Daddy's Little Girl

Holly had a great time with Daddy while I was away - today she got her face painted down at the Westminster Quay. She hasn't wanted to do this in the past, but did today - the face painter did a great job - the dolphin is sooo cute!

I'm sorry I missed it, but it was good for Holly to spend some time with Dad by herself. It's funny how she acts differently with the two of us. She tends to listen to Paul, and doesn't give him any grief..... there were NO time-outs needed while I was gone! Go figure! We had to have one the first day I was back with her alone. She's a true Gemini at times - one minute an angel and next a little devil - good thing is that the angel baby currently sticks around much more than the "yai yai" (Chinese for naughty) little girl... I hope this isn't a sign of things to come - girls and their moms... I thought I'd have at least 8 more years to prepare (sigh!)

My first child-free trip

Today I'm going to Hawaii for 6 days - my first trip alone since Holly was born! She is staying home with Daddy who will be taking a couple of days off from work, along with his usual Friday off and the holiday on Monday - so it shouldn't be too traumatic for the two of them... =)

I've created a blog for my trip - the link is now listed with "Holly's favourite links" as 'My Kona Trip - Aug 2008', or you can click on the link below to see how it went:

http://kona-2008.blogspot.com/

Isabelle & Simon's birthday party

Today we went to a double birthday party - Isabelle's 3rd and Simon's 1st.

The kids played "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" - it was very cute!
Cassie:



















I didn't get into position quick enough to get Holly from the side:



















Isabelle, the birthday girl - maybe she'd been practising?!



















Isabelle checking out her handy work:




















Cake time! Noriko, Isabelle and Simon's mom, made these two great cakes herself! A few of us agreed that maybe she should start a kids' cake-making business!
















Holly enjoying the cake. After we all ate a piece of Isabelle's Curious George cake, Holly asked me, "Mommy, are we going to eat Simon's cake , too?". I think she was the only one who got a small piece of the Baby Einstein Caterpillar (both cakes were actually the same!).

A day at the beach

We had a long day today - it was race day for Mommy and Daddy at the Canadian Outrigger Championships. We had a great day for racing - sunny, but not too hot on the water. The water was pretty choppy and very challenging for the crews, especially steering (which Mommy and Daddy both do).

Here is Daddy finishing the race with his crew - they came 1st overall and were 1st in the Masters division (everyone in the crew was over 35). Mommy's crew came 5th overall.














Dancing with Daddy to the sounds of the Langley Ukes. She also danced with the girl who came to do some hula, but I missed the opportunity to take a photo of her! Holly did great as usual today, with no nap - she crashed on the way home and didn't hardly move when I changed her clothes and put her to bed!

Playland

Today we went to Playland with our friends - Andrea with Ben & Holly, Mimi with Cassie & Mackenzie, and Noriko with Isabelle & Simon. We had so much fun - we'll probably have to get a season's pass next year!

As we got into "Kids Playce", which is the area for smaller children, we noticed the first ride - a kids roller coaster! We all decided to go on it - but probably should have watched first, because it goes pretty fast and has some major dips in it for a 3 year-old! Holly and Isabelle were a bit stunned by it, and I put my arm around her during the ride, but Ben loved it and wanted to go on again right after we got off!

Thanks Andrea for this shot - I like the way Holly is peaking at me!













Andrea and Ben at the front of the coaster!














Mimi and Cassie on the coaster just after us...




















On the Honeybee Express Train (thanks for the picture Noriko!).














Isabelle, holding on with both hands - the train wasn't going fast at all, so this was really cute!














On the Merry-Go-Round - it wasn't as big as some of the carousels Holly has been on, but she wanted to ride on the "bench" so we didn't ride a horse (or other animals they had) - thanks Andrea for taking a shot of us!













Celine, Mackenzie, Mimi and Cassie on the bench (or carriage) behind us.














Isabelle and Noriko with Simon (who was holding on like a pro!).














On the Paddle Wheeler - after she got off the ride, Holly told me, "me and Isabelle put our hands in the water!". Yes, Cassie was crying a bit, but stopped after the ride got underway.



















