Fairly self-explanatory. One evening at dusk, Ruben and Steve tried their hand at fly-fishing, but it was Emily, in her single-mindedness, that would bring home something for mommy to freak out about. The vile frog and overgrown tadpoles spent a couple of days in our pool before the frog became hungry and his younger counter-parts disappeared-SIIIIIIICK. He was given back to nature and the pool scrubbed vigorously shortly there-after.

Thank-you to my husband, my daughter, my son, my mom, Ruben and The Guangdong Middle School Experimental Choir from China for making my 30th birthday a day to remember. Emmy and I got dressed up while Steve stayed home with Tommy so the rest of us could browse shops "hands free" all morning. The neighbor kids brought me a flower that Em made into a painting. I mentioned that my mom and Emily went to great lengths to beautify my once ugly driveway. Later Steve brought home a perfect feast that I enjoyed looking at mostly because my prego heartburn was making my head explode. Then Steve and I left for the Arena where we were entertained and stirred by these beautiful faces and voices at Powell River's International Choir Festival.

Off to Lund on the final eve of their stay. A teeny harbour community a bit north of Powell River where Ruben spotted a Mexican restaurant that he wanted to take me to for my birthday-sweet. After dinner, we strolled about the docks, digesting the salsa and the scenery before seating ourselves on the deck of Nancy's Bakery. A slice of rhubarb/berry pie with ice cream, a couple of forks, some local musical talent and the sun beginning to set in the distance seemed all too perfect an ending to our unforgettable time together.

Manitoba 2006

A breathtaking 7 am flight from Powell River to Vancouver

Steve liked the train in Altona

Uncle Ryan's old helmet fits Emily

She swam for 6 hours on Father's Day

Rosenort Parade with Grampa, Gramma, and Auntie Prego

Emily and Alex loving every minute of their annual playdate

Ryan's old helmet also kinda fits Steve

Wendy-artist by trade-(Heather's Mom), as well as her husband Ron, have always had a very special touch with Emily, and now Thomas

Those mirrors are always the highlight of any museum

We discovered Ryan under a pile of work at his desk somewhere downtown Winnipeg. We were then given the grand tour of his new biz and found the knitting machines amusing

Happiness is Father's Day at the Plett's in the new gazebo with matching father/son shirts

Thanks to all my aunts, uncles, and cousins who were kind enough to meet us at Grandma's in Altona last week! Especially to Aunt Rose who chauffered most of the gang in and then sent us each a cd full of pics. I refuse to believe that her daughter Katie (in the sassy t-shirt) who was 6 years old when she acted as my flower girl, has just graduated from highschool! Again-many many congrats! I threw in the last pic because our kids are nuts, and we're nuts to think we can handle another one.

Thank you for taking this pic, Joe. It's definitely one of my favorites of Tommy ever!

After a 20 minute plane ride I was welcomed home from two days of bridesmaid bliss in Vancouver. Emily didn't miss me too terribly as her new baby kitties were enough to preoccupy her little heart in my absence.
I thought I'd miss the freedom and fun of kid-free city-life, but it seems I've more than enough fun @home to preoccupy my little heart too.
Our new pool drew our neighbour kids over this afternoon. Some of the sweetest, brightest kids you'll ever meet sitt'n in that pool there. Hopefully get to see more of them now that school is almost out.
(Footage of Manitoba trip in the works)

Lesa and Jildaz are 4 days old as a married couple and I want to start a blog based solely on the fabulousness of my weekend as her bridesmaid and the wonderment of their wedding day. Everyone was taken back by Lesa's beauty and enchanted by the glowing faces of the love-birds in-love. In this shot, Mr. Fehr especially captures the pride and the honor many of us felt to see Lesa in her splendor walking up to meet her adoring groom. It would be difficult not to be inspired by the love and devotion between these two or to even imagine that they would ever take lightly the foreverness of their commitment to each other. I was so proud to have been a part of your extravagantly stylish yet simple celebration on June 24th, 2006. The medley of robin's egg blues, the texture of the art nouveau wedding cake icing melting in my mouth and the portrait of a perfect goddess bride are with me forever. As always, I am so grateful to have found an extraordinary friend like you in this great big universe. God Bless both you and Jildaz in every possible way for decades and decades to come. May you someday be able to exhibit the sweetness of your own mom and pop's long-lastingness, because I know your hearts long for nothing less.