Xmas in Vancouver, 2011

It was a bit of a shock to be back in Vancouver after such a wonderful trip Down Under, but we had a good time all the same. Most difficult for us was that it was yet another transition: in two weeks, I had to accomplish a few important work tasks, and Ljuba and I had to get settled back in, plus prepare for California by packing up our things and equipping our car. Getting settled back in meant cracking out the winter clothes, and getting the girls used to the onerous task of donning it all. Fortunately, it didn't stop happy Tivona singing and dancing as she prepared to go out (outside has always been exciting for her), as you can see in this 30s special-moment video.



Tiva sings and dances in her snowsuit

If you're especially keen on seeing the girls in action, you'll get a kick out of these hyperlinked videos--a 91s everyday-life video of Kai talking with Taya about what Grandpa likes to do (definitely funny if you know Nanna and Grandpa/Penny and Ricky); and a 44s everyday-life video of Kai and T'n'T singing "If you're tired and you know it". And the 25s special-moment video below, of Ljuba playing chase with Taya and a newly-mobile Tivona, is worth a smile.



T'n'T and Mama chasing each other at Trout Lake

Coming home meant returning to Dada's breakfasts with the girls in their chairs, in our kitchen. You can see a slice of that in the 32s everyday-life video below, where Tivona manipulates her bib to find the puffs hiding underneath.



Tiva holds her bib to find her puffs

Both Taya and Tivona are becoming more and more obviously conversationalists. Taya quite routinely cracks us up with her speech, which sounds way beyond her years. For example, when I engaged Taya to help make the Xmas apple cake (Mum's recipe):

TS: I'm done cutting these apples.

KC: Oh, how about these? That leaves lots for me; can you cut these two more?

TS: OK--I can cut these two. Then I'll be done, OK?

KC: OK. But that still leaves lots for me. (Hoping she'll volunteer to do more.)

TS: No, you can cut these apples. One, two, three, four, five. You can cut five apples. I know you can. You're good at cutting. (Taking a huge page out of Daddy and Mommy's book with the tactical praise.) I need to make a cake for my toys. They told me they want a persimmon cake, so I have to cut persimmons.

And in the 41s special-moment video below, you can see Tivona conversing on the phone while lounging on the abandoned couch Ljuba adopted for the girls.



Tivona lounges and talks on the phone

Although we had decided that a small station wagon was big enough for the vast majority of our purposes, we knew that it meant that we'd need to install some racks for this trip. We actually decided we needed both a roof rack for a box and a hitch rack for the bikes. All this equipment was of course not cheap. It merited a photo, but the time was so hectic that we forgot to document this part of our lives.

Coming home also meant being reunited with our shower. For Taya, that was almost always a very happy place. Tivona, however, was deathly afraid of our shower for a while, or at least being there without Mama. But as you'll see in this 27s special-moment video of Kai and Tiva scrubbing each other, that fear was left somewhere over the ocean. (Don't worry, KC took great pains to edit this to be PG-13 after Ljuba tried to sneak in some gratuitous nudity. You know her!)



Tivona showers with Dada

Before we knew it, it was Christmas time. Ljuba and I really struggle with Christmas for several reasons, including that we want to make a Christmas tradition that has very little to do with consumerism, but we feel pulled in that direction by a multitude of powerful forces. Including Taya, who now has an absolute obsession with gifts. She's forever making presents for her toys. Anyway, we did go modest, as you can see with the stockings,



and our absolutely micro Xmas tree(s).



Inside the stockings were a variety of fun things, but mostly it was what any other child would likely consider filler: tangerines, roasted seaweed, and dark chocolate. Not so our girls, as you can see from Tiva enjoying her chocolate.



And here's Taya inspecting one of her stocking gifts.



They were actually so excited by having the first few things that we managed to spread Xmas gifts out over four days--mostly because they were so overwhelmed by the very few things that we did give them that they forgot to ask about anything else. And we weren't going to force it! On the 24th we had a Skype call with the Chan clan and opened one gift, on the 25th they had their stockings, on the 26th they had their gifts from us, and on the 27th they opened the wonderful care package from the Chan clan (in the background of the photo below). Actually, I think they also had a wonderful package from Tony and Elisa on the 28th--so five days! They were Xmas-happy the whole time.



