John Harvey Photo

July 2014

Go to Slide Show Smaller Images Waterpark Month!


Canada Day!

What is more Canadian than Dim Sum lunch on Canada Day!  One of our strategies for a good time in a restaurant is to bring the kids in physically tired.  Our chosen restaurant has a playground with a waterpark right next door so we arrive an hour early to play.  The kids started on the playground equipment by very quickly wanted to get into the waterpark.  Quick changeover and the kids were running through the water.

Claira At Norquay Water ParkClaira Walking Up The StreamKicking Water
Nara Running ByNara Running Under The Water

After the water hits the ground, it goes down a small paved stream and into the a small pond.  Turns out there were as many kids in the river as there were under the streaming water.  I suspect the water is still too cold.

Granville Island

Claira Coming To Splash
The mother of all (free) water parks, the Granville Island water park has a small water slide you can ride all day.  Neither Nara or Claira are tall enough to ride on their own so I need to go with them down the slide.  Funny enough, Nara didn't really realize the slide was there until this year.  Claira on the other hand has to do everything here sister does so even though the slide is cold, she insists on going down as often as Nara does.


 Claira Above The ColdNara Happy At The EndNara Done Claira Ready For The Next

Claira With AWet Head Nara And Dad In A Water Fight
The rest of the water park is spray and hoses.  We've been lots and it's great fun on a hot day.
 

Creatures of the Not So Deep (Belcarra Park)

Claira Walking On The Beach Claira With AClam Shell

I went last year and really enjoyed it - possibly my favorite activity.  This year I wanted a repeat.  The quick summary - the GVRD organized a number of children friendly events around the city.  Creatures of the Not So Deep is a marine biology event where the bring a beach seine net into shore and people put what they found into buckets and a marine biologist tells you what is going on.  I love it. 


A few things are different this year over last.  Last year Helen was working, Claira was one and my Mom kept Claira in the grass above the beach.  This year Helen is with us and Claira of course wanted to be with everyone else.  Claira got tired (little feet stuck in the sand) and demanded to be picked up.  Photography suffered.  Last year the tide was rising, this year it was still falling.  Apparently that makes a big difference - last year everyone got a fish, this year not so much.  That said, Nara was happy with her crab and jellyfish.  Finally, last year all the buckets were put together and you could look in the different buckets.  This year there was a giant aquarium all the stuff was put into, but it got really hard to get close to.

Nara Looking Into Her BucketPulling In The Beach NetYellow Shore Crab And Jelly In Her Bucket

Nara At The Top Of The Climbing WallLast year, we didn't even go to the playground.  This year, it was a highlight.  Helen packed a picnic lunch and it was hard to hold the kids still long enough for them to eat lunch.  I think everyone had a good time.

One thing was the same - last year the parking lot was full well before noon and people had to make the long hike down the hill from the overflow parking.  Same thing this year.  Arrive early.


 Nara On The Fire Pole By HerselfHaley And Nara ClimbingNara Sitting On Hand BarClaira Ready For The Slide



VanDusen Picnic

It's been a really hot couple of days.  What better way to beat the heat than a picnic in the shade of a tree, next to a body of water!  We haven't had a VanDusen pass for a few years (something about having kids) but the other day Nara wanted to know about plants that eat bugs.  We watched a video about and and she wanted to know more.  Over one of Claira's naps, we drove up to VanDusen and saw their pitcher plant display.  Nara now likes to look in and see the bugs.

Claira Got The Umbrealla Nara Showing Jenie Carniverous Plants
Jennie is heading back to Hong Kong so she joined us for dinner.  First we had to look at the carnivorous plants.  Jennie was getting warm so she brought out the umbrella.  Claira just had to play with it and Claira does seem to get her way.

Claira Took Jenies Umbrella

Our picnic was next to one of the ponds buzzing with dragon flies.  Turns out kids in a place full of interesting things (and water without child proof barriers) don't sit and eat their dinner - and you don't get to either. 

Blue Dasher On Pond Lily LeafEight Spotted Skimmer On Hand Rail

Claira Not Walking On The Path Walking Next To The Pond
Eventually everyone was fed and we went for a little walk before it was time to go home for bed.  Physically tired kids aren't the easiest to put to bed (lots of strong opinions) but when their little heads hit the pillows, they are out quick.
 


VanDusen Again 

Flowers Opening To Sphere
On Saturday afternoons I usually have Nara and Helen takes a nap at the same time Claira does.   Two weeks ago was the first time I took Nara to VanDusen and it was an amazing hour or so.  It had just rained and the light was great.  There were Monach butterflies feeding in the flowers.  We stumbled across a class dipping nets in the pond.  Nara found three snails.  I didn't bring a camera.  Two weeks later, I have Nara again and I brought a camera.

Damselfly With Feet Wrapped AroundPair Of Water Lilies
 
No luck finding Monarch Butterflies - I did see one, but it was two stories up in a tree and wasn't coming down.  We heard there was an owl but couldn't find it.  No luck finding snails.  That said, we had a nice long walk and there is always lots of nice little things to see.

