the many appetizers that friends provided throughout the afternoon. Caleb enjoyed visiting and playing with Mattias and Alex; however, at times he was a bit overwhelmed by all of the people! He got up on his hands and knees and had everyone holding their breath to see if he would actually crawl, but he decided to keep us all waiting. Maybe it will happen at the House Warming? A few people had to leave in the early evening and then Charles started preparing dinner for those who wished to stay. After putting Caleb to bed, we had rosemary garlic lamb, roasted potatoes and carrots. It was delicious! Of course, no evening would be complete without a game of Catan! Cori, Kelly and Rob stayed to play a game before they, too, headed out. We have really loved this house and truly enjoyed entertaining in it for one last time! I've added photos in the May album.

Quiet Weekend

This weekend we pretty much stayed around home. Charles was sick last week and took half a day off on Thursday, so he really wanted to relax this weekend. On Friday, we went to a showhome furniture sale but didn't see much except for a pool table that we considered buying. However, after doing more research at home (and with some help from Chris) we decided to hold off and buy a different brand. On Saturday we went to see the house again; they poured our basement concrete but that's about it. Then we did some shopping and came home to watch The Last King of Scotland. What a fantastic movie! The special feature where Forest Whitaker talks about how deeply he got into the character of Idi Amin was fascinating. Today we went to Crescent Beach with Caleb and Charlie. Now we're watching the hockey game and since it's intermission we're off to bathe Caleb and get him ready for bed.
PS- I added a list of books that we've read recently; if you're interested in borrowing any of them just let us know!

We had a pretty busy weekend that ended up kind of extending itself to Monday night! On Saturday we went to Bear Creek Park with Trish, Jitt, and Tyler for the Earth Day celebration. None of us had been before and it was really interesting to see all of the booths that were set up. I can't wait until Caleb can enjoy the activities that they had set up for kids: a bouncy castle, face painting, and bubbles. We headed home in the early afternoon for Caleb's nap and then met up with the Uppals at their place for a barbecue dinner. After both boys were asleep we sat up just catching up for a while. There are some photos in the April folder.
On Sunday we did a few errands and went by the new house. So much changes in a week; we now have a roof, windows, and exterior doors. Each week I look forward to seeing all of the progress. On Sunday evening we were at Mom and Dad's for dinner (we didn't have to cook all weekend!) and we had the chance to really enjoy their newly completed backyard. It looks fantastic!
We had tickets for Damien Rice on Monday night (yes, we missed the hockey game) and we headed down early with hopes of eating at Vij's. However, hockey traffic was stupid and when we finally got there at 6, they had an hour long wait (not surprisingly). So, we went next door and ate at Rangoli - it was fantastic!
Then we went to The Centre for the concert. Our seats were in the centre of the front row and I really enjoyed being so close. During his encore, he performed Blower's Daughter acoustically and mic-free; it felt as though he was singing just for us; he was just standing right in front of me. I was surprised that his performance was a lot heavier in parts than one would expect from the CDs and it made for a very energetic show at times. We were also pleased to see how respectful the audience was. When he pulled back the energy and played more laid back songs, the audience was silent. He took a lot of risks as a performer in that he had long pauses and some long, quiet instrumental sections and I kept expecting some idiot to ruin the moment, but no one did. It was amazing. If he ever comes back I'll definitely be going to see him again. His interaction with the crowd was great - he's hilarious and who can resist that Irish accent?!
Caleb is so close to crawling that I keep thinking that I'm going to have to call Charles at school to let him know that our son is mobile. He's also getting more and more vocal (usually when we're watching tv!) and working hard on growing teeth; he now has five. Maybe when he's done with teeth he'll start growing some hair! I'll keep adding photos to the albums as I get them.

Beautiful Weekend!

On Friday night we went back the The Vault in Cloverdale. This time we went to see 2/5 of The Little Brother Band as Kelly and her bandmate, Wes performed. They played a lot of their originals along with some covers than spanned from U2 to Bob Marley to Blue Rodeo. Fantastic show, guys! We had a great time with Cori and her friends Jodi, Christy, and Dakota. Due to the hockey game, it wasn't as busy as usual which made it feel like a more intimate show.
On Saturday, we took Caleb out to White Rock for a picnic lunch. The beach was surprisingly empty and so we found a great spot on the grass. Following lunch we walked along the beach to get some coffee and then headed home for Caleb's nap. There are some photos in the April album. When he woke up we drove out to see our new house. We have a roof! I can't believe that we move in six weeks - I imagine the changes that we see in the house each week from here on out will be huge. We look forward to seeing you all at our 'House Cooling' party! And since a few have asked, it doesn't involve helping us pack! Or at least we hadn't thought of that... ; )
On Sunday evening, we went to Kris and Claudine's for an impromptu dinner. We had some fantastic smoked ribs, smokies, grilled asparagus and potatoes. A summer meal for sure! The boys were in bed by around 8:00 which left us free to chat for a few hours before heading home. Claudine had made home-made doughnuts for dessert which were fantastic. We ended off the evening by enjoying a really nice 10-year old Fonseca Port. Ah...summer is definitely approaching!

