Swamps, Phoenix's and Smurfs.

SWAMP WILLOW:

To me this is the name of some scrawny trees growing in the damp low areas in the fields on the farm. BUT here on Granville Island - well that's the name of Chaplin's preschool.

First day.

The preschool is located inside the False Creek Community Centre on Granville Island. From our front door to the preschool is a 10 minute walk - Chaplin speed.

He's been wanting to go since that day we dropped in to check out that preschool in Liverpool. He knew that out there somewhere was a classroom full of toys and kids to play with, so when I told him he was registered to go to Swamp Willow it was more a question of WHEN! He's enjoying it, thought I can't really get any details from him on how he spends his days.

Another new activity! Hip Hop Dance Class

Every wednesday for one hour, Chaplin is learning to dance.

AND parents are allowed to sit and watch their children dance. I have to say, I find parents in the class-room annoying and disruptive! There's no off button to parenting - so I found the parents didn't think it inappropriate to hollar at any given time : insert childs name follow by such phrases as: Stop picking your nose, hands out of your pants, quiet down, listen to your teacher, don't make that face, leave your sister alone, do you need time out..."

sadly, i was one of those parents. But honestly, how could i just sit quietly and watch Chaplin put both hands down the back of his pants, all the while dancing, and not say something!

Adam's Birthday gift from Chaplin. An expensive webber BBQ cook book.

Okay, i can hear the no's and boo's BUT wait... Chaplin has been interested in watching Adam bbq, so I really did think it was a good idea (and I'll benefit if he ever has time to read it and make something!)

We did have a really nice dinner out to celebrate Adam's 39th.

And what about this drawing!

The picture is of a boy on a skateboard on Mr. Mountain.

The boy goes along 'bump bump bump' and falls of the edge of the mountain.

The boy and skateboard come apart during the fall, but at the bottom of the mountain the boy does a trick and lands on his skate board. Mr. Mountain is all like "whoooh, hey get off my head".

by Chaplin Adam Boyd

And on the weekend we went to a birthday part at Phoenix Gymnastics club.

Adam tested out his old skills. A+ i say, or would that be a 10?

Chaplin asked if he could join this gym . But guess what - I had to say no to him BECAUSE he's registered to join YBC youth Bowling League at Varsity Bowling lanes! He'll be in the group called Little Smurfs. Now is that following in his dad's footsteps or what!

the making of an active summer

The past three months - well they've been busy!

June 24- July 7th -

another trip up to Fort St John

Happy 60th Birthday Doug! SURPRISE your family is taking you to Maui!

June 30th 2010 - Neacail Boyd graduates from NPSS

I know - where did all that time go - yesterday he was just a little boy!

He received two scholarship awards and he looked so handsome in his suit.

Canada Day & the July 1st long weekend.

Auntie Jane's memorial weekend.

After Graduation we went out to my family farm to join other family and be together to celebrate Jane's life. Auntie Jane would have so enjoyed that weekend.

Canada Day scavenger Hunt.

Look at that flag flapping as Adam flexes. Wowzers.

in the background - Troy deep-frying a turkey.

Troy's rules

# 1: be safe - no kids around boiling oil.

# 2: You can deep-fry anything (pickles, mushrooms, cheese...)

# 3: You can deep-fry the same thing twice as long as it's battered.

example of rule # 3 - First deep fry a turkey, then take white meat - batter it and deep-fry again. Call them turkey tenders and eat them up as fast as they come out of the oil. And because there are no children around the hot oil pot - you do not have to share with them.

Some of us went for a visit to Colin Cope's farm where i got to hold a lamb. And don't I look happy. I think if my deck were big enough i would get one of these guys. so cute. who cares that they grow into sheep. who cares (Adam...)

And there was enough time for one last fun day -

Monday July 5th - a day trip to the river.

this is a real beaver that we saw the moment we arrived at the river.

And here is a funny story that goes along with it:

I had put together an "Around the World" book for Chaplin to look at on our drive up to FSJ. Chapter 1 - Canada, British Columbia. It has a map of BC that Adam drew, and a few pages of birds and animals that we might spot in BC. Chaplin was very interested in the Beaver, and had been asking me about it.

Chaplin : "Why is the beaver special?"

I don't know!!!

Lori : "It's Canada's national animal."

Chaplin : "Where do we see one" and again I'm thinking - I don't know... !!!

Lori "oh look Chaplin, you'll see a beaver floating down this side river out into the Peace river.

Adam and I had a great laugh about that moment after, because it really was astounding to see a beaver just so perfectly timed with Chaplin's questions.

Oh look a snake. NO mommy does not want to hold it too.

