Tootin' her own horn!

Nana Comes to Visit!!

Halle was very excited to see Nana arrive on Tuesday evening!! Since Nana's arrival it has been non-stop fun! It actually resembles Christmas with all the treats and presents. We went to the zoo yesterday and today we went to a Children's Festival. Despite 15 minutes of rain when we first arrived everything turned out really well. Halle had a blast going from activity to activity. She listened to a group of Metis singers, made a kite, did some work with clay, created a necklace, netted some critters from the marsh and then went to a tent that was all about music! She played the sticks, bells, cymbals, a violin and a trombone (video to follow). We ended the morning by going for Korean food for lunch. Nana underestimated how much rice Halle will eat and lost half her plate to the rice monster!!

Did someone say 'skycap'?

Snack for Halle and a rest for Nana...

OMG! Another use for Tim's cups...liquid glitter glue!

Halle checking out the critters and wishing she had a dip net.

Hmmm...what is that word Mommy keeps saying...prodigy?!?!

Halle wanted something blue so the volunteer drew a moon, then Halle wanted a kitty cat face. She kind of looks like and extra from Cats. She should start singing 'Midnight' any moment now.

Oh, the poor volunteer had to hold the mirror for a full two minutes...twice! so Halle could take it all in!!

The Halle Doll

A neighbor of mine, Susan, has a kiddlebug business and sells various crafts she makes. One of her friends was looking for a doll for her daughter (who is part Asian). Susan decided to try her hand at making a doll that would meet her friend's needs. Apparently I am not the only one unable to find an Asian doll north of the 49th parallel! For inspiration, Susan looked to my own little Halle! Here is the picture of the doll, complete with pigtails and a little story about her. I love it and can't wait to get my own!!

Here is 'Halle's' story...

Halle loves riding her bike around the block and visiting with friends. She loves veggies and dip and does not like dog kisses.

Spring was here...

...between the hours of 6 and 9 am this morning and then it became Summer! Woohoo! I got too much sun and I don't even care! I'm just glad I didn't have to wear a jacket or a sweater or mitts.

Halle and I started the day by doing a tour of all the playgrounds in the neighborhood and testing out the equipment. Halle loves to ride on the seat on the back of my bike. She's like a/the Queen sitting back there waving at people as we drive by. Sometimes she sings but mostly she tells me how to drive and ensures I am exercising safety precautions ie wearing a helment, having two hands on the handle bars. What can I say? She looks out for me.


After our tour we headed home to get Daddy and go to the nearby Nature preserve.


[This is the part where I got my sunburn. My legs are so white they caused a reflection! Yeah, those are not knee socks.]
So how did kids get by with just one color of chalk?

First Weekend at the Lake 2009

Nope, I did not upload the wrong picture. I did not get my dates wrong and I definitely did not pack a winter coat and snow boots for the MAY LONG WEEKEND!!!!

Needless to say, we spent A LOT of time inside staying warm.

Cute pictures of Halle and Grandpa reading on the couch...

Sunday got a little nicer. The sun was out and it wasn't snowing. Did I mention it wasn't snowing??

Charlie heard/hears/is hearing/was hearing a sound in the bush-any verb tense would be applicable as part of the caption for the next photo. (Charlie always hears something and needs to go investigate. At the cottage he's like an old man that keeps his beer in the shed and keeps making excuses to go fix things...) I'm positive Charlie is thinking to himself 'Gosh darn it! If I've told that squirrel once I've told him a hundred times to stop hiding stuff in my secret spot.' A little background: 1. Charlie and the squirrel have a history of torment through patio doors and being treed and 2.Charlie routinely steals the neighbors' dogs' toys/bones/balls/blankets and hides them in the woods between the two cottages. (Q, Kelby if you are looking for that rawhide it's about 15 paces east, north east of the biffy.)

Something you may not know about Halle-she is an event planner. For two, no three weeks now, she has been planning her birt-day party. Her birthday is in February. She usually asks Alan and I about five times a day (usually one of the first things we hear in the morning) if we are coming to her party. 'Mommy? You come my birt-day? Daddy? You come my birt-day?' She has also decided that she is having choclate cupcakes and presents. Anyways, in the next picture she is with Grandma at the other neighbors' house. They live 'at the lake which will not be named' and have quite an assortment of lawn ornaments. Anyways, Halle walked up to the little statue, who is smoking a cigar, gave him a hug and said 'You come my birt-day?'. I could eat her up sometimes! She is so cute!!!

Mothers Day

What a fantastic day I had on Mothers Day! It was sunny and dare I say...warm! There is no special biological clock programming available for two year olds on the second Sunday in May so we were all up at 6:27am. I guess the days I can finally sleep in I will be up half the night worrying why she was five minutes late on her 10 o'clock curfew. (I can dream. It's my blog!)


It's never too early on a Sunday morning to do a loop around 'the bay' with your favorite two year old and Tyrone(who happens to sing. Thank-you Jen.)



Halle present to me. She is getting quite good at using Photoshop elements! The cup says 'Mommy and Halle Happy Mother's Day May 10, 2009'.

Later we got dressed-up and went for dinner. Yup, she's wearing a white dress. I know.

The Wildest creatures at the zoo...

Homo Sapiens Twoforus. Halle and Brett-the two year olds! The Bay biker gang took to the streets this morning and headed to the zoo for some fun. Not only does Halle go to daycare with Brett and his older sister Tessa, but they hang out around the neighborhood too. Halle was SUPER excited to go on an outing with her friends. Here are some pictures from today...

Studying the merecats...

Climbed the tower to survey the landscape and because the other kids did it...

Can't go to the zoo without trying out the playground.

Halle was convinced she was as surefooted as a Mountain goat...

The 'Cheetah' and the leopard meet at the fence.

Halle was not impressed with my humor when I asked if she was being coy with the koi...

Halle was upset that there was water on the floor. We are in the tropical house with birds flying and doing heaven knows what on the floor or on our heads and she was upset about the water. I believe her exact words were 'Mommy! Mess.'

Halle reading the sign just before she said 'holy #$@# Brett, that's a crocodile'.

You can tell these two spend a little bit of time together...there is a burrowing owl behind Halle's hand in the picture below. The hand she won't move so Brett can see said owl. Did I mention all the while shouting, yes shouting, "My owl! No Brett! No see. My owl".

Another display of "affection"..Brett is leaning into Halle and she had just had enough at this point. The next shot had her putting her full 30 lb lean into Brett.

Yeah, that's my girl, precariously close to taking a swim with the fishes...