PNE & Playland

As per typical Vancouver weather, it rained and rained. Still a beautiful day in our fine city.

Like we do every year, we ventured out to the PNE yesterday. This was Livi's 3rd trip I believe and Emma's 2nd. Last year our little Emmers was only a few weeks old so she barely experienced anything.

This year with both of them being a bit older, it's getting to be more suited for them so their excitement was higher and they both had lots of fun. Our friend Kelly and her son Kyler joined us and everyone had a great time. Kyler and Livi were both able to run around together and go on all of the kids rides. After getting into the fairgrounds we immediately loaded up on food so everyone was fed full of burgers, hot dogs and poutine. Once that was out of the way, we made the mandatory diaper change and potty breaks at the parents station. (A wonderful idea where an entire trailer is set up for changing and cleaning up your kids). Next was a stop at the face painting booth where Livi and Kyler both got some cool designs done.

Since we got a break from the rain, the rides were next. Livi rode a motorcycle, hot air balloon, helicopter and two different trains. She's getting a lot more daring though she was a bit scared on the roller coaster.

Next up was a visit to see all of the animals which we didn't get pictures of. What else can I write here? Big horses, smelly cows, bunch of chickens. That pretty much sums it up.

Great day topped off with a tired car ride home and sushi for the Mom's and Dad.

Long Overdue Update pt.2

Since we got back from vacation the weather here in Vancouver has been unbelievable. We went the entire month of July without a single drop of rain.

So I'll start with Livi since she's the oldest:

Olivia is really becoming a little girl now. She speaks so clearly and in complete full sentences you always understand exactly what she's saying. There are however a few exceptions:

Hangen Jones = Indiana Jones
Hoop a Loops = Fruit Loops
Pockickle = Popsicle

Her dodey, pacifier, soother whatever the hell you want to call it has disappeared. She fell a while ago onto the concrete and cut a hole in her tongue and chin. No need for stitches thankfully and the doc said it should heal on it's own. During this time, using her dodey was too painful so she just stopped and now that everything is healed, she just doesn't have a need for it. I guess that's what you call a silver lining.

We have been attempting potty training for a bit now. We tried a cold turkey weekend where we just didn't use diapers all day. Well that didn't really click for her so we tried to ease our way into it. She goes almost once a day now at night before bed and she knows she has to go. I think trying another 'pee party' weekend will be our key to getting this thing now that she has figured it out a bit.

As for our little Emma, she is growing up way too fast. Her first birthday was a few weeks ago and everyone had a great time. There are a few more kids around now so Emma and Livi had some friends to play with.Sam had a vision of a rainbow party and did an excellent job. From the rainbow cake, to the rainbow confetti filled balloons and rainbow streamers, the little Emerald is one lucky girl to have a Mom like her.

She is walking and talking like a champ. Her vocabulary right now is quite limited. Mama, Dada, Wawa (Livi) Gaga (Grandad) and Mi-mi (Mickey) are about it. As for walking, Emma has been taking a few steps at a time for the past few weeks. Just one or two at a time then she lovingly dives head first on to your lap, a couch or unfortunately the floor. Bit of a daredevil but she's learning now. She can walk, stop and look around and then continue pretty confidently.

Long Overdue Update pt.1

Apparently the last time I updated this blog was 3 months ago. Good thing this is not my job because I would have been canned weeks ago. I will try to be a better blogger. I was writing about our upcoming vacation so I'll start with that as I try to update everyone (cough - handful of readers) on what has happened in the last 3 months.

The vacation was awesome! All four of us has an excellent time. Starting with a Mariners game on Sunday afternoon where we had a blast watching the game and walking around the stadium.

After the game we said goodbye to the Meads and headed to our hotel just south of Seattle and had a relaxing night getting ready for the big day.

The next morning we drove towards Mount Hope where the Great Wolf Lodge was located. Both girls had a nice long nap on the voyage which set them up for the energy they needed to yell and scream along with all the other yelling and screaming children. It was like Vegas for toddlers and every parent there knew it. I'm surprised the bar didn't have a mile long lineup. We arrived in the afternoon and for the next 3 days we had a great time enjoying everything we could about the resort. We visited the water park multiple times where both girls loved every minute of it and I loved getting buckets of water dumped on my head while Olivia laughed at me. The amenities around the hotel were done really well and there was plenty to keep us busy. The last day was extra special as Sam and Livi got pedicures and ice cream before we left.

After we said goodbye to the Great Wolf Lodge, we headed back to Seattle for the next part of our vacation. We booked a great hotel in downtown and didn't have any concrete plans besides a few different places we wanted to see. Most of our time was spent walking the city around the market and through downtown. We made sure to get ice cream every day as Nana and Grandad gave Olivia her own money to buy it with.The first days's ice cream was special since it was 'free ice cream day' at a quirky little place that served unusual flavours. I had "Whiskey Maple Crack" and have been itching for it again since.

Down along the waterfront we visited some interesting places. After an hour in the aquarium, we had lunch in a nice sourdough deli and then an ice cream. Olivia and I (the braver members of the family) decided it would be fun to go on the giant ferris wheel. Olivia did surprisingly well and made one full revolution before she decided it was time to come down.

One of the highlights of the trip was definitely the Woodland Park Zoo. We hit this on the way home since it was north of Seattle and it was well worth it. I hadn't been there since I was about 10 but we both knew the girls were going to love it.Every type of animal imaginable was available to see and we were definitely not dissapointed. The pictures below can speak for themselves.

After a long hot day at the zoo, we headed back home. I'll write part 2 shortly which updates everything else since then. Stay tuned readers (all 4 of you).