Then we drove back to Vancouver, changed the cloths in our suitcases for beach cloths.

July 15th - August 2nd

MAUI

All of us in Lahaina standing in the Banyan Tree.

Mark, Courtney, Lori, Chaplin, Adam, Doug, Dwan, Neacial and Cailin.

Chaplin loves the beach and the water - but we already know that right.

windy! And the most beautiful spot we have found on Maui.

Baldwin Beach, and if you walk all the way around that bend, you come to the real baby beach. There is a pool in the ocean that was created from an exposed stretch of reef. So even when the surf is wild, this little lagoon is calm.

August 5th - 21st

And the moment we arrived back in Vancouver - were off again back up to Fort St John for 3 weeks. This time without Adam - why? Well he started a new contract with Activsion (same company that sent us over to Liverpool). And the luck of it is - the work is here in Vancouver and the commute for Adam is about a 10 minute bus ride. I can't say anything more about it other than - it's a great contract with a great company! So yahoo.

The cousins enjoying the dog days of summer.

Home to Vancouver for a while now - I hope.

(I've been away from home this year something like 160 days now.)

August 28th - Went for an overnighter at Mark and Sue Stock's cottage.

Boat ride over takes 10 minutes and did not make me sick. phew.

Mark and his baby Claire on the deck - I think that's Bowen Island behind them. Mark has built himself such a fantastic cottage, it's going to give them years of enjoyment.

August 29th

Adam got us tickets to Walking with Dinosaurs at Rogers Arena - formally known as GM Place. Rogers took over sponsorship and the other day a friend told me it's now called "The Cell" - get it?

Time keeps moving forward, the summer started with Neacail graduating and will end with our little boy Chaplin going into his first year of pre-school. I know when Chaplin graduates, I will feel the same feelings all over again - wasn't it only yesterday that Chaplin was a little boy going into pre-school.

Summer Camp

Summer arts day camp at the North Peace Cultural Centre.
The camp goes from 9:00am - 5:00pm! long day

This is Chaplin's first full day in a school like setting, and I asked him if he was ready to go this morning. His reply was very positive!
"I'm very excited. YES"

When I dropped him off I went outside the class room and watched him through a glass window. He went over to a corner with toys, but he was unsure of himself so he just stood looking at them. The art leader noticed and brought two younger girls over to meet him.The one girl has been to this camp a few times and she took Chaplin by the hand and welcomed him into the class! He seemed to relax some, and when I popped my head in to say my final good bye to him, he was beaming (and still holding the girls hand). He is by far the youngest in the class.

I'll send an update from Chaplin on how his day went.

UPDATE: He loved it! on our way out he stopped and thanked art leader
"Thank you for looking after me for the day."
Oh and he made a sock puppet and it's name is: MAN DRAGON.

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day Adam!

Chaplin wrote a story for his dad called "Piggy and the Lamb." unfortunately for Adam, the story had nothing to do with a father son theme, and in the ending it was actually a mom sheep who saved the day!

But these photos tell a pretty good story of a son with one terrific dad.

Pushing Chaplin on the swing

helping Chaplin build the tower of his wishes

encouraged him to try hockey at the Olympic Village

took Chaplin to Science World to explore the pirate exhibit.

Spent the day at the Children's Festival.

Adam helped the kids dress up as a super pirate, an alien, spider man and a fire woman.

Helped Chaplin decorate his bike to ride in the Point Grey Parade.

Chaplin couldn't wait to wave to Adam as he rode by.

Rode on the wild Spider, both boys were dizzy and sick after!

a view from the top for Susanna and Chaplin

After dinner we went and watched Christie's last violin recital and on the way home stopped at Dairy Queen for Blizzards!

And a sweet picture of Chaplin looking down at the camera showing me his crazy hair.

and another sweet photo of Chaplin with his Nana.

we miss you Fever.

Fever

RIP

August 1997 - June 2010

She was my fluffy baby, and I loved her. I am going to miss her more than words can explain.

What a unique place...

Handsome Adam standing on the Santa Monica Pier. This was our first night in town.

And this was our last day in town:

We venture down to Venice beach to check out the famous "muscle beach" i was shocked at how absolutely strange this area is! We saw a man, about 50 years old, hop onto his skateboard, whistle at his dog - who go onto the front of the skateboard, and off they went. BUT the strange part was they had matching mohawks, both died blue. Poor dog.

Then we saw this man skate by! Nobody else seemed to be gawking at this clown... and the strange part was he would stop and out of a bag he'd pull out shirts to sell

OHHH NO! this is more like MOLSON MUSCLE BEACH!

Us down by the ocean. It was chilly.

Today's fun.

The pirate ship floats again.