THOSE fingerpaints

Messy business, but a lot of fun. We have a gallery in the kitchen which Isla stops and admires everytime she walks past - "My fingerpainting!" More like whole body painting really. They will only be coming out occasionally I think.

One Day on Labour Day Weekend

Today the sun shone, Isla and I visited the park first thing in the morning while Charlie got a lie in. Then it was Daddy time and Isla and Charlie played with the new Mr Potato Head playdoh game she got for her birthday. He mostly lives in the cupboard sleeping and only comes out every couple of days. I took the opportunity to visit Michaels - a craft superstore I have heard amazing things about. It was awesome. I do not scrapbook but that place makes me need to. I picked up some frames and finger paints for Isla (which will probably live with Mr Potato Head most of the time).

Then we headed to a furniture garage sale in a car park up the road. A huge furniture store was having a clear out over this weekend. We went yesterday and liked a couch - but the man said each day at 2pm there is an auction and that yesterday that couch was on for $50 and no-one bought it. We had to go back to see if we could pay $50 rather than $1000. Turns out no couches today - but we bought a lovely dark wood tv cabinet for $50 (saving $250 - woo hooo!). And bidding in a auction is way more fun than normal shopping. Tomorrow is the last day - with another auction. We are going back and will bid on ANY couch they have to sell. Wish us luck!

After Isla's nap we walked to Kits beach for me to do yoga, a teacher from my studio was hosting a free class on the beach for the long weekend. It was perfect weather, overlooking Downtown and Stanley Park. Isla and Charlie went to the park then came back and Isla joined in the end of the class. Everyone was most impressed by her downward dog.

Mel and Rich left us some vouchers when they left so we had a chicken dinner on the way home. The sun was shining, the temperature was perfect and Isla was on great form all day - this is why we moved to Vancouver!

The whole way home Isla chatted about the kids downstairs, strawberries, toy shops, Papa Terry and the moon. It kept vanishing behind buildings and trees, it was so fun to watch her surprise end excitement every single time it came back. "Mummy, Mummy, moon back!!" "Daddy, Daddy, big moon, big moon!"

A perfect day - if only I had remembered my camera so there were pictures to go with this post.

The Birthday Girl

She's In!

There is a pre-school on Granville Island which takes 20 children each year and starts at 3 years old. Charlie left the house at 5.45am this morning to queue, he got number 6 (number 1 had been there since 4am), and we were confirmed at 9am when the centre opened. So Isla has a place 2 days a week for 2 and a half hours starting September 2012.

If we need more than that before then - well we need to get our thinking caps on!

She didn't see that coming....

Promise she came up smiling!

Our Pad - Isla's Bedroom

Mel and Richard left yesterday then we spent the afternoon with Grandma and Papa Terry. Today we started to get a bit more settled in, the first room to get sorted was obviously Isla's "big girl" room.

She climbed out of her cot while we were in England in April, since then she has been sleeping in a small tent so we did not have to worry about her escape. Her new start in the "big bed" was further delayed by the loss of the screws for the lovely bed we shipped from Japan, plus the steady stream of guests who needed to sleep in her room. We collected the last box from the garage in Langley and stashed in one of my handbags were the screws - hurray!

We found the little white drawers in a storage room downstairs, we have a bit of an Isla theme going on with two pictures and some bunting with her name on. You can see her deck outside. It gets the afternoon sun and has a nice view of the harbour - the fences are high so she will be able to go out there and play safely even though it is on the 4th floor.

We have not figured out how to make her stay in the bed all night yet - but I am sure it will come! New bedroom modelled by Isla.

A quickie...

I must say - this place is FULL of English people. Today I went to yoga in the market, then to Costco and I think 50% of the people I heard speaking had English accents. Amazing.

A little picture of Isla watching Charlie and Lola in her house made out of the BBQ box. I have big plans for it - watch this space!