A Day With Grandpa!

Sean's dad came for a visit and stayed with us for the weekend. He went to partake in the Lynn Valley Days festivities yesterday; it's the area where he grew up and his dad had been quite involved in putting it on back in his time. Sean's dad remembers going to it every year since he was a wee lad, being pushed around in a stroller.

Today, we celebrated an early Father's Day with brunch at Lily Mae's in Gastown. Great place, warm and friendly service, fantastic food. From there, we walked all over downtown... with stops at the Woodwards building for some bubbles fun, T&T to pick up some of our favourite instant coffee for Colleeen, Michael's and lastly, a much deserved stop at Thierry after Maddi woke up from her nap. We enjoyed some bums on chairs time since we've been walking quite a bit... as well as some yummy treats. Maddi loves their macarons; today, she tried the ginger pineapple one. I had their millefeuille, one of my favourite pastries, and it did not disappoint! Sean tried their chocolate croissant and dad had their latte. I think everyone was quite satisfied... I love that place!

After Thierry, we walked home so dad can get ready to go home. We had a bit of time before they had to leave for the ferry terminal; since Maddi's been in the stroller most of the time, we decided to go to the playground beside our building for a bit to give Maddi some time to run around and play. She showed dada & grandpa how she can now come down the slide on her own. They were both quite impressed.

When it was time for dada and grandpa to leave, Maddi was quite upset. I guess she had fun with grandpa and didn't want him to leave. Grandpa, you'll just have to come visit more often!

Early Father's Day brunch at Lily Mae's in Gastown

Lily Mae's - cozy & charming

Maddi snacking while waiting for our food

Everybody at Lily Mae's - fantastic food, Maddi ate a ton!

Bubble fun at Woodwards!

Maddi enjoying a ginger pineapple macaron at Thierry

Enjoying the last few minutes with grandpa before he left to go home

Family Outing to the Aquarium

It was rainy out, so we decided to spend our morning at the Aquarium. Apparently, so did everyone else. Parking took forever, but it was all good once we got inside. Maddi and I had been to the Aquarium a few times but this was the first time dada came with us. Maddi enjoyed running around and seeing all the different fishes. She thought the sea otters were "woofs" (dogs). We had lunch there, before heading home for Maddi's nap time... and had the best spot to enjoy our lunch!

Photos are not the best quality, was bummed I forgot to bring my camera; although not the best quality photos are better than no photos at all.

Jellyfish!

Colourful tank of sea life

The best spot for lunch!

We Love Play Dates!

Today was another great day! Maddi and I had a usual start to our morning, then at 10am, we left the house to get my eye checked by the doctor. My eye was 90% healed and I no longer need the patch. Yippee! It was a bit dizzying having to look with just one eye when you're not used to it.

After the doctor's appointment, we had our first play date with Jett & Eden. We met them at the park a couple of weeks ago and found out they lived in the same bldg. Very excited to have met new friends that live so close! Jett & Eden are a bit older, and Maddi loves playing with older kids. They are balls of energy and talk lots. Really great for Maddi to learn how to socialize and definitely a great way for her to learn to talk. Maddi zonked right out when we got home; but again, only napped for half an hour.

Nicole drove in from Langley with Hayley and Nicolas to visit for the afternoon. After some snacks, we packed the kids into the stroller and headed for Emery Barnes park... after a quick stop for some Spanish lattes at Caffe Artigiano for the mommies, of course!

Hayley and Maddi played in the fountain, Hayley enjoyed all the structures she could climb and Maddi learned to come down on the small slide on her own... and I had a great time hanging out with a good friend. Our pinwheel was also a big hit with all the kids at the park, we had so many visitors at our picnic mat!

We had an early dinner, then said goodbye to Nicole, Hayley and Nicky. Come visit again, looking forward to another play date very soon!

A little while later, Sean came home from picking up grandpa at the ferry terminal. Maddi had a short visit with her papa, then was out like a light after such a fun and busy day.

Fun times!

Despite the water being quite cold, Maddi wanted to go in it and play with the fountains

They play so well together

This time, we were prepared and brought a swuimsuit

Bedtime stories with dada & papa

Saying goodnight to papa

First Beach Day Of The Year!

Today was a holiday Monday for Victoria Day. After breakfast, we packed our stuff to be at the beach all afternoon. We had a ton of stuff and decided that our trek to English Bay would include an Aquabus ride just to make things easier and also to get there sooner.

Maddi fell asleep for her nap shortly after we got there, but didn't sleep for long. There were lots of people to play with and there were also a couple of newborns that came for a visit. She wasn't too sure of the sand at first, but soon enjoyed running around in it as well as experimenting with it's texture in her hands. Our friend Tesom deserves honourable mention for his great charisma with both Maddi and Marcus.

Enjoying the sights from the Aquabus

The vball crew's base camp on English Bay

Maddi kept brushing off sand from her hands

Getting curious

Exploring how sand feels in her hand

One Fine Day

Today was a GREAT day! Not that other days aren't, but today was just.plain.awesome!

