John Harvey Photo

April 2014

Go to Slide Show Smaller Images Love the longer days


Gulf of Georgia Cannery

Claira Pulling On Fish Tail  Marcus Pulling On Fish Tail
We had arranged a "play date" on Sunday afternoon but it turned out to be pouring rain.  Steveson is about half way between my sisters house and ours so we decided to visit the Gulf of Georgia Cannery for the afternoon. 
Nara Pulling On Fish Tail

I was a little concerned that the museum wouldn't but child safe.  Turns out I was quite wrong - many of the exhibits have activities at very low heights and lots of displays where kids can interact.  I was quite impressed by the mixing of kids and industrial equipment, but they never found a sharp corner or snagged a jacket.  There was a "kids activity area" that had a large scale child friendly fishing boat model that you could outfit with the different kinds of fishing rig we see on the coast.  Even I wanted to play with that toy.

Claira As AWorkerClaira Next To Canning LineJames Assembling Fishing BoatJames Opening His Birthday Gift

James At Can Sorting StationKids At The Kids TableMarcus Turning Handle On Display
Thanks for meeting us half way!

Easter on Vancouver Island

Breakfast Treats Hot Cross Buns
My Aunt generously offered to host an Easter event at her farm.  Just having the crowd over would be an accomplishment, but she also cooked (with some dishes brought) brunch and dinner!  My mother really likes hot cross buns so she pulled me over to make sure I got a photo of the treats.


We don't have a dog so it's always uncertain how our kids will act around a dog.  Smudge is easily twice Claira's size so Claira was understandably a little hesitant to come over and pet.  With enough coaxing (and Kayla holding Smudge to prevent an errant lick) both Claira and Nara got to give Smudge some affection. 

  Claira Coming Down StairsNara Claira And Helen Petting SmudgeClaira Putting Her Head Down On Smudge
 

 
Nara Walking Up Through Grass
After brunch Claira went for a nap and Nara and I went for a walk.  It was a bit of windy and rainy day but not so bad we couldn't walk down to the tree line.   It's still early spring but the Trillium was in full flower and other shrubs were blooming.  We spent some time looking for frogs but mid day doesn't really seem to be the time to find them.  Lots of deer prints to see though!

Trillium

Rufous Hummingbird
 
After Claira's nap, we went to visit the chickens.  The farm usually has both laying and roasting birds but the laying birds are the only birds they keep over the winter.

Nara And The ChickensClaira And The ChickensKayla Showing Nara AChickNara Visiting The New Chicks

The day after we went to my grandparents house for lunch.

Nara Assembling Mag Formers
My mom brought an introductory set of magformers for the kids to play with.  These plastic squares and triangles have magnets in them that allow you to snap edges together.  Nara could quickly build structures and just as quickly reduce them to pile of components.  Claira didn't have as much luck - she could pull them apart but couldn't make things.

Lexi Passing Over PieceNara Attaching Squares

Claira Standing With AFinger In Her MouthLexi Smiling With Dimples

Nara's 4th Birthday

Nara's first birthday was at the airport waiting for a flight to Hong Kong.  Her second birthday we were in Seattle.  Last year we had a house party.  Nara is now four so she is starting to have opinions about what she wants in her party.  We again had a house party and invited friends and family.  She likes hotdogs (and they scale well) and she asked for the type of cake. 

Abby Playing With LegoNoelle Rebuilding ThomasLoren Smiling With Phone
Noelle And Nara Playing TogetherGrandma Reading To Four Kids
 
 
Claira Eating Hotdog Abby Eating Lunch
We would up with three kinds of hot dogs - chicken, beef and veggie so there was something for everyone.  We don't have seating for 20 so a lot of people wound up eating sitting on the couch or floor - no one seemed to mind. 


 
Abby With Supervision
We have no shortage of toys in our house, but we decided to have a planned activity as well.  Helen purchased plain cookies and lots of decorating supplies - sprinkles, coloured icing pens and chocolate.  The kids could take some time to decorate a cookie (or three) and bring them home after the party.  We should have seen it coming, but not all cookies were saved to be "take home items" - a number of ingredients were "sampled" to ensure quality before usage.  The kids had fun though.


