Wednesday 28 July 2010

Have a Sparkly Wednesday

Since everybody loves some Latvian pandas who shoot sparks out their feet...

More Instrumenti!!!

Monday 26 July 2010

Beachy Head


Diggin it

Full Moon Beach Party

Some pre-beach kiddos vs. adults footie...


I got to the beach early and erected this wee fort for everyone to enjoy:




Fort admirers:


Strollers...


The moon shines out of her behind...

Friday 23 July 2010

Friday roundup

Ferg: Mom, would you rather be rich, have 159 kagillion granola bars, or have me to love but no food?
Gillian: I’d rather have you to love but no food.
Ferg: But you’d be dead in a week.


Night Rider...


Californians are here - yee haw!!!!

Monday 19 July 2010

Summer Here Kids





...and the crow-k champion of the world :: Effie Lou!!!!!

Tuesday 13 July 2010

The followers of chaos out of control

The World Cup is over and I can now stop telling Fergus he got good purchase on that shot when he exits the bathroom or that, although his drawings were a bit agricultural, overall his artistic efforts have been top drawer and his finishing fanatic! However, muttering to myself he anticipated..... he anticipated wrongly when accidently choosing the slow lane in snarled traffic does do wonders to quell that bubbling vehicular rage!

Wind Soccer :: Sport of the Future:


Yes, we have pinnies now! Here's Fergus consoling Finn after a shot went awry with a wee bit of a good on ya son:


This photo shows a popular monkey game and Effie's pea eating style. But check out Fergus in the background (behind Memet's borrowed bbq from July 2009)... he's nearly pitching himself off a cliff in order to avoid having his picture taken. If there's one thing he hates, it's surprise photos of himself. If there's one thing I never learn, it's to stop doing this to him...


A few days later... here's a picture of Fergus and his Grandma about to enjoy some well earned beverages on a particularly hot summer's day. One point six seconds after this picture was taken he sprinted to his right and cracked the top of his head open on an open window. I think I have finally learned my lesson:


I won't be able, however, to stop taking movies of him playing the footie (he's been watching his share of World Cup games too... you can hear him at the start - barely, through the wind - ask that I be given a yellow card even though I was nowhere near him I tell ya!):


Moving on, a newly released study by EASTERN Canadians proposes that skin to skin contact between mother and baby is beneficial: "Because the baby is being held so close to the mother, the mother learns the baby's signals."

And just in case you’re a complete and utter dolt, “the researchers have produced a DVD for mothers and health-care workers about skin-to-skin contact”. Me, I’m currently preparing a research proposal on how walking on the sidewalk is safer than walking right there in the middle of the dingdang road.

Moving on further... Eff creating a sewing project:


EllaEffie (and one helluva rogue curl):


Rescuing shingles from Mom and Dad's roof-waste bin (to be used on that final long-suffering and siding-less wall of the old house. Threepio! Come in Threepio!

Friday 9 July 2010

I Heart California

The perfect song for our newly minted Californian friends and their conflicting views on it all... by my main man Jason Lytle's new band Ad Rad...

I Heart California by Admiral Radley

Sunday 4 July 2010

Beach Day, Sports Night

Our wee buddy Ella celebrated her first birthday at the beach... the windy, seasonally cool, beach:










Softballing:


Soccering:


I'm-not-sure-whating:

Bocce Birdies

Bocce...


Peckers:


Eff's newly created secret garden:


World Cup viewing with a Scot who is secretly an England fan...

For Tara, Zack, Noah and Piper



ALLMAN, Tara Catherine Nora (nee Black) March 17, 1967 June 28, 2010 Tara, "Mother Nature" loved to run. She ran in joy, serenity and peace. She loved quiet spaces and literature. Tara married her soul mate and love of her life Zack. The role in life she relished most was being his wife and mother to their beautiful children Noah and Piper. She created a magical safe place for them all, a place with cookies and fairies. A place to grow and learn. Tara's creativity came out when the family played marimba. Tara loved to play and played with skill and passion. Tara courageously managed her illness with grace and dignity and was truly a special human being. She leaves many happy memories with her loved ones, husband, Zack, children Noah and Piper, Parents: Garvin and Tania Black, Brother Kent (Tara), Nephews Jordan and Rowan, Mother & Father in law Jim and Susan Allman, special Aunty Jane, loyal friend Cheryl and many relatives in Ontario, England and Italy. GONE TOO SOON. As per Tara's wishes there will be a private family gathering. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Victoria Foundation, Camp Programs

Thursday 1 July 2010

July Firsting

We loaded up on plenty of non-normal-day activities today in celebration of July 1st. After collecting Fergus from Finn's house we picked up some appetizers from the local pizza joint and fed the goats while we waited:



Dinner at the yummy Yoshi Sushi:




After dinner we discovered a park we never knew existed:


There are obviously some bad-ass graffiti artists in these woods:


We found a crabby beach where Effie spent a great deal of time getting up the courage to pick one up:


Then we found the rail line nearby:



Finally, we ended up at the DQ for some blizzards (including Smarties flavoured in honour of Shannon who can't get them down south in Americana):