Exploring Pointillism. Q-tip Art.

SUMMER FUN PASSPORT ENTRY  |  TICK!

Another entry in our Summer Fun Passport

We took the Summer Bucket List Challenge. Our working list is here.

Sprinkle Watermelon Milkshakes

SUMMER FUN PASSPORT ENTRY  |  TICK!

Another entry in our Summer Fun Passport: Sprinkle Watermelon Milkshakes

We took the Summer Bucket List Challenge. Our working list is here.

My 365 Grateful Project: Week #7

PLAYING WITH THE POWER OF GRATITUDE
Find Something For Which to Be Grateful. Every Day. Take a Picture of It. Repeat 365 times.


DAY 43: June 18, 2012

"Angry" wee pirates and spring concerts #365grateful

DAY 44: June 19, 2012

Hello Mint growing on our deck.
You are going to be great in my tea later. #365grateful

DAY 45: June 20, 2012

On this day, the last full day of grade 2, I'm overwhelmed with
 gratefulness for fantastic teachers! Thanks to Ms. C for a fantastic year
 full of heart and inspiration and growth. #365grateful. Here Spud drew
her a cake and a robot that "does everything" including make coffee
and supply chocolate on command.

DAY 46: June 21, 2012

Happy yellow on the deck #365grateful 

DAY 47: June 22, 2012

Our little risk taker ... #recital #365grateful

DAY 48: June 23, 2012

Grateful for the red juicy potential
of these little yellow flowers #365grateful

DAY 49: June 24, 2012

Little guy learning to solder at the Maker Faire ...
A cute robot pin with blinky eyes #365grateful

See Week one here.
Check out my original inspiration here and here.

Archery Club Open House

SUMMER FUN PASSPORT ENTRY  |  TICK!

The North Shore Archery Club not too far from our stomping grounds, had an open house yesterday. So we gave it whirl. Spud had a great time and wants to sign up for lessons!

Another entry in our Summer Fun Passport:

We took the Summer Bucket List Challenge. Our working list is here.

Photo Friday #56: Sandwiches on Sandwich Street

LONDON   |   TRAVELS WITH KID

Of course Spud thought it was pretty great that our flat in London was on a street called Sandwich. But imagine how curious he was when he saw on google maps that there was a sandwich shop on Sandwich street! Well, that made it on to our "must do" list pretty quickly.

Here we are, early, on a big touristing day, equipped with an eggy breakfast sandwich for the road.

In Spud's books, the sandwich was top notch in all its white bread glory. To us, it was a fun quirky tick on a long list of things to do London.

Thanks to Debbie of Delicious Baby for hosting Photo Friday!

Summer Reading Club

SUMMER FUN PASSPORT ENTRY  |  TICK!

It's officially the last day of school! Which is bitter sweet. But we are definitely looking forward to some summer fun and lots of reading! Signing up to our library's summer reading club is on our Summer Fun Passport list this year ... and we got a tick! This is our 3rd year running. You can tell we love it. Here's this year's booklet ...

Inside there is an opportunity to collaborate on a story.

On the other side is a place to keep track of all the titles you read. A great keepsake! And some sticker fun too (as a designer, I'm thinking this would be such a fun project to work on!) At the bottom right you see the calendar for marking off every day you read for 15 minutes (or get read to). Piece of cake. After 50 days, you get a medal!

They also have weekly programs including an altered book workshop this year that sounds interesting as well as scavenger hunts and family movies on Monday afternoons. Oh, and weekly contests where you can win books! Spud has one a book each year so far. I hope everyone has access to something as cool as this! But if not, it's pretty inspiring for coming up with your own club.

And here is our running list of books we want to read kept on shelfari. What's on your list this summer?

We took the Summer Bucket List Challenge. Our working list is here.

My 365 Grateful Project: Week #6

PLAYING WITH THE POWER OF GRATITUDE
Find Something For Which to Be Grateful. Every Day. Take a Picture of It. Repeat 365 times.


DAY 36: June 11, 2012

Hello pillow. So nice to see you. 

