Notch Road comes to Squamish!

Last Sunday my cousin Deirdre, her man Nathan, and their two children Quentin and Asha came to visit for a week. They had just traveled all the way across Canada and were full of wonderful stories. Quentin and Asha LOVED Winter, and Winter LOVED them!



I was looking forward to taking them to explore Squamish, but I think the most fun was had just being cozy at our house, telling stories and getting to know each other all over again. One night Nathan cooked us his famous (and rightfully so!) fried rice with braised Bok Choy, and on the last night we went (of course) to eat sushi.



Asha was a real little mother to Winter, checking on her during naps and helping my choose outfits. Quentin got a Bionical Lego man in the mail and proceeded to turn our coffee table into the most awesome Lego fortress EVER.



Deirdre and Nathan really inspired Israel and I with their happy and loving family, and we wish them a safe and adventurous journey all the way down to Mexico, and back up the East Coast. WE MISS YOU!!

Rain, Rain, and......some more rain!

September in Squamish is traditionally a time of preparation for our winter travels...saving that last bit of cash, finding a new bikini, buying plane tickets and finding a place to store our bicycles. This year, we aren't going anywhere, and it sure feels strange to watch our friends getting ready to leave. It started to rain a few days ago.........with no end in sight.



I am in the throes of studying for exams...the last few days, immersed in the wonderful world of Renaissance poetry. Sometimes a girl just needs to dress her baby in a snowsuit.....





In other news, Winter is seven and a quarter months old...no teeth in sight, just learning to scootch across the bed, waving at people (real waving, not random arm flailing), and mixing vowels and consonants..gagagag dadadada etc. I think it won't be long now before I hear the sweetest word of all...MAMA!





Until next time, I wish all of you a happy fall, and for those of you in dry and colourful Ontario, take a deep breath of that sweet wood-smoky, ripe-apple, golden-leaf air for me!

OMA'S VISIT!!!!

It has been almost a month since my last post, so much has happened, but the past two weeks REALLY flew by because OMA WAS HERE!!!!!!



Winter never wanted Oma out of her sight! It was really awesome to see my Mama and my Winter so enthralled with each other. Oma has a way with children, and seeing her teaching Winter little tricks and gently encouraging her to reach farther, reminded me a lot of being young. Oma taught Winter a little cough-speak, so Winter now coughs as a greeting....very earnestly. We went to visit Israel at the house where he is laying rock...



Mom got to see a typical new Squamish house being built, and Israel got to show off Winter!










But despite my feeling youthful and wishing time could stand still, my 29th birthday came and went. It was a wonderful day. Morning tea with my family, swimming at the pool with Mom and Winter, a relaxing afternoon enjoying my new sound system (thanks Isra!), then out for SUSHI!



My three-week-long vegan life fell to its knees in the face of tuna sashimi salad with triple salmon roll...



And later I amassed all my birthday fortunes for a photo...



Not shown is a gift certificate from Mom for the wool & gelato shop, one from my friend Tim for some funky old-new clothes, and some very loverly kisses from Winter all over my face. It was a super-duper day all round. I also put Mom to work with a broom and some courage, ridding our house of huge spiders!



This morning Winter and I took Oma to Vancouver so she could fly back to Ottawa. It was a sad morning for all of us. Two weeks has never gone so quickly. Winter will be looking for her new best friend...Thanks for the amazing time Mama! Can't wait to see you again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Six Months Ago....

Winter has now been part of this world for six months! Congratulations beautiful girl! At 7:55 tonight you will be half a year old. Wow. I am amazed at how fast these months have gone by, especially considering that I never thought I'd make it through the first week! Israel and I are totally in love with our little Winter......


She is starting to not only enjoy having baths, but playing with the bath toys and splashing her mama....she is eating rice cereal and bananas....she plays copy-that-sound....she sleeps for up to 3 hours every afternoon, and lately sometimes through the night! I love watching her change every day...and I swear I feel younger since I had her!

Winter's Weekend

It's Sunday evening, Israel and Winter are in the tub, and I am taking a moment to bring you all some new photos of this weekend's adventures, including but not limited to; making a bed for Oma's impending visit, eating some bananas, and spending all of today in the forest with the guys.



Winter is just about ready for some climbing shoes of her own....


...and after all that, she helped me make sure Oma's bed was soft enough!





all in all, a lovely low-key weekend with my beautiful girl.

Boots weren't made for walkin'

These Moccasins deserve a post of their own. They were given to Winter by my aunt Trudie, who is a nurse in Fort Severn Ontario, on the shores of the Hudson Bay. A woman in her village made them, and they have served Winter well for five months now. They have gotten more compliments than Winter herself. Alas, they are approaching foot-binding status, and will now enjoy their retirement. I do believe they are the best moccasins a baby ever wore. Thanks Trudie.

Sunshine came softly...

...and this is what she looks like now, caught in the light of a long summer evening. This is her "hungry" look.