Family Reunion in Oregon

This weekend I went to Oregon for a family reunion. To get to Oregon on time, we had to leave home REALLY early in the morning. It was still dark outside when Mommy put me in the car. I told her that it's still night time and that I hardly had any sleep.

We drove for a little while then Daddy decided it was time for breakfast. We found a great restaurant with green fields all around and I got to eat an apple cinnamon DONUT with hot chocolate for breakfast. It was the most delicious breakfast I ever had in my ENTIRE life! Mommy said she hopes it's the only time in HER life that I will get to eat a donut for breakfast.


After lots more driving we finally got to Oregon. I didn't know I was related to so many people. I met a new cousin, Brent, who is bigger than my cousin Jacob but smaller than me. My favourite cousin, Kennedy was there too - she's much older than me. We had lots of fun playing and visiting interesting places. Here are some pictures from my trip.


I love playing in the sand and the beach outside our vacation house was great.


Look at the sand castle Jacob and I are building! Uncle Kelly and Daddy are good helpers.


I had so much fun in the water. Here Mommy helps me jump waves to avoid a bubble attack.


Me flying a kite all by myself. Oregon is perfect for flying kites - it's always windy.


Life is good. Here I am relaxing in the tub with Jacob after a morning of playing at the beach.


This is a photo I took of Kennedy. It's always lot of fun when she's around!


One of my favourite parts of this trip was a visit to the Tillamook Air Museum. I LOVED flying the simulators with Mommy while Daddy looked at all the old planes.


I still like buses but I think I'll become a fighter jet pilot when I grow up instead of a bus driver.


After the Air Museum, we went to the Tillamook cheese factory. Daddy gave me a $5.00 bill to buy ice cream after the cheese tour. No, I don't have an itchy bum, I'm keeping my ice cream money safe.


I kept that ice cream money safe for the entire tour and here I am enjoying my favourite ice cream - mint chocolate chip. It's delicious!


We were in Oregon for only a few days and they were all lots of fun. On the way home, Daddy wanted to stop at the vineyards but we only had time for one. Outside the tasting room I had fun finding tiny grapes on the vines.


It was a really long day of driving to get home. I watched lots of movies on the DVD player. Here I am with Daddy when we stopped for picnic lunch.

Happy Birthday Bus

I went to a birthday party today. The Vancouver trolly buses turned 60 years old.


This morning, Mommy, Ba and I went down to the Marpole bus depot to take part in the celebrations. There were some really old buses, some brand new buses and everything else in between. I liked all the buses but chose to ride in an old bus. Mommy said it's the kind she used to ride when she was little.


The buses were all lined up and once I took my seat there was a parade. I went all the way from the bus depot down to Stanley Park. Ba rode on the bus with me while Mommy drove the car to meet us at the end of the parade.


When we got to the park there were a lot of people clapping and waiting for us. There were speeches and cardboard buses being given away and best of all, there was cake! I had lots of fun and I think Ba did too.

Happy Birthday Bus!

Ba

This is a picture I took of my Ba. She is Daddy's mom and has come all the way from Nairobi to live with us for a year. I've been to Nairobi. It's really far away.

Ba is really nice. We eat breakfast together and she plays games with me in my playroom. We don't know each other very well yet but I think I will like her.

Super Strength

Super heros are very strong. See my super human strength as I arm wrestle with Daddy.

Jump, Run and Fly

I'm a super hero. Let me show you my powers and super hero stance.

New Digs

Welcome to my new house. In this house, I don't have to follow Mommy's rules. I don't have to put my things away and it can be as messy as I like. Come on, let me show you around...


Just like our blue house, my house has a window at the front so I can see who is at the door before I answer it. See the bell on the door? You can ring it when you come visit me.


I have shutters that close on my side windows. They're great when I'm in my lab doing an Indiana Jones archeology experiment. I don't want anybody to see the wonderful treasures that I've found.


Best of all, even though I made Mommy try really hard, I'm the only one who fits inside. Thanks for visiting me at my house.

My Size

I'm growing. Today I am 4 years and 3 months old. Mommy discovered that I'm about the same size as the bottom stair that goes down to the basement (43").

Summer 2008

Hi everyone! Sorry I've been gone for so long. I've been keeping Mommy pretty busy this summer so she hasn't had any time to help me update my blog. We've done so much since the last day of school. Here's an update.

ITALIAN FESTIVAL - June 22, 2008
Look what we found at the Italian festival! I just had to get on the bus to see what was going on inside!


It's an art bus! I made a flag to help decorate the festival gate.


