i can't believe i forogot about the birds

At the West Edmonton Mall, while uncle Craig was buying Oliv a cool OLIVIA puzzle, Olivia, daddy and mommy watched the flamingos playing in their fake lagoon. Lo and behold who comes walking by, with a human helper to guide him and make sure no one tries to pet him, but Mr. Penguin.
I never thought penguins were cute until one walked within arms reach. Olivia? Not nearly as excited as her folks.

Choo Choo Sky

Choo Choo Sky (read airplane), our adventures with a not-quite-two-year-old. Olivia is not afraid of planes. She's fascinated by them. She is so over-the-top excited about them that she has to jump around and yell and run and yell and not sleep.
So, Edmonton (most especially in the form of brother/uncle Craig) was calling and we were answering. The plane was delayed by an hour making our takeoff time about 9 p.m. on June 22. Perfect timing for a certain little girl to go to sleep as we traveled the skies. Not. So. Much. It was actually perfect timing for a truly excited child to peer over seats and look around enthusiastically - window shade goes up, window shade goes down! Useless attempts were made by mom and dad to show the world traveler where she could sleep, to try and calm her down, to pretend to be asleep so she would follow suit (does that ever work?) and read books in soothing voices. About two and a half hours into the flight, little miss passed out on mom's arm for a couple of hours.
Edmonton was fun. It was relaxing, but we also got to see some stuff. Went to the crazy-ass mall and did a little shopping for the child. Got to see cousin Sean and his partner Daniel, plus their two dogs. They treated us to a nice dinner and we got to catch up and just hang out which was great.
We took Olivia to the Muttart Conservatory where she - and we - saw plants from arid, temperate and tropical climates, as well as a show garden. It was very pretty and that, plus an hour walking the grounds outside, knocked her out for a nice long nap (that kid can nap - she went over two hours every day!). During one such nap, mommy and uncle Craig went to the casino - fun! I met a guy named Larry - who was born in Toronto, went to school in Waterloo, moved to Alberta, settled in Edmonton, had a cousin getting married soon in Toronto but wasn't sure if he was going to go - who shook my hand every time i won something.
Took Olivia to many many restaurants, and she was pretty good at all of them. Didn't love sitting necessarily, but not yelling or throwing food or anything like that.
Again, on the way back, the airplane was too exciting for sleep. There were some teary moments and we probably didn't make any friends, but Oliv was just being a two-year-old.
A good trip and I think she had a lot of fun, as did we.
That being said, Al has advised, "Not again until she's 10."
Take care,
V

Cyclists and technology

The title may make it seem like this might have something to do with cyclists AND technology - when really i have two different thoughts for today - one involving cyclists and the other? Yep - technology, kind of.
What are the rules of the road for cycling. I thought there was something about people having to wear helmets (at least to a certain age) and a rule about only being allowed to bike on the sidewalk to certain age. Whatever they are - people are very casual with those rules. And as an air-pollutin' commuter, I say hmpf. They built bike lanes all you university summer students and co-ops around here - use those, not the sidewalks and pedestrian crosswalks.
So. I just discovered that the microwave in the kitchen here is super fabulous - at least compared to my one at home. When i went in to heat up my lunch (mac and cheese - yum!), the clock was just a little flashing : . So I pressed 'Clock" and then the screen at the top, where after cooking a meal a message pops up for me to enjoy my meal, read "enter time." So i did. Then it told me to "Press Start." So i did. And it worked! At home I practically have to offer up a lung in sacrifice to the microwave clock gods. I press a combination of about ten buttons and every time i eventually get it to work and every time i then forget how i made the magic happen. I like the instructions though - so I think if I'm ever in the market for a new microwave, I want one that tells me what to do.
Can't you see it? "Victoria, Do NOT put your vegetables in here within that plastic container, use the corningware. We like the corningware."
HAGO
V

Wonder of Wonders

Yesterday morning friends of ours welcomed their son to the world.
So I wanted to say congratulations to Shelley and Kenji, as well as big sister Rei (from one to another - it's good times having a slave, uh, little brother!) and a big Welcome to the World Baby Boy to Kaede.
Life is completely amazing. That we get to create it and help extend it throughout the ages by parenting (I don't just meant mom and dad either - that it takes a village thing? So true...) and passing down our stories and getting to marvel as these creatures grow and learn. And to boot - they love us.
Talk about having it good, huh?
Congratulations to my favourite Arkona residents!
V

Scorcher

Lovely weather is at last upon us. It's been hot and heavy for days - not even a whopper of a thunderstorm could break it for long.
Olivia's favourite book is Olivia Saves the Circus and that makes me laugh. She really identifies with the lines:
"Who do you think you are? Queen of the trampoline?"
"maybe."
She is also very impressed with any dog - or as she likes to call them "uppy" with a n incredibly soft little "oof oof" so we know what they are saying...
Yesterday I got to daycare before my friend Mel, which is rare. But, I got to experience her daughter and mine both rushing to me for a hug - my heart almost exploded.
Have a good one,
V

Round up

Ola!
Well, May passed by and now we are into June and more or less summer. This also means jam-packed agendas and muchos family visiting.
Oliv's been sick - stomach virus and weepy eyes! I must say I was okay with the fever, the vomiting, the clinginess, the woe-is-me attitude that comes with feeling gross and not being able to tell mom and dad where it hurts, but the weepy (read: thick yellow eye goop covering one third of the eyeball) eyes? I admit it, I freaked, altho I did manage to keep away from the emergency room. So Oliv spent a couple of half days with gramma and she and I spent Friday hanging out together, which was great. She's much better now!!!
We moved my parents into their new home in Orono - it's so nice there. Beautiful spot with lots of land - on the long weekend in May. We were there again this weekend and it seems to be coming together. I know there's still a lot of unpacking to do, but it's really starting to feel like "their place."
The big garage sale in Cambridge happened and we got rid of loads of junk. After makign the rounds int he neighbourhood twice, I only came back with one toy for Oliv and some hack around clothes for her. Pretty good - definitely more left than came back.
Mom turned 50 this past weekend and we threw a picnic in the park in Orono. It was great and such a good turn out - just made me feel so good to be there with so many people I love.
New floor next weekend!!!!!!!!!!! Bye bye old ratty-ass tiles, I'll miss you not at all.
I'm off to work - pretty blah post, I know it, but what can you do - lazy days of late spring and all that!
Take care,
V