Decorating the tree.

























First ski of the year!

Some of the missing moments...

Maia at the Cowichan Maritime Museum

Checking out a Saltspring Island Store

Checking out an Icecream shop

On Saltspring posing for a Geocaching article

In Chemainus posing at the bakery

Selling Poppies on Rememberance Day

Some of you have heard Maia shouting "No Paparazzi," this may give you an idea why. This fall she posed for images for 8 different magazine stories. Remembrance Day wasn't a photo shoot though.

Embrace the winter...

Maia and her kindergarten class went snowshoeing this past week. I was the lucky parent chosen to join the 26 5-yr olds.

I have a really, really hard job. This past weekend Ev and Maia joined me on a press trip. We went floating down the Squamish River and saw hundreds and hundreds of Eagles. The were roosting, feeding, soaring and generally impressing the heck out of us. This story should be a treat to write.

November Fun and Grumps

The Fun!

The Grumps...

Halloween

Behold - feminism's fifth-wave

Ever since seeing a group of "big girls" dressed head to toe in pink, Maia has dreamed of the day when she too could become a Spark. "Mummy, when I'm big enough I want to be a beautiful pink girl and then a bride."
Well that first wonderful day has come and Maia has made her pledge to "Share and be a Friend" to all the other bright pink girls.


Today Princess Maia galloped up to me on her trusty steed Butterfly, "I'm busy with Princess business." She told me. "I won't be available to set the table."
Was she off to slay a dragon? I asked.
"Of course not - that's so old fashioned. Princes slay dragons, while Princesses do the important stuff. Anyway..." She called, as she galloped out of sight. "Princes are expendable."

Deb and Lorne's Wedding

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The day was magical and the bride was radiant. She and her bridesmaids rowed across the lake, while Balkan singers up in the maple tree filled the yard with song. Maia and Colleen accompanied Deb and Jade and the bridesmaids - as they made their way to Lorne, Heron and Lorne's best 'gal.

Then the band played until no one was left standing.

The First Day of Kindergarten

Maia is in a sweet class with 13 other kids - she loves her school and her teacher.

Maia's 5th Birthday

Can someone please tell me how 5-years went so fast? My baby is such a big girl these days...

Look Ma - no training wheels!

Maia set herself the goal of being training-wheel free by her 5th birthday. After one morning of determined effort she was off!

Maia bags another peak

Maia approaches the top of Brockton Point on Mount Seymour.

Making home made silly putty

Maia - nearly 5 yrs

Kayaking In Vancouver

Teach 'em to work early, I say.

And if the lemonade stand doesn't work out? Sanding is a universal skill.

The lemonade stand

Maia has run out of victims for her "I'll bet you a dollar" jokes, so she is taking advantage of the heat to earn some honest money (she's saving for a doll.)

Update - Maia earned enough to buy her doll and continues to rake in the cash. Ev and I are planning to give up our jobs and let the cute kid support us - until the heat wave ends at least...

Maia's own flag...

Maia shows off the flag with the help of Grandpa Frank - my Auntie Mary is in the background.

Maia's Witness Weekend

Cheryl gathers items for the evening's campfire while Maia and Shane play....



We spent the weekend camped up in the Elaho Valley - it was a deeply emotional weekend for all of us.

Preschool Graduation, Art Camp and Life as a Princess