Xander Ensuring QualityNoelle Decorating With PensMarcus Putting Sprinkles On Cookie

Helen Lighting Candles
Nara wanted a blueberry cake.  Helen put on her bakers hat and made up a pair of blueberry cake sheet cakes.  We whipped two liters of whip creme.  Pro Tip: Don't try to whip two liters in yours mixer in one batch - it splatters everywhere.  The cakes were covered and put in the fridge overnight and then dressed up and stacked just before the party.  We were worries there wasn't going to be enough cake, but it turns we had about 200% of the cake we needed - kids just don't eat that much.


Out Comes The Birthday CakeNara Super Excited About CakeNara Blowing Out Second Candle
 
Claira (who is now 22 months old) doesn't normally like sweet stuff - her favorites are salty and savory.  As a baby, she wouldn't eat peaches or yam baby food - generally a favorite food for babies.  She normally won't eat pancakes or other sweets.  Turns out, she really likes cake.




  Boys Eating Cupcakes
The original plan was two hours - 11 until 1.  It was 2 by the time people started heading home (Claira needs a nap so we try to make sure it's quiet for her).  Thanks everyone for coming!



Nara Opening Gifts After Party Is Over
We try hard to not make it about the gifts, but we do exchange gifts with family.  After the party (the house was covered in toys) Nara took some time to open (and try on) some gifts from my sisters family.  Nara likes art projects so these supplies will be put to good use.


 
 


Claira Coming Down Stairs
Person: Claira
Claira Putting Her Head Down On Smudge
Noelle Decorating With Pens
Person: Noelle
Tags: decorating
Abby Playing With Lego
Person: Abby
Boys Eating Cupcakes
Person: James, Marcus
Nara Walking Up Through Grass
Person: Nara
James Opening His Birthday Gift
Person: James
Nara Attaching Squares
Person: Nara
Kayla Showing Nara AChick
Person: Nara
Abby With Supervision
Person: Abby, Jin
Tags: decorating
Claira Pulling On Fish Tail
Person: Claira
James Assembling Fishing Boat
Person: James
Nara And The Chickens
Person: Nara
Claira Eating Hotdog
Person: Claira
Nara Super Excited About Cake
Person: Nara
Hot Cross Buns
Marcus Pulling On Fish Tail
Person: Marcus
Kids At The Kids Table
Person: James, Marcus, Nara
Nara Opening Gifts After Party Is Over
Person: Nara
Nara Assembling Mag Formers
Loren Smiling With Phone
Person: Loren
Lexi Smiling With Dimples
Person: Lexi May
Nara Pulling On Fish Tail
Person: Nara
Nara Blowing Out Second Candle
Person: Nara
Tags: birthday cake, candlelight
Noelle And Nara Playing Together
Person: Noelle
James At Can Sorting Station
Person: James
Breakfast Treats
Claira Next To Canning Line
Person: Claira
Rufous Hummingbird
Species: Selasphorus rufus (rufous hummingbird)
Tags: bird, triptych
Lexi Passing Over Piece
Helen Lighting Candles
Tags: birthday cake, candlelight
Marcus Turning Handle On Display
Person: Marcus
Grandma Reading To Four Kids
Person: Claira, James, Janet, Marcus, Nara
Nara Visiting The New Chicks
Person: Nara
Nara Claira And Helen Petting Smudge
Xander Ensuring Quality
Person: Xander
Claira Standing With AFinger In Her Mouth
Person: Claira
Marcus Putting Sprinkles On Cookie
Person: Marcus
Tags: decorating
Noelle Rebuilding Thomas
Person: Noelle
Abby Eating Lunch
Person: Abby
Claira As AWorker
Person: Claira
Claira And The Chickens
Trillium
Species: Trillium ovatum (Western Trillium, Pacific Trillium)
Out Comes The Birthday Cake
Person: Helen
Tags: birthday cake
Tags: birthday cake(4), decorating(3), candlelight(2), bird(1), triptych(1)
People: Nara(11), Claira(8), James(6), Marcus(6), Noelle(3), Abby(3)
From: John Harvey Photo > Blogs for 2023 to 2005 > April 2014

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