Holiday Monday

Monday was a holiday so we decided to head out of the house for a family day.  We drove to Surrey to a place called A Rocha - a Christian conservation organization.  They had a family day with activities for the kids and animals to see.  It was just a beautiful place to spend the afternoon!

Here Kendra and Owen are checking out a few tadpoles and other fish and looking for the answers to questions in their 'passports'.  They had information tables set up around the property.

 Kendra got to hold a very new little chick.  Owen was content to just look.

Jocelyn loved getting out of her stroller and exploring the trees!

 There was one fabulous cherry tree that was perfect for climing.  Kendra and Owen thought this was the best part of the day!

 Finally a snack on the grass before heading back home.  We stopped for supper at Red Robin's to celebrate Kevin's birthday (one day early).  A great way to spend a holiday!

A little of everything . . .

Sometimes I find that even though I think not much is going on in our little home, there always seems to be something happening.  So, here are a few shots of life in our home over the last little while.

Of course, life right now pretty much just revolves around the Canucks and when they play next.  Fourtunately, we are all quite excited about the Canucks and look forward to watching the games.  Here Kendra and Owen are trying out the Canuck quiz that I gave to the ladies in my women's group at church.  Don't tell the ladies, but Kendra did much better than most of of them did!!!

 Here is a shot of Kendra and the zoo that she drew for "Z" week in Kindergarten.  She got a "How to draw animals" book from Grandma's thrift store and decided she wanted to try drawing them all so she made it into a zoo with different habitat sections, a park, benches, garbage cans and a parking lot!  It turned into quite the project but looks great! 

 Kendra is also playing t-ball again in the Church league.  She loves it that her team is made up of mostly kids from her church and she loves her coaches!  Here she is, ready to catch the next ball!

 In the very few nice days that we've had in the past while, the kids have been loving the trampoline.  Even Jocelyn is getting in on the action!  (I've discovered that the trampoline is also a great play pen for Jocelyn when I need to get a few things done in the yard and I don't want her to escape to the front!)

 Finally, just a few shots of what our 18-month old loves to do!!  What is the fascination with toilets and toilet paper?!

 Her other favourite thing to do is sit and 'read' her books!  So cute!!

Just a little glimpse into life at the deWolde household!

Finally, a sunny afternoon!

I know we don't live in Alberta where they still have snow, but it has been unseasonably cold here.  Usually by now we are planting our flowers outside, breaking out the flip-flops and enjoying time on the deck.  Not so this year yet.  Yesterday, however, the sun decided to come out and give us a beautiful day.  So, we figured we better take advantage and get outside to 'go exploring'!  So, we headed up to Rolley Lake, just north of Mission.  Kevin is training the kids young to have a love for exploring new places.  It really is fun to see them so excited about walking down a path and marvelling at the fallen trees with new growth coming out of them, to see how the trees look 'spooky' with the moss growing on them.  They are excited to find a new little path off the main one to go down and discover what lies at the end of it.  We had a wonderful afternoon!  Bring on the summer!

 Kendra taking pictures with her camera. 

Owen looking for something to discover under the bridge.

 Off to find something else!

 There were so many cool stumps to look at.  This one was completely hollow inside.

 Jocelyn had had enough exploring for one day - time for a nap!

 However, once she discovered the beach, it was a whole new world again! 

We forgot to take buckets and shovels but that didn't seem to bother the kids too much.  It is amazing what you can do with your hands in the sand!

Opa's truck

Owen was given a very special gift this weekend - a handmade truck and trailor made by Opa.  A few weeks ago we celebrated Opa's 80th birthday.  Everyone was asked to take things to share that Opa had made for them.  A few of the grandsons took their trucks that Opa had made for them when they were little boys (most of the grandsons are not so little anymore!)  I'm not sure who mentioned it, but it was 'suggested' that it might be nice for Owen to have a special truck made by Opa too!  So, this Sunday, Opa presented Owen with his very own truck and trailor!  Needless to say, Owen was thrilled.  He has already spent hours filling up the back with the blocks that came with the truck, with his others cars or whatever else he can find to haul around!  What a treasure!  Thanks Opa!

Spring flowers

 My mom and I and the kids went to the Bradner Flower show this weekend.  It was a little chilly but we enjoyed all the flowers.  Kendra was thrilled to have a chance to try out her new camera that she bought with her birthday money. 

Owen thought it was fun to smell all the flowers!

And, of course, I now have some beautiful flowers to brighten up my kitchen!!

A 6 year old!

 Happy Birthday Kendra!  Yesterday Kendra celebrated her 6th birthday.  She had been very excited about this for quite a long time as it was her first school birthday party.  A few months ago she was quite concerned that it might not fall on a school day but was relieved when she realized that it did!  The big day finally arrived.  Here are few shots of the celebrations!

Opening a few gifts before school - this one was a new bell and basket for her bike.

When we talked about what kind of party she wanted, the response was instant - "A dinosaur party".  This was the same theme as last year but there was no convincing her of trying something different.  So, easy for me, I made the same cake as last year, just changed the colour!  (Last year was an all-boy party so the dino was green, this year it was an all-girl party so therefore, a pink dino cake!)

We did the pary in the school gym which worked out great.  The girls (and Owen) all had a great time playing, crafting, eating and just being silly together!

Kendra painting her wooden dinosaur. 

Park season again!

 Yesterday, we actually saw a glimpse of the sun so we pulled out the stroller and headed off to the nearest park.  I can't wait for spring/summer when we can be outside a little more again!  Here are a few shots of my kids enjoying their time at the park!

This is about as close as its gonna get to a picture of all 3 together!