For the last few years, Natasha and Sofia have gone to Victoria, B.C., to visit friends. Sofia's friend is a little boy, Sofia's age, named Gosha. He introduced Sofia to a friend as "This is Sofia. She likes books, and makes a mess!"

The Beachcomber

There are so many things to see at the water's edge, and Sofia is always curious.

On The Waterfront!

Here there are boats, and lots of other things to look at. Exploring is always fun when you are 4-3/4 years old.

This is always a place that Sofia enjoys.

Butchart's Gardens are a 'must see' for visitors to the Victoria area. They are a wonderland of botanical delights.

Tulips! Tulips! Everywhere!

Not only are the flowers beautiful -- they are especially lovely at this time of year. You can smell the bouquet of the different ones as you proceed through the gardens.

Easter is special at Butchart's Gardens.

There is an Bunny hunt which Sofia enjoyed -- all the kids do. Later there were chocolates as rewards, and Sofia really loves chocolate. One of the concealed bunnies can be seen in the inset photo. The other photo was taken at a private Easter Egg hunt to which Sofia was invited and where she had lots of fun. Momma took Sofia back to Butchart's Gardens a few days later and Sofia went straight for the place where they had the chocolates on the previous visit. When Sofia found out that there were no more chocolates she was obviously very disappointed and threw what Natasha tells me was a temper tantrum.

Sniff! Sniff!

Sofia has always sniffed flowers and enjoys their aroma almost as much as the aroma she finds when she sniffs Grampa's Chocolate-Toffee Coffee!

As in past years, Sofia and Natasha will be going to Poland to be close to Poppa at his work. They leave in mid-June and return near the end of August. They will be staying in a luxurious resort area on the Baltic Sea. Sofia remembers her friend Claudia there, and is looking forward to seeing her again.

Grampa will missing Sofia and doing a lot of trout fishing in the Canadian Rockies to console himself. In between fishing trips he will be checking their apartment, watering Natasha's plants, looking after the mail, and other duties as assigned!

Sofia will turn 5 on the 3rd of August. How time has flown!