Dina Tolkin Cressman

2007-08-21T00:28:00.001+08:00

Howdy. They changed BloggerBot and rather than learn how to use the new features, it's just easier for us to post photos using Google Web Albums. You can find the web albums at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/zhanarc

http://picasaweb.google.com/bill.cressman

See you there!

-Bill

2007-03-02T22:33:00.000+08:00

We took Dina to Boat Quay and let her sit on the statue of the big bird. She likes to say "Dat-YOO whenever she sees a statue. She puts the emphasis on the second syllable of all her two syllable words. dra-GUN! foun-TUN! moon-CAKE!

2007-03-02T22:23:00.000+08:00

More photos from the Chinese Outfit Photo Shoot at a nearby temple.

2007-03-02T22:21:00.000+08:00

Dina got a special outfit for chinese new year and we took her and Aiken to one of the many nearby temples for a photo shoot.

2007-03-02T22:15:00.000+08:00

Dina went with Aiken on her favorite ride in the whole world - the Barney car. For $1 Sing the car will move around (not so exciting) and sing 'Wheels on the bus' (extremely exciting).

2007-03-02T22:13:00.000+08:00

Dina had a nice time hanging out with her cousin Aiken when Zhalgas and Gainee came to visit.

2007-03-02T22:09:00.000+08:00

Dina had some fun playing in the ball pen at the mall.

2007-03-02T22:04:00.000+08:00

Dina took a ride on the MRT in January 2007

2006-12-26T10:17:00.000+08:00

Zhanar and dina pose by a classic old door on club street.

2006-12-26T10:10:00.000+08:00

After Dina's morning nap, we went to Christmas Brunch at the Hyatt on Orchard with a couple other familes. Dina had a great time, and wasn't even scared by "Monseur Santa Le Terrible".

2006-12-26T10:04:00.000+08:00

Dina is just starting to get the idea of opening presents. We spent most of christmas morning opening presents with Mom-mom and Pop-pop over a Skype video conference...

2006-12-26T10:02:00.000+08:00

Christmas Morning. Dina's most visible present was the Moose from Ikea. We liked it because it reminds us of Vancouver. Dina likes it because it rocks... and it's scary. She's wearing her "flower" pajamas. She likes to point at the pictures and say "Gul" which means flower in Kazakh.

2006-12-26T09:56:00.000+08:00

Christmas eve family photo. The camera was on it's tripod on the stairs. The phot just before this one is a picture of the stairwell, taken as the camera did it's slinky impression down the steps. But it seems to have survived quite well.

2006-12-26T09:54:00.000+08:00

Dina liked touching the tree. I was surprised by how gentle she was. As far as we know, she didn't pull any ornaments off the tree... but zhanar did put a couple little stuffed animals in there for her to pick up.

2006-12-26T09:53:00.000+08:00

On Christmas Eve, Dina practiced her costanza pose by the tree.

2006-12-26T09:48:00.000+08:00

The 5-foot-way on our street is a great shelter from the sun and rain. Some of the shops down below were cluttering it up with chairs and tables until recently. The good old government must have cracked down or something, and I say hooray!

2006-12-26T09:46:00.000+08:00

Dina got her first taste of crab on Saturday... but she tried the Butter Crab instead of the Chili Crab. She was scared of the shells at first, until this one did a little song and dance for her.

2006-12-26T09:44:00.001+08:00

We had a pleasant breakfast one morning at the Epicurious Cafe just by the river near our apartment.

2006-12-26T09:44:00.000+08:00

She still loves reading

2006-12-26T09:43:00.000+08:00

Dina had a great time in the fountain at Vivo City... the water comes out at random intervals and a couple times Dina got curious and started looking straight into the hole when the water was off -- and got a big squirt right in the face when it turned on. But she loved it.

2006-12-26T09:41:00.000+08:00

Dina looks older when she sits in the itty bitty chairs at Corduroy Cafe.

2006-12-26T09:39:00.001+08:00

Here comes the foam...

2006-12-26T09:39:00.000+08:00

We went to see the "snow" at Tanglin mall one day. For the weeks leading up to Christmas, they blow foam snow. Dina was a little uncertain at first.

2006-12-26T09:38:00.000+08:00

Dina likes to read on the throne.

2006-12-26T09:37:00.000+08:00

There's plenty of open space for Dina to enjoy in the national museum. It's set up so that you pay for different exhibits and then the barcode on your ticket will let you past only the checkpoints that you pay for -- unless you lose your ticket like Bill did. Then you have to make a stink to get a new one... but at least open areas are all free.

2006-12-26T09:35:00.001+08:00

Spiral stairway in the Singapore National Museum

2006-12-26T09:35:00.000+08:00

There was a room full of interestng black Chinese chairs where you could look at photos... and take photos as well.

2006-12-26T09:34:00.000+08:00

We visited the National Museum. There are lots of nice places to take photos.

