living on the edge

This is the typeof cot that Olivia has in her room. As already mentioned, she can quite easily climb out of it and has done so for a few months now. This afternoon I walk into her bedroom to wake her up from her nap, only to find her asleep on her stomach on the change table bit! What the....?
We are planning to get her into a "big girl bed" by her second birthday, in order to avert a possible head injury not that that will stop her from bumping her head on practically anything, as has been the case since she began walking. Oh well, nerves are there to get rattled - I guess.

Aussie accent joke

Went to Toastmsters last night. The joke master decided to tell an Australian joke:

There was this Australian man lying unconscious in a hospital bed- he was in terrible shape.
When he finally came to, he turned to his nurse and in his weakened state asked,
"Did I come here to die?"
"No mate," replied his nurse, "you came here yesterday".

We all thought it was funny anyway.

Australia Day

We aren't there yet, but are thinking about it and thinking of you all enjoying the warmth and possibly a BBQ and a squiz at the cricket (if you are that way inclined), on this Australia Day 2006. Cheers!

Sigmund the snowman

Yesterday we dressed our little cherubs up until they resembled round little puff balls and set out for a "surprise". As promised we returned to the snow to make a snowman.
I had taken notes on how to make one from all the kids TV shows that bombard us with dreamy winterscapes and fun-in-the-snow ideas. Alex had been pestering me for weeks "when is it going to snow again?", and "when can I make a snowman?". I tried to tell him that snow in our neighbourhood was considered rare, but he didn't really understand.
Here we are back at Mount Seymour. There was considerably more snow on the ground since our last visit 7 weeks ago, and as you can see, it was falling while we were there. The trees were bent as though their limbs would snap due to the icy load weighing heavy on the branches. Cars were struggling on their way up the mountain; many cars struggled to maintain traction with the road, and we watch one guy in a ute spinning his wheels with a couple of people bouncing on the back to assit in providing enough weight in the back. I suspect he might have had to turn around aand go back, as many did. We could smell the burning of rubber in the crisp air - it definately wasn't doing the car any good, and made me realise why chained tires are required in such conditions. Our little CRV handled it with ease however, so we were happy.
It took the 4 of us about 45 minutes to make this snowman, who was later named Sigmund. Olivia really enjoyed it and seemed quite content in the cold conditions. Alex on the otherhand, hated the snow falling on his face and he had a breakdown about halfway through. When asked if he wanted to go back to the car, he was adamant that he was here to make a snowman and so he would suffer through it - what a trouper. After the snowman was made, we engaged in the time honoured tradition of pummelling each other with snowballs until we were soaked to the skin and I could no longer feel my legs, since they were so cold and numb - too much fun, must do it again soon. 

museums should have an age requirement

The other week we went to the Museum of Anthropology - NEVER AGAIN!
I was so looking forward to learning new things about the indigenous people of Canada, although I discovered that the Museum contained artifacts and information of indigenous groups from all over the world; there were even somethings from Australia and a sizeable dislpay of Papua New Guinean tribal artifacts. This sculpture is called "Raven and the first Men" and tells the creation story of one of the local First Nations. There was also a huge exhibit of cermanic art, mainly from Slovakia as far as I could see. Many totem poles and large animal sculptures depicting local totem animals adorned a large part of the museum.
Alex and Olivia weren't really up to the challenge of visiting a Museum. They were more content running screaming through the echoing halls and corridors than looking at things; the order and quiet of the place was simply too much to handle.
After about half an hour I had had enough, declaring "RIGHT THAT'S IT!!!!" and stormed out. The brow beatings I was getting rom otehrs was getting too much and something was going to get broken with them banging on the galss cabinets. I think the museum officials heaved a huge sigh of relief when we finally exited the place.

rain

Well, in 1952 it rained for 28 consecutive days, making it the longest number of rainy days in a row, since recorded history of such things for the region. Sunday we awoke to the 28th day of rain, only to find the birds a chirping and blue sky above. The land was a sodden boggy mess, but alas, no rain. Although we were all excited to have blue sky and sunshine - and on a wekend day no less, the pursuit to break the 54 year old record was dashed. Basking in the suns soothing rays and soaking up that much needed vitamin D made us all forget that silly record and just enjoy... And the houses on the North Shore that were on evacuation stand by landslide alert, heaved a huge sigh of relief.
That was until Monday morning, when the curtins were pulled back only to find a drenched landscape and ink black clouds stretching out as far and wide as we could see. Vancouverites were then left to mourn the record that never was - close but not close enough. Why? I guess it would have been nice to have something official standing as a reminder of our suffering through a winter with such dreary conditions. Oh well, the count starts again...today is day 3.

treasure after the rain

The other day we went for a walk along the foreshore. It had been raining for many days and this was the first opportunity to get out of the house and go for a walk. There were many treasures to be seen both on the ground and in the air. Although we were searching for the legendary Snowy Owl (Harry Potter owl), we did not see any this day. The snowy owl resides in the area for about 6 weeks before moving on. The newspaper did say that 22 of the birds had been spotted in the annual bird species count, and with the limited number of the species being revealed, I didn't feel quite so bad for not having spotted one. We did however, manage to see 7 Bald Eagles. Such large and intimidating birds, they are, sitting high in the naked trees waiting for some poor unfortunate prey to dare stick its neck out, no doubt. Alex was quite taken by this shell. It was like a mini oasis: small pool of water admist the parched well of dry shell and tiny branch-like leaves with the tiniest berries, perhaps providing some sustainence and shade from the breezy coastal conditions for some microscopic organism here on holidays from the arctic.
I suggested, to Alex, that he take his find home, but he insisted it be put back EXACTLY where he'd found it- perhaps a future conservationist.