John Harvey Photo

April 2013

Go to Slide Show Smaller Images Happy Birthday Nara!


Claira Grinning In Bathtub
The job of washing the kids has generally fallen on my shoulders.  Shortly after Claira was born she was washed in a bucket.  She graduated to the bath tub but still required a lot of holding and we didn't want to get her ears wet.  As she grew up, she learned how to sit and bath time became much more fun.  Recently she figured out she could splash the water and she thought that was awesome!
Claira Having APartyClaira Smiling With The Splashes

Claira Inspecting Star Fish
Claira started swimming classes when this year and she seems to really enjoy it.  It took her a long time to figure out she could pick up the balls, but I think she enjoyed the time with Mom.  I got some time off work so I was able to see Helen and Nara do a day time swimming class.

Claira And Helen In The Sun Swimming

Claira Knows What Is Coming
Claira started walking some time April and with learning to walk, she has learned to squirm to get put down.  Until she started walking, she didn't really exercise control over where she was going - she couldn't crawl and she could pull herself up.  Watching her swim, I suspect Claira is  just resigned that was is going to happen her, will happen - she has no control.

Claira Blowing BubblesClaira Doing Back Float

Claira did look like she had a good time.  After swim she gets a drink and her nap after that seems to come early and last longer.

Nara's Birthday

The local concrete plant has an open house every year around this time and we decided it would make a great start to Nara's birthday.  Nara has always liked cement trucks and other construction machinery and the chance to see it up close seemed pretty attractive.

David And Loren Under UmbrellaNara In BobcatNara In The Scoop Of AFront End LoaderNoelle Playing In Sand

Nara With Backhoe Bucket
There were three cement trucks lined up so kids could climb in and "drive". The horns on the trucks are still working and almost every kid wants to honk the horn.  That is loud.  Nara had hearing protection, but she still had a tough time with all the noise.  We played more the with the yard equiptment, but Nara wasn't really having a good time so we decided to head home a little early.



After the cement plant, we came back to our house and played with Nara's toys.  We fired up the BBQ and made hot dogs for lunch.  The kids explored Nara's and Claira's toys while Nara looked on somewhat in horror.

Abby And Halley Playing With SpiralAbby Smiling With MomGirls In Naras Kitchen

Xander On The Couch With BeadsXanderBenjamin Playing With Toys
 
Claira Holding ABunch Of BallonsStephen And XanderBenjamin Looking In On Halley

Nara Still Not Pleased With Kids Playing With Her Toys
Nara really wasn't so sure she wanted other kids playing with her Toys.  She was better once lunch came (she didn't have to watch) and she ate her lunch slowly.

Nara Not Sure About People In Her Kitchen

Finally the cake came and Nara was really happy.  Nara really likes cake.

Helen Brining Out The CakeNara Blowing Out The CandleNara Clapping After Blowing Out The Candle

After cake, Nara went to bed for her afternoon nap.  She crashed hard and slept for a long time.

Happy Birthday at Grandma's House


Claira Has The Remote Control Claira On The Couch With Theresa
On Sunday we went to Grandmas house so Grandma could serve cake and give gifts.  On Sunday's Nara has gynastics and swimming (make up class) so with a late lunch and even later snack we didn't make it to Grandma's until quite late in the day.

Nara With Her Tongue Out

Naras Birthday Ice Cream Cake
We had sushi for dinner (one of Nara's favorites is Tamago) and there was cake for desert!  This was an ice cream cake from La Casa Gelato.  We picked up a chocolate strawberry cake which seemed to make everyone (but especially Nara) happy. 


Nara did better blowing out the candle this time.

Naras Sees The CakeNaras Blowing Out The CandleNara Clapping

Nara With Her Umbrella And Doll Clothes Nara Opening Next Gift
We tried to not make a big deal of the gifts.  Nara was really happy with her umbrella (Helen figured it would be a good gift because she is always interested in our umbrella) and her new clothes for her doll.  Grandma gave her money for her education - RESP, here we come.


Claira Walking

Claira was a not a big fan of crawling (or rolling over) but whenever she was at all vertical she wanted to try and stand on her legs. Sure enough, she started walking.  I think she just wants to keep up with her big sister.

Richmond Nature Park

Bog Laurel Growing In Leaf LitterRed Eared Slider Face On

Helen had an appointment to get her hair cut (at Aberdeen Mall) so I had Claira for a few hours. We decided to drive down the road to the Richmond Nature Park.

Claira Walking On Bridge Over Pond Downy Woodpecker And Pine Siskin
It is still early spring so I was suprised by the signs of life.  The Bog Laurel was quite flowery and the turtles (all pet store releases) we quite active trying to find a place in the sun.  Claira was just happy to walk around.
Family Of Red Eared Sliders

Cherry Blossoms

I recently found myself unemployed so I had time to take pick up Nara at day care and take Claira out for walks. We pretty much missed Cherry Blossom season with our trip to Hong Kong, but there are some late blooming trees near our house that still looked good.  I brought a camera on one of the walks to pick up Nara:

Cherry Blossoms Against Maple TreeCherry Blossoms Growing Near Branch

 Boundary Bay

Claira In Her Stroller  Helen And Claira On Dike
Thankfully the job search went well so we decided to take a mid week morning off to go for a walk at Boundary Bay.  Boundary Bay is well known for birds in the winter when they are avoiding the snow in the mountains, but I wasn't sure how things would be in the spring.