2006-12-26T09:30:00.000+08:00

Fishy Fish

2006-12-26T09:29:00.000+08:00

We had a nice time going around town with Mom-mom and Pop-pop. This photo is taken in the cafe at the Red Dot gallery in Chinatown.

2006-12-26T09:23:00.000+08:00

More pics from the photo shoot...

2006-12-26T09:19:00.000+08:00

We did a photo shoot at Raffles Hotel in order to get a christmas card photo. We ended up with a bunch of nice photos of the family.

2006-12-26T09:17:00.000+08:00

Dina enojyed having mom-mom and pop-pop come to visit at Thanksgiving.

2006-12-26T09:16:00.000+08:00

Dina's favorite book was Bedtime Bear for several weeks. Thanks Mom-mom!

2006-12-01T10:23:00.000+08:00

Dina had some fun on the beach at Sentosa.

2006-11-22T18:23:00.000+08:00

Dina had a very big and happy birthday. On her birthday we ate lots of special stuff and opened some presents. More photos are available in this web album. Then, on the weekend, we had a birthday party and there is a whole separate web album for that.

2006-11-22T18:20:00.001+08:00

Zhanar and Dina both like reading magazines... but Zhanar doesn't usually destroy hers in the process.

2006-11-22T18:20:00.000+08:00

We bought a bike for Zhanar and a bike seat for Dina, so now we can bike around singapore on the weekends. In this photo we have stopped for lunch in the old Parliament building, which is now a museum. For more photos from this album, check out the Web Album

2006-11-22T18:10:00.000+08:00

Dina poses for a postcard

2006-11-08T21:21:00.000+08:00

Dina got a pumpkin costume from her Mom-mom. She liked it.

2006-10-28T14:35:00.000+08:00

Pumpkin patch family shot.

2006-10-28T14:29:00.000+08:00

Today we went to the pumpkin patch with Erica and Natasha. Dina dressed in a little lambkin outfit that Erica got for her. Zhanar wore a big lambkin outfit to match. Ha ha just kidding.

2006-10-28T14:28:00.001+08:00

The lambkin costume is handy for picking up Dina. She likes it too - just like a kitten. If only it came with a shoulder strap.

2006-10-28T14:28:00.000+08:00

Zhanar and Dina in the cornfield.

2006-10-28T14:27:00.002+08:00

This is my nose.

2006-10-28T14:27:00.001+08:00

Hay, who's that?

2006-10-28T14:27:00.000+08:00

Wagon Wheel and lambkin baby

2006-10-28T14:26:00.000+08:00

Wee hoo! She's a little lambkin. One boy even tried to feed her hay. Honest! I'm sure Carson can Identify with that - his high school mascott was the "Little Lambkin". Go Little Lambkins! Get thost Tigers!

2006-10-28T14:24:00.001+08:00

A traditional "Father, daughter, roof covered with moss" shot.

2006-10-28T14:24:00.000+08:00

Dina sleeps while we wait for the Aquabus to Science World.

2006-10-28T14:23:00.000+08:00

Jane! Get me off this thing!!! Actually she liked this room, but somehow the photo caught her in a funny pose.

2006-10-28T14:22:00.000+08:00

"Bah! Bah! Bah!" Dina's word for ball, over and over when we played in the ball room at Granville Island. It was well worth the $3 admission. There also was a huge slide, a room full of punching bags, fishbowl rooms, and even a tube that looked (and smelled) like a hamster cage.

2006-10-28T14:20:00.000+08:00

We got two matching dolls to help keep Dina pinned during mealtimes. It's like tagteam wrestling. First one, then the other, then back again... and when things get really tough they both jump into the ring at once. She gave Zhanar a really good "Ooooo!" when Zhanar showed them to her in the store and we knew they'd be a hit.

2006-10-28T14:16:00.000+08:00

Dina waits for breakfast at Granville Island Market.

2006-10-24T12:52:00.000+08:00

It even got warm enough to lie in the grass one afternoon.

2006-10-24T12:48:00.000+08:00

Showing dina how to blow dandelion feathers away

2006-10-24T12:45:00.000+08:00

This looks like a commercial for hoods, glasses and babies..

2006-10-24T12:43:00.000+08:00

Whoa are those glasses or did Zhanar grow a couple more heads?

2006-10-24T12:42:00.000+08:00

Check out the dude makin crepes!

2006-10-24T12:38:00.000+08:00

Hey! This isn't what I ordered!

2006-10-24T12:36:00.000+08:00

Dina had a really nice time on the slide with a little girl at the park.

2006-10-23T12:38:00.001+08:00

Dina and Zhanar hanging out with the leaves

2006-10-23T12:38:00.000+08:00

Dina checks out a tree

2006-10-23T12:37:00.000+08:00

Here are some more pics in the leaves

2006-10-23T12:36:00.000+08:00

Swingers

2006-10-23T12:30:00.000+08:00

Dina stays warm at the park on our first day in Canada after living in Singapore. Ok, maybe we over did it for the 15 degree weather (CELSIUS). But if felt cold to us...

