Aurora Wells

Right now I’m listening to Aurora talking to herself in bed, and I’m hoping that she’ll fall asleep within the 60-90 min. window I give her for such an undertaking. She comes up with some pretty funny stuff while she’s falling asleep, and it’s really cool listening in. Last night I thought she was asleep, when she suddenly burst out, “Toenails! I have toenails, too!” And earlier, “A-rah tell story now. Once ‘pon time, there three bears…” I couldn’t understand most of the story, until she said, “but they didn’ know anybody” and “then they went beach.” I’d love to know the rest of what the bears were up to.

But by far her coolest language achievement lately was the invention of a new word. Daddy was playing with her while Mommy was making dinner, and he asked her what she’d like to do. “I want to do darking now” was her response. “What is ‘darking?’” asks Daddy. She shut her eyes tight and started walking around – “Darking!” she says. I think it’s brilliant; so much more concise than saying, “I’m closing my eyes to make everything dark.” This is why people have kids, right? To bring fresh new insights and ideas to their lives. Love it.

The past week and a half is like a crazy blur for me. The family visits, the big birthday and Thanksgiving long weekend, my crazily optimistic plans to build a shelving unit, the Junkyard Wars long weekend, and a reading group meeting that inspired me to try making boeuf bourguignon for the first time. Yikes! Although I was sad to see my parents go yesterday afternoon, last night I went to bed eagerly awaiting a return to a more relaxed existence, only to awaken this morning to a toddler in an absolutely soggy bed, thanks to a forgotten diaper the night before. Oh my goodness!

Or as Aurora would say, “Oh my doodness!”

Last Saturday, while Brian was toiling away with his friends on a giant pumpkin slingshot (which would eventually win the coveted Vancouver Junkyard Wars trophy this year), Aurora, Grandma Gail, Grandpa Larry and I went to the UBC Apple Festival. I hadn’t been since 2006, and I was really looking forward to finally purchasing the apple tree that Brian and I have been wanting to plant since we bought this house. The apple festival, in addition to having a great tasting booth that lets you try almost a hundred different varieties of apples, has close to sixty types of apple trees you can purchase for very reasonable prices. After tasting 20 or 30 different types of apples, I narrowed my choices to Honeycrisp, Northern Spy, Bramley’s Seedling, and Spigold. A few of my favourites, sadly, such as the crisp, yummy Jazz variety, were not available for sale as a tree. The experts on hand suggested that Honeycrisp would probably suit us the best, in terms of being easiest to care for and most tasty to snack on. I bought a lovely little starter tree, and we’ll grow it as an espalier on the garage’s south-facing wall.

Here’s Grandpa holding the tree up for a picture while we waited for the return shuttle bus. If the weather had been fine, it would have been nice to stay longer, enjoy the children’s area, and perhaps take in a lecture or indulge in a slice of apple pie. As usual, though, it was absolutely pouring rain, which seems inevitable on apple fest weekends. I’ve been four times, and gotten soaked at three (some years I just look at the weather report and give it up entirely). But at last, the tree is planted, and the espaliering (is that a word?) can now begin!

Thanks again to all the friends and relatives who gave or sent birthday presents to Aurora. With our return to normalcy, I should have time to write a few thank-yous, but in the meantime, please know that your gifts are totally appreciated!

(Aurora showing off some of the 16 new bus riders the Virginia Zats sent). Now we just have to get through Halloween…

Growing up in the States, I always loved Thanksgiving the most of all the holidays. The beginning of the holiday season, a less complicated holiday than Hanukkah or Christmas, a time to be with family and eat delicious food; just a great holiday overall. When I moved to Canada, though, it just felt a little… off. No longer at the right time, missing most of my family, it just didn’t feel as wonderful as it did before.