And then it was time for the big pack-up for California. But the culmination of that crazy story is part of another year, and another blog post! ;)

Adventures Down Under (NZ)

We had a bit of an epic day travelling to NZ: We woke the girls up ~5:30am Brisbane time for our three-hour flight. We then had to pass through customs (major ordeal with all the food we had from Oz), get the rental car, groceries, and do a 3.5 hr drive to catch a car ferry that stopped at 9:50pm. That might not sound epic, but for a baby who until weeks before screamed every car ride longer than 20 min, it was quite a challenge. We initially thought we’d have tons of time to make the ferry, but actually we didn’t get there until after 9pm (even with me driving 20+km over the speed limit in a new car on the wrong side of the road on windy then dark country roads), and then we still had to get into the house and arrange it. Even getting in was an ordeal, because the rental managers gave us the wrong code for the lockbox. So the girls were in bed after almost 11pm NZ time, well late for them even by Brisbane time! But then we were in Russell (Bay of Islands), a gorgeous, picturesque, and peaceful seaside town in the North of the North Island.

Here are the girls, playing around a sculpture at the top of a look-out overlooking Russell. This was right around the time when Tiva started walking confidently on her own. Once she started, she didn't look back.



As we travelled more, we became more of a team. The plane trip down to Australia was pretty rough, just as expected, but we anticipated that it would become easier as we went along. And it did. For example, when Tivona was having trouble one day because she was too tired, Taya told her, "Tiva, when I get tired, I just rest my head and close my eyes and go to sleep. You look tired. You should just rest your head and close your eyes and go to sleep." And here Taya and Ljuba help Tivona climb a statue at Russell, NZ.



The cottage (Chapel Cottage) we stayed at was wonderful in Russell. We splurged a bit, but we'd love to go back! Here's Taya playing inside, teaching Ariana how to do upward dog.



We explored the beaches around Russell. They were picturesque, but after the Aussie beaches and the Queensland weather, given that we got overcast and rainy weather in the Bay of Islands, we weren't inspired to swim.



I had bemoaned how we hadn't got Tiva out into nature the way we had with Taya, and how that meant that Tivona just wasn't as comfortable doing 'bush pees' as Nanna calls them. Well, this trip was good training, and now we have two bush-pee-ers. (Every time I look at this pic I think how much I look like my brother Chee there.)



Because of the rainy weather, we don't have tons of photos from the Bay of Islands. After a nevertheless-wonderful three day visit, we drove down to Arches farmstead near Parua Bay, just East of Whangarei. The weather had cleared up by then, enough that it made the photos worthwhile and inspired me to dip into the ocean. Because I didn't have trunks handy (and you can imagine how fully packed our car was), you won't see pics of that adventure. The girls were inspired to join me, and we've got a bunch of fun pics of them, too, but nothing decent enough for the blog. Here's the gorgeous spot, though!



And here are our girls, enjoying it.



The weather wasn't super the next day, either. Actually, it poured. But we were determined not to let the weather prevent us from getting out. Ljuba and I love the NZ geography, so we were going to go see it, even if it drenched us. OK, that was my attitude. Lj's was 'even if we have to spend hours bundling up the girls so they barely feel a sprinkle'. Turns out that was impossible, because the rain was heavy and the wind strong.



Everyone was fine to start, while it was just drizzling.



The countryside was gorgeous, so I pushed us on as far as I could while the clouds loomed behind. I wanted to make it over the other side of this peak and back, but unfortunately the cloud burst and soaked us. We stopped for lunch under dense-canopied tree, and then we walked and ran back while the wind howled in our faces. Taya was losing it, but she loves stories, so I jumped into stories of my family hiking when we were young. Like the time when Auntie Soo did a ten-km hike near Jasper when she was barely three years old, and we saw an avalanche at the top. And the time that same summer in Alberta when we hiked around a lake in shorts and short-sleeves, with dark clouds looming. Mum/Nanna said, "Well, if it rains, we get wet." Of course, when those clouds burst they emptied hailstones the size of marbles, which soon coated the trail and the forest floor. I remember running the long way back to the car, having Mum/Nanna switch piggybacking Chee and I while Dad/Grandpa carried Soo, only to have my hands so numb I couldn't open the car door. These stories made Taya much happier in our own private adventure.



