Annual Mount Washington Trip

We just arrived home from a weekend away with some very special friends. This was our second annual trip to a chalet on mount washington. Last year we were buried in snow and this year there was hardly any- the mountain wasn't even opened. But we still made the most of it and had a blast. We took off Friday afternoon and packed the truck to the brim... For 2 nights! Life is crazy with 3 kiddos! We got there, unpacked everything when I realized that I forgot Amara's bag... The one I needed the most! But we managed... And it's amazing to see what you can get away with actually using! Thankfully I had her diaper bag with one sleeper and 7 diapers which I rationed through the weekend! 

There were 24 of us in the chalet. 6 couples and 12 children. In a 4 bedroom 4 bath chalet. But we managed and it actually didn't feel squishy at all! The kids all got along great and we adults had a wonderful time. There was lots of time spent in the hot tub and we went outside to make our own toboganning hills. But it was very warm and wet. A highlight of last year was the tubing at the mountain but unfortunately that was closed. And when we tired to go up and tobogan we got kicked off because of insurance reasons. So we drove around until we found our own little hill and the kids had a blast! Amara touched snow for the first time and was totally content sitting atop a toboggan watching the kids. 

Saturday night we did our ugly Christmas sweater party and gift exchange and had some good laughs!I love this group of people we get to share life with. 

The ladies who remembered their sweaters... I couldn't find a Christmas sweater, just an ugly one!

The winners of the night... however Danika mentioned the next morning that they were not ugly, but indeed beautiful! I agreed! ;) 

The men were having a little bit too much fun!

Games!

Trying to find a place to toboggan

Adessa is growing up soo quickly. This trip she was amazing! She played the entire time and loved being outside. Last year she only lasted a few minutes before wanting to go inside. It is amazing how big of difference a year makes!

12 children in one chalet! 

She spent a lot of time just touching the snow

Good times!!!

Underwater cameras, always a good time! ....

Family picture time!

I love my big girl so much... she is growing up so quickly! 

Mom comes for a visit!

My mommy flew out to visit solo a couple weekends ago and spent a week with us. It was so wonderful to have her. I sure had missed her! 

We kept totally busy the entire time. When she arrived we stopped in Goldstream and spent a couple of hours checking out the salmon run. There were thousands of giant fish all swimming upstream, and dead ones everyone... it sure stunk! We walked down to the nature center and the girls did "fish prints" where they had a giant dead fish, the girls painted it and stuck a piece of paper on it... they sure enjoyed that! YUCK!

The next day we took mom out on the boat to check out the sea lions in Cowichan Bay. These beasts come up from California every winter to gorge on fish for a couple of months and then head back down. It was quite the experience! We were blessed with a gorgeous, sunny day and I am always amazed at God's beauty when I am on the ocean. There is so much to see and so much to enjoy!

Posing just for me!

So fun having Grandma with us!

Amara's first time seeing the sea lions... I don't think she even noticed!

My beautiful momma, right in her element!

They have some big chompers on them!

Captain Steve and his right hand girl 

Such amazing creatures

We got a little too close for comfort... our boat wasn't turning quite as quickly as I wanted it to...

We almost had a new passenger!!!

Grandma making the annual gingerbread house with the girls and giving them bunny ears... classic!

Took mom out to a ladies dinner at Calvary Baptist Church... I feel so very blessed to have a mother as loving, caring, helpful and generous as this one!!! 

The girls have been wanting to go skating for ages, so after planning it all week we finally decided to go... but got to the rink for the only night of the week they have public skating and there was a hockey game... so on to bowling!!! We had a blast, mom came up with a new nick name for Steve... Stryker! haha... and it wasn't because he got even one strike! ;) 

Grandma helped setup the Christmas tree and do the decorations

Meeko and Grandma have a special bond 

My 10 month old baby on her new walker toy from Grandma! Where has the time gone!!!

Mom and I went on a few hikes... this is her element!!!

Love you MOM!!!! Miss you already and I think nature is calling you back and maybe some others as well!!! 

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!