2006-10-23T12:28:00.001+08:00

This is a classic dina look. She is saying DOOO!

2006-10-23T12:28:00.000+08:00

Gooo! Granville island is a great place to have a coffee

2006-10-23T12:19:00.000+08:00

Upsey Daisey!

2006-10-23T12:18:00.000+08:00

Zhanar and Dina at Stanley Park

2006-10-23T12:17:00.000+08:00

We found Sombreros at The Bean on 10th street near John and Erica's house.

2006-10-23T12:16:00.000+08:00

Dina takes a look at some autumn leaves

2006-10-23T12:15:00.000+08:00

Zhanar and Dina take a walk in Vancouver

2006-10-23T12:14:00.000+08:00

Dina and Mommy

2006-10-23T12:13:00.000+08:00

Dina and Daddy

2006-10-05T00:12:00.000+08:00

Dina chills in her stroller at the Botanical Gardens.

2006-10-05T00:07:00.000+08:00

Dina likes rocks.

2006-10-05T00:02:00.001+08:00

Dina's first walkaround toy. Look closely and you can see what a bargain Zhanar got. And check out how safety conscious we are! Actually we had just bought the helmet and wanted to try it on. But I think we should seriously consider making her wear the helmet on her potty. She's fallen off of that more than anything else. No injuries so far, aside from the emotional scar of having a poopie potty flip upside down on your back, Especially when mommy can't quite stifle her giggle.

2006-10-05T00:02:00.000+08:00

Dina's first bike ride. This past weekend we bought Zhanar a bicycle and put a baby seat on the back. Dina had a good time... for the first hour or so at least.

2006-09-23T23:27:00.001+08:00

Dina zonks out after a morning walk in the Singapore Botanical Gardens

2006-09-23T23:27:00.000+08:00

Walking in the Botanical Gardens

2006-09-23T23:26:00.002+08:00

There are some trees there with seriously big roots.

2006-09-23T23:26:00.001+08:00

The big granite ball fountain in The Botanical Gardens. She got a kick out of it when we went there for breakfast this morning.

2006-09-23T23:26:00.000+08:00

Sitting on the kitchen counter in her little cherry dress from Mom.

2006-09-23T23:25:00.000+08:00

Sometimes Dina has had enough of lunch. Today however when she was hungry she tried climbing INTO the chair. I turned around and she was hanging by her hands from the side of the tray, trying to complete a chin-up. She likes to climb. Two days ago she climbed up the outside of the stairs, since there's a gate across the middle.

2006-09-23T23:21:00.001+08:00

Bubble time at Gymboree

2006-09-23T23:21:00.000+08:00

Here's Dina at Gymboree, wearing a too-cute dress that Mom gave us. The first time she wore this dress she puked on it in the taxi on the way out of the house. Darn cab drivers are really bad sometimes.

2006-09-23T23:19:00.001+08:00

Dina on the bridge, practicing her ballet positions

2006-09-23T23:19:00.000+08:00

Sometimes after work I meed Zhanar and Dina at the river near our house. There's a place where all the Japanese mommies and kids hang out, just near this colorful bridge.

2006-09-16T00:55:00.001+08:00

Dozing off after lunch. She's just like her grandpa on daddy's side that way.

2006-09-16T00:55:00.000+08:00

Here's Dina on a traditional felt blanket inside a real yurt.

2006-09-16T00:54:00.000+08:00

It's harvest time!

2006-09-16T00:53:00.000+08:00

She found a sour apple on the ground - fresh from the tree - and wouldn't let Zhanar take it away. She sucked on it for a while... alternating apple, lego, apple, lego.

2006-09-16T00:52:00.001+08:00

Now she stands up and cruises around on the furniture

2006-09-16T00:52:00.000+08:00

She loves Sabino the cat. Sabino is very mild mannered and even has allowed Dina's older cousin Anjou to "ride" him. Here Dina is pulling on Sabino's fir and he doesn't even run away. You can see it's a lot of fun.

2006-09-16T00:51:00.000+08:00

Dina started taking swim lessons in Almaty. Here she is getting a swim lesson from the "Champion Swimmer" who now teaches baby swim classes. It's hard to get an appointment because he's very good. Dina can now hold her breath as we plunge her underwater.

2006-09-16T00:49:00.001+08:00

Dina and Kuka

2006-09-16T00:49:00.000+08:00

She loves to sit on the potty. This one doesn't have a backrest but it's still a lot of fun.

2006-09-16T00:48:00.002+08:00

dina likes to kiss herself in the mirror.

2006-09-16T00:48:00.001+08:00

This little chair attachment has been used by at least 5 kids now.