Easter Long Weekend

Now that the long weekend is over, I'm finding it difficult to remember what we actually did. Saturday seems to have disappeared from my mind aside from the fact that we went to Dublin Crossing for lunch only to be told that we weren't allowed to bring Caleb in - we were stunned! Needless to say, we went elsewhere for lunch. On Sunday we spent the day doing some shopping and other errands. Then on Monday, we went out for an Easter lunch with Friedhelm, Joyce, Matthew, Christopher, and Paul (who is down visiting from Prince George). After coming home for Caleb's nap, we went to drop him off at my parents' before going to see 300. It actually had more storyline than I was expecting and I ended up really enjoying it. Today we went to the Aquarium and had a fantastic time. It was a beautiful day and we timed the trip perfectly so that Caleb had his first nap on the way there and his second nap on the way home and was awake for the whole visit- I think we're getting the hang of this! Well, tomorrow Charles is back to work but at least it'll be a very short work week!

Bunnies!

If anyone else out there needs a good laugh at 8:00 in the morning, Mandy posted this great link : Bunnies on her website. We've had a pretty busy long weekend (extra long as Charles has today off) and I'll update more when we return from the Aquarium this afternoon. In the meantime, I am continually adding photos to the April album.

Spring has Sprung?

What a week. As soon as I had started to feel as though Spring had arrived, we had snow! Unbelievable. Caleb also had his 6 month shots this past week. He didn't cry at all for the first one and kind of whined a bit at the second - we were very proud. Last night Rob, Matt, and Christopher came over for the hockey game followed by a few games of darts. Caleb has been experimenting with a few different foods, some of which elicit interesting facial expressions (see the April album for examples). I've also added some of our older travel albums as I don't anticipate going on any big trips any time soon!
Still stuck on 54.3...grrr...
PS- This afternoon we headed out to Crescent Beach for a walk with Caleb; it was so hot out that any doubts about what season we are in have now disappeared!

Tonight Trish, Jitt, and Tyler came over for dinner. It's been ages since we've had them here for dinner although they have prepared many meals for us; it was about time that we began to repay them! Before dinner the boys had a chance to become accustomed to each other and we were pleased to see that Caleb seems to be getting more used to the idea of other little kids being around. We had a Guinness Stew with new potatoes and sourdough bread followed by brownies and coffee. After dinner the boys watched a bit of the hockey game before Trish and Jitt had to take Tyler home for his bedtime. (I've added some photos in Caleb's March album.) Caleb was a bit more difficult to put to bed due to all of the excitement but who can blame him? We'll see if I'm so understanding if he wakes up in the middle of the night...

Dining Out for Life

Last night we participated in Dining Out for Life by going to The Vault in Cloverdale for dinner. We hadn't been there before and were pleasantly surprised by both the ambience and the food. It was started by the same people who opened Washington Avenue Grill in Cloverdale and there were definite similarities in the menu and although there is a similarity in the eclectic decorating style, the Vault has a more sophisitcated feel. It is in an old bank building and you can actually eat in the vault. They are extremely busy and pretty much operate on reservations only. It was kind of strange to step off the main strip in Cloverdale into an entirely different environment. During dinner we enjoyed the music of Jason Mitchell. We didn't know of him before going so when Kelly invited us we didn't know what to expect; now I'm busy getting his music on my iPod. We were joined by Kelly's bandmate Wes his wife, Alison, and Cori. Kelly's band, The Little Brother Band, have a show there in April and so they wanted to check out the sound system and stage set up. It was really nice to have a chance to get to know Wes as the only times we've seen him he's been performing.
We decided to start expanding our network of babysitters beyond just grandparents and Kris came over to watch him for the evening. It worked out perfectly as we were able to put him to bed before going out. Kris didn't hear a peep from him all night. Whew! I was kind of nervous when we left but there was nothing at all to worry about. Thanks Kris!

