First Dates

I am very new to the dating scene.  I had my first date ever in June.  We met through an online dating site.  I had my second date while in BC.  It was a blind date set up by a mutual friend.

I love the concept of blind dates.   Friends set you up and if it works then that's great, if it doesn't then no big deal.  A good friend of mine recently told me, "a date is not going to kill you Beth!".  I am trusting that she is right.  So far I have been having a good time not finding the one.  I have a healthy, if warped sense of humour so I can laugh about it in the end.  It is a learning experience.

Here are The Top 10 Clues that He is NOT THE ONE.

1. You decide on a meeting place and he parks way on the opposite side of the parking lot in a different coloured vehicle than what he told you.
2. While on a 2 hour hike he lets you carry the picnic cooler the entire time.
3. He takes out his cell phone, says, "I guess it would be rude to take this call.", and then answers the phone anyway.
4. He tells you that he does not own a Barbeque because his mother told him that an oven is good enough.  (He is in his late 30's)
5. Two words: personal hygiene.  Seriously.
6. Your date drops you off and tells you that he took you out as a favour to your mutual friend.
7. You make lunch, bake brownies and your date refuses to even try anything but the ham and cheese sandwich.
8. He chooses the restaurant then when the bill comes he lays down the money for his order and looks at you expectantly. 
9. You notice your date picking scabs from his face, slip them in his mouth and chew them while talking with you. 
10. At the end of the date he brings you back to your car.  It is pouring rain.  You try to open the back door to get your picnic cooler but cannot get it to open.  He calls out encouragement, "pull harder, it is an old truck so the door sticks".  While you repeatedly and unsuccessfully try to open the door while standing in the pouring rain he is sitting behind the wheel with his seatbelt on.

Seriously? Seriously.  I can't make this stuff up people.  I am good but not that good.

What a Day!

Maya, Eli and I had a great time at the Strongstart which is their "school".  One of the moms started a hoola hoop train.  Maya thought this was Fantastic!



We dropped Eli off at home for his nap and Maya and I had some one to one time.  We checked out yet another park.  Please note that we stopped at Tim Horton's on the way to the park.  Gotta start them early. :)

This park has everything.  A lookout to the river, playground, picnic shelter, outhouses, trails, soccer fields, a volleyball "court".  After 2 hours I still had to coax Maya to leave with promises to come back another day.  Sadly my camera ran out of batteries before the bald eagle landed so close to us.  Very disappointing.

Maya loved the view from the lookout.  "It is so beeeoootiful!"
She also enjoyed her hot chocolate on such a chilly day.

Maya counting the steps, "1,2,3......13,16, tooda, doodoo, lala". 

Rolling down the hill.

A tire swing, a tire swing!





Maya reminded me again that I should really stay longer.  It will be hard leaving on Saturday for sure.

Park Fun

Maya, Eli and I have been discovering the parks of Vanderhoof.  The sunny fall days are perfect for digging in the sand for treasures and flying high into the sky on the swings.  Notice the continuing theme of Maya dressing up for our various excursions.

Eli loves crawling around on the merry go round.  He does not want it to move because that is scary.  Eli crawls around in circles and laughs at the echoing metal sound that his hands and knees make.

Maya: "Aunt Beth when are you going back to Tario?"
Me:  "In about a week, 7 days."
Maya: "Oh you can sleep at my house for longer than that.  You can live in our basement."
She is a sweetheart. 
We walked to a park.  I pushed Eli in the stroller and Maya was in charge of the sand toys.  I think she looks like a rock star.



Eli and I crawled through the fallen leaves while Maya took pictures of the park.  Here are some of her photos.



Eli stole my sunglasses and is hiding them behind his head.
He is a little clown.



Another fun game.  Nose honking.







Great shot Maya!





I am just loving the clear, crisp fall days.