The festival was fun. There were dancers on a stage, a food and snacks area and a little market. Daddy bought me a wooden car that can be taken apart by unscrewing the wooden screws. Also, the eyes spin around when I drag it behind me. The best part though, and the whole reason we went to the festival, was to see the Ferrari races. That's not me driving the little Ferrari but I hope they pick my name for next month's race. I know that I can drive the car faster and better than that boy did.



SOCCER CAMP
My first soccer camp was the week after school ended. I really liked it so Mommy has signed me up for many more this summer. I've learned how to dribble the ball, kick the ball and most fun of all, score a goal. At the end of each camp we always divide into two teams and play a game. At first I didn't like getting pushed around trying to get the ball so I stayed in the goal. Now, I'm getting better at getting the ball so I'm hustling a lot more. This week I scored four goals!


In addition to soccer camp, I've also gone to swimming lessons and day camp at the community centre and at St. George's School.

OUTINGS
If I'm not in day camp then Mommy and I usually have lots of time to go on an outing. If the weather is bad, we go to the Play Palace, Science World, Mount Pleasant Family Centre, the driving range or I have a friend come over for a play date.

If the weather is good, then we do something really fun and different. This summer we've been to lot of places. Here are some photos of my favourite outings.


I LOVE the water park. Mommy always allows lots of time for me when we go here. I love it so much!


Visiting the Fire Station. I love sitting in the drivers seat and exploring everything on the fire engine.


The Capilano Suspension Bridge was fun. The bridge sure is wobbly. At first I was scared and Mommy had to hold my hand but after we got half way across the bridge, I wasn't so scared anymore. I really like the treetops area and collecting the stamps on my passport.


Last weekend we went up to Kamloops to visit Uncle Brian. We also stopped in at Tobiano to see the new golf course. While at Tobiano, Mommy found a skeleton. At first I thought it was sort of weird and scary but Daddy pointed out all the parts and it didn't seen so scary any more. I guessed that it used to be a cow.


Uncle Brian's place was fun. We went out for ice cream, to a playground with a big ship and we played airplane races in the park behind his house. We also went to the wildlife park where I rode on their little green train. The most fun part though was playing driving games on Uncle Brian's Wii. We Skyped Aunty Karen and Uncle Hanson, who live in London, and raced each other while chatting over Skype.

We've done lots this summer and there's still lots of things I hope we can do. Mommy really hopes the weather gets better soon. We were supposed to spend the day at the beach, go to the water park at Granville Island and go to the bird sanctuary this week but it's been too rainy and cold all week. Cross your fingers for me that the weather gets warm and sunny soon.

Last Day of School

Yesterday was the last day of preschool and today all the classes got together for a picnic and party. Everyone brought food to share and my teachers made lots of hot dogs. I don't like hot dogs, fruit or salad but the dessert table had lots of chocolate-y treats that looked delicious. Mommy gave me a real treat and let me eat one dessert without eating a hot dog. Thanks Mommy!!!

I have four teachers: Cathy, Erin, Justin and Wendy. Here I am with Justin - he's my favourite teacher.


These guys are my best buddies. You already know me, I'm sticking my tongue out. My friend Matthew is sitting beside me and my buddy Thomas is wearing the hat.


After lunch the party started. Cathy put on some of our favourite dancing songs from school. My favourite is YMCA because I like to make the letters with my arms.


After some dancing, everyone did the limbo. Mommy finds it really hard but I think the limbo is pretty easy. I barely have to bend over to fit under the bar.


It was a really fun morning but soon it was time to clean up and go home. I'm sad that I don't have school for a while but Mommy says we'll do lots of fun things this summer while we're waiting for school to start again.

Fore!

Hi! Know where I am? I'm at the driving range at my very first golf lesson.


I like the shiny, new balls so I have to select my next ball carefully. The shiny, new ones go farther than the old, chipped up ones plus they look nicer.


Getting ready to hit the ball. Fingers...thumbs...feet...address the ball...1, 2, 3...


WHACK!


Did you see how far it went?!!

Thoughts of a 4-Year Old

I turned four years old last month. Here's what I'm thinking...



If you want to see what I thought when I turned three years old, then follow this link to the first posting on my blog...

http://avisantics.blogspot.com/2007/06/hi-i.html

"Breakfast" In Bed

This year for Father's Day, I decided that I want to surprise Daddy with breakfast in bed (I read about it in one of my books). One problem. Daddy isn't going to be home for Father's Day this year. He's on a golf trip this weekend.

Mommy had a good idea. She said we can still give him breakfast in bed, it just has to be on a different day. We decided to surprise Daddy with Father's Day breakfast in bed, LAST NIGHT! Isn't that funny?!