Quick Update

Caleb's third tooth is now visible; he's been a little fussier lately but at least we know it will pass. The construction on the main floor of our house has begun - by this weekend the main floor should be finished. Charles finally got back to the gym for the first time in a month. We got fantastic seats for Damien Rice in April. The motorbike is back on the road for the season. We're off to see Jason Mitchell at The Vault tomorrow night (thanks, Kris, for babysitting!) and our house is no longer ours!
PS - Help! I'm stuck on WeffRiddles level 54.3 (the second part).

Spring Break Recap

Wow, I can't believe that Spring Break is already coming to a close. It's really too bad that the weather didn't really seem spring-like until today. However, we managed to keep busy. Last Sunday the three of us headed over to have dinner at Kris and Claudine's. Caleb seemed a bit wary of Alex (20 months) at first, but later became accustomed to his presence. After dinner, the boys went off to bed and we were able to spend some time visiting. It turned into a late night, but it was nice to feel as though we still have a social life!! On Tuesday morning we took Caleb to the pool and met up with Kris and Alex who were there with Kris's mom. Caleb is really enjoying the water. That evening we had my birthday dinner at Mom and Dad's where I enjoyed my requested dinner of Lasagne and Dad's Caesar Salad. We had a great evening with Mom, Dad, David, Cristi, and Chris. Caleb even received a gift of three pairs of infant DC runners from Cristi. They're sooooo cute!! On Friday we went to see Zodiac while Charles's parents babysat and then we came home to prepare dinner for Kris and Claudine. They brought Alex over and the boys had a chance to spend a bit more time with each other before both were off to bed. Neither one make a peep once they were down, and so we were able to play a game of Catan (my first time in months!) and chat for a bit before they were off home. On Saturday we had Grandpa's 100th birthday party (see below). This afternoon Rina and Carl came over with Mattias for coffee and we were able to catch up and let the boys get used to each other. Tomorrow it's back the beginning of the home stretch for Charles and before we know it we'll be moving

Grandpa's 100th

We were at Grandpa's house last night celebrating his 100th birthday! How disconcerting it must have been for him to awake to find 50+ people surrounding him in his home. The house was full of extended family and many old friends. Grandpa awoke in time for some speeches from Mom and Uncle Don and a delicious birthday cake made by Cindy. Of course the evening would not have been complete without music (no Yogi Yorgensen, though) which was provided by Uncle Glen on guitar followed by Tom on violin. Caleb was quite overwhelmed by all of the people but was able to pose for some pictures with his great-grandpa nonetheless.

New Location

For simplicity's sake, I'm in the process of changing our website. Stay tuned...

Caleb has been a busy boy these past couple of weeks. We started our 'Baby and Me Aquafit'. The first day that we went he hadn't had his morning nap yet and he actually fell asleep in the pool for about 20 minutes of the class. I couldn't believe it! At least he wasn't the only one; there was one more little boy who fell asleep. At least I know he's comfortable in the water. The second time he was able to stay awake for the whole class and really got into it towards the end. It really is a lot of fun and the class is quite full with moms and their babies. We also spent a fun afternoon with Rina and Mattias. They came to our house and we went for a nice long walk before stopping at Cappulatte's for some lunch and lattes. We hope to go again soon. It's so nice to have some adult conversation during the day. Caleb has mastered sitting up by himself. He enjoys it so much that he is very unhappy if we put him on his back to play so he quickly rolls onto his tummy or fusses until we get him into the sitting position. When he's on his tummy, he often pulls his legs up under himself and tries desperately to push himself forward. I'm sure we'll see some forward movement soon.

Charles and I have also been able to get out a few times over the past little while. Our staff participated in a volleyball tournament so Caleb and I visited with the staff before the game and I met everyone at the pub after the tournament. We went to the Village Pub in Ocean Park which was fantastic. There is a pub side that is quite large and a restaurant side that apparently has great food. Last night we went to Cielo's for my birthday dinner and, as a result, we both felt that today should have been Saturday. We're still hoping to get to a movie soon and hopefully Spring Break will be a great time to finally make it to one.

We finished all of the selections for the new house and the sale of our house closes next Friday. After that, all that is left is to start packing. There's a house with the same floor plan that is being built in East Clayton and we've been visiting it every week. It really gives us a good idea of the space and allows us to start planning where our furniture will go.

I've also decided to take the rest of the school year off so I guess I'll be doing most of the packing (and unpacking as we move at the beginning of June). I just decided that I'd much rather stay at home as long as I possible can. Caleb is becoming more and more fun every day. Now we're starting to look for daycare or a live-out nanny for September. Both are very hard to come by but Mom has a lead on a couple of possibilities in our new neighbourhood. Hopefully one of them pans out.

Yay! Spring Break starts this weekend!