Working the Week Backwards

This past weekend my little Danika was a camper at the Juniors retreat at camp Qwanoes. She had such a busy day, as her class went to Capernwray on Thetis Island all day Friday and played outside all day, then she came home, we ate dinner, packed her bags and went to our last night of Awana. Straight from Awana I drove Danika to camp Qwanoes for her first retreat! Our day was such a rush that on the way out the door things were forgotten... a coat, her stuffie and her towel. So she was pretty upset when she realized, and then that Steve wasn't with us to drop her off, it all hit her at once. But once we got to camp and found out her counselor was Victoria (she is Danikas Awana leader!) and that she knew every single girl in her room, she was pretty happy. She begged me to write her a note thought, so I put one under her pillow. 

It was so weird being back at camp, with a camper! I knew so many of the staff still, but we haven't been back in quite some time! They sent us the highlight video of the weekend and Danika was so happy to be in it a couple of times! 

Victoria wanted a picture with all her favorite Qwanoes girls...

Victoria and a few of her campers.


On the Saturday while Danika was at camp, Steve was out fishing, so I took the girls to the parents unite garage sale in Duncan, scored a few nice things for the girls and then went and had coffee with Chelsey and her girls, and we walked over to the park.

Friday night... dropping the girls off at club coco.. both a little nervous!

Danikas class made a quilt for the Annual DCS silent auction, she was so proud of it and wanted me to take a picure... hers is the one in the middle with the heart and cross. Each quilt square has a bible verse on it.

A couple of days this week it felt like summer... +26 in our backyard... after a long day at work, no shirt and a beer is the only way to do it!

We heard Alberta got more snow... so the girls said they missed snow and decided to toboggan on the nice, green grass! haha

Meeting the newest additions to the Nagtegaal farm... pigs! Amara was in love and kept saying, Want one! Want one!

The evenings I get out for my runs I am so captivated by the beauty of Gods creation all around me and I am thankful for this beautiful place I call home! This is the pear tree in our front yard.


Monday was our Easter dinner with the Burdges. I spent a solid three hours cooking dinner... making a ham, broccoli casserole and a potato casserole. I always think it isn't going to take too long... but the amount of dishes and prep work always amazes me.. and not in a good way! But it was worth it! It was a gorgeous day, and the burdges came over and we checked out a local tea farm I have been wanting to go to for a long time. It is such a cute little place... but will definitely go back without children adn enjoy a nice tea and treat... had a very Zen feel to it that our children ruined!


The men sat outside while Sharon and I ordered tea and the children ran wild!

We then crossed the street to Eves park... a favorite of ours and went for a little walk. The kids all had so much fun, playing hide and seek through the forest. We then went home, started a fire and ate Easter dinner around a beautiful bonfire! Sharon brought a delicious cherry pie for dessert which was amazing and then the kids watched a movie while we hot tubbed. It was a wonderful day! And a great way to spend our Easter Monday!

After the burdges left- Steve really got the fire going! 😳

Easter Weekend!

Friday we went to the Good Friday service at New Life church and were really blessed... it was a wonderful way to focus us on the true meaning of Easter. The girls also sat through the service and both really enjoyed it. Saturday morning we headed to Crofton to help out with the Annual Easter egg hunt put on by our church. The girls had a blast! And I took way too many pictures and loved them all so made a few collages!

Adessa and Ava in the boxing ring... they were laughing their heads off! 

Lize and Danika also had a turn in the ring and it was hilarious to watch! 

The event took place right over Amara's nap time and she did pretty good, but she was running the whole time away from me trying to get on the bouncy castles and not understanding that she needed to wait! Which resulted in quite a few melt downs for this little miss! Thankfully everyone knows Amara and so when she would run from me there were eyes everywhere watching her and she was brought back to me a few times! Little monkey! 

She LOVED getting chocolate and polished a few off quite quickly! And notice the chocolate milk spill down her shirt! She had to do it herself and the result was chocolate milk all over sweater and all over the stroller. 

The fun part... chasing down the easter bunny to rip stuffies off of him! Danika got one and was soooo happy! 

This morning we went to church and ended up having a low key day. Amara took an extra long nap so we cut the grass and did a few chores outside while the big girls played on the trampoline. Then I set out the Easter egg hunt in our massive backyard! It was sooooo much fun watching Amara find all the eggs and her big sisters are so wonderful to her and made sure to share everything. It was pretty magical for this little one. 

Tried getting a nice picture of all three... next to impossible! 

This girl... strong willed and stubborn... and the most amazing two year old ever. She is dearly loved by all who meet her... and everyone gets to meet her, because she is not shy! I am blessed to be her mommy!

Adessa Mattie... Full of life and always getting a smile out of everyone. Loved watching her find eggs today and then instantly call Amara over to come and get them. She is growing up so quickly! 

