Our last day at home...

Our last Saturday at home before our Maiden Voyage...

We spent some time at Bear Creek Park with Grammy Sue.

Sierra so proud that this year she is big enough to climb this big girl" slide all by herself.

Weeeeeeeeeeee

This is how Sierra thinks you "walk a dog!"

Aayla is becoming a little monkey herself :)

We enjoyed a nice walk, seeing the new Spring blooms and playing at the playground despite my not feeling well, and despite the wind as even though the sun was shinning...it was chilly!!!

 From here we went home to finish packing as on Sunday we left for our Maiden Voyage, all over the States and Canada.

After selling our business last fall, we made the choice that it was now or never!  We wanted to take a full year but with Sierra starting school in the fall; we need to be home in September for that so 4 1/2 months will just have to do! I will post here periodically along our journey when things come up but the main focus of the trip will be my other blog at:

  Operation Explorations. 

Feel free to follow along to see where we are and what we are up to. I am sure that many adventures await us and I look forward to the fall with more crafty tutorials to come. Until then...

So long, farewell

Auf Wiedersehen, goodbye

Adieu, adieu

To you and you and you!

A NEW hair salon for kids in town!

I just wanted to give a shout out to a local hair salon for kids. It opened a couple of months ago but we finally just checked it out last week and got a very overdue trim! I forgot to take my camera but got a couple poor shoots on my phone. 

Sierra enjoying the Thomas seat for her hair cut

We used to drive to Granville Island to a little salon there but this place is sooooo much closer, more reasonably priced and the $20 fee even included getting their nails done.

So If you live near Surrey I would highly recommend 

Fintastic's Cuts For Kids 

if your little ones are in need of a trim.

Aayla enjoying her sucker while waiting for Sierras cut to finish

Along with the Thomas train, and Barbie jeep there was also a Car from Cars to sit in, each with their own individual movie screen and player. As well there were 3 other chairs with larger TV's and Nintendo's I think for older kids...hey what kids wouldn't love to get their hair cut here!

They also have a room for birthday parties, with dress up clothes, make up stations and even a small stage for karaoke! So if you need a hair cut...go check them out!

Fun in the sun...and in the hail

Tynehead Park close to our house has recently expanded and opened up a new perimeter trail around a new section of the park so we decided today was the day to load up the kids bikes and go for a ride.

Aayla the Explorer on her Dora trike

Sierra giving her 2 wheeler a try...she has been very apprehensive up until today but she did awesome and was so excited to be riding her 2 wheeler!

I can't help but stop to admire the fresh new growth. I love the ferns popping out of the trees

Then off for some fun at a local playground

Hard to see and out of focus as it was a far way away and I only had my point and shoot but there is a heron in her nest...I will go back soon with my Canon Rebel and see if I can get some better pictures

 Shortly after returning home...the hail starts

In a matter of minutes the ground was white...some weird and wacky April weather that's for sure!


Testing out this new format with blogger...who knows how long it has been available but I just discovered it :) So sorry if this one is a bit lopsided, I'll get the hang of it soon enough!

What have we been up to? (March Nature Connections)

What have we been up to this month?

We have been jumping in puddles,

watching the waves

Climbing mountains of driftwood,

Sailing away in driftwood boats to far away places,

Enjoying the beach, even as wet as it was,

Making mud pies,

Going for walks,

loving the waves,

Climbing in trees,

Building sand castles,

Running from waves,

Building Mermaid castles,

Strolling the dunes,

Mountain climbing,

Discovering ladybugs,

Enjoying the fresh air,

Using our imaginations:
Collecting fallen branches to be wedding bouquets while humming "here comes the bride"

Enjoying amazing sunsets!

What have you been up to?

If you want to see more pictures of what we have been doing, or discovering where these pictures were taken, or follow along on our 4 1/2 month journey you can join us at Operationexplorations.blogspot.com (click here).

This post is linked to March nature connections.

Happy St Patrick's Day! Crafts, games and sorting fun

Happy St Patricks day everyone! Today I made a cute little game your little ones are sure to love. It is great to use with a felt board or in a group on the floor at circle how ever you prefer.

All you need is to make a variety of different coloured pots and a gold coloured coin out of felt.

To start repeat the verse below while the children close their eyes, then the teacher/parent hide the gold coin under one of the pots. (while everyone's eyes are closed and the verse is being said)

Here are the words, it is one I made up many years ago for daycare:

Leprechaun, Leprechaun, Where's your Gold? (like doggy, doggy, where's your bone)

Leprechaun, Leprechaun, Where's your Gold?

Somebody stole it, they are bold!

Find your gold quick as can be.

Is it in the _(name colour pot)_, let's go see!

(above is a close up of the pot shape you could use as a pattern)

The charming little leprchaun pictured was made by Princess Nimble Thimble on Etsy. You can find her shop HERE. New dolls are added Wednesdays and Sundays I think so if the shop is empty check back soon or visit her sold area. We have many of these lovelies at our house :) I like to use the leprchaun as an added prop. You can give it to the child who is hiding the gold for added fun and to make it clear whose turn it is.

Above Aayla is searching for the leprchaun's gold

She found it so now it's her turn to hide it!

Our little leprchaun is also the perfect companion for sorting a rainbow!

Give your child at least 6 bowls and a jar of buttons, or pom poms etc and allow them to sort the items into the colour of the rainbow.

If your little ones want to be a leprchaun for the day click HERE for my past post on making leprchaun hats shown below.

Or THIS POST HERE for a fun Milk Rainbow.

And now I am off to go make one of THESE for snack. Doesn't it look yummy?