weekend pics, part 1 (birthday party)

the big event this weekend was kai's birthday party.  kai woke up full of anticipation for 11:30am to roll around.  we decorated the front yawn with blankets, balloons, streamers, flowers.  we brought out chairs and tables and then waited for the 5-8 year olds to show up for some fun.  and indeed the celebration was fun watching boys and girls do their thing, to be free and happy just running about, skipping, kicking a ball. 

cake, macaroons, pinata, friends, toonies for spending and charity, a soccer game that the kids ruled (and the adults did not), trampoline, and castle play!  kai got it all!  there is nothing better than seeing kai full of happiness. 

ollie was the jumping rope master

 

 

the adults score a few goals

the kids score many more goals than the adults

adults vs kids = the kids are the champion

 

 

    

     

     

    
 
 

   

 

 
 

  

the pinata... despite the little ones attention given to the pinata, it actually died at the hands of stefan, i think pinata smashing gave him major satisfaction. 

 
 

 
 
 

     

kai was able to donate $55 to unicef!  thank you.

a big thank you to everyone that made the day a special one for kai!

party prep

kai is feeling 'happier than a bird with a french fry' tonight in anticipation for his 8th birthday party tomorrow.   it will be another gloriously sunny day, perfect party weather. 11 kids running about outdoors is alot more fun than 11 kids running about in our little cozy home.  we spent the evening baking, decorating, filling a pinata, blowing up balloons, tidying, etc. 
  
our weekend is full.  after the party, stefan and i have a date to attend edible canada's celebration opening.  on sunday, the three of us are going to feast of fields.

have a lovely weekend my friends!


image that i purchased from etsy a couple of

years ago and lives in kai's room

 

             

  

a martha first

i liked martha stewart's september issue of living magazine. it surprised me that i would. it's not as crafty or traditional as i imagined it to be. it actually had a modern approach. the only reason i picked up a copy was because of its cover page, i couldn't resist it. isn't the kitchen lovely? i love that banquette! the kitchen belongs to the magazine’s new editor-in-chief, Pilar Guzmán. it's a brownstone in brooklyn that is shared between her family of 4 (they live in the top two floors) and her brother-in-laws family of 3 (who live in the garden apartment); they pooled their resources to be able to afford and renovate the home. great idea, yes?

if this issue is an example of having a new editor-in-chief appointed to the magazine, there's a good chance i will be drawn to it again. and i don't mind at all.

image from here

bye-bye leisurely mornings

i bought mine at kidsbooks

with the return of school it's time to think about packing up school lunches again.  to retain just a little bit of those leisurely mornings knowing what to pack up helps tremendously.   otherwise it simply feels like a chore that needs to get done.  quick. because time is ticking and the school bell rings at 9am.   

to fight back the lunch making craziness, i just picked up good food to go - healthy lunches you kids will love by local moms, brenda bradshaw and cheryl mutch.  they offer ideas for healthy and delicious lunches, information on nutrition, and tips to get kids eating their lunch - no more half eaten sandwiches brought home.

this morning, i put into practice one of their tips, "involve your kids in decision making and preparation".  the end of the school day will let me know if this helped at all!  i am putting a lot of pressure onto this little book. 

having the right snack and lunch containers helps too.  we use these snack bags from wrap-n-mat and these lunch containers from lunchbots.  when it comes to water bottles we use sigg and klean kanteen (they make good money from me as i find that i am replacing lost ones a little too often!).   

                 images from here, here and here

 

hmmm, i think i will need a little snack/lunch essential too.  i start a permanent three day a week workweek in a couple of months!  i love the elephants, perfect for some nuts.  the container is simple and pretty, and isn't the 'origami' cloth bag just right?

 pouch and container from here

one last splash!

it was back to school today... for an hour!  so we took advantage of the free day and went to the pool.  this summer-strong weather we've been having is such a treat. we vancouverites are deserving considering our july was so not summer-like!  we had a splash of a time today!

kitsilano pool is popular.  it sits right on the water's edge with sandy beaches and wide grassy areas for play all around, a playground, and pretty views of the north shore mountains, stanley park and the city.  the salt water pool is the longest in canada at 137 metres which makes for great lap swimming but also big enough that there is a shallow section for children to play and another in the deep end for jumping and sliding into the water (kai's favourite section).

i forgot my camera today! 

image taken from here

photo from 2010 with opa and oma