My Danika... Growing into such a beautiful young lady, who truly loves Jesus with all her heart and is always questioning and searching. She just finished reading through her Jesus storybook bible and is eagerly awaiting her "real" big girl bible to arrive this week before she heads to camp for the weekend! 

Just because she is really, really cute... with a mouthful of chocolate!

We celebrated Easter and had some good talks with our girls about the true reason why we celebrate Easter... that it isn't about the chocolate and easter bunny, but about what Christ did for us on the cross. He died for our sins, and then three days later rose again... I have been reading through the old testament and am truly grasping the magnitude of what Christ did for us, as they used to have to sacrifice for everything! God sending his son to die and take away our sins just like that... is truly a gift that many just can't grasp... it seems too easy! But today, and this whole weekend as I remember what He did for us, I am thankful, and my prayer is that my girls can understand, and fully grasp what it means, and that as we live this life we are so very blessed to live, that they can see through their mom and dad and what we teach them what a true relationship with Christ looks like. I know I make mistakes EVERY.SINGLE.DAY but I am thankful for a God who forgives me, and who always will!!! And I am celebrating today that HE IS ALIVE! :) 

Amara enjoying the sunshine in bare feet and picking flowers. She runs them over to me and says "for mama!" Love these days with this beautiful growing girl! 

Sunday after church we had the kaleo students over for lunch. I have really gotten to know them as they help out on Friday nights with the Awana program. And they are almost done kaleo... Neat getting to know them from all over canada! 

Monday morning was gorgeous so we met Mel and her girls and Kim and her girls for a walk to the ocean... So beautiful out and good to tire the girls out! 

This morning in lieu of April fools I added a drop of food dye to the bottom of the girls cereal bowls so when they added in their milk their cereal turned colours! Funny watching their reactions! 

This morning this wonderful friend of mine met me at the trans canada trail and she brought her bike and trailer for Amara and faith while I ran the whole time! My best time yet! So much nicer running on a trail without big hills! 

Spring Break

Second half of spring break was busy with play dates and dinner dates. We ended up either having someone over or going out with friends every other night. 

One evening we had the Olsons over for some homemade pizza, sundaes (they brought all the delicious toppings!) and a hot tub! It was a nice, long catch up! 

Charlene brought her water camera and got some fun pictures of the girls! I took the girls to the pool this week and Amara is gaining so much confidence in the water. She was practice floating, blowing bubbles and trying to put her face in the water! 

The girls made quite a few forts in the house on the rainy days, but when the sun came out the big teepee was constructed! Steve screwed some boards together, we grabbed some old blankets and the girls spent days out there playing and making stews and "hunting and gathering"... Just like Pocahontas! i 

We met sweet little Ellie at church! Kayla and her husband Dennis moved to Calgary and had this little sweetie and she is back visiting. She has a very similar story to Steve and I and is very young, so it's been neat keeping in touch with her. Tomorrow night I am helping throw a baby shower for her! Both the girls are coming and are very excited! 

We went to the beach a few times with friends... Always love it down there! 

Found these beauties on my phone so thought I should save them forever! 

The trampoline has been the most fantastic toy we have ever had! The girls have said if they could have one toy only this would be it! They have spent hours upon hours out there, even just with blankets and their dolls! And this spring break whenever the sun was out they were out! We spent a couple afternoons doing homework and catching some rays. Love these girls and really cherished this spring break! We basically stuck close to home, but they agreed that it was wonderful and relaxing! 

Big sister helping with homework! 

On the Friday, one of my wonderful girlfriends offered to take all three girls for a few hours so I could have some alone time! As much as I love my girls, I also enjoy some "me" time as well! I dropped them off and then met my beautiful Sharon for coffee and a nice visit. Then we walked around Duncan and checked out some thrift stores for fun. Walking down the street it looked like it was snowing, but it was just the cherry blossoms falling off! It was gorgeous and smelled amazing! I love springtime! 

Sharon packed some homemade delicious pasta salad, so we grabbed a spot on a bench downtown and had lunch in the scorching hot sun! As we were eating and visiting my midwife Selina walked by and we realized she delivered all three of our babies! ( Sharon's friend was also having lunch with us!) so Sharon snapped a picture.... You have to document these moments! 

In the evening I took the big girls to Awana and we did an Easter craft. Then I took them home for a sleepover to end spring break! They got to go to the store to spend their hard earned awana bucks and came out with a few treats to eat while watching a movie. They stayed up pretty late, but are all such sweet little ladies... I love having them over! Meanwhile....

Adessa also went for a sleepover and I think she partied pretty hard! 

On Saturday Steve worked so the girls and I hung out and then when he finished we went to pick Danika up a new bike off of usedcowichan and stopped at bright angel park which has been totally revamped and is fabulous! We were the only ones there and laughed our butts off with the girls playing grounders and tag and then played on the workout park for quite some time and Steve showed off how strong he was! 

Love my family!!!