The Arches lodge (farm-stay) was a wonderful place to hole up in lousy weather. Ada took us out one day, and showed us how to call to the two friendly sheep who actually come greet people, even bringing their lambs. It was so memorable, charming Kiwi Ada hollering to her sheep that to this day, Tivona and Taya both imitate her, "HAAAY-lee! HAAAY-lee! MAAAA-ma! MAAAA-ma! Where are ya girl?" Since one of the two friendly sheep's names was 'Mama', T'n'T now like to do it to get Ljuba's attention. Here's the paddock beside the wonderful big farmhouse we stayed in.



Of course we didn't make sophisticated meals while we were away. We did, however, still eat well. And the girls still had their treats--or at least one of the two kinds they get. You know, a tiny corner of dark chocolate (we didn't find a good source of dried seaweed). It's amazing how excited they can get for those. At first we occasionally tried to eat chocolate without them, but it's pretty tough. Once, after I surreptitiously passed Lj a square of chocolate and she popped it in her mouth without the girls seeing, Taya exclaimed "I smell chocolate! Can I have some chocolate, please? I want some chocolate!" Tiva: "Coc-co-la! Coc-co-la!" After that we just give them a tiny morsel, and they're appeased.

Before we knew it, the vacation part of our NZ trip was over, and we were off to Auckland for my conference. It was hard for me to switch gears, and hard for me to split my time between the conference and all its associated activities and Ljuba and the girls (who don't usually come on work trips with me). In this 42s special-moment video, Tivona shows more of an interest in going than I did. Since Ljuba was on her own with the girls most of them time, we don't have many photos or videos, but here's a 64s everyday-life video of the girls collecting flowers and Tiva feeding herself.



Tivona and Taya collect flowers, Tiva feeds herself

Ljuba took them to an Underwater World centre, where the girls got to stand in a model shark mouth,



and watch penguins swimming (in this 38s special-moment video; more of the penguins than the girls).



Penguins swimming in an Underwater World

And on the last day of our trip, after the conference was done, we all explored the city a bit. In the 35s everyday-life video below the girls drive on a play car.



Tivona and Taya driving a playground car

And then it was time to say goodbye to Auckland, from the taxi (this 27s special-moment video). Thanks for the wonderful trip, New Zealand!



Bye-bye, Auckland!

Adventures Down Under (Australia)

The first leg of our journey Down Under (see previous post) was a wonderful (but somewhat scattered) week of work at Hugh Possingham's Ecology Centre at the University of Queensland. It was scattered because I gave two talks, because I had a couple of pressing deadlines to meet from back home, and because Ljuba and the girls all came down with a stomach bug that had them projecting from both ends. Yes, I spared you graphics of these excitements; besides, my hands were full!

After that week, Kai's Dad arrived and we all six went to North Stradbroke Island, a gorgeous spot to hang out for a week. Not only were the beaches beautiful and calm, the waters warm, the apartment was super, and courtesy of Nanna and Grandpa. Here's Taya loving the sand. It took a bit more trying before she was ready to love being in the ocean itself (more than a week), but we'll keep working at it!



It's hard to pick pictures to show from an experience like that. The skies were deep blue, the ocean turquoise, and everyone was having fun most of the time. There's a load of them on the Webshots album--if you like, you can start with this image (click to view) and this one too of Tivona and Taya and go from there. Here's one of Grandpa, whom Tivona really fell in love with (Nanna too), mostly during this visit I think (many nights, even months after, she'd say "Gampa, gampa, gampa. Nanna, nanna, gampa!" falling asleep).



We had lots of fun with Nanna and Grandpa, getting out more than we would otherwise have been able to. They helped carry the girls and the ever-accompanying stuff, helped shop when we needed groceries, Nanna did most of the cooking, Grandpa cut most of the fruit, etc. But we weren't only out and about, we also had some chill time, especially while Tiva napped (there were her last days of two naps a day).



