The beginning: first 5 days

Shopping at Granville Island
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We got here on Saturday night after almost missing the connection through San Francisco.  Our flight from Phoenix was late and we ran like crazy to catch the plane to Vancouver.  The kids liked the excitement.  Leann loves airports and was trying to make friends with any kid she could find in the terminal.  Edan was in the carrier as we ran to the next terminal to try to make the connection and he found it extremely funny and was laughing all the way to the plane.  When we boarded he was still cracking up and as I walked with him through the aisle all the sitting passengers said he was so cute.  This kid is all smiles.

Leann loves her little brother and has learned how to hug him 'beadinoot'
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We spent Saturday night in a hotel in Richmond.  Noon on Sunday we picked up the keys to our rental apartment and we couldn't believe how well we did.  The place is absolutely beautiful, with a big balcony that Leann just loves.  The apartment is well equipped and suits our needs to a tee.

On Monday we went back to Richmond, walked the peer in Steveston and had some fish and chips.  The kids slept: Leann in the stroller and Edan on me in the Minsari and we had a nostalgic time remembering how we visited the exact same spot July 1st a year ago and didn't know we would come back with TWO babies.  I was already pregnant and didn't know it.  I kept looking at little Edan sleeping all curled up in the carrier and wondering how this gift was growing inside me and I had no idea.  We did promise each other not to come back next year with 3 kids...

At the UBC dorms. It turns out Nena loves to climb trees just like her Daddy.
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Tuesday morning we went shopping at Granville Island's farmers market where you can find the best and freshest food in town.  Nena got impatient till we found the ice cream stand.  Some chocolate ice cream and all was well again.  We found some amazing cherries.  In the afternoon we went to the UBC dorm complex to meet with some old friends of Mickey's.  Orly and Yariv have 3 kids and Leann got along real well with Shani, their oldest.  Leann connects well with older kids even 6 or 7 years old.  I love watching her as she copies everything they do, but with her own wisdom.  She studies every move and then imitates what they do but with her own touch.

Edan adores his big sister. Here he is watching her on the swing.
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Wednesday morning we woke up to a beautiful day and decide to go down to the beach.  We walked around Spanish banks and showed Leann the mountain tops still covered with snow.  Then we continued to the

Today we visited the aquarium in the morning and Nena was very impressed with the dolphins.  Then we came back home and both men fell asleep for a long nap while Nena and I were dressing up Cinderella in magnet dresses.  She is very into small details.  She sings in the car all the time and I noticed today she was singing the ABCs in English.  I wasn't sure if I should be happy or sad.  On the one hand that's pretty amazing for a toddler that's not even two years old yet, on the other hand I'd rather hear her sing the Aleph-bet at this point.  But she know lots of other songs in Hebrew and seems very comfortable in the language.  I hope it stays that way.