That winter feeling

We finally made it up to Mt. Seymour to pick up the season's passes for my boys this year, and while there wasn't as much snow as the last time I was up there, it was wonderful to enjoy the wintery feeling, despite the warmish weather here in Vancouver.  We ended up hiking on the snow-shoe trails part of the way to the look-out (last time Sasha and I did the 2.5 km that it took to get there) and noticed that dogs are now allowed on the trail as well.  Not that we have a dog, but there were some beautiful dogs clearly enjoying the snow as much as my boys.  Also new at Seymour- the magic carpet to take kids just learning to ski or snow-board up the bunny hill.  Sure beats the tow-rope! And someone parked their vintage snowshoes on the trail- the kind I'd be hanging up in my home if I had a pair! (The owner's bags were close by so I didn't quite feel like I could mess with these to stand both shoes up-right for the photo... does anyone know what the smaller one on the ground would be for?  It was on it's own...)
Only a few more days until Christmas!  I'll be taking some time off of blogging to really enjoy things around here, but I just thought I'd pass along a very Merry Christmas from my family to yours.  Thank you all for stopping by my blog, leaving comments and being interested in what I do and make.

Watching the Tides

Island get-a-way's are pretty easy to slip into when they involve warm weather, lots of beach, and a beautiful log cabin.  Our friends were great hosts and the boys had heaps of fun skim boarding, sandcastle building, getting motorbike rides around the Island, and even doing some tubing out on the water behind a boat.  It's the kind of place you want to spend the whole summer just watching the tide go in and out.

Nine

Well we officially have a 9 year old in the house.  He no longer needs a car seat.  It's his last year as a one digit number.  And he is growing very tall.  For his birthday he asked if he could have breakfast in bed.  The novelty wore off pretty quick, and soon he was at the table to eat the rest of his 'hungry-man's breakfast' that he had requested.  Eggs, bacon, and pancakes with blueberries, whipping cream and maple syrup.  Seriously.

My Monkeys

For those of you who might be a bit new to my blog, I have 2 boys, ages 6 and 8.  They are a lot of fun, are loud and energetic, can be very sweet, occasionally polite, and are frequently goofy.  Above all, they love to laugh.  The little monkeys above are my two boys on either side of the newest member of my side of the family, little Oliver (my nephew).   Already there is a 'cousin bond' forming with these 3 and it is pretty hilarious to watch Oliver wanting to be part of the action!

Oh the excitement of having a slumber party with his cousins! 

Anyways, things are a bit of a juggling act around here this week.  Busy boys, busy studio and all.  This coming weekend kicks off my first show of the season and the list of things to do is pretty long. I won't be blogging as frequently, but I will post the details of the show tomorrow and I will also put a reminder out there that my online shops will be closed from thursday on through the weekend!

Happy Halloween!

We are carving pumpkins and putting up decorations for tomorrow's Halloween festivities.  The boys are both 'ninja spies'.   We'll be at the neighbour's place for some fireworks after the kids do some trick-or-treating in the neighbourhood tomorrow night- should be fun:)

Little friends

The past week has been made up of play and friends and family time.  Life is too short not to get to know other people's kids, I figure.  They are all so cute and funny with so much character of their own. 
Little Oliver and my sister spent the night this past week and it was my first time babysitting my little 5 month old nephew.  He's so yummy and such a content baby- I'm in love with the little guy.

At one point this past weekend there were 6 kids (ages 3-8) to 3 adults in the house.  We had a great big pancake breakfast and then walked to the park to play capture the flag.  

A night at the Drive-in

Nothing quite beats summer like watching a drive-in movie under the starry skies!  We had the chance to take our boys to their first drive-in on our holidays to watch the movie Despicable Me and it sure was fun.  We set Johnny up in the back of our station wagon with his sleeping bag and some popcorn (Sasha was in a little lawn-chair with sleeping bag) and the laughter and giggles coming from them was golden.  And when the stars came out, and in this case, the bats, it really was an evening these boys will never forget!
The best part about going to the drive-in is all the old animation they still use to try to get you to buy some popcorn at their store.  Since the kids movie went quite late (it was a double feature) we were leaving just as the old song 'let's all go to the lobby, let's all go to the lobby, let's all go to the lobby and get our selves a drink!' started playing with the little cups tap dancing.  Remember those?  It all comes back when you're at the drive-in!

Island get-a-way: Adventure Walk

Below my sister's place is a salmon spawning stream/river that is perfect for taking little boys on an nature walk.  We came to this cave-like tunnel at far end of the stream, which keeps the water flowing  through while holding train tracks above it.  The boys and I ventured through the dark tunnel, finding an almost magical waterhole on the other side.  If I had had my video camera with me you would have heard me 'yelling' at the boys to be careful along the wall and sides- not to slip into the water because it was so deep.  They are OK swimmers but it would have required me jumping in after them, camera and all if they had slipped in.  No worries- all went well and they have an adventure story to add to their summer holiday journal.

Crescent Cabin

It's not every day we get to step inside a beach-front 'cabin' at Crescent Beach.  My sister's husband's family used to spend their summer holidays at their Grandmother's cabin that has been in the family since 1954.  Thanks to an uncle who has kept the place in it's original condition, it's still a place they can go to to remember long summers of clam digging, sand-castle building, and crabbing on the ocean.  My sister, her husband and new baby spent this past week here and invited my folks and our family to join them for a memorable Father's Day dinner at the cabin.  It was a nice treat to all be together!

All in a day's play

Saturday included a hike and walk with just me and Jenny to Lynn Canyon and up to the Seymour Demonstration Forest.  Sushi for lunch and Dried fruit and nuts for desert while we checked out the new city library.  Then for some fun and cute photos of the kids at the Pier.  It felt like we were on vacation.
Hope your weekend was great!  I've got a busy week ahead and a give-away to announce so stay tuned...

It was finally nice out

Friends came to visit and it was finally nice enough to eat and play outdoors.  Here are Friday's photos.