Started the morning with a smiley Maddi instead of a crying Maddi wanting out of her crib. She ate well at breakfast and then we were off to catch the Aquabus to Granville Island for a Westside Music Together trial class.

Upon disembarking the Aquabus at Granville Island, we walked through the market and picked up "the Jenny" from JJ Bean. Don't go to a JJ Bean and ask for it, they would look at you weird and not know what you're talking about. This is what my friend Krysta, who used to work at the JJ Bean I frequented, had named my drink after having had to explain how I like my coffee every time I went into her store. It's actually not that crazy - it's just a latte with half vanilla, half caramel, light foam.

After I got my coffee, we still had 20 mins before class started. So we decided to stop and enjoy the music in the courtyard just outside of the main market entrance.

The class was an hour long and was UH-MAZ-ING! I don't know if it's just because I'm an emotional Cancerian... but I had to hold back tears towards the end of the class as Maddi gave the teacher a big, long hug when she's just met her for the first time. I think it's been built up from the great morning I've had, the beautiful setting of the class, seeing Maddi getting into the class... and I'm just envisioning how perfect our Summer would be for Maddi and I to have GI days twice a week for a month - and how this will help to put a bit of structure in our schedule (which I've needed, as you can tell from my post yesterday).

Maddi woke up extra early this morning, and the class probably tired her out as well. She fell asleep in the stroller on the way home. Since Maddi was sleeping in the stroller, I decided to meet up with Anne & Marcus at a nearby park. While we were there, I got a text msg from Shaila, one of the moms I met during maternity leave, that she and Zianna were in the area and would like to meet up. I haven't seen them in ages! And when they showed up to the park, they came with Jim, another friend of ours from our parent/infant days, with Hailey in tow of course! It still amazes me to see how much the girls have all grown, I've seen them since they were just a few weeks old!

Can this day get any better?! Well, YES! I think the pictures below sufficiently explain...

Hailey, Zianna & Maddi

We tried to keep their clothes dry...

No amount of hiking up pants or pulling up sleeves will keep their clothes dry when they do THIS!

Maddi's clothes were soaked. Good thing it was a warm day and only a short walk home, because she had to ride home in her stroller with nothing but her diaper on. I guess that's a sign of a spectacular day!

A Glimpse Of Summer

Whether it's the truth or just my guilt talking... I feel like it's been way too long since we've really enjoyed just being. Too often, there are places to go, things to do and people to see... or we are cooped up at home just putting around; and if we go out, we go to the usual places.

Summer makes me think of endless things and places to experience and enjoy - especially with the company of friends and loved ones. Today felt like Summer. I can't believe how warm it was!

We started the day with Maddi and I meeting some of our mommy and baby friends for a picnic. We haven't seen them for a long time and we were missing them terribly.

After the picnic, Maddi and I had a long walk and stopped in at our friend's gelateria in Coal Harbour, Bella Gelateria - sooo good! I had their award-winning salted caramel flavour and Maddi enjoyed a small cup of vanilla bean.

We met with Sean at the park nearby and just hung out. We laid out our picnic mat and played ball with Maddi. She has a great arm and throws pretty well, but today we taught her how to kick a ball. At first, she kept picking it up and throwing it; towards the end though, she learned how to kick it!

We had to move about 4 times trying to stay in the shade... but had a fun time in the sun, soaked in the fun of having some quality family time.

Maddi also made a friend, she is not a shy kid. Neither was Audrey, the friend she made. Interesting to think that if it weren't for our girls playing with each other, we probably wouldn't have talked to this couple; but because the girls did, we ended up getting out of ourselves and interacted with them. Children are pretty awesome.

I love seeing that smile on her face!

Maddi has a great arm and can throw a ball quite well!

Good throw, Maddi!

I just love those lips! And cheeks! And her cute hands and fingers! And....

Love The Aquabus!

The weather has been getting nicer lately. Yesterday, Sean had the day off work. Instead of going for a walk along the usual routes we take, I thought to take the Aquabus and stroll Granville Island.

It was Maddi's first Aquabus ride! We had lunch at the market, and enjoyed gelato in the courtyard where a lineup of musicians provided entertainment as people enjoyed the place, the weather, the views, their food & their company. It reminded me a bit of that Family Guy episode where there was soundtrack to life! hehe

Maddi has had ice cream several times and really enjoys it... but she's always had it in a bowl with a spoon. Yesterday, I taught her how to lick it from a cone. She liked the novelty of it.

We had planned to go feed the ducks, but we didn't make it there. Maddi was tired shortly after lunch, so we decided to head home to put Maddi down for a nap. It was neat to have caught one of the big ones they call the Cyquabus!

Enjoying the views from the Aquabus

Maddi's super excited to go to Granville Island =P

She might've been tired, she wasn't as friendly toward this girl as she usually is

Enjoying the music and dancing

Got to ride the Cyquabus on the way home!