Because the weather was so perfect, and the apartment so well designed, and we had N&G to help, we also got to eat outside often. As you can see below, that was a pleasure for our two lovers of the outdoors ('Tivona' actually means 'lover of nature').



Straddie had beautiful vegetation too. I really enjoyed these she oaks (also this image).



And these beautiful grasses, with the ocean in the background.



The gorge below (and this image) was breathtaking, with sea turtles clearly visible from where we were (but not this particular image).



Another thing that was possible thanks to Nanna and Grandpa were some family pics; here's one with Nanna at Point Lookout.



Tivona has become an entertainer, just like her sister. In the 40s special-moment video below, she plays up to her crowd.



Tiva's (and Taya's) dinnertime antics, clapping, etc.

Nanna really wanted to bring us out to see some rock pools with loads of fish. I was psyched about this, too--I fell in love with coasts and oceans thanks to tide pools. It was more than a kilometre along the beach, where the stroller was no help. With me carrying Tivona, Taya had to walk in the midday heat. It would have taken her an hour to do the back and forth if Nanna hadn't carried her much of the way. One might see it as 'spoiling' her, how much she got carried when she walks so much with us, but what a great kind of spoiling their grandparents indulge in (rather than sweets and gifts).



The photo below isn't flattering of either Tivona or I, but when I look at it, I feel that strong ocean breeze, and I'm transported back to the moment--Tivona snacking (as so often), just hanging out in my arms (there's also this image).



In contrast, here's a sweet photo of Ljuba, Taya, and Tivona (see also this image, although less flattering of Taya).



Look what Mama caught on the shore!



Tivona just loves the sand. It's hard to get her to look up, she gets so immersed in things.



But here's her face!



You'll see more of this, but Tivona just loves playing with these laundry clips that Ljuba brought along to hold up their black-out curtains (which saved us many an hour of sleep). Little did we know this functional item would be such a great toy!



That little wild animal Mama caught on the shore, here it is, bundled up (see also this image).



And here's our other little bundle.



And more of Tivona playing in the sand.



I got to play on the beach too! Oh, I relished that.



I took the girls in to jump in the waves too. You can tell that Tivona enjoyed it! (There's a closer photo here.)



On the way back, after saying goodbye to Nanna & Grandpa for a while, we had fun on the ferry. In this 42s must-see video, Tivona gets very excited about a dog.



Getting excited about a dog (on the Straddie ferry)

From Straddie we drove down to Burleigh Heads, our last major stop in Australia. More sun and beaches!

This photo of my three girls always makes me smile. They have fun together! And look at how coy Tivona is, popping just like her big sister and Mama, and apparently understanding fully what's going on. (Here's another, of Tivona popping on her own.)



Back to those laundry-clips. Watch this 54s must-see video and see Tiva's body control as she lifts her toe-clipped leg up and waves it around from a sit, without a wobble. Pilates instructors would be proud! And check out Taya laundry-clip hands cuddling her bear.



Tiva wants clips on her toes while Taya laundry-clip hands cuddles Little Bear

We also drove inland and went to a national park in the rainforest (Springbrook). Here's Ljuba and Taya walking together there (and this 48s everyday-life video shows Tiva dancing and Taya talking about a kookaburra going potty).



And here's one of the many beautiful sights at Springbrook NP, a waterfall (see also this tree-fern in a little waterfall).



We promised Taya and Tivona they'd get to see Aussie animals. Well, they don't just come around the beach, and we didn't spend much time in the bush. So we had to go to see them elsewhere. Most of the animal parks were exorbitant and a bit too entertainment-oriented, so we sought out the David Fleahy Wildlife Park (part of the national park system), which was super. Our first attempt got aborted when we started walking there and discovered just how pedestrian unfriendly rural Australia can be. Our second got aborted when the trunk light (left on when we got the car, but unnoticed) burned through our battery. Third time lucky!



