The safest way to get a crashed car

Yes that's right my car is a total write off. Don't worry, I bought it that way. A friend of mine told me about the SGI Salvage website and so I've been looking for a car on there. I found a 1993 Mazda 626 with only 131000 km on it. It has some front end damage and I will have to do some maintenance work on it to get it past the inspections. But the motor runs great and I put a day permit on it in Saskatoon and drove it up the Birch Hills. It runs very well and the interior is in great shape. I think it will be a great second vehicle. Oh and a big thanks to Tim Braun who gave me a ride into Saskatoon and back and then came to boost the car when the battery died at the gas station, how embarrassing. When I got home I told Nadia that the new car was called a Mazda 626, then she asked if she could call it a 6x6. I said sure, whatever you want to call it.




Not bad for $450 I think.

Tim

Firsts

Well on Saturday we stopped in at Canadian Tire and took a look at a bicycle for Nadia. She was really excited when she saw all the bikes but we couldn't find any her size. Then we rounded the corner and saw a two kinds of pink bikes just her size. Well right away she saw the Dora bike and wanted to see it. So I (Tim) climbed the ladder and got the bike off the rack. Nadia thought that was so cool and she wanted to sit on it and try it out. She peddled a bit and then asked if we could buy it. I think maybe she was thinking this was not something that we could buy now, I don't know. But when we said that we could buy it she was very happy. Then I picked up the bike and we started walking down the aisle. Then Nadia realized that we were serious and not going to put it back and she ran ahead of us yelling in a giddy and very excited voice, "Yeh, we are going to buy it, I so eciting, I got a Dora bike, I so eciting!" and then she started to shriek in a giddy sort of way. It was the cutest thing I think I've seen her do.
When we got home she wanted to ride it right away. She is getting better at peddling now and I've taken her down our hill out on the sidewalk a few times. She really loves that. The last couple of days we have spent a lot of time outside. Monday we raked the lawn (the only downside of a big yard is it's a lot of work, but it's worth it) and Nadia was out the whole time playing in the sand box and such. When Colin woke up we were almost finished and so he came out for a while too. I set him down on the grass for the first time and we stood back to see what he would do. If you remember the first time we set Nadia on the grass she screamed like we were torturing her. Colin was unaware that we had put him down on a strange surface until he tried to crawl. Then he stopped and picked up his hand to look at and then looked at the grass. He was a little unsure but quickly decided that it was not that big a deal. After all look at the cool leaves and sticks to eat. Summer will be fun.

what about this one?

Okay, I found this photo the other day and when I turned it black and white I really liked it. And both kids are looking at the camera. So what do you think....should I sketch this one. Right now I'm going to develope all of them, colour and black and white to see which one I like best. But you can still vote becuase I don't start my class till tomorrow evening.

portait class

I (Annalisa) am about to start my portrait class in pencil, which I'm way too excited about! I've been looking for a hobby and I think this will get me going on sketching again. So for the past month I've been trying to take a photo of Nadia and Colin so I can sketch their portrait. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a decent photo of the 2 of them? So here are the 3 best. And I'm asking you to VOTE on which one you think I should sketch for my portrait class. #1

#2

#3

at last

This is the reason I haven't blogged in weeks. At last we can see our yard. The snow is gone and the weather is finally warm...at least in SK terms. Nadia and I have been outside cleaning up the fall mess and checking out our yard. We cleaned up her enormous sand box and I gave her some sand toys and now she just won't come in. I guess that's good. We also raked the front lawn and caught about 30 ladybugs already. Nadia was thrilled. She would find them and then put them on the deck and wait to see if they were alive or dead. Then she would narrate what was happening. It was too funny.

up up and away

Colin has recently figured out how to pull himself up onto things. He can get up onto the play kitchen and coffee tables and the like. Although Grandma & Grandpa bought this kitchen with Nadia in mind, I think Coin gets the most joy out of it right now. He likes to open all the doors and then climb up to the buttons that make noise and light. Not only does he love the kitchen, he also loves all the things that go with it, like plates and bowls. He can spend much time smashing them together and making different noises.

Vacation

A few days before we left for vacation we went to Martensville to hang-out with Auntie Lisa for Easter. It was a quick trip but it was good to see Lisa again. And Colin loved Lisa, he cuddled right in.
I met up with some friends from high school. It was really fun to get out and visit with these lovely ladies. Congratulations Alicia!
Oma bought Nadia a game where you have to match the animals and then put them in the ark. She loves it, and Opa was a great sport to play with her. Although they argued about whether the rain should be put in the ark or on the ark.
Colin loved everyone. I'm so happy that he's not making-strange with people. He had a lot of fun head-butting her. Which means that he really loves Great Grandma.
The family at Great Oma's 90th birthday party. Nadia was a little unsure of the whole thing, but then she met Landon, a fun loving cousin about her age, and then she had a great time playing. Although she still didn't want her picture taken.
My Oma, Martha Bayer, at the celebration of her 90th birthday. She still has her own home, caters for truck loads of people at her church, walks all over to haul groceries and supplies. She is the hardest working woman I know. She even hosted 16 people at her home for over a week! She's amazing and I'm proud to call her my Oma.
The view of the ocean as we drove to my brothers place in North Vancouver.
Nadia on the sea bus for the first time. She thought it was a great experience.
My brother Rueben took us on a tour of Lonsdale Quay. I could live in the Quay. So much great food. I had Sushi, Greek and a Canadian beaver tail for lunch. Maybe I'm a little eclectic! We went for a walk around the market part of the Quay and Nadia loved the kids section. We had to pry her out. Uncle Rueben even bought her a doll with a sleeping bag. She made sure to show her all around the house when we got home....because her doll had never been to our house before.
Colin thought it was hilarious to pull Great Oma's nose.

Nadia loved playing with her cousins. They ran a muck most of the evening.

It was really warm one day so we went for a walk down the street. Nadia doesn't really understand the concept of other people's yards. She thought she could just walk any where she wanted.

Hide and seek. Okay, sometime she's too obvious. I had to count to 30 to get this shot!

A race to get the dolls under the table.

Nadia got new clothes and she wanted to try them out. She wanted to try out her bathing suit and then her dress. So now she thinks she has to wear her suit under her dress.

Opa caught Colin for a quick photo. He was busy exploring the kitchen.

Colin was adamant that he stand and hold on to the freezer door.

Is this the longest post ever?