Late August

         I can feel the summer slipping away- it is already somehow late August- I am trying my best not to look ahead to the cooler days that I should be preparing for- they are surely right around the corner. I am trying to stay present- enjoy our last few days of freedom before school starts and my boy goes off to Kindergarten. With that in mind we have been treating every day like a holiday and living as much of our life outdoors as possible.

      Yesterday we headed over to Robson Park- one of our favourite city parks year round- especially good in the summer! In many of the local parks all summer we discovered so much goodness- crafts, snacks, spray parks, wading pools and free bikes and toys- all put on by the city of Vancouver. We have thoroughly been enjoying these free programs- the wading pools have been voted as most favourite by The Littles!

        Sadly all this goodness comes to an end tomorrow- Friday August 23- so get out there and enjoy the last two days of crafts in the park! Today is also hot dog Thursday at Robson Park- every Thursday the staff BBQ hot dogs and sell them for like a dollar- how much more summery can you get?!

       As I mentioned we love Robson Park year round- located at Kingsway and 13th - huge chestnut trees dominate the landscape- providing lots of excitement in the fall when the prickly bundles start to drop. Really great play equipment for Littles of all ages- swings, soccer field and community gardens- this park is great for a romp year round!

       I'm not going to lie- my boy is heading off to school full time in a couple of weeks- I am a hot mess even thinking about it- I will be an even hotter mess the day it actually happens!  We still have a week and a half with my sweet first born at home and we are going to make the most of it! I think today we will hit another spray park- or maybe get ice cream- regardless of adventure we will be soaking it all in- enjoying the last few days of August!

Signs of Spring

      Signs of Spring are popping up everywhere in our beautiful city- and this weekend was so sunny we enjoyed every second we could outside! The Littles were spoiled rotten with lots of love, hugs and candy from their Oma who came to stay with us- they loved every second and did not want her to go home! All this sunshine and love over the weekend has filled up my happy cup till it runeth over- fortifying us all for the coming week.

       A wander through Stanley Park yielded delicate Snowdrops and Crocuses coming into bloom in sunny little hollows- the Daffodils and Tulips are still getting ready for the really big show in the coming weeks. Snowdrops are one of my favourite flowers- reminding me of when I was a Little myself- time spent in the forest building forts and nests.

       The ducklings are not hatching yet- usually we see chicks around Easter- so I would imagine next week we should see flotillas of floating yellow puff balls following their mommas! Meanwhile the Littles had a fun time feeding those completely domesticated ducks at Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park.

      Nothing says Spring like shedding the rain coats and swinging on the swings- letting the cool breeze hit you in the face as you go higher and higher- the swings are most definitely Miss Lo's favourite part of the park. For me the first day it is warm enough to take off your socks and shoes- letting your toes bury into the warm then cool sand is the true harbinger of the changing of season- my favourite part of the park!

      Sandcastles, Snowdrops, bare feet, swings- shedding of layers including the gloom that can hang around during those endless days of rain- yup Spring is on it's way! While these sunny days are few and far between I just keep reminding myself that all the rain is making things grow again- making our city green. As my Mom says "just put a knot in the end of your rope and hang on" - with days like this- a full day of warm sunshine it is much easier to hang on- warmers days are on their way!

PS- sorry I am a tad late posting today- the true start of Spring- Daylight Saving Time- has me running an hour behind this morning- oh time!