We spent most of Mother's Day basking in sunshine and fool'n around the yard. Steve took some gorgeous photos when he wasn't busy giving me the royal treatment.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!
Love you more than a card sent on time could ever say... (oopsy, in the mail)

Here are your vids as promised:
Daredevil Em.
Tommy blowing dandelions.
Um, okay.
Uh, yeah.
Ow
Can't... resist..

Just slapping a few pics from this morning on here for those of you who are having an uneventful minute this weekend.
THANKS SO VERY MUCH, AUNT ROSE, for sending the tiger and puppy stuffys to the kids-they looove them and take them everywhere.
Steve painted one of the kitchen walls "Lemon Zest", see it? It's exactly what i needed in life. Thanks again hunny.
Later all, enjoy your weekends!

Emmy and Steve made me this neat fish puppet decor thingy while I was at my KNITTING LESSONS. Yes, I have failed as a cool person to be associated with. But if you're sweet about it you might get a scarf for Christmas (within the next 30 years, lengths may vary).

Steve is my hero and my hero is Steve.

Steve and I were caught up in a conversation when we looked over to check how the young chap was doing with feeding himself yogurt for the first time. All was well except that he was sitting there face down in his bowl. A short vid for the strong of stomach, (target audience: Grandmas and Aunties). The vacant look during the last 2 seconds cracks me up!

Video time!
Get ready for this...the baby can dance.

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.