seasons changing

21 weeks have passed and fall has snuck up on us. we had our first official hibernation day due to rain last week, so we are really taking advantage of every sunny day now to get outside. fortunately there are still many to enjoy :)

i was feeling like very little had happened as I sat down to write this update...however there are a couple of firsts:

as you can see Sasha is now sitting in her high chair to join us for dinner at the table! here she is casually hangin' out while eating her carrots, and below anticipating another spoonful.

we had a visit to Brit pool, where Sasha met Zuzanna for the first time (pic below with her and Elaine) and we also got a pic of Sasha with Wally, who "have the same haircut" as he says - teehee :) Sending some positive energy Zuzanna's way as she competes this month in the international lifeguarding championships! go girl!!

she's still rolling over, and starting to get less fustrated by not being able to go anywhere from there...you can see the wheels turning as she thinks about how to move forward...

she has definetly begun the teething process, though no idea after a few weeks how soon the first tooth will come through!

and we also lived through Sasha having another fever a couple of weeks ago without too much stress...yah right! given the last time she had a fever we ended up in the hospital for 10 days it was hard not to be a worry wart...but I trusted in my experience in what is 'normal' for her behaviour, and in her body's ability to fight anything not too severe...and (sigh of relief) she is perfectly fine and smiley as ever!

now that we're far into September meetings are starting up again. my education advocate hat is back on, though I feel I have some catching up to do on the issues as everything took a backseat the past year to my preoccupation with becoming a mom! I spent my longest time apart from Sasha over two days at a think tank for the development of a new Social Justice 12 curriculum to be introduced to BC schools in the next couple of years. While Sasha spent her days having fun with Granma, I was experiencing some very emotionally charged dialogue, learning new things, challenging my perceptions and meeting some really great folks...all of which left me stunned for a few days afterwards! still reflecting on this positive experience...

we squeezed in a visit to one more bbq event at the community level being held by our friend (and MLA) David. (see Sasha below with David, as well as a pic with one of my favorite community activists Kelly) the event was at Kengsington community centre (KCC) where I have just handed in my nomination papers for an executive position on the board. I have really valued the learning experience my past year on the association board has given me, so am taking it to another level for the year to come...we'll see if I get elected at the AGM in October. Sasha has come with me to a few community meetings and so far has exhibited a lot of patience...of course made easier when there are many eager arms to rock her about :)

Mark never actually took a break from his meetings during the summer for the union and Carnegie...so the only really new thing with him is that it is his birthday on Tuesday!! He's going to a Vancouver Giants came with our friend Tom (Che & Keyan will be going too of course!), and it will be a great father & son bonding night at the good old hockey game...WHL style!

And Che is just thrilled to be back at school - lol! As this is his last year in elementary though I think it could be worse...he's got the end of one level of school almost over! He just can't wait for the graduation party at the end of the year ;)

so the rain may be coming but as always we are just busy and happy enough to not mind at all. staying inside sometimes gives me a wee bit of time to work on my photoshop (and other) skills while she naps...can you guess which pic below is my latest creation?