Adessa's Baby

Yesterday I went grocery shopping, and Adessa brought along this dolly that she has been dragging around with her for the past few days in which she apparently has named. Three separate ladies asked Adessa what her baby's name was and in each case Adessa told them that her name was "HEAD," and then she squealed with delight. What a kid!!

This afternoon I had an eye appointment so Meagan, our babysitter came over to watch the girls. When I got home there was a note on the counter that said she took them to the Crofton pool. When I got up there the girls were having such a blast, and were smiling ear to ear. They had a special afternoon with their babysitter, which included freezies and candy!

Our Weekend

This past weekend was pretty low key. We had friends over for a weiner roast on our new deck/patio set, took the girls swimming, went to church and did some gardening. We bought and set up a patio set last weekend, and I LOVE it! The girls and I have been out there every day doing crafts or coloring and when we have playdates the mom's and I can sit and visit while the kids play in the sand box or go on the swing. Did I say how much I LOVE it?

The girls swimming at Fuller lake, it was so wonderful. Steve and I sat and watched as they splashed around and played in the sand. Danika was such a big helper, and she was swimming around all by herself (with a life jacket of course!)

Our Weiner roast guests, Lizzy and baby Millie

Our little fire area

Just a little snap shot of the garden, we have had lots of lettuce, peas, strawberries and radishes. And the cucumber, tomato and pepper plants look to be doing really well!

Dance Camp

This past week we put Danika into a dance camp in Maple Bay, which is nice and close. I had asked her if she wanted to do any sports this summer, like soccer in which she replied that she only wanted to dance. So I was super happy to find this camp which was Monday to Friday 9am-12pm. She was in it with a little girl from preschool, and they had so much fun together. Today was the last day and Adessa happily joined in, she did the stretches and warm up dances with the girls in one of the little skirts. It was too sweet!

This morning Danika and I were talking about dance camp and she told me she didn't want to go to school in the fall, she only wanted to go into dance school, and she was dead serious and got mad at me when I laughed! I was so proud of Danika, both the teachers fell in love with her and told me she was a natural at dancing. They said she was such a sweetie and was so kind to everyone!

The girls warming up

Ava, Sydney, Adessa and Danika. So cute, they all had their hair done the same way

Yesterday after dance class Sydney came for a play date and we made pretzels and had a tea party, Adessa was pretty excited!

The girls with their creations

Adessa and I packed a picnic and picked up Danika and Sydney to play at the park!

Some super cute videos of the girls.

Camp Imadene

Yesterday the girls and I headed out to camp Imadene for the afternoon to visit my lovely friend, Sharon! We arrived just in time to head down to the beach and see what life was all about at camp imadene. You wouldn't have known a camp was going on, kids were milling about on their free time, and my kids were happy playing at the beach, getting wet and muddy! This summer has been so nice already (not talking about the weather!) in regards to Adessa. She has really started to be independent, in that she can play by herself or with her sister for extended periods of time. And she did not put anything in her mouth... hallelujah! The day consisted of me sitting around visiting with Sharon, and meeting some new people. We had a wonderful camp-cooked dinner (what I miss most about camp!) and then my girls ran off to the park while I sat and enjoyed a nice tea and chocolate cake! At one point I went over to go see how the girls were doing and Adessa looked at me, pointed and yelled, "GO!" with no arguments from me! What a girl!

Nearing the end of our evening, someone asked us if our kids were allowed to be spraying shaving cream all over the side of a building... we could see the kids, but couldn't see what they were up to. So we ran over and this is what we came upon, all other kids ran away and there was my little girl...

Guilty as can be! (However I don't think she even knew how to operate the can!)

Steel Determination!

She was holding onto that bottle with all her might and gave it up quite reluctantly. I had quite the laugh.

Myself with the shaving cream clean-up crew, minus Sharon!

Friday morning Tom and Patrice left and then late Friday night, the Carruther family arrived. They only stayed for one night and left at 9 in the morning, but we had a really nice catch up. We ate ice cream and stayed up until midnight catching up. As we watched this wonderful family drive away, Steve and I both looked at one another and thought how it wasn't right that they were leaving. We miss that family a lot and I know most of Crofton does as well!!!

Kate and Tammy... such a beautiful woman, inside and out!

The boys, Steve, Pastor Scott and Hudson watching the much anticipated fights!