Sphere Sparsely DefinedSphere With Spider WebNara Running Down Lavender Path
Next time I'm thinking Nara should bring a camera.

Play Palace

  Nara Sliding Down
I don't mean to shock anyone, but it does rain in Vancouver, even in the summer.  So far we have had a terrific summer, but this weekend had rainy days.  One of Helen's school mates were in town so we decided to meet at the Play Palace to hang out.

Nara Climbing The Climbing Wall

The Play Palace gets crowded quickly on weekends and it's not always little kind friendly.  Right at opening there are lots of resources (no line ups for a ball or car) so Claira (who doesn't seem to like the bouncy toys) gets her choice of fun.

Claira On Guard With BasketballClaira Loves The BallClaira Wearing A HelmetClaira Walking Away From Cart

We met up with Jin and Jesse and their kids Haley and Abby.  Our girls have played with them a few times before so they had not trouble entertaining each other.

Three Kids In The BoatAbby Getting Out

After two hours of play, we went to the adjacent McDonalds for lunch and home for a nap.  Sadly, Claira's head got stepped on (by a parent!) so we were watchful for symptoms of something more than a bad scare.  She visited the doctor - everything is fine.

 









Pulling In The Beach Net
Claira With AWet Head
Person: Claira
Nara Sitting On Hand Bar
Damselfly With Feet Wrapped Around
Altitude: 70m (229 feet)
Location: Go To...
Claira Walking On The Beach
Claira Above The Cold
Person: Nara
Abby Getting Out
Person: Abby, Haley, Nara
Tags: Kerrisdale Play Palace, play gym
Claira Coming To Splash
Person: Claira, John
Claira Not Walking On The Path
Person: Claira
Tags: VanDusen
Nara Running Down Lavender Path
Nara And Dad In A Water Fight
Person: Nara
Tags: water park
Claira Wearing A Helmet
Person: Claira
Tags: Kerrisdale Play Palace, play gym, riding
Sphere Sparsely Defined
Altitude: 72m (236 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: flower, VanDusen
Claira On Guard With Basketball
Tags: ball, Kerrisdale Play Palace, play gym
Blue Dasher On Pond Lily Leaf
Species: Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher)
Tags: dragonfly, insect, VanDusen
Yellow Shore Crab And Jelly In Her Bucket
Species: Hemigrapsus oregonensis (yellow shore crab, hairy shore crab), Pleurobrachia bachei (Sea Gooseberry)
Altitude: 20m (65 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bucket, crab
Nara Running Under The Water
Altitude: 83m (272 feet)
Location: Go To...
Claira Walking Away From Cart
Haley And Nara Climbing
Person: Haley, Nara
Claira Got The Umbrealla
Person: Claira
Altitude: 109m (357 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: umbrella
Claira At Norquay Water Park
Person: Claira
Altitude: 85m (278 feet)
Location: Go To...
Kicking Water
Person: Nara
Altitude: 85m (278 feet)
Location: Go To...
Sphere With Spider Web
Altitude: 70m (229 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: flower, VanDusen
Claira Loves The Ball
Person: Claira
Tags: ball, Kerrisdale Play Palace, play gym
Nara Looking Into Her Bucket
Altitude: 20m (65 feet)
Location: Go To...
Nara Sliding Down
Tags: bouncy, Kerrisdale Play Palace, play gym, slide
Nara Happy At The End
Person: John
Nara On The Fire Pole By Herself
Person: Nara
Tags: playground
Nara Done Claira Ready For The Next
Person: Nara, John
Three Kids In The Boat
Person: Abby, Haley, Nara
Tags: Kerrisdale Play Palace, play gym
Claira With AClam Shell
Altitude: 5m (16 feet)
Location: Go To...
Nara Running By
Person: Nara
Altitude: 83m (272 feet)
Location: Go To...
Nara At The Top Of The Climbing Wall
Person: Nara
Tags: climbing, flare, playground
Pair Of Water Lilies
Altitude: 95m (311 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: flower, VanDusen
Claira Walking Up The Stream
Person: Claira
Altitude: 81m (265 feet)
Location: Go To...
Claira Took Jenies Umbrella
Person: Claira, Jennie
Altitude: 79m (259 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: umbrella
Claira Ready For The Slide
Person: Claira
Tags: playground, slide
Walking Next To The Pond
Person: Claira, Helen, Jennie, Nara
Tags: VanDusen
Nara Climbing The Climbing Wall
Person: Nara
Tags: climbing, Kerrisdale Play Palace, play gym
Nara Showing Jenie Carniverous Plants
Person: Jennie, Nara
Tags: plant, umbrella, VanDusen
Flowers Opening To Sphere
Altitude: 92m (301 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: flower, VanDusen
Eight Spotted Skimmer On Hand Rail
Species: Libellula forensis (Eight-spotted Skimmer)
Altitude: 68m (223 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: dragonfly, insect, VanDusen
Tags: VanDusen(9), Kerrisdale Play Palace(7), play gym(7), flower(4), playground(3), umbrella(3)
People: Nara(13), Claira(11), John(3), Jennie(3), Haley(3), Abby(2)
From: John Harvey Photo > Blogs for 2023 to 2005 > July 2014

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