Thursday morning mom and I went on quite the adventure. I have been trying to wake up early before the kids and either workout or take the dog for a walk. So mom came with me for a walk to the Crofton lake, and decided to try a 'new' path on the way home. The hike up and back usually takes 1 hour but with mom's new route we were gone for 2.5 hours! She is quite the adventurous lady.... and we prayed most of the way up and down. It was neat, she calls it her alphabet prayer where you pray for somebody through the whole alphabet.

Friday we headed out to Lake Cowichan, as they have never been. It was a beautiful day and we spent the entire time on the beach.

Saturday was the girls last Kidzone party. So mom and dad came and the church set up giant bouncy castles, free lunch and the final puppet show. The girls had lots of fun, but it was too hot so we left a bit early!

Sunday we headed out to Parksville, mom and I left early for the big old Costco run and met everyone up there for a week of fun....

The girls front row at the puppet show, acting it out

Danika helping Adessa down the GIANT bouncy castle slide

When we arrived at the resort we walked around... it was gorgeous!

Blackberries all along the path, we didn't even have to pack a snack!

All the cousins re-united!

Busy, Wonderful Week

After the birthday party we went to a fundraiser for Maddison Rose, who is our neighbors 3 year old grand-daughter who has cancer. Thankfully they just did a huge surgery on her and say she is cancer free... so we will continue to pray that she stays that way! The girls had fun at the fundraiser as there was a giant pirate ship bouncy castle and I got to bid on a silent auction. I ended up getting some great deals, such as a beautiful bracelet and a few gift certificates to restaurants that were way below their value.

That evening mom and dad arrived and it was sooo good to see them! We woke up Sunday morning and went to church. Then mom and dad took the kids home so Steve and I could stay for the church meeting and then had a lovely lunch date. Monday was a rainy day, but we had a nice time hanging out and catching up and then that evening we got a babysitter and Steve took us all out to the Genoa bay cafe. Another wonderful evening and GREAT food... seriously probably one of my favorite restaurants ever! We had a great night eating lots and taking lots of pictures on the docks.

Tuesday mom and I left Steve and dad to watch the girls and had a shopping day in Nanaimo. We ended up spending our time in Winners and found LOTS of great stuff!! And had so much fun! I love shopping with my mommy and it was so great to have a day with her with no kids! We then went out to see a movie and laughed our butts off!!!

Today was a beautiful day and once again my parents blessed my socks off! This morning we took the girls and dog for a long walk to the ocean and then once we got home she helped go through the girls clothes and downsize and then we spent the entire afternoon working outside on the house, doing the chores I NEVER have time to get to!

I am LOVING having my parents here and wish they never had to leave... Crofton, I mean if they had their own house in Crofton, it would be perfect! ; )

The Cat in the Hat

On the weekend Danika was invited to a little boys birthday party from preschool. The party was amazing! It was held at the water park in Duncan and was a beautiful, very hot day. The invitations came a month early, it was a magnetic puzzle for the kids to put together. They were told to wear black and white and to bring their bathing suits. It felt like a professional party! The grandma made hats and bow ties that they got to take home. The food was UNREAL, everything was labeled and the goodie bags were amazing with a take home Dr. Seuss book. I had just as much fun as the kids did!

'Truffula Tree" cake pops

Whats a Dr. Seuss party without green eggs???

The cupcakes... Dr. Seuss hats (marshmallows and food dye and thing 1 and 2!) I had to continually take Adessa away as she kept trying to steal the 'hats' off of all the cupcakes!

The spread, there was also pink lemonade and cotton candy, with cool Dr. Seuss names

Danika and Lize

Adessa running off to the water park!

Everyone was getting their faces painted like a cat (Dr. Seuss) but these two only wanted butterflys!

Sleepover

Wednesday night the Nagtegaals came over for a BBQ. For dessert we made s'mores, Adessa ate her first one and got marshmallow everywhere... but enjoyed every moment, and asked for 'more!'

Four girls in a bed! Only Lize slept over, but the little ones had fun pretending!

Adventure Monday

Monday Steve had off so we took the girls for an all day adventure! We started out by packing a picnic and hiking out to a beach off of Maple Bay mountain. We were out for a total of 3 hours and the girls did amazing!

Sisters exploring together

Adessa was poking all sea life she could find!

Daddy and the girls

Endless exploring and beauty!

Love this

Stopped for a picnic in the tall grass... wishing I had an awesome camera

This little girl insisted on hiking for awhile (normally in a back pack) and we were both so suprised at how well she did... even with food in her hands!

Tried to snap a family pic!

After nap time we packed up the kids and headed into Nanaimo for a Costco run and then went to white spot and ate on the patio. We then drove down to the Nanaimo Harbour, which we have never been to yet! And the girls had a blast playing at the giant park. It was so beautiful down there, and our next adventure needs to be Newcastle Island... looks so fun!

Steve and I were both craving a milkshake, and asked a bunch of locals where a good spot was. We were lead to a little shop and paid a fortune for dinky, watery milkshakes and were SO disappointed. We talked the whole way home about how we wished we could just have a Peters' Drive-in Milkshake, and how it would be worth it to drive all the way to Calgary just to get one!

I LOVE my family so much and am so thankful for days like this when we can be together, no rush and just enjoying one another and Gods beautiful creation!

A Few Days in Pictures

This past Monday Steve's sister Leah and her boyfriend Zach came out to the island to hang out for a couple of days. We had a great time together and got to know Zach really well, and we all love him! We took them up to Parksville for a day and then checked out the coombs market.... the boys found these statues and decided to try out a few new 'fads.'

"Owling" with the owls

Danika "Planking"

The boys final "planking"... we have quite a few photos of them planking everything around

Relaxing on the beach, it was a perfect day! :)

The girls and I stuck on an island as the tide came in around us

Steve and his dog, meeko swam all day and loved it

The girls having a picnic

The tide came in quickly and knocked down their castle

One evening we went for a walk to our favorite beach in crofton.. the only one with real white sand!

A different day steve had off and we took the girls and the dog up to Parksville... we LOVE it there!

Love this photo... looks like their sharing secrets already!

I think this one ended in Adessa breaking Danikas castle... not too pretty!

We had lots of races on the beach to warm up because it was cloudy and windy

The other morning Adessa comes running to me looking like this... what can you do but snap a picture?! She was pretty sad once I showed her, her reflection in the mirror!

The Artist and her little sisters nose

Having a hair dying party!

Having so much fun in the sprinkler!

Adessa at the beach sporting her new sunglasses

A Teddy Bear Picnic

For Adessas 2nd birthday party we had a teddy bear picnic. She had her favorite little friends and they had lots of fun jumping in the bouncy castle, swimming in the pool, eating lots of picnic food, opening presents and eating cake! It was a perfect day for one wonderful little girl!

Lots of fun in the bouncy castle!

Pool Time!

Adessa, my big girl!

Danika decorated the goodie bags

Teddy bear picnic!

Iyanna giving her teddy bear a ride on the swing

The men hanging out under the shade of the umbrella, it was a hot day!

BFF

Happy Bear-thday Adessa!!!

Adessa fully enjoying her cupcake

So yummy!