Hike to the lake

Grandma and Grandpa come to visit

Last weekend, My mother and father in law came for a quick visit... it was perfect! We had such a nice time together. Steve has continued to be super busy at work, so was working the first couple of days, but was able to boat him and his dad over to his job site on Thetis island and Patrice and I were able to have some nice visiting time and play time with the girls. On Saturday Steve and Tom took the girls out on the boat fishing and prawning while Patrice, Amara and I went shopping. It was so nice... I really miss family so much!!! 

Sunday we slept in a bit, watched a sermon together from our church back in Calgary and then went to our favorite restaurant Genoa Bay for delicious brunch. It was the only time we snapped photos. 

I am so very grateful for such loving, caring in-laws, who are so sweet and so generous and helpful! 

Danika has been curious and asking me about 'love languages' and the one night she stated that Grandma's love language was spending special time together. Such a blessing! 

Beautiful lady... inside and out! So blessed to have her in my life!

Such a loving, caring man... he was in my kitchen 90% of the time either cooking or cleaning and making us such delicious, healthy meals! So giving of his time!

Everybody smile!

Such special memories!

The mainland

The day after Halloween we headed over to maple ridge on the mainland to spend he weekend with the Carruther family- our old pastor family from warmland. We have kept in good touch with them when they pastored a church near salmon arm. And now they've moved to maple ridge. They've been wanting Steve to come over and share his testimony for awhile so we finally had the opportunity to get away.

It took us 5 hours to get over and we got there in time for their youngest daughters surprise birthday. Tammy went all out for the party. Minnie Mouse everything and she planned the amazing race for the kids to run around town. The girls had a blast.

The next morning Steve and I were woken up by 2 little girls- Danika and Jolie at 5:50am and they hadn't gone to sleep yet!!! Saturday was miserable for Danika she couldn't even function so we put her to bed and she slept the day away. 

We had a nice day, Tammy and I did a bit of shopping and a hike up the mountain behind there house. Sunday morning we headed to their church where Steve shared his testimony. He was very comfortable up in front of the church and spoke and shared how God has healed him and the work he has done and put out the challenge to live sold out lives to God and the impossible can be possible only through Him! I was very proud of him. 

After church we headed to the Vancouver aquarium where Steve and I have always wanted to go. It was pretty neat. The highlight was the beluga whale show and the 4D show. The girls loved it! They watched the show 3 times in a row!

Excited girls on the way to the aqaurium

Wonderful Tammy giving me a break... and I still follow her around with a camera!

The ride home was awful! We got to the ferry just as it pulled away. So we waited in horseshoe bay and then the kids were miserable on the ferry! It was a looooong ride home! 😩

We were all thankful to be home in our own beds and it took us 3 days to recoop after the weekend. We have no choice but to be home bodies with 3 little munchkins. 

Amara is going through a rough patch the last few weeks. Her easy going nature has disappeared and napping has been non existent!

A few photos from my camera...

Excited to get off the island for the weekend!

Jolie's amazing cake her mom made... even made the fondant!

Girls with attitude!

Pretty amazing creatures... we sat in the splash zone... not too smart!

Good buddies!