Amelia's Stepping Stone

At Amelia's daycare, there are a couple of home-made stepping stones that she just loves. Every night as we walk out of the house, she places her hands in each of the hand prints in the stepping stones. I promised her that we would make one. Last weekend, the weather just happened to be perfect for creating such a crafty item.

Amelia helped with every "step". First we added water to the concrete powder and mixed it really well. After pouring it into the mold, daddy helped us to make the concrete nice and smooth, then it was time for the fun to begin.

First, we made one little hand print...

Then a second little hand print.

Then we added glass beads for colour. You might notice that at the top, there is a white bead that barely shows, that was our girl's first attempt, she pushed it in a little too far, but hey, that's just another memory, right? We (ok, I) thought of something for each colour to represent, blue for the colour of Amelia's eyes, orange - her favourite colour, green - daddy's Celtics, of course, red - the love we have for one another.

The only thing left to do, was to stamp her name in it along with a cute little flower for decoration. It turned out so well, and we all had a lovely time making it together.

After all that hard work, it was time to play on the slide...

I love spending time with my family!

It's Just a Rickety Old Wagon...

It sits by the car park of the Home Place restaurant where we ate last week after visiting the tulip festival. In the summertime, the wagon is planted with beautiful, colourful flowers that cascade down all sides, in fact I have posted photo's in the past of it looking this way. Well, at this time of year, it isn't quite as beautiful, full of spiky, old branches, yet it is still striking and interesting in it's own way.

On our way back to the car, Amelia ran over to the wagon and what else could I do but seize the opportunity to snap away as she played.

It looks like Amelia might be wanting to attend Hogwarts when she's older, definitely looks like she's waving that stick like a wand!


As uncomfortable as it looks, Amelia was so excited to be able to actually sit amongst the branches.




After having fun in and by the wagon, it was time to collect pine cones that had fallen all around.

She's definitely an outdoors kind of girl.
I think a family camping trip might be a great idea this year!

A World of Colour

If you have followed my blog for a while, you will know that every Spring, we like to visit the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm. This year was no different, it's so fun looking back at the past blogs and seeing how much Amelia has changed. She is not any easier to photograph, perhaps more difficult because now she can run.

The tulips were phenomenal as always. Year after year I am in awe at the sight of them.

Although you are not supposed to touch them, Amelia couldn't help but feel the top of the orange tulip. These were her favourite this year.



Love this photo below, just a relaxed, hands in pockets, stroll down the field.



Me and my girl!




Wow! How vibrant.

We stopped for a quick snack of kettle corn.

We tried a few new things, like having our face painted for a $1...

Of course, we chose a purple butterfly, it reminded us of Nana in England.

Then Matthew showed Amelia how to use a water pump, the water guided rubber ducks down a plastic chute.

This was exciting, Amelia holding a six year old McCaw, she looks serious but was actually really excited to do it. Just so happens, the bird matched her outfit pretty perfectly.

And then, her first pony ride, this really made her smile.

After all that fun, it didn't take long for Amelia to fall asleep.

When she woke up, it was time for a late lunch. The perfect end to the perfect morning, in my husband's opinion anyway, is pizza at the Home Place. This is also one of Grandpa Rawe's favorite Pizzas.

Amelia had fun watching the waitresses go in and out of the kitchen, so inquisitive.

We had such a fun family day out, the weather was perfect, we were together, what more could I ask for?

I can hardly wait for next year...

Where's the Chocolate Bunny?

Easter Sunday was a lot of fun for our family. Being 2 years old, it was the first time Amelia was really able to enjoy the fun activities associated with this special holiday.

I had put an Easter basket together for our little girl, but didn't want her to see it until we were all dressed and ready so I put it in the spare room, and closed the door. Well everybody knows that when there's a 2 year old in the house and it's quiet, that something must be up...below you see Amelia's Easter basket, but wait a minute, where is Amelia? what is the foil on the table, and where is the chocolate bunny?

"Gotcha!" We found our little one, along with her chocolate bunny, who was now missing ears, in her bedroom with the door closed.

Matthew was laughing so hard, he couldn't come in the room. I let Amelia take one more bite and then took it away for safekeeping - after all, it was only 9:30 am.

Once she was dressed in her new Easter dress, Amelia was given her Easter basket. I think her favourite item was a Pez Candy holder.

Next, it was time to hunt for eggs in the garden. Daddy did a wonderful job hiding them, Amelia had to look high and low.






After a nap, we dyed hard boiled eggs, something I have never done before.

Here's Amelia with the dipping tool that comes in the dye kit.

"I see you!"

She did a fabulous job of dipping the eggs, such concentration.

They turned out great.

We ended our day with a tasty dinner of ham, scalloped potatoes and green beans, pretty traditional.

A wonderful day.