CHEEEESE!!

Talya doing her best camera smile.

All About Isaac

Since moving to this side of the border, we've felt pretty lucky to have our friends from Wheaton, Graeme and Karla, nearby. Talya and their son, Isaac, met when they were 7 and 3 months old, respectively and have been pretty lucky to get to know each other, too. Since we moved here, they have become very good pals and usually get to spend Fridays together. Talya is the biggest fan of 4 month old, Baby Ben, too.

Making homemade pizza...yum yum!

A winter walk to the farm where we buy our eggs, visiting all of the friendly goats this time.

"C'mon Isaac. Let's not waste any time. There's going to be an Easter Egg hunt (whatever that means!)." Actually, once the kiddies got outside, Isaac developed a super efficient strategy of collecting a basketfull of eggs before opening them up. Talya, on the other hand, was happier to check inside--and sample--each one as she went, not really caring about how many other ones there were to beat Isaac to. It was pretty hilarious to watch.

The best 2 year-old entertainment ever! They could have probably gone hungry watching these guys in action at a very yummy Vancouver noodle house.

Nostalgia

If there can be "good old days" when you're only 2 1/2 years old, that's what these memories are for Talya. We just saw these pics (of the old days when Ami used to take care of Talya and Nora together) for the first time and felt quite nostalgic.

Oh my goodness, Ami! How did you ever get those two bundles of sleep out of the car, through the two locks, four doors, and up the three flights of stairs to each of their cribs?!!! That would take octopus arms!

For the record (below), Talya is still a fan of the aguayo (the colorful Bolivian cloth Ami used to carry her in). Whenever she sees it, she always calls it "Ami's blanket."

Happy Easter 2010

Besides the treat of having Ami with us for Easter, it was an extra special celebration to have a playmate and a visit from the Easter Bunny (aka Uncle Andrew, Aunty Rachel, Lita, and Poppa...between them, some toddler-sized eggs were filled and distributed for Talya and Isaac's hunt). Thanks, family!

"The loot!"

Ami's Visit

We all had a special treat over Easter weekend having Anne Marie ("Ami") with us. Ami was a regular babysitter for Talya and our nextdoor neighbor friend, Nora all of last year and will always have a special place in our hearts. Talya has still been pretending to call Ami on her play phone, talk about her, and draw pictures of her, but finally has had the opportunity to catch Ami up to speed on her new life this side of the border. Between bubble beards in the bath, family sing-a-longs (one of our most polished performances is the ABC song...we'll be selling tickets to our band concerts next year), cookie baking, local walks, and the Vancouver Aquarium, we had a great time reconnecting. Thank you for your visit, Ami!!!

Outside our place with Ami: Talya was on a nap deficit and not very interested in taking this family photo!

On an Easter morning walk, looking at the beautiful Canadian mountains beyond the Fraser River in the immediate foreground.

We didn't quite have Easter-themed cookie cutters, but we came up with some good stories of how the shapes we did use had to do with the Easter story. Circles turned in to eggs, we had a gingerbread man shape that represented the angels and risen Christ, a heart to symbolize God's love, etc...

Staring at the dolphin tank...

Bubble bath beards and tickles...

Push "play" for the concert of your life! (:

Family

Talya is fortunate to have a cousin living in her own town--Jordan, the son of Alex's cousin Rubens and his wife Stacey, who call North Vancouver home. Uncle Rahim and Aunt Maureen are fabulous hosts, and Uncle is quite the gourmet chef/kitchen diva. These pics were taken when grandparents Kwee were in town over Christmas.