Flower Girl

On Sept 6 Draya was give the opportunity to be flower girl at our friend S & D's wedding. We didn't get a chance to rehearse so she was a little shy as she stood at the end of the aisle.


I had to take the basket of leaves from her and shake them onto the floor while I coaxed Draya down the aisle with a handful of Smarties.


Midway through the ceremony she decided that it would be a god idea to pick up all of the leaves.


And the she scattered them in front of S & D while they walked out of the room instead.


We went to the legislature ground to take formal photos. Draya was quite taken by the fountains.




Of course she had to toss some leaves into the water.


Thankfully she posed nicely with the bride and groom.


And Mommy and Daddy too.


At the reception S & D would kiss if people put money in a glass. Draya put in a twonie.


Draya brought Polly as her 'date'. She got a little sleepy before dinner. Although contrary to the photo she never did actually nap.


At about 8:30 I changed her into jammies and she took out her colourng.


But then she discovered the dance floor and boogied the night away.

Chuck E Cheese

We went to Chuck E Cheese for the first time. We went for Draya's friend from daycare's birthday party. When you arrive they stamp glow under fluorescent light numbers on the kids and parents wrists so that people can't leave with children that don't belong with them. I guess that it's a nice security feature, odd but nice.
There are loads of games and little rides and such that you need tokens to play (the birthday hostess supplies some thankfully) and most everything spits out ticket that can be redeemed for 'prizes'. Draya and Daddy played a lot. Mommy sat with the grown-ups.
The pizza smelled great but tasted mediocre at best. The birthday cake was good.
There was a 'show' where all the kids were encouraged to participate (Draya didn't) and of course there was someone in a Chuck E Cheese mouse costume who leads all of the kids in a parade around the restaurant. Draya didn't like the mouse. She hid under the table.
We redeemed Draya's tickets for some little tattoos. She really liked those and has already had me put some on her arms.
All in all it was an okay experience but thanks to the giant mouse I don't think Draya will be asking to back any time soon. Mommy is okay with that. Although maybe their salad bar is better than their pizza.
We didn't take any pictures.

3rd Birthday - A Photo Retrospective

Sunday, March 1st
Celebrating Draya & Papa's birthdays with the family.

Tuesday, March 4th

Waking up to discover her new easel & coming home after Daycare to open more gifts.

Sunday, March 9th

The Really Big Party

3rd Birthday Part 2

Today we threw a BIG birthday party for Draya. 8 Children aged 1 - 5, 2 little babies and numerous adults. It was hectic and lots of fun! Draya and the other children played in the living room while the parents visited in the kitchen. Everything was supposed to start at 2pm but we pushed the kids arrival back to 3pm because, thanks to the time change, the birthday girl didn't go down for her nap until 1:30. We had hot dogs and a huge Cars cake with Lightening McQueen on top. Draya made some new friends (C & S) and received lots of beautiful gifts and cards. Highlights include 2 different play-dough sets, a stuffed mama monkey & baby, lots of stickers, Max & Ruby magnets, princess books & a Fancy Nancy book, a fairy barbie and toy electrical kitchen appliances. She now owns a food processor, even though her mother doesn't. I. G, J & Draya even went outside to play for a little while to blow off some steam. It was a very nice day out.
Uncle D loaned mommy his wonderful SLR digital camera for the afternoon so I have lots of wonderful photos to upload soon. I took 120, I just need to figure out how to weed that down to 20 or less!

Happy New Year

We took Draya to a New Year's Eve party at M's mom's house. Draya had lots of fun playing with I & G and watching videos. We were naughty and kept her up past midnight - but she had had lots of sugar and was still going very strong. We had wanted to sleep over but Draya convinced us to go home instead. We all slept in the next morning and had a quiet New Year's Day. All was good until she got REALLY cranky that night.
On Jan 2 she was back a daycare - still a little tired. Her teacher noticed that she wasn't being herself, that she was "acting her age" (2 & 10 months) as opposed to acting like she's over 3 (as I guess she usually does - yay Draya!)
It was a busy first week back at work for both Mommy & Daddy! Draya, on the other hand, enjoyed theme days at daycare, including " wear jammies & watch movies day" and "bring a toy day". On "bring a toy day" she took her new stuffed Shrek and Donkey. She also insisted that Mommy buckle them both into the car - one on either side of her. It was very cute!
Yesterday E & S & A & M came to visit. Draya was quite entranced by baby M and his toys. She really likes babies.
Christmas AND New Year's photos coming soon...