Great Blue Heron Near Brakish Pond
One previous trips (on weekends) the parking lot had thirty plus cars.  Today there were only three.  In the winter there are "birders" with big lenses everywhere.  Today I only saw bicyclists.  Given the lack of the traffic, I assume the location would be pretty dead but I was wrong - there was lots of details to see.

Anise Swallowtail On Dandelion
The dike has a stream running on one side and wetlands on the other - lots of good habitat for a variety of animals.  The dike is built up quite high so you often get a view down to or eye level on pearching birds.
Common Yellowthroat

Boundary Bay is really known for it's large birds of prey - Short Eared Owls and Northern Harriers.  Both were out today.

Northern Harrier Adult Male Soaring FlatNorthern Harrier Adult Male Starting TurnNorthern Harrier Adult Male Full Turn





Claira Blowing Bubbles
Person: Claira
Claira Grinning In Bathtub
Person: Claira
Girls In Naras Kitchen
Stephen And Xander
Nara In Bobcat
Person: Nara
Tags: balloon
Common Yellowthroat
Species: Geothlypis trichas (Common Yellowthroat)
Tags: bird, Boundary Bay, multiple frame image
Abby Smiling With Mom
Person: Abby
Claira Doing Back Float
Person: Claira, Helen
Naras Sees The Cake
Person: Nara
Great Blue Heron Near Brakish Pond
Species: Ardea herodias (Great Blue Heron)
Tags: Boundary Bay
Benjamin Playing With Toys
Northern Harrier Adult Male Full Turn
Species: Circus cyaneus (Northern Harrier)
Tags: Boundary Bay
Family Of Red Eared Sliders
Altitude: 116m (380 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: invasive, pond, Richmond Nature Park, turtle
Nara Clapping
Person: Nara
Northern Harrier Adult Male Starting Turn
Species: Circus cyaneus (Northern Harrier)
Tags: Boundary Bay
Claira Has The Remote Control
Person: Claira, Theresa
Nara Opening Next Gift
Person: Nara
Claira Inspecting Star Fish
Person: Claira, Helen
Abby And Halley Playing With Spiral
Person: Abby, Haley
Helen And Claira On Dike
Person: Claira, Helen
Tags: Boundary Bay
Benjamin Looking In On Halley
Nara With Backhoe Bucket
Person: Nara
Nara With Her Tongue Out
Cherry Blossoms Growing Near Branch
Tags: cherry blossoms
Helen Brining Out The Cake
Tags: balloon, birthday cake
Bog Laurel Growing In Leaf Litter
Species: Kalmia microphylla (alpine laurel, alpine bog laurel)
Altitude: 8m (26 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Richmond Nature Park
Naras Birthday Ice Cream Cake
Tags: birthday cake
Claira On The Couch With Theresa
Person: Claira
Nara Blowing Out The Candle
Tags: birthday cake
Xander
Person: Xander
Claira Walking On Bridge Over Pond
Person: Claira
Altitude: 1m (3 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Richmond Nature Park
Cherry Blossoms Against Maple Tree
Tags: cherry blossoms
Nara In The Scoop Of AFront End Loader
Person: Nara
Noelle Playing In Sand
Person: Noelle
Nara With Her Umbrella And Doll Clothes
Person: Nara
Tags: umbrella
Claira Having AParty
Person: Claira
Xander On The Couch With Beads
Person: Xander
Nara Not Sure About People In Her Kitchen
Person: Nara
Tags: balloon
Claira In Her Stroller
Person: Claira
David And Loren Under Umbrella
Person: David, Loren
Tags: umbrella
Red Eared Slider Face On
Location: Go To...
Tags: invasive, Richmond Nature Park, turtle
Anise Swallowtail On Dandelion
Species: Papilio zelicaon (Anise Swallowtail)
Tags: Boundary Bay, insect
Claira Holding ABunch Of Ballons
Person: Claira
Naras Blowing Out The Candle
Person: Nara
Claira Knows What Is Coming
Person: Claira
Downy Woodpecker And Pine Siskin
Species: Picoides pubescens (Downy Woodpecker), Carduelis pinus (Pine Siskin)
Altitude: 27m (88 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bird, bird feeder, Richmond Nature Park
Claira And Helen In The Sun Swimming
Person: Claira
Nara Still Not Pleased With Kids Playing With Her Toys
Person: Nara
Northern Harrier Adult Male Soaring Flat
Species: Circus cyaneus (Northern Harrier)
Tags: Boundary Bay
Nara Clapping After Blowing Out The Candle
Person: Nara
Claira Smiling With The Splashes
Person: Claira
Tags: Boundary Bay(7), Richmond Nature Park(5), balloon(3), birthday cake(3), umbrella(2), bird(2)
People: Claira(15), Nara(11), Helen(3), Abby(2), Xander(2), Haley(1)
From: John Harvey Photo > Blogs for 2023 to 2005 > April 2013

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