CAMP-sitting

A few nights ago we were asked to go hang out at Camp Qwanoes as no one would be there... so we did it! It was so fun having the place to ourselves, and brought back so many fun memories. The girls jumped on the trampolines, after de-caterpillaring them. Then we ran all over the skate park, Meeko chased balls, the girls slid down. We reminisced at the park, as Danika remembered our endless hours spent there, but Adessa was to small, so I just told her stories of how she would sit in the sand box and try to eat it the whole time! 

We then ended up on the dock for an evening of fishing. Steve caught a few of these ugly little guys...

Sole... they are flat with 2 eyes on the top

Steve with his fish!

My girlies

Such a beautiful place we live in... we are so blessed. And I am so blessed by such a wonderful husband who loves spending time with his girls and making memories!

The TENT CATERPILLARS... Camp Qwanoes is literally crawling with them... and we thought they were bad in our own backyard! 

All the 'tents' in the trees... entire trees are COVERED!

 It was a great night as a family... so many fun memories made! 

Field Trip

Last Wednesday I went on my first field trip with Danika's class... first one only because Adessa could come! She was so excited!!! Big sister on the other hand... not so much! But it was a very fun afternoon!

Running through the water park in Crofton

Sister love!

MY FAVORITE!!!!

Adessa was Mrs. Mitchell's little sidekick all day, she was the first one to get a freezie and the bubbles. Adessa was so well behaved... I was very proud of her!

Celebrating all the "un-birthdays" (birthdays celebrated throughout the summer...  there  are 8 of them!) 

Fun games with the parachute!

 I can't believe my baby girl is graduating from KINDERGARTEN. She has done so well this year and has made so many great little friends... we are so proud of her! 

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

Unfortunately we live much too far away from our own fathers to do any celebrating with them... wish we could have! But the girls and I tried to make the day special for Steve. He wanted to try a new trail he had found so we tried it thinking it would lead us to our own private beach, but after a half hour of hiking with 2 little girls straight down we came to a GIANT cliff so decided to turn around and just go park at the beach! Adessa started crying half way through as we always have her stroller, but didn't today. "I am not really good at hiking!" (in a wailing voice) I asked her what she was good at and she replied, "Well.... I'm really, really good at coloring, but NOOOOT hiking!" It was pretty cute! I told her we just needed lots of practice like we do with coloring. And so when we parked in Maple Bay and had to hike down the giant stairs and find a wonderful sunny spot her attitude changed and she loved it! 

My view for the afternoon

Steve fishing by himself... his new hobby

The girls made this little paper boat in Sunday school and so we tried it out

But it sort of floated away and then  got soaked and ripped... o well!

The boat floating towards Fisherman Steve out on the point

Didn't catch anything, but still nice to be out

Happy Fathers Day to my best friend, and the best daddy in the world!!!! xoxoxo

Reminiscing

I know I say this every year, but seriously, how is my baby girl six years old already. And I know I reminiscence every year about how little she was and how early she came, but that is something I will never forget, nor do I ever want to. Because 6 six years ago, an hour and a half after I turned 19, my life was changed forever, and for the better- even though at times I struggled so much  with where I was at. I had so many dreams- I was in my first year of college on my way to becoming a teacher, when one mistake rocked my world. 

First my busy life of sports, friends and academics stopped as I found myself newly married (only a month!) with a 4 pound preemie and renting a dingy little basement suite on the opposite end of Calgary from everything familiar to me. I tried taking a few online courses and did well, but felt like I had wasted that first year of my Danika's life as she was the most content child on the planet and happily sat beside me and smiled or slept. I decided my life could be put on hold and that I wanted to focus on this beautiful baby that I had been given, even though through the world's perspective I should have continued on my education. But I wouldn't change it. My Steve has worked so hard to make ends meet and I am so proud of him. It has made for a lonely wife at times as long days are put in, but we decided to sacrifice the extra comforts so that I could be home with my baby. So many changes have happened since then, and looking back it is hard to believe how far we have come. Steve and I have stuck together and have prayed about each and every decision and over our finances, and we are truly amazed and so blessed at how God has worked in our lives and through our seeking Him. Looking back to our first years, it is crazy how the numbers just don't make sense but how God has always taken care of us. And then how it all fell in line when we took the HUGE leap of faith to move out to Vancouver island to work at camp- left everything familiar, all our family and friends to work in the ministry when I was pregnant with Adessa. And then that didn't work out after 2 years, and how we prayed, and prayed over what to do next and how God just led us into this next phase we are still in. Steve starting his own business and God is taking such good care of us. It is amazing how good it feels just knowing that God cares deeply. I love Matthew 6:31-32 out of the message

"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."