Then came Aurora. On Thanksgiving weekend, 2007, I received the gift of a baby girl (although putting it that way makes it sound like some crazy stork dropped a linen-wrapped bundle down the chimney or something) who was so amazing, so precious, that Thanksgiving, October Thanksgiving, suddenly seemed like the perfect holiday once again. Happy second birthday, baby. You are the light of our lives.

Having all our parents here, and Steve, Kayden, and Lori, too, has been a blast. It’s ironic that at the time the weather is turning colder outside, the warmth in my heart seems to crank itself up, and I remember again how very much I have to be thankful for. We miss our family that couldn’t be here this weekend, and promise to cook wonderful food for you, too, the next time we see you. Here’s a glimpse at our busy (extended) holiday weekend:

The grandparents arrived while we were out front raking leaves on Saturday. It’s good to see you again, Grandma Shaun!

Aurora’s two lovely grandmas enjoy getting together. What? No scrabble?

Between the two lunches and two big dinners this weekend, there were a lot of dishes. Aurora likes to help out in the kitchen.

Besides a train set, books, legos, and plenty of other presents, Aurora also got a great new soccer ball, which the “kids” were excited to try out in the backyard. Don’t run over the girl!

What girl could resist such bright, shiny new necklaces? And a princess jewelry box to keep them in?

Uncle Steve hadn’t been to Queen Elizabeth Park since 1989, so we just had to take him up the hill for a short tour Thanksgiving morning.

No, Aurora, we’re not following you. Stepping out on to the forbidden grass at QE Park might be forgiven if you look that cute, but the rest of us will stay back behind the chain, thank you very much.

Our new friends, Sara and Tiago, from Portugal, were very happy to be included in a real Canadian Thanksgiving dinner, and our family loved meeting and getting to know them, too.

“You know, this would be a wonderful way to get children to eat fruit!” (misquoting Sarah in Guys and Dolls) Snacking on chocolate fondue at Mink Chocolates, downtown Vancouver.

One last delicious binge before sending Steve back home to California. Luck was with me (I can’t claim that it was wisdom) when I put Aurora in this dark brown sweater this morning!

We Wellses were blessed last Monday with a chance to have a photoshoot with our photographer friend Morgaine. She’s ridiculously talented, and I’m so excited to see the results of our afternoon at Kits Park. The weather was beautiful, the leaves were falling, and we got to spend a little time with Craig and Aahva, too. Such a lovely afternoon! She sent us a sneak peek picture of Aurora playing in the leaves – gorgeous!

Today our friends J & J have whisked their kids off on a surprise holiday to Disneyland, and at ages 3 and 5 1/2 I’m sure Edmund and Agatha will have a fabulous time. I only wish I were going myself, as Disneyland is my favourite place to imagine myself when I get stressed out. It was my third home (second was Grandma’s house) when I was growing up, and I could have written one of those “insider’s guides” for teenagers.

Here I am at exactly Aurora’s age, waiting to board the train with my mom, on my first trip to Disneyland.

Disneyland always has exuberant flower displays, no matter the time of year.

And just cuz it’s that time of year, and I’m scanning old photos:

Steve and me, ages 4 and 6, looking super for halloween.

After weeks of seeing fabulous little Doris Day wool jackets in the stores and getting sucked into a wave of 50’s nostalgia, I broke down and bought a (fairly cheesy) collection of 121 of the “greatest” hits of the 50’s on iTunes this week. The song I was initially after was Bill Haley & the Comets’ “See You Later Alligator”.

Aurora’s particularly cute response to the salutation, “See you later, Alligator” is “After a minute, Crocodile!”

Now it’s practically all Rock’n'Roll, all the time here. I have to say, though, this darn-blasted music really does whip the kid up into a frenzy. She’s dancing in her high chair, ignoring her parents, and taking on a bit of a hyper streak when there’s been a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on. It’s great to see her circling around the dining room, swinging her teddy bear or Minnie Mouse by the arms. Even if dinner doesn’t get finished, it’s okay, ’cause this kid’s gotta move!