Christmas Vacation 2007 Highlights

Dec 22 - We joined Uncle R, Auntie K, G, Nana, Papa & Auntie S at Uncle C & Auntie K's house. We has a lovely dinner and opened a few gifts. The cousin's played happily together. Afterwards we stopped off at the Solstice party. G was still their so she & Draya had great fun chasing each other around while we grownups visited. Much fun was has by all.

Dec 23 & 24 were spent cleaning the house, doing some last minute grocery shopping, wrapping gifts and prepping food for the 25th.

Dec 25 - Christmas morning we opened gifts at home. Draya wasn't particularly thrilled about being woken up at 8am. Once she had some cereal in her we told her that Santa had visited. She ran to the window to look outside. We pointed her towards the living room where she quickly got the hang of opening gifts. Needless to say she made out like a bandit. Mommy & Daddy & Santa were all very generous. Highlights included an indestructible kids camera, 2 pairs of Cars jammies, a load of toy food and the movie Finding Nemo. Then we went to Grandma & Grandpa's for brunch & more gift opening. Highlights from there include a doll's house & a toy helicopter (to go with her Tomas lego). Then we went to Nana & Papa's for dinner. Draya took her nap in the car between parties. Gift highlights from the evening include a doctors kit, some wonderful books (Winnie the Pooh goes to the Doctor is the favourite so far), a stuffed Shrek & Donkey & a princess hat that she calls her 'barbie hat'. Draya and G were both pretty wound up by the end of the night and Mommy felt a little bit like she had been run over by a Christmas train - but it was still a wonderful day!

Dec 26 - Uncle R came over to set help Mommy & Daddy with some technical things and them Mommy & Daddy's friends M & S came over for the afternoon, dinner & games. Draya finally got to watch all of Finding Nemo, and Bambie too.

Dec 27 - We all went to Grandma & Grandpa's for brunch & a visit with Uncle K, Auntie L & W. The cousins has lots of fun playing together. Draya kept trying to steal W's new truck. She also really liked the dress-up trunck that she received. That night L & A came over for dinner & games.

Dec 28 - Mommy made stew and we all went over to TL & D's for dinner. Draya adores baby W. I think she's itchin' for a baby brother or sister but we're not quite ready to give her one... yet.

Dec 29 - L & P & I & G, L & M & B, T & H & J all came over for dinner & a kids gift exchange. Draya received a wonderful game called Hullaballo that she & the girls immediately opened and played in our bedroom. It's all about shapes and colours and pictures and even though it says that it's for ages 4 & up she actually did pretty well at it. She also got 2 great books and a cute ladybug dress-up set. She has been using the skirt from it to play ballerina.

Dec 30 - Draya got up and insisted on playing Hullabaloo first thing... in the bathroom. We had a quiet day at home because mommy is sick with a cold.

We accidentally left our camera at Nana & Papa's on the 25th so we're missing photos from all of the days after that. But, Daddy picked it up today so Mommy will download Christmas Day photos soon.

Next up... New Years Eve at Morgan's...

Daycare Christmas Party 2007

Draya dances with the little kids.

Showing off her 'Must be Santa' picture. "8 little reindeer pull his sleigh"

All the children, big & small sang 4 songs.

Clapping along.

Draya actually sat on Santa's lap to get her gift, a little red-headed china doll in a blue dress that matched hers!

Enjoying the goodies after the show.

Kids Christmas Party Photos

Draya tries her hand at yoyoing.
Mmmm... nacho chips!
Making a craft.
Quietly colouring.
Playing with the rice at Daddy's juggling ball station.
Leaving with Uncle P.