Before we knew it, it was time for us to pack up from Burleigh Heads. We hated packing up! What with all the food, the crib-tent, the black-out curtains, all the toys and other things that mysteriously got stashed in every drawer, nook, and cranny, packing up was always a multi-hour task with Tiva fastidiously unpacking every bag she could get her hands on. We finally made it out and drove up to Southport where we spent a wonderful midday swimming and picnicking before heading up to an airport hotel for our final Aussie night. Here are my three girls, smiling together on that gorgeous Southport kids' beach.



Here's Tivona, learning to walk there.



Here's Taya, playing at that super playground.



And here's Tiva and I together.



They had this super bike-train, that both Taya and I got a huge kick out of.



What a wonderful way to end our Australia trip. Next stop, New Zealand!

Fall in Vancouver, spring in Brisbane

We had a wonderful first-half of fall in Vancouver. Taya stayed in preschool, while Tivona kept Mama busy at home. Dada hung out at Simon Fraser University with the Hakai Network and caught up with folks at UBC before sabbatical travels. Months late, here are some memorable photos and videos.

Tiva loves to ring the doorbell, and imaginary bells, too (41s everyday life video)!



Tivona rings the fridge's belly button

Taya and Mama share a smile over a gorgeous spider costume that was a tad too small to wear for trick-or-treating.



If she'd lifted her hands much further, it probably would have split. Bummer.



Tivona, like Taya, is wonderfully dramatic and expressive. In this everyday-life video, she claps for more peach. She knows good fresh food, and she won't accept anything less (as in this 43s everyday life video)!



Tivona claps for more peach

Ljuba and I both love to get out. But we find that when we don't push it and have some quiet moments at home, that we generally have some wonderful family moments. In this 12s special-moment video, the girls get excited to run into the bedroom to surprise Mama.



Running to Mama hiding behind the door

One little outing was quite close to home. Not as full of big trees as I (KC) would like, but fun all the same (Deer Lake). Here's Tiva at the fence looking out over the lake. And here's another, similar.



And the same day, Taya enjoying running on the grass.



And here's Taya, Ljuba, and Tivona, all together.



Our little whirling dervishes make us dizzy sometimes, as in this 46s must-see video of T'n'T spinning on their bums while Tiva texting on Ljuba's phone.



Whirling, texting dervishes

Other times Tivona's much more relaxed at home.



We were excited to bring both the girls to Capilano reservoir to meet the salmon swimming up to the hatchery. Here's Tiva (37s special-moment video), and below you can see Taya (27s special-moment video).



Taya meets the salmon

In October, the girls started interacting more. In this special-moment video, they both take the bar (bookcase) as if doing ballet. And in this image, they sit together in the laundry basket.



T'n'T doing ballet

Sometimes the interacting isn't so much fun for us, although it may be at least as much fun for them. In this 24s special-moment video, Tiva the joker sticks her finger in her nose and Taya eggs her on.



Taya eggs Tivona on to stick her finger in her nose

Taya is often a great sport. I really miss doing yoga. Usually my only chance is nap-time on a weekend, but Taya doesn't nap (rest, not sleep) long, so sometimes I start a routine then get Taya out, and she joins me for the rest. In this image she does downward dog, in this one warrior 1, and down below side-angle pose (I think).



Ljuba and I were busy planning for Australia, NZ, and California when Hallowe'en arrived. Fortunately, our dear neighbours bailed us out by lending us this gorgeous strawberry costume for Tivona. As you can see below, she didn't start out enamoured with it (you can also see her alone in this image), but she definitely warmed up to it.



I'm not sure what it is about kids and baths, but they always seem to look cuter there. Or maybe it's just our girls, and that the water tames their crazy hair. In any case, here's Tiva.



Taya and Tiva showing off their Hallowe'en costumes together (also this image).



Tony and Elisa gave Taya and Tivona this fishing puzzle. We didn't think that Tiva was quite ready, but here she is, having picked up a piece, our proud fisher-baby.



Tivona has been learning tons, so we've been trying to keep up with her on videos. In this 79s everyday life video she uses a chair as a walker/shopping cart, in this 39s everyday life video she goes up and down a slide (tummy style), and in this 28s everyday life video she eats and loves a mandarin, as in the photo below.



And here she is proudly sitting in the wicker chair.