When Daddy came home, I took him upstairs and tucked him into bed. He was confused. Then I asked him if he'd like a glass of red or white wine. That perked him up, he was a little surprised and said he'd like red. I suggested a "pinot something or other" and he said that sounded great. Mommy helped me open and pour the wine then we carried it upstairs together so Daddy could drink it in bed and read some magazines while I helped Mommy in the kitchen.


The menu I chose for Daddy was omelets, croissants, orange juice and milk. I helped Mommy crack the eggs, stir them up and sprinkle the omelet filling into the pan. She added a salad to the plate (yuk!) because she said we needed to include something healthy and a lot of fried up mushrooms because Daddy likes mushrooms. I told her none of that stuff for me, please. Mommy ate the same thing as Daddy but for me, she made my favourite way to eat eggs -- with sesame oil, soy sauce and rice. I also got a croissant because they're one of my favourite things to eat. The trays were really heavy so Mommy helped me carry them upstairs.



We all ate our dinner in bed with Daddy. I tried really hard to be careful and didn't spill anything. After dinner, oops, I mean breakfast, I gave Daddy the card and art I made for him at school and the gift that I bought with Mommy.


Eating in bed was fun! I think Daddy liked his surprise. I want to do this every year on Father's Day.

Dance Dance Dance

Today I had another performance for my last day of Movement, Song and Make-Believe at the Arts Umbrella. Mommy always like to see what my teacher Laura has been teaching me.


We showed a lot of stuff. Mommy's favourite was my humming bird dance. I flapped my wings so fast and so much that my arms were really tired at the end of the song. She also like the seed dance I did with a light blue (my favourite colour) scarf.


Doing a performance is fun. I like it when Mommy watches me. Especially when she gets a big smile on her face.

"Move On Back!"

Look at me! I'm in the driver's seat of a REAL school bus! Come on, climb on board!


Daddy's friend, Ashok, has his own school bus. Today he invited me over to see it and go for a ride.


We went for a nice little ride and I sat in the front seat so I could watch Ashok Uncle work the door, steering wheel and lights. Then, Ashok Uncle pulled over and asked me if I wanted to drive! YES! He let me sit in his lap, turn the steering wheel, work the signals and everything while he pushed the pedals. Mommy and Daddy might have been nervous but I think I'm a pretty good driver. We didn't crash into anything.


Thank you Ashok Uncle and Bhavna Aunty. That was the best afternoon, ever!

Eye Update

I had an appointment with Dr. Lyons today. My eyes aren't straight yet but he is really happy with how they're getting better.

I asked him, "when my eyes will stop hurting and when they will never, ever hurt again." I also asked him, "when will my eyes stop being red and when will they never, ever be red again." He told me they'll stop hurting next week and they'll stop being red in July. He doesn't know if they'll never, ever hurt again or be red again.

I really like Dr. Lyons.

Chinchillas

I met these neat little guys at the pet store this morning. They're called chinchillas. They love to eat raisins. They just took them right out of my hand then nibbled them up in quick little bites! Good thing Mommy had a box of raisins in her bag and the lady at the pet store gave me permission to feed them. It was really fun to watch them because they are so friendly.

Eye Operation

I'm going to the hospital today to have my eyes fixed. Sometimes they go a little crazy and both don't point where they are supposed to. The doctor is going to fix that.

I can't eat any breakfast or lunch until my operation so I hope my tummy isn't too hungry when I wake up in the morning. Mommy and Daddy let me stay up really late last night watching movies and eating snacks. They said this way, I'll wake up later and won't have to keep my tummy hungry for so long. I always like to stay up late so I really liked that. We had a family movie night and I chose "Bee Movie."

Boo Boo Fixed

Yippee!  My cast came off today.  My arm was SOOOO itchy when the cast came off but feels much, much better.  The doctor says I'm still fragile and need to be careful for another four to six weeks so Mommy decided that I can't go back to my yoga or gymnastics classes for a little while longer.  My teachers want me to wear a bandage on my arm when I go to school to remind the other kids to be gentle with me.  Mommy thinks that's a good idea for my Hustle Bustle class too.  I don't mind.  I'm just happy to have my arm out of the cast!

Happy Birthday Polar Express

Mommy and I had another fun day.  We went to the Roundhouse in Yaletown for a birthday party.  The train that lives there, Polar Express, turned 121 years old!  Mommy says thats older than me, Daddy and her all put together.

Normally when I visit the train, it's parked inside the glass building but today it was outside.  I rang the bell and tooted the steam whistle and a real engineer showed me all the dials and how to run the train (we didn't go anywhere though).  There was a brass band, a ukelele and a bagpipe player.  Best of all, there were two kinds of cake and I got a big piece of the chocolate one.  It was a lot of fun and a great birthday party!