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!

My Baby Turns 2

Dear Adessa,
God knew exactly what He was doing when He gave you to us. You are the perfect fit to our family and we are so thankful for you everyday. We cannot believe that you are already 2! Adessa you are such a beautiful little girl, both inside and out. You have the prettiest blue eyes, just like your daddy. And your hair is so pretty, this summer it has been lightening up a lot... as you do not like to wear your hat. However you do quite enjoy your new sunglasses we bought you, and you look so cute in them! You love to play with your babies and barbies a lot these days, and you and Danika are becoming good friends... most days! Daddy and I love your energy and how you can always get us to laugh, even if it is just the way you look at us. We love to play kissey monsters and extra love it when you are the monster.

Adessa we love you so much and thank God for you every day. Thank you for making our lives so happy! Love you for always baby girl!

Adessa's new birthday dress I made... my first one!

Her birthday present, a dolly she can zip, tie and button

The night of her birthday, her babysitter Meagan came over and picked up the girls to bring them over to the Crofton market where Adessa got to pick out a free candy bag because it was her birthday. She was very excited!

The girls with their favorite babysitter!