Before we knew it, we were off on our travels. Packing was of course a huge ordeal, as I scrambled to finish several pressing work tasks, and Ljuba anticipated the full range of what might be needed in five weeks travel Down Under. We were both rather anxious about the long flight. We boarded the flight to LA at the girls' bedtime, then had a 2+ hour layover before boarding the 14+ hour flight to Brisbane ~ midnight. Taya and Tiva didn't sleep on the first flight, then fell asleep in the stroller in LAX. The flight attendants needed the stroller before they needed us, so we had to disassemble the napping vehicle, interrupting Tivona's nap. It didn't even cause Taya to stir, and she continued to sleep in my arms, so I put her down. There were no seats remaining in the lobby (it was a very full flight), so I had to put her on the ground, resting on our carry-on duffle. She cracked up the folks in the lobby (pretty much everywhere we went, we were a spectacle), sleeping peacefully with fluorescent lights blaring down on her.



The flight itself was of course hard. Taya slept for hours, even after I banged her (unintentionally) through over a hundred rows of seats, while I also carried the duffel, a backpack, and my laptop bag. She wasn't happy when she woke, but she was dry (she's been out of diapers for months, but Lj was nonetheless concerned), and she managed to get back to sleep for several more hours. My job was to get Tivona to sleep. Every time was a major ordeal of pacing and singing. Sitting was not an option, as I discovered. And despite my best efforts, she couldn't sleep through more than ~50 min, and she only had two more of those the whole journey (so <3 hrs sleep over >24 hours in which she'd normally sleep 13+). But she was a trooper, as you can see in this 9s special-moment video in the Brisbane airport of Tiva walking in my footsteps.



Tivona walking in Dada's footsteps

Tivona also cracked up dozens of people in the immigration line when she emulated me lifting the bags (9s must-see video below). I'm quite sure I wasn't grunting the way she does in the video, but I also know that after ~1 hour sleep, I was in no state to remember!



Tiva grunting and lifting bags in the immigration line in Brisbane

Then we went to our apartment, but unfortunately could not check in. So we went on a marathon grocery shop, instead, while Taya had a long nap in the car, stroller, etc. Tiva slept very little, but then once we got hope she finally crashed (also this image). Meanwhile, Taya and I got ready for a swim (this image).



Tivona, like Taya, is a big joker. I wonder where they get it from. When we were waiting around while Mama caught up on some sleep, we worked in some giggles (in this 71s must-see video).



Tiva, Taya, and Dada goof around

Taya is remarkably tender, as you've seen before, but most of all with her toys. In this 43s special-moment video, she rocks her toys then puts them to bed our Taringa Gardens apartment closet.



Taya rocks her toys for nap time

As soon as we arrived in humid Brisbane, Tivona's hair--which had recently got curly--really sprung up.



Taya has been drawing a lot. In this image, inspired by Amelia Bedelia, she plays doctor by "drawing blood". She also does other kinds of exercise with me--in this image she shows off her plank. And below she helps me do pushups.



It was so wonderful to have Nanna there the day after we arrived. She stayed with Auntie Virginia (her sister), but came out to see us often. In the 32s special-moment video below you can see Taya and especially Tiva getting a kick out of her, and also cuddling with each other.



Taya and Tiva getting a kick out of Nanna

We met Auntie Virginia with my cousin Simon and his family at Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens. I somehow failed to get any good pics of them (sorry!), but this desert plant turned out nicely.



We all loved the beets we had in Australia. Especially this little beet-murderer, Tiva.



Tivona is a wonder. Sometimes we just don't get her. Like in this 43s must-see video, where we still can't figure out what she's doing with her diaper and belly.



What *is* she doing with her diaper and belly??

Tiva also got good at scooping, as you can see in this 12s everyday-life video. And this 43s everyday-life video, while Taya sat and talked and talked. (Taya was actually eating only chicken noodle soup, thanks to a violent stomach bug that she and Mama had, and Tiva got.) And Tivona and Taya are often helpful when we need to move things, like this big bed (33s special-moment video below).



Tivona and Taya tries to move the bed

And that was the end of our time in Brisbane! Stay tuned for the vacation part of Australia, plus NZ and more.