I love that I can find so many promises in the bible of how God meets our needs and then some. And my biggest wish and prayer for both my girls is that they learn how to put their trust in Jesus. That through watching their parents and us being transparent with them and living out our faith daily that they will understand what a relationship with Jesus is all about. I pray that both my girls will walk in Jesus footprints. 

My Danika makes me so proud already. She is such a kind girl and makes sure to play with the kids left out at school. There is a new girl from Japan in her class who only knows a few words and Danika has reached out to her and told Steve and I yesterday that every time she turns around Naona is right there just smiling at her. And today Danika got a big thank you card for inviting her to Danika's party and for being so nice to her at school. Danika has such a soft spot, she is so sensitive and loving. I am so proud of my girl and am so blessed to be her mommy!

Thank you Danika for being such a sweetheart, and even though we are working with you, on getting along with your little sister, I am so proud of you. Your dad and I are so proud of how much you LOVE going to school, how you are teaching us new things about butterflies. How you are recognizing letters and starting to read. The big things we have worked on this past month is your tattle-taleing and your interrupting and you are doing so much better in both areas! We love you sweetie and can't wait to see all that you learn and accomplish in this next year of your life! xoxo

“Father we thank You for Danika, You have blessed us with so much and we praise You for entrusting us with her. She is fearfully and wonderfully made. You chose her for us and we thank You for the gift she is to us. We bless her and ask that You fill her with “Whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, having virtue, or anything praiseworthy, let her think on these things.”

DANIKA IS 6!!!

My baby girl turned six on June 8th! On the morning of her birthday we surprised her with a brand new bike! She was pretty excited! 

Adessa was so excited - " I get Danika's old bike!!!" 

Opening packages from the mail! 

We threw a butterfly birthday party, since Danika's class raised caterpillars and watched them cocoon and turn into butterflies. She learned so much about them and just loves them! We invited all the girls in her class from school, there were 10 little ladies at the party. We had so much fun! We did a few crafts and played a few games.

We read a butterfly story...

We cocooned the girls in toilet paper...

They had their faces painted, by my wonderful babysitter...

And I took a picture with each of her little buddies for the thank you cards! 

Danika's babysitter, Meagan and her sister helped me out... they were so wonderful!!! 

Blowing out her 6 candles on her butterfly cake! It was so much fun to make! 

BIRTHDAY!!!

My big day was pretty awesome this year... I am so blessed by such a wonderful group of ladies, that continues to grow! In the morning a good friend had me over for coffee and delicious cupcakes and surprised me with a few other moms. Adessa gave me the best present by taking a nap (!) and so I could have a good hour to myself. And then in the evening a group of ladies took me for dinner. I love the friendships I have made on this island and feel very fulfilled. God is so good! Oh and my wonderful husband gave me a new pair of TOMS... which I love and Danika was found hiding behind the Cheerios box in the morning telling me not to look as she colored me a beautiful picture! 

My lovely lady friends...

Rachel and Ashley

Cristina, Caroline and Sharon

Sharon, Kim and Lana (I love Sharon's expressions!) 

Not too sure what went down... lots of 'popping and picking' conversation going on

I am officially halfway to 50... but I don't have to act that way, do?!

Thanks Sharon for trying to plan so many wonderful adventures for my party, and sorry for settling just for dinner. BUT we will go on lots of adventures this summer... and I cannot wait!!! Thanks for being such a great friend!

Butterfly Monday

Danika has been learning about butterflies at school. She taught us about a 'chrysalis'... she can barely say butterfly but she can say that word! The class raised caterpillars and then watched them turn into butterflies. On the day they released them, there was one that didn't fly away and stayed on a flower, so after school Danika took me to find it and we brought it home. I had the chance to take some fun pictures and the girls loved watching the butterfly! 

These 'Tent' caterpillars are EVERYWHERE... they are taking over the island!
Adessa is LOVING it however, and she collects these little guys every day and nicely rolls them between her fingers to show everyone and  then drops them... that's one way the island can get rid of a few! 

The butterfly stayed in our front garden all night, and the girls checked on it  quite a few times, but the next morning we watched it fly away. It just needed a little extra time.