Last Night

Our last night with Tom and Patrice we got a babysitter and went out for a nice dinner at the Genoa Bay Cafe. It sure did not look like much from the outside, but the food was AMAZING. The drive out was beautiful as well, and the little cafe was on the harbor where you could boat right up to the restaurant. After dinner we walked on the docks and checked out some million dollar yachts. It was a very fun evening, and Steve and I both feel so blessed to have such wonderful, loving, caring, generous parents. I am so happy to have them in my life and love how they are always so supportive and encouraging. Steve really appreciated being able to work with his dad this past week, as Tom went to work with Steve for a few days. We had such a wonderful time together and made so many new memories. We love you guys A LOT!!!

The Genoa Bay Cafe from the dock

Tom and Patty

My hubby... I love having him around this summer!

The most wonderful in-laws a daughter in-law could ask for!!!

School Friend

Thursday morning Auntie Leah and Auntie Sarah left, it was so nice to have those girls for a visit. In the afternoon my good friend Amanda stopped by for a quick visit. I have know Amanda since Junior high school and we have stayed in touch since. Her little girls are the same age as mine and when we lived in Calgary we had lots of play dates. Her husbands family lives up in Comox, so they usually visit the island once a year. And last

year when they came out, I was back in Sicamous visiting my parents. And this year they were out the same time as the Fitzpatricks, but we still were able to squeeze in a visit! It was so wonderful to see her. She is always so sweet and bubbly with a big smile on her face. And the girls hit it off right away, dressing in their princess dresses and making friendship bracelets. I love this girl and miss her and her girls a lot! But I have been trying to get them to move out here!

Taiya all grown up!

Heidi, she has grown so much!!

Danika took this candid photo of us

I found this photo of Danika and Taiya from our old condo in Calgary, I think the girls were about Adessa and Heidi's age!

That evening we went for a nice walk on the Crofton sea walk, it was a beautiful evening!

Snow White

On Wednesday we went to see the Snow White play which was at the Chemainus Theater. I bought tickets for Patrice, Danika and then a couple for Lize's birthday present. Adessa couldn't come because she was too young, so Auntie Leah and Sarah watched her.

We had so much fun, and the girls LOVED the show. I think the highlight was meeting Snow White at the end of the play, but the girls were so star struck all they could do was smile and giggle. After that we walked over to the Hansel and Gretel candy store and bought some amazing candies called 'Bon Bons,' they were so good!!! It was such a fun way to spend an afternoon!

Grandma 'Trice' and Danika

Best Buddies, Lize and Danika

The girlies with the whole Snow White crew... they were all AMAZING performers!

SNOW WHITE, she played the part sooo perfectly. At the end of the show there was a Q&A and one little boy asked her if she collected shells at the beach, in which we replied, "Oh I love to pick up and admire the sea shells, but I leave them at the beach because that is their home!" Danika thought that was so neat!

Girls Day

My wonderful father in law watched the girls for me on the day after we got back home from the chalet, so Patrice, Leah, Sarah and I went into Victoria for the afternoon. It was pretty cold downtown so we went for appetizer's then walked around, checking out the Fairmont Empress, the ships in the harbor, and the stores. Then we went to a nice Irish Pub for dinner. We had lots of fun together, and I am so blessed to have such wonderful in-laws that I get a long with so well and love so much!!!

The ships Leah sailed on for 5 days when she was in school

My mother in law and I enjoying a cider

My pretty sister in laws!

In the Empress courtyard, it was like the secret garden

Our Winter (supposed to be summer!) Vacation

Last Friday the whole Fitzpatrick family met up at Mt.Washington where we rented our friends chalet for the weekend. The Chalet is huge! It fit us all comfortably and we had such a great time. The weather wasn't what we were hoping a summer vacation would be, but we still made the most of it! We stayed inside, played lots of games, used the hot tub and ate lots of food! Sunday we ventured down the mountain to Miracle beach just outside of Comox. We had some nice weather and the girls played at the beach.

The hot tub, where the girls spent most of their time

Auntie Amy!

Miracle beach... where I was enjoying Danika's and Emilie's beauty salon, where my hands and feet were exfoliated with mud

Auntie Leah and Emilie

My little blondie

At the hill Auntie Amy and Uncle Chris bought Emilie and Danika tickets to go on the bungee trampoline, it took Danika awhile to warm up, but once she did, she loved it!

Dessa with Grandma and Grandpa

There was a giant wall of snow and we spent a couple of hours each trying to climb it, we had so many laughs!

Patrice conquered the wall with much help from Tom and Steve

Daddy and his girls

We tried to go on a hike we heard so much about, but once we got there, people were in their snowsuits, snowshoeing and cross country skiing, so we weren't able to go on our hike and got a picture instead. And had a few snowball fights!

The loft where the girls played games and built a fort

snow angels in the middle of summer!?!?

Lots of fun game times!

Pretty insane, apparently Mt.Washington had record breaking amounts of snow this past year and this house collapsed!