DAY 37: June 12, 2012

Spud's drawings of the reproductive cycle of the endangered sawfish.
So inspired by his crazy-cute depiction of the fish!

DAY 38: June 13, 2012

Mr. Baseball had a good time at the teddy bear picnic at school today.
And look at that smile...

DAY 39: June 14, 2012

The Japanese Maple outside our bedroom window

DAY 40: June 15, 2012

A sunny sports day!
And a blue ribbon for team Valdez (first win in 7 years)!

DAY 41: June 16, 2012

Big thanks @VPL for hosting another exciting
Summer Reading Book Club #signedup #LibraryLove

DAY 42: June 17, 2012

Happy Father's Day! I love you!!

See Week one here.
Check out my original inspiration here and here.

Father's Day Floats

SUMMER FUN PASSPORT ENTRY  |  TICK!

What? It's true. Spud's never had root beer! Well what better way to introduce to the frothy beverage than with a scoop of vanilla ice cream added? That's how Root Beer Floats made it on to our Summer Fun Passport list. And since it used to be Hub's favourite pop, Father's Day seemed like the perfect day to have it.

We took the Summer Bucket List Challenge. Our working list is here.

Glow-in-the-Dark Tub Time

SUMMER FUN PASSPORT ENTRY  |   TICK!

Our third entry into our Summer Fun Passport: Tub + Kid + Glow Sticks = FUN!

The glow-in-the-dark glasses added a lot to the fun as well.

And the parents had fun taking crazy neon-like photos!

We took the Summer Bucket List Challenge. Check out our working list.

LEGO Maze

SUMMER FUN PASSPORT ENTRY  |  TICK!

Summer is starting early for us. Who cares if it's raining outside and school isn't out yet! Originally inspired by this, we put the idea of making each other mazes out of LEGO on our summer bucket list.

First Spud (with support from Hubs) created his masterpiece (above); a maze through buildings and structures from around the world. Landmarks include: the Birds Nest, The Empire State Building, The Great Pyramids of Giza, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, a Mayan ruin, The Gherkin, Tour Eiffel, St. Basil's Cathedral and last but not least, our very own Lion's Gate Bridge (check out cool vintage shots here).

A few days later, I made one for Spud to try. Quite a bit less intricate. Lazy, you might say, in comparison. But it does have a giant marble and a Crazy Crocodile!

And our first entry in our Summer Fun Passport:

We took the Summer Bucket List Challenge. Our working list is here.

Today's Lunch: It's "Fluffy's" Turn!

It's a good day when Spud's Goodbyn, known as fluffy, gets to be his lunch kit. One time, last year, I even got a note from one of his classmates, asking that fluffy make an appearance. I guess he's got a bit of a following.

Notice the "wedge" at the top ... it's function is to keep that egg and bacon wrap in its place. I put some freeze dried strawberries in it. Next is a green pepper slice, an apple, chocolate pudding with raspberries (a rare treat!), and cucumbers.

My 365 Grateful Project — Week #5

PLAYING WITH THE POWER OF GRATITUDE
Find Something For Which to Be Grateful. Every Day. Take a Picture of It. Repeat 365 times


DAY 29: June 4, 2012

 Grateful for getting the organization bug ...
Check our first of many themed caddies
that are going tidy up our project closet!

DAY 30: June 5, 2012

Especially grateful for ice in our freezer on a day with extended
and unexpected water shut off. Also handy?
Expired emergency water for hand washing.

DAY 31: June 6, 2012

 I heart raspberries. Bring it, summer.

DAY 32: June 7, 2012

 Little hands playing The Beatles (and not Yankee Doodle! For a change.)

DAY 33: June 8, 2012

Tri-fold ... Didn't have to cook, leftovers, and great future storage containers.

DAY 34: June 9, 2012

Hubs. Me. Together. Alone. At night. Under a street light waiting for a bus.

DAY 35: June 10, 2012

First entry in our Summer Fun Passport!

Check out my original inspiration here and here.