Day 2 of Victorian Snow

It's pretty cold and windy in Victoria. We had 15cm snow overnight. It was said to be -19 degree C with the windchill.

Mia's First Food

She tried her first solid food this evening.
She did not enjoy the ground banana at all...

Mia on a swing

We visited Rainbow Park in Saanich, on the way to Swan Lake and its Nature House.
Mia went on the swing for the first time of her life. The Swan Lake adventure was cut short due to rain (Mommy wasn't prepared for that...)

Kai's Developmental Progress (3 yrs 14 days)

Kai found a way (accidentally) to roll forward in a straight line.

Mia Landmark

Over 5 mos old.



Today, she was able to independently sit herself up from lying down. (Mommy's report)
Very inquisitive. Likes to investigate everything in reach, especially papers, photos, and books.

Mia Landmark ~ 4 months old

Mia started to giggle when she is tickled.
More confident to roll over.

Kai started to sleep by himself last week. (Parents visit his room every 5 minutes till he is asleep)

Kai's given up on his "small" toilet. He puts his seat on the regular toilet independently.

Mia Landmark

Her very first day to roll over from back to front.
Only Janice witnessed. Kai in sleep. I was at work.

Harbour Ferry

We took a harbour Ferry from North side of Selkirk Trestle to home. The first time for Mia, Kai and us.

Fisgard Lighthouse

We visited Fisgard Lighthouse Historical Site of Canada.
(Duration: 3 hours 10:00-13:00)

It was built in 1860 as the first lighthouse in Canada's west coast. It is still active.

Kai resting by the lighthouse sign. It was very windy and cold for Mia.

Mia and Mommy behind the lighthouse. North shore in the background.


There was a military enactment event. We visited this field hospital tent.

Interesting stories about the war in Spain etc. and displays.

Good bye Lighthouse. We'll be back. (Whenever Kai sees a lighthouse, he refers it as Fisgard Lighthouse.)

First Climbing

Kai climbed Mt. Finlayson (419m) this afternoon. 2.2km trail

Victoria Day holiday -Monday

Mia took her first shower with Otosan today.
Why shower today? ... because she pooed in the tub during a bath.

a New Life

Kai (2.5 yrs old) and Mia (1 day old)

Baby girl was born

Victoria Symphony Concert - Signature 3

Timothy Vernon: Conductor
Simon Aldrich: Clarinet

1. Igor Stravinsky : Concerto in Eb (Dumbarton Oaks)
2. John Adams : Gnarly Buttons for Clarinet and Chamber Ensemble
3. Ludwig Van Beethoven : Symphony NO.5 in C minor, Op.67

1: a beautiful little piece from Stravinsky's neo-classical era. Stravinsky's interesting tribute to J.S. Bach's Brandenburg no.3. the piece is like intricate layers of sounds intertwined. very beautiful.

2: the 2nd movement titled "Hoedown (Mad Cow)" was composed during Mad-cow scare in Britain, the naming itself is already cynical. the comical sound does not bring out joy because of the background. it's so scary to think the fact this premier was by done by London Symhonietta (How did the audience react??) . the visual of violin sections not holding the bows is also scary... they mostly play pizz.

the piece forms sort of concerto style, yet the solo instrument is not treated as typical virtuously way (the part is not easy but the piece does not showcase the solo clarinet, so it's funny to see the "soloist" standing in front of the orchestra, which does not have no other clarinettists...)

The performance was relatively slow, making possible to see more structure of the piece (compare to the one done by Ensemble Intercontemporain) I never really cared for this piece but with the historical background it's got new meaning for me.

3: it's my first live experience of the 5th symphony. the famous theme was presented fairly lightly, which I think was appropriate. well executed most of the time. the audience's applause came right at the end of the last code... gave me no chance to feel happy with the echo and silence... Adams' piece on the other hand, no one clapped until the conductor actually faced the soloist. that WAS NICE!