After school today, Steve and Emily took off for Myrtle Rocks, this miniscule island reachable by foot during low tide. There they stumbled upon a number of sea-creatures and scenes we haven't seen in a while. The last pic is worth a closer look!

Video Technology:
Tommy hollars "Baa Baa" at these sheep through the windows, through the fence and can be heard through-out the neighbourhood everyday. It's a shame we're not actually allowed to feed them (even grass) like this, and rarely do, because both Em and Tommy really adore them.

The 24 hour Emily and Cheyenne marathon commenced after school Friday.
An evening race to the beach and back in their lion get-ups left them too exhausted to argue about who really won.

On Saturday, they turned the house upsidedown and back again with tea parties, costumes, sparkles and glue.

Tommy started saying "hi", well, mostly "i" and it just kills me! Sooooooo sooooo sweeet to hear his shy little "hi" to the cat, "i" with a wave to the grumpy old man in the coffee shop, "iiiieee" peeking around the corner at the sweet grandma's in the store.
The pic here captures the desperation he feels when the girls run outside without him. He is nearly inconsolable when they shut him out of Emily's room. Today he hollared "EMMAA" while clawing at her door. Worry not Boo, there's a little companion just for you on the way...

Last Sunday, Emily and I had the bowling alley to ourselves. In-between chucking the ball and laughing my head off at Emily's motivational chants and victory dances, I tried to take valid art shots that would convey the cool Lebowski-ness of it all. The results were less than satisfying, but I had fun trying.

I just spent the last 3 weeks slowly savoring the novel "A Complicated Kindness" by Miriam Toews. After years of friends urging me to read it, it finally occurred to me that Powell River's library could lend it to me for free. If you feel like getting in touch with the aloneness, destructiveness and grief you experienced as a teenager, and you think your small (minded) town may have had something to do with your teenage misery, i recommend. Sounds self-indulgent, but maybe it can show you how far you've come despite a shaky beginning (or how your daughter might feel someday).

I've actually finished 4 1/2 books in 2006:
Taming of the Tiger
Life of Pi
Something Blue
The Spiral Garden-1/2 finished, will continue.
A Complicated Kindness

If I was a good blogger I'd provide some links to amazon, maybe later-I hear Tommy waking up and it's time to enjoy the sunny day that's now streaming through the windows causing the contents of my screen to vanish.

A poem for Emily Elizabeth

by: Elizabeth Fehr

A starfish meets a sideways crab,
Kittens chase, meow and grab,
My brother's nose will always crinkle,
Whenever he sees eyes that twinkle.

Horses and houses, and things I find,
Birds and people, sound and sight,
Friends and family in my house,
A rainbow bright or little grey mouse.

These are the pictures in my mind
In yellow, green or maybe red,
I will paint or draw them tonight,
Just before I hop into bed.

Presents! Emily opted for a party consisting of one very VERY special friend instead of inviting her class like last year-phew! Cheyenne came over after lunch fully loaded with gifts, a costume, and an overnight bag.
Emily got so excited when Tommy came around the corner with a surprise final present from him.

iiiiice cream caaake.......
mmmmmmmmm
(10 pts. if you automatically read that like homer)

Cheyenne found her lion costume at a garage sale shortly before arriving!

The girls ditched their plans to go bowling and eat McDcs in favor of a campfire supper and more playing outside. Then I officiated a game of Bingo (my dream job) and prizes were awarded. After it was junkfood and a movie and falling asleep on the floor together with a kitty purring happily between them.

March Break came and went. When the sun came out, we took advantage.
Here Em & Co. contribute to the community by gathering broken branches from all over the park and making a shelter complete with seashell dishes.

Another Sunday morning Robin's session. I love the one of just Em. I waited and waited for her to finally look up from drawing and clicked.
None of us know what to think of the green lady we dug up the other day, except that she has a (comparatively) small head.

On Sunday afternoon, Steve and Emily made a fort on the yard. This lead to a weinie/marshmallow roast and a drunken rampage from my husband with a rake. We found him in the pile of sheep poo in the morning. We are very much used to his behaviour and do not think it to be strange at all. Why?
I should stop typing now...

Um, yeah, Steve typed that while I was in the other room. So much for recording a wholesome family memory. I lost my concentration now so I'll just get to the vids...
Em toots her horn
and
Steve vrs. sheep

Friday Foties:
Good Morning Sunshine!

Emily Twist

Watching daddy chop wood is the highlight of their day.

Snuggly guy

please no.
click me

Pretty self-explanatory. I won't bore you with the details this time.
I will, however, attempt to bring my blog into a new era...please click here...if you listen carefully, you may hear Tommy saying "wow" to the treetops...it's something he likes to do a lot.

Taken while lounging at the table after breakfast in Maui, I can't believe that #3 was secretly already well on his way to our clan. Like my brother-in-law put it: "Seems rather unnecessary". But in any case, I can't say that I had my fill of the whole baby thing after Thomas. In fact, I think he just wet our appetites for more. And even though my youth is waning...born in July '76-you do the math-it feels good to know that there are still more than a few baby making years left in me. (sorry if you lost your lunch right there).
So, in case you haven't heard, the due date has been confirmed by an ultrasound to be August 17th, meaning we're 17 weeks along-nearly halfway. The point is, morning sickness is behind us, the kicks are just beginning and I already feel like a pumpkin. All just in time for Lesa's wedding this June! Won't I just be a peach in my maternity bridesmaid dress! There should be a font to indicate sarcasm. Well, on that note, we're actually insanely happy about #3 and the adventures that await us, okay, somewhat stressed at times, but happy too. We think (we don't know) it's a boy, so I'll be referring to him as "he" on my blog, rather than "he/she" (or "pookie bum-bum" for that matter).

Emily is always coming up with new ways to entertain Thomas. And don't worry, she kept insisting that it was very comfortable under there! The convenience of them playing so much together is probably one of the reasons why we would even consider taking on a third baby. By the time Emily has better things to do, Tommy will have a younger sibling that's as fascinated with him as he is with Em. It might be easier to have a blooming social life with 1 kid, but 2 has been easier and more fun than 1 for us and them during non-social-life hours. By the way, is "social life" a 90's phrase? Cause I think I left mine in that decade...

If there's wildlife within sight, Steve always spots it, and I never do. Apparantly that's a Cormorant. Live with an avid nature-lover long enough and you begin to think that might be very important information to share.
Every few hours there's a ferry waiting to take you to Vancouver Island at this dock. It'll cost you $45 to get out of Powell River with your family. Another $45 to get back. And that's why the rent is cheap.