Packing

Packing for China. Question is if Mango will fit in the bags? One may wonder as Chris was hesitant to bring the ipod since it would take up too much space...

Finlay's wedding

Malin and Mango walking along the Redwood golf course (until a woman in helmet comes running after them saying it's not safe for the baby to be nearby flying golf balls).

The ceremony was so beautiful! The trees formed kind of an outdoor "room" around the couple and guests.

The newly-weds, Chris and Kristi Finlay.

Showing off the ring to the ladies.

Jacquie, Adam, Chris, Kristi, Malin and Mango.

After dinner Mango slept all night by the bar. When both parents wanted to dance the bartender simply looked after him (may not be the last time in his life that a bartender has to check on him :-)

Barbeque for Laura

Laura grew up with this crowd of friends but is now living in London. While she was visiting Vancouver together with her son Ilyas we got to celebrate her birthday with a barbeque at "our" spot at Kits beach.

The barbeque (ok, we know it's ridiculously small in the eyes of the Canadians but its portable and works as well on the balcony), burgers and Chris.

Ilyas, Bill, Ed, Amanda, Pearl and Eva

In the last week Mango has discovered the small tigers that have been in his stroller all the time. Suddenly he likes playing with them for quite long times. The same goes for the wooden toys in front of his sitter - now they are so much fun to hit. He has also "found" his hands and they are apparently very tasty to chew on and today he rubbed his eyes for the first time when he was tired. It's cool to follow his development and these small changes that makes him so happy.

Some continued at our place after the beach, from the left:

Bill, Laura, Pearl, Areli, Amanda, Chris Yeomans.

Hair style

No, he isn't using styling products yet... But this "mohican" hair style appears after bath, so "summer 2009"...

Camping at Cultus Lake

Camping is a tent.

Mango loves it, in fact he never sleeps as good as in the tent.

Can we put him on the balcony when we get home?

Camping is plenty of food (mainly burgers, wieners, chips, muffins...).

Here are Chad and Bill making lunch. Bill and Pearl had made such fantastic preparations for the camping. They booked the spots, got the group of 15 friends together, bought all the food, cooked the pasta sauce and brought the necessary stuff. Malin baked chocolate chip cookies and blueberry muffins as part of her north american cultural learning experience.

Camping is a lake and swimming.

Mango stayed under the trees along with the jungle animals.

Camping are cards. Here, from left to right, Jens, Chris, Adam, Eric, Ed and Chad playing poker.

Camping is fun!

Stroller bootcamp

Brave participants in the Kitsilano Stroller Bootcamp on their way out of the door.

15 women with 15 babies and 15 strollers do exercises every Tuesday and Thursday at 9.30-10.30 by the beach close to where we live. Great way of getting out and do sports when leaving the baby is difficult, nice to be outside and meet others in the same situation ("how much is your baby sleeping?") but it doesn't change the fact that it's sweaty and painful and tiring...

Revolution

The leader of the revolution

The Herwig clan goes camping

Last weekend the entire Herwig clan went camping at Aloet Lake.

From the left: Jordan (son to Markus & Trish), Trish (married to Markus), Malin, Mango, Anneliese (Chris mother), Corbin (son to Markus & Trish), Monika (Chris sister), Markus (Chris' brother), front row Solena and Diego on the lap of Brent's mother with her husband at the back row, Gerhard (Chris father), Brent (Monika's husband), dog Meadow, Chris (behind and in front of the camera).

In the background our famous wedding tent (yes, we spent our wedding night in a tent to celebrate wild and nature and make Chris very happy).

Here are Malin, Corbin, Diego, Trish, Brent around the Settlers game.

Mango's world is full of paparazzi's...

Mango happy together with Opa (German for grandfather) Gerhard

Cousins - Mango, Diego and Solena

Gab in town

Chris and the burgers at "our" beach

Gabriel and his friend Nick

We got to know Gabriel in Kazakhstan when he worked for UNDP in Astana. Fond memories include getting lost on the steppe in the Niva, saunas, his affection for speedos, etc. He is now working on Papua New Guinea and we had the pleasure to catch up when he visited family in Vancouver.

Superman

L & K in Van

Liv, Mango and Klara on the bus. They were amazed by the friendly busdrivers but concluded that the buses aren't made for strollers (therefore the Baby Bjorn comes in handy).

Icetea became a trademark for their visit. Though this may have been the most stylish version (at the famous cafe Slick Sam), the best was Liv and Klara's homemade drink (rooibos tea, fresh menthe from the balcony(!), honey, lemon and ice).