Cottage Kids

Back to school! My second year of preschool started this week. I am now in the Cottage Kids class, which is in a larger classroom with twice as many kids. 

Weird smile because I've had this gummy vitamin in my mouth since we left the house, and I refuse to swallow it!

It's only been a few days but unlike last year, there have been no tears or clinging to Mommy during drop off. Instead, I just give a quick kiss and a hug goodbye, and then I wave her off. I must be too distracted by all the toys.

I like to say that I'm in the bigger classroom now because "I'm big enough." I'm very proud of myself!

Ice Skating

Daddy took me ice skating for the first time a few weekends ago. I was barely able to stand on the ice but luckily, he did all the work for me. I seemed to have a lot of fun, so we went again this past weekend for a free kids' intro lesson.

We practiced marching on the ice (to get comfortable moving our feet) and bending down to touch our knees (to balance when we think we're going to fall). We also practiced how to stand back up on our feet after falling down. I got frustrated since I just wanted Daddy to lift me, but he was a tough coach and made me work at it.

After the half hour lesson, I was ready to get out of the cold and have some snacks.

Hopefully one of these days I'll become as good a skater as Daddy!

Haircut!

Finally, after three years...my first haircut! I was really excited - we're not sure where I learned about the concept of a haircut, but I had been telling Mommy that I wanted one for awhile. She finally agreed that I was due for a little trim. After swim class we went to the kids salon across the street. I got to sit in a car and watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Before

Here's the after shot. You can't really tell cuz my hair's still damp, but it's a lot shorter than before. She probably took off about four inches. We left my bangs untouched - that way I don't have to keep going in for trims. I'm all for a low maintenance 'do.

First Movie

Wylie invited us to go with him to see the movie Planes. It was my first time watching a movie in a theater! I was really excited to see the giant TV.

Planes was cute, but the best part of the movie was the popcorn. I finished off my entire bag, then ate whatever was left of Daddy's. After that, I lost interest in the movie for awhile and just played in Mommy's lap. But I still managed to sit through the entire movie! It was a fun experience and I'd be glad to do it again (as long as there's popcorn).

Anson and Mandy's Wedding

We attended Uncle Anson and Auntie Mandy's wedding ceremony at Hycroft, a beautiful mansion in Vancouver. I was lucky enough to be a flower girl, my second flower girl gig in less than two years!  When Mommy first asked me if I wanted to be a flower girl and wear a pretty dress, my response was "yes, like a princess!"

Getting ready shot. Checking myself out in the bathroom.

Practice run before the ceremony.

Considering how both Sebastian and I refused to walk down the aisle during the rehearsal, we ended up doing a great job at the ceremony. It was a very short aisle, so our walk was over before we could realize that everyone was watching us.

Husband and wife!

Photo of the day. Goo Jeff found this rose petal on the ground that someone had stepped on. Either that or those were some really flossy rose petals.

Love how I'm sitting here. So ladylike.

After the ceremony and pictures, we were finally free to run around and get dirty. The venue was full of gardens and grassy lawns, and we wasted no time going to explore.

Mommy must have taken dozens of photos of me to get one decent one of me standing still in my dress and smiling. I just wouldn't cooperate. So instead, here is a photo of me giving my "blue steel" look.

The reception was held downtown at Hawksworth restaurant. Naturally I didn't care to sit through the entire dinner, but some gourmet mac n' cheese, lollipops, apple juice, and the chocolate dessert helped. Whoa that was a lot of sugar. Our night ended up something like this.

Blurry photo, but this is us at around 10pm, lying on the floor and running in place, because we were tired from racing up and down the ballroom corridors.

It was a fun wedding weekend, and it was great to see everyone again!

Fun in Vancouver

We went to Vancouver in early August for Uncle Anson and Auntie Mandy's wedding. I had a great time seeing all my aunties and uncles and cousins again. Aside from the wedding, we spent lots of time driving around from one place to another to eat. There's lots of yummy food in Vancouver.

View from our hotel room, or my "castle," as I called it.

Enjoying my Tim Horton's donut.

Running through the mall with Sebastian. It didn't take long for us to warm up to each other, and soon I was insisting that he hold my hand everywhere.

Best lunch combo ever.

Lunch on Granville Island.

Yummy dinner at Mui Garden!

Gato had a good time sightseeing too.

Photo courtesy of Uncle Isaac. He's on a mission to get as many photos of kids while he's pinching their cheeks. I would say he had a pretty successful weekend.

We had planned to spend a few hours in Seattle before our flight home and do some touristy stuff. Unfortunately, thanks to a long wait at the border, by the time we drove into Seattle, we only had an hour to rush through Pike Place Market and grab a bite to eat.

Does that smile look forced or what.

Still to come...pics from Anson and Mandy's wedding!