Stereotypical Wonderland shot

Ah the stereotypical shot of the kids posing in front of the 'mountain' at Canada's Wonderland. Everyone who goes there takes a variation of this picture (and I suspect I have one for every visit I've made there!). This was our first trip there with the littlest two, and it was an eye opener. Katie was absolutely unafraid, a real thrill seeker. Jonah, ever my child, was much more content to observe (especially from the front of the little train that puttered around Hanna-Barbera land).

Clover

The humble clover (along with the buttercups and Queen Anne's lace that grow profusely all around the cottage) was actually the inspiration for my wedding bouquet. Such a beautiful vivid little flower, and it smells good too, especially all sun warmed on a hot summer's afternoon.

Full moon

Moon pictures never turn out as impressive as they look to the naked eye. Someone once explained to me why that is (some phenomena about objects along the horizon tricking the eye or something) and yet I keep trying. This was an amazing huge orange moon over Lake Ontario, as seen from the Wolfe Islander III.

Umbrella man

Still more rain on this, the first day of our vacation, so of course we got a late start. Oh well...

Rarity

It's a shame this shot didn't turn out well, but it was rainy and grey and I was in a hurry lest I be thought a stalker. This car, parked beside me here in Canada, is a right hand drive. Not so rare in Europe of course but WAY cool to see here :) (It did have diplomatic plates, so that probably explains it).

Sunset swim

A beautiful evening for a dip in Mooney's Bay.

I also rolled my camera tonight, 10,000 pictures since we bought it May 31, 2006.

It's a good thing right?

When they come home from camp filthy and exhausted - it's a good thing right?

Oranges

I think I'm running out of things to take pictures of :) These are oranges from Argentina. How sad that my fruit is better travelled than I am...

Artsy, jr

"Rainbow the Cat", twinkling H2Os and marker on paper (with mini brads) by Katie, 2007. Watch for it, her future works are coming to a gallery near you...

Grillin'

I love our barbeque! Some veggies ready for C to grill up for dinner (along with chicken wings, yummy!)

Sailor's Delight

Red sky at night, sailor's delight. My grandfather always said that, of course, he was a mechanic, not a sailor so who knows if it's true. All I know is that all of that rain made for the perfect conditions for sunset gazing.

Rain. rain go away

3 days of rain in Vancouver and what do I come back to - more freakin' rain!!

Canada Place

Canada Place, in Vancouver, in the rain (of course!)

Houseboats

Sweet bright houseboats floating in Coal Harbour in Vancouver (aren't the colours amazing?)

Richmond at night

I spent pretty much all day on a plane, the only pictures I took were of my hotel room and this shot from my hotel room window, of Richmond, BC. (And if you find yourself travelling through the Vancouver area and are curious this is the Airport Hilton, comfy bed and close to the airport)

Goofball

Is there anything better for dinner than candy floss?

Fair!

There's a little fun fair at the mall across the street running this weekend. It's no Disney, but there are practically no line ups and the bits had a blast :)

Carousel

I have always loved carousel horses. This one is sitting out front of the quirky antique shop I drive by every day. He's been there, on and off, for a couple of months now, and now he's sporting a half-off sticker! I can't believe no one has snatched up this beautiful fella, if only I had a bigger house...

16 Candles

I am so not old enough to have a 16 year old son!!!

Happy birthday Boo, and welcome to the next big adventure...

I wanna biscotti

Another drive-by 'shooting' (with the camera of course!) Mamma Teresa's Ristorante on Somerset Dr. in Ottawa. I've never eaten here, but that patio calls my name every afternoon as I drive home. Doesn't it look like the perfect place to sit with a cappuccino and biscotti and watch the world go by?

July Lily

I love lilies. This is at my mom's house, after the rain (and before the rain too since it rained on and off most of the day!)

Shiner

Check out the shiner Mr J is sporting. He and another little guy bashed heads at day camp, and all of my kids bruise easily. Makes him look like a little toughie! PS - aren't those lashes to die for? Why do the boys always get the gorgeous, thick, black lashes?

Goooooooooooooooooooooooal!!!!!

I'm not a soccer fan (well, I guess it's interesting, but it's not hockey), but the city is soccer mad right now as one of the host cities for the Fifa Under 20 World Cup. This is a quick shot of Frank Clair Stadium as I was driving by on my way home. You can't see the kilometers of people walking to the site, some wearing Argentina's pale blue colours (OK, LOTS actually!) and some in Brazil's bright yellow. It was a party atmosphere long before anyone got into the stadium!

Performers

Downtown rocks! These performers were playing in front of the World Exchange Plaza (across from my office, just a block from Parliament Hill). I'm not real sure why they were performing, perhaps as part of Blues Fest? At any rate it was a nice way to spend my lunch break :)

pooped

I'm cracking up posting this. Day two of Jonah's very first ever week of summer day camp, day two of him passing out in the car before we even leave the parking lot. My little guy is still a napper, and while they have 'quiet time' in the afternoon for a short while I don't think it's quite enough rest for him.

The tongue sticking out? I have no idea, but I can't stop giggling :) Summer camp, it's a good thing :)

Touristy

I get a kick out of wandering around the downtown on my lunch break and watching the tourists. It's insane how many of them there are these days. However today I played tourist, snapping this pair of the Governor General's Foot Guards at the Cenotaph.

Beach baby

It was way too cold to be on the beach today (not to mention that we got rained on) but my baby wanted to go to the beach, and anything my baby wants, apparently my baby gets....

Happy Canada Day!

Instead of braving the crowds at Parliament, we went to the beach at Petrie Island to enjoy the Canada Day fireworks (and a heap of cotton candy too!)

This picture cracks me up - it just reminds me so much of palm tress (which is ironic since we were all freezing our butts off watching the show!)