An Afternoon at the Park...

Sunday, April 18th after my mom and I got home from McCall we had a few hours to kill before dinner at Grandma's so we took Faith to the park for a little bit. She loves the slides but was scared of the swing. She got better once she tried the "big girl" swing. And she insisted she didn't need the "baby" swing anymore.

The bridge was a little big for her so she would stand on one end and hold her ams out saying "help" until I came across to get her.

I was trying really hard to get her to say my name before I'd take her across.

Faith: Help

Me: Say Jamie then I'll take you across

Faith: No

Me: Say Jamie

Faith: No

McCall...

It's that time again! The Semi-annual trip to McCall to catch up...or at least attempt to...on our scrapbooking! We always have so much fun and this year was no exception. Our group was a lot smaller this time. Just 7 scrapbookers and 1 quilter. I started our trip to Canada from 2009 Friday night when we got up there and it wasn't looking too good when the title page took me 2 hours...but in the end I came out with 34 completed pages. Not only is that a new personal record...but I was able to finish the entire trip! (14 pages for the trip to the Smallville set alone!) I couldn't resist taking a picture of our combined cricut cartridges. Although I'm just now realizing there were two more in my bag that I didn't get out...oops!

Now if I could just bring myself to scrapbook at home between trips to McCall....hmm... Until October!

Emma...

Emma, like her Aunt Janeen, loves candy...more than any kid I know. If she's sitting in the living room and hears the rustle of a candy bag her ears perk up and she's in the kitchen in seconds to make sure she's not missing out. Shortly after Easter she would ask her mom for some leftover Easter candy. Sometimes Julie would give her some from the Easter Bunny's leftovers, and sometimes she would send her upstairs where she knew Emma's Easter basket was hidden away from the other kids. One day this week one of the neighbor boys came over carrying 4 quarters. He came back downstairs a while later with 4 pieces of candy. Turns out Emma was selling her Easter candy to the neighbor kids for a quarter a piece! And it wasn't the good stuff! We stopped by today after school and I offered Emma twenty cents for a piece of candy...she just smiled, rolled her eyes, and sat down on the couch. I guess there's an age restriction to purchase candy from Emma's Candy Stand.

Chocolate Cadbury Mini Egg Cookies...

Mmmm...Cadbury mini eggs were REALLY hard to find this Easter. Until we went to Canada...they were ALL OVER! So I picked up a HUGE bag for myself, and one for my friend Jacque. Then our friend Sherri sent me this recipe. What a great way to eat my Cadbury Mini Eggs...wrapped in chocolate cookie!

Home Sweet Home...

We ran into the BSU plane in Seattle...unfortunately it wasn't headed to Boise, but our flight was full so I had enough time to stop on the ramp and get some pictures. :)

When we got home Monday night Justin and I drove over to my mom's to pick up Stella. She was so happy to see us and she grew so much in a week! Her face is getting wider and she's starting to look more and more like a bulldog and not a puppy!

We had such and awesome time in Vancouver but it's always so good to be home!

A Sunday by the Water...

Today we spent the afternoon at Deep Cove doing a little walking, a little window shopping, and a little picture taking.

We couldn't stop laughing at the creative signs to pick up after your dogs.

Then a stop off for some real shopping at Lonsdale Quay...right on the water.

Jess tried her first beaver tail...or elephant ear if you're from the states.

Michael and I had some great sushi. The BC rolls were okay...but the California rolls were awesome!

And finally a great overcast picture of Vancouver!

Now for an evening of blobbing and enjoying good company and great leftovers! (blobbing is "being lazy" in New Zealand) ;)

Saturday is a Special Day...

We went out to the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge this morning/afternoon. Jess hadn't been to a suspension bridge yet, and Lynn Canyon is free. :) It was pretty muddy because of the rain the last few days so we didn't do any hiking around. Jess was a little afraid of the height of the bridge...and the fact that Justin and Michael thought it was funny to make it swing.

When we decided it was too muddy to hike Michael took the camera and walked down a little ways while we went into the cafe for a drink.
After the Suspension Bridge we browsed the mall where Jess got to see and hold a ferret for the first time. I don't think she'll be buying one anytime soon.

When we got back to Sharon's Michael and Justin went to work mowing the yard before the BBQ--which was amazing! We had so much fantastic food (thanks again Sharon!!) and lots of great company! Loved seeing Franki and Pat again and meeting everyone else and was fun to see Rick on Skype!

Franki made Sharon a yummy birthday cake...mmm. In the Faraci home it is customary to cut cake with one of the many swords. This was pretty cool!

We're so bummed that tomorrow is our last full day here!! Happy Easter everyone!

An Afternoon in Langley...

Today we spent the afternoon in Langley visiting a family from Michael's mission. They were a lot of fun...and I didn't even think of getting a picture...moron...I know! After our visit we stopped at the Peace Arch that stands between Canada and the US. It was windy, cold, and rainy today so we didn't stay long.

Tomorrow...Easter BBQ at Sharon's...yum!

Science World...

Today we went out to Science World. We weren't sure what to expect but it was all hands on puzzles, games, you name it.

Michael and I tried out the wheelchair races...I got off the line first, but Michael won.
There was also a pulley system. On one side you could lift 1/6 your weight and on the other you had to lift 1/3 your weight.

There was a scale that weighed you and told you what animal weighs the same as you.

Michael- Giant Beaver

Jamie- Aardvark

Jess- Komodo Dragon

Justin- Giant Panda

Now Michael's making us dinner...yum...steak tacos :)

More Fun at Stanley Park...

After the Aquarium we took a drive around Stanley Park and back to the Totem Poles. These things are pretty amazing. Click here for some cool information about each Totem Pole.