this week in 22 minutes

I thought it was time to catch up. I think it's been at least a week since I've checked in - spring break is over, the kids are back in school and we are finally back into routine. Here's a synopsis of my week. Get a snack and a blanket and settle in.

I can't stop taking pictures of blooms and spring flowers. After a grey winter of dead berries, it is all too exciting to have colour options. My dearest husband keeps yawning when I demand "Look at this picture!". "Flower pictures are pretty but boring", he says to me in the most loving but disinterested of voices. I have to agree. But I can't stop with the flower pictures. I cannot. They are so colourful and symmetrical and...flowery. I never really noticed them before I got behind a camera. Not in the same way.

We had cousins here for a week. Rock climbing, sight seeing and silliness abounded. It is amazing to me how big all the kids in our family are getting. Where are the babies? They were just here.

We took a day trip to Victoria on good Friday. Did some shopping, and admired the springyness. Victoria is about a week ahead of us, season wise. That's what you get for being about 80 kms south. This is our provincial parliament, as Victoria is our capital. Need I explain parliaments for those of you south of the border?

See? Definite springyness.

I took this photo this week, too. It's a robin's nest with plastic eggs in it. I know - robins don't lay plastic eggs. The real baby robins flew away last year. The nest looked lonely this year and it was Easter. This photo became the Icon of the Day in The World Through My eyes. Don't ask. Flickr stuff. It was a compliment. A big one.

We went to Maggie and Jamie's birthday party. They turned 5. Bouncy castle, face painting and cake. You only turn 5 once. Or twice, in their case.

I took more flower photos. In Victoria I splurged on some macro filters. Cheaper than a lens and harder to use, but fun to play with. I'm learning how to use my tripod, too. Who knew using a tripod required practice?

We coloured eggs. ~Eggs before.

~In colour process.

~After.

We went to the annual Easter egg hunt and family brunch at my friend Nancy's. We collected leavings from the Easter Bunny and ate quiche and baked french toast. I made raspberry and white chocolate scones.

Are you still hanging in? Almost done.

I took pictures for my photo scavenger hunt. One of the topics was "milk mustache". Notice the lack of frontal chompers.

Last but not least, more flowers. White ones.

Pink ones. There's a long season of flowers ahead, but it won't last forever, I promise. And they are better than dead berries, aren't they?