POLITICALLY CORRECT

A funny little story that I wanted to write down:

The other night after the Carnival, Jake was thoroughly enjoying his dine out order of pakoras, butter chicken and naan.  He announces to us all how much he loves Indian food.  Clara pipes up:

"Daddy...it is actually First Nation food, not Indian food."

So funny.

WEDDING AND MORE WEDDING

When you only have one babysitter and she is away for the weekend, this is what happens...

...all your kids come to the wedding ceremony with you!

It actually turned out OK.  Besides missing the exchange of the rings because I was nursing Will naked in the bathroom (my tight dress was not conducive to discreet pew nursing), I think watching a real life wedding will stay with Clara for the rest of her life!  She was mesmerized.

She even got a picture with the beautiful bride and her groom while holding a real wedding bouquet.  Looks like she should be in the wedding party, don't you think?

Our family.  We don't have many of these shots, so I thought I would include it.

Trying to get a picture of Clara and the flower girl proves difficult, thanks to her pesty brother.

Clara and Mia, who also happens to be the daughter of my girlfriend from when I was 3 years old. 

Me and my other girlfriend (from when I was 3).  Just wanted to point out that I am wearing make up!  I didn't put it on, of course, but maybe that will be one of my goals for 2010.  Buy and learn how to apply make up.  Bought a lipstick too.  

Which brings us to Sunday, the day of 

Clara's 6th Birthday Party:

Which also brought lots of pink and red, roses and tulips, champagne glasses and a tiered birthday cake, as per Clara's request.

The glowing birthday girl.  Look at the size of her rock!  She tells me that one day, she would like her husband to get her one of these.

With her Nana and Papa and her new couture velvet, ruffled jacket.

The Processional.

My husband, in his vintage, ruffled tux, reading the vows.

If you are worried that we were taking the wedding theme too far, the vows went more or less like this:

Do you promise to be sweet, listen to your parents, wash your hands after you go to the bathroom, try new foods, go on your first date when you are 20, laugh lots, and be true to yourselves?

The girls..."I Do"

Clara and her 2 cousins.

Early evening...playing with her new Playmobil Church.

Thanks again Auntie Lisa for coming over to lend a hand, and therefore, helping me not go completely to the "bad pre-party place."   I know you are reading this!

And thank you sis for coming to the rescue Saturday night (and saving us $180).  I owe you BIG time.  Kisses.

188 COPIES

I was planning on posting some photos from our weekend.  We attended a "real wedding" and hosted a wedding themed 6th birthday party the following day.  However, uploading photos takes too long this late at night and I need to get my butt to bed.

The primary reason why I haven't been blogging as regularly, never mind putting away our suitcases from a week ago, is because of my 17 month old.  I honestly have to follow him around all day so he doesn't harm himself, or others, or my house. He currently can push a chair to a place where he wants to climb up on to, such as the kitchen counter or the bathroom vanity or the dining table...I even found him standing on the piano.  He is an adventurer, that one.

On Saturday, I discovered him pressing buttons on our copier.  I caught him in the act of making 188 copies.  I managed to find the cancel button after 31 copies...

FRIDAY EVENING AT THE CARNIVAL

The Carnival came to town for the weekend.  It involved spending $60 on a book of tickets, each of the kids going on 6 rides that lasted a minute and eating a large bag of warm cinnamon donuts which inevitably resulted in me wishing I hadn't.   

The kids loved it, and I was feeling the Carnival love too (before the donuts).

We met up with our good friends, the Bakers.  Sam wished he was 4'2" so he could of gone on the fast spinny rides with Daddy.

HAPPY EARTH DAY

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,

There is a rapture on the lonely shore,

There is society, where none intrudes, 

By the deep sea, and music in its roar:

I love not man the less, but Nature more.

Lord Byron-Childe Harold's Pilgrimage

Happy Earth day everyone.  

My mom took the bird photo above.  I love it.  I would like an 8 x 10 for my photo wall (hint, hint).  And the cherry blossom tree is what I get to see every time I step out my front door, at least for now.  I love the Spring.  It it is a hint of what is to come...summer!  My favourite season of all.  The sunshine and the Spring flowers are certainly cheering me up and helping me with post vacation blues.

We have already spent many hours playing outside since coming home from Hawaii.  Here are Sam and Clara digging up the garden with their work goggles and table saw.

CLARA'S BIRTHDAY INVITE

Although Clara turned 6 while in Hawaii, we are celebrating with her friends this Sunday.  

Ever since her Hula themed birthday when she turned 3, she alone has been the event coordinator of her parties.  This year, she wanted a wedding themed party.  She has requested red and pink decor, tulips and roses, a tiered birthday cake, champagne glasses, wedding music, beautiful treasures for the guests to take home and lots of wedding type games.  

I was quite proud that I managed to mail the invitations before we left for Hawaii, although I had better step up over here with only 4 days left until the big day.  Wish me luck.

LAST DAY

We are home!  Our Hawaiian vacation has sadly come to an end.  Now it is time for reentry into the real world.

I decided to post my last few pictures instead of putting away the contents of our suitcases, which are now covering most of the upstairs.

Our last day in Hawaii was essentially spent surfing in the ocean...

And then back to the Surf, Sand and Stars dinner buffet with the gang.  Amy, Sara's sister, arrived the night before.  Clara fell in love before she had even met her and was in girl's club heaven.

There are a lot of pictures of us at the beach, but I can't help myself.  I get a bit giddy taking pictures of happy people on the beach just before the sun sets.  And I love beach dining.  My favourite.

Sure enough, Will has been woken from his nap and Sam is looking for a race outside.  I also need to get some groceries before picking up Clara in 34 minutes.  This is the reentry I was talking about.

Goodbye Hawaii...we will miss you!