Isabelle and Holly holding hands, while waiting in line to ride on KC's Raceway.














Crazy drivers on the track!



















Holly didn't want to go on the Super Slide, but I really did, so I went down with Isabelle and Noriko took Simon. Thanks Andrea for another great picture!



















Riding the Dune Buggies!














After lunch, Holly wanted to go on KC's Raceway again - I think she went on a total of 3 or 4 times - it was her favourite! After that, I was finally able to convince her to go down the Super Slide with me.



















Back on the Dune Buggy.....



















Final shot of a tired little monkey with Cassie, just before we left. We'll have to get the gang together again next year, it was so much fun!

My pink baby

Before Holly was born, I was determined that my little girl was not going to be a "pink" baby - always having to wear pink just because she's a girl. However, she has now decided that pink is her favourite colour!

Today as we were heading out, I noticed she was all in pink - I said, "Holly, you're all in pink - you're wearing a pink top, pink pants, pink hoody, with your pink backpack and pink bunny bag and (of course) your pink bedang (her blanket)." She replied, "Mommy, and pink undies, too!!" - she was right of course - she's very observant!

Auntie Jan Day

Today we had a playdate at Jericho beach with the Jericho Outrigger moms and kids with Auntie Jan. She is one of our paddlers who absolutely loves all kids and is really great with them. We've been talking about getting together for about a year, but it took Auntie Jan to get us organized!

Auntie Jan with Ceilidh, Holly (hiding behind a tree) Connor (who celebrated his birthday yesterday with a Thomas the Train theme, hence the outfit), Ocean, Kalen and Rory (who has the same birthday as Holly, but one year later).















Moms and kids:
Cathy & Ceilidh, Miranda & Holly, Denise & Kalen & Emily, Shannon & Ocean, Isabelle & Connor, Sheri & Rory, Janet & Nathan (who ran away because he didn't want his picture taken) and Auntie Jan.













Auntie Jan opening a surprise gift from all of us - with some help!



















Relaxing on the grass with Lillian & Alison who arrived just after we took our group shot.

Wedding day

Today was Holly & Pierre's wedding day!

Holly rarely let me put clips in her hair or ponytails, but I'd been talking to her about having "pretty hair" to match her pretty flower girl dress and she agreed! Before we left home, I used the curling iron on her hair, but she said "no curls" before I even finished going all the way around. She did let me put a few clips in her hair to try, but wanted them out before we left home. We took the hair clips & the dress to Brock House before getting her ready. You can see the little scabs on her nose from the fall in the park - but Winnie, a makeup artist helps cover them up later.



















Dancing in the hallway with Daddy.....



















Checking herself out in the mirror in the bride's room (which we renamed the flower girl's room!).....



















Flower girl Holly and Ring bearer Nicholas.



















Playing together while waiting for the bride...














Ready to carry the rings.....














Beautiful bride Holly.



















Nicholas' dad Alex and Paul - each carrying their child's "props". The flowers for Holly (called a kiss ball) were pretty heavy (about 2 lbs).














Holly and her Uncle David (her mom's brother) - he walked her down the aisle.
















Waiting for the bride.....














The official walk down the aisle.....



















It was rainy at home when we left, but as we approached Vancouver, we noticed the roads were not wet. It didn't rain here in the morning and it held out for the entire ceremony and pictures. It didn't start raining until the bridal party arrived at the hotel later in the evening for the reception! A great shot of the bridesmaids with the mountains in the background. Holly knew all their names by the end of the day - they were all really great with her and she kept asking me "Mommy, where are the girls gone?" when they left the head table at the reception to help the bride change, etc.














Watching the ceremony with her Princess purse - which has her "lipstick" in it (a Disney princess lip balm).



















I do's and exchanging of rings.....



















Holly and Jacqueline, the maid of honour.














Karen, Stephanie, Corinna, Jacqueline,
Nicholas and Holly.



















Bride and groom, flower girl and ring bearer with their parents, and Nicholas' little brother Owen.














Holly and Mommy.



















Holly changed into her Chinese outfit when Holly was getting ready for the Chinese tea ceremony.