Girls mesmerized by Mark giving the cow a needle

Lazy days... going to miss these days when Adessa goes full time in the fall :(

Averaging once a week hiking the dogs to the cross with a baby on my back

The only girl committed to working out with me... very hard to find friends in the same stage of life with kids and committed to an active life style. Crystal has become that friend! And I am so thankful!

Taken the boat out to Galiano once this year so far... it was a gorgeous day and I cant wait to get back out there! 

These two... seriously going to miss this! A quick stop at transfer beach in ladysmith after a costco run and both girls ran through the water park with their clothes on

This girl! She hates water on her head and screams like someone is hurting her in the bath- yet she stands under the bucket at the park and runs over and high fives me afterwards! Love it! 

The girls were all in a talent contest at their school one evening. Adessa was in choir and Danika and her friends put on a magic show! It was so cute! And Danika said she wasn't scared at all... she was so excited she felt like jumping! 

And had to snap a quick pic of the tow truck coming to my rescue... I locked Amara, my keys, cell phone, purse.. everything in the van at the school one extremely hot morning and it took him 45 minutes to get there. Thankfully everyone at the school was super helpful and supportive but I was pretty shook up when I pulled my sweaty baby out of the van. 

Camp Imadene's WOA 2015

I FINALLY got to be a camper at my good friend, Sharon's women's retreat! This was her fourth year putting it on and each year I have either been away or had a baby! So I was pumped to be able to go. I invited SO MANY friends but in the end only 2 could actually make it... but it was meant to be!
The camp this year doubled in size so they needed to open more rooms at a retreat center down the road and thankfully myself and my friends got to stay there... it was pure luxury! Such an amazing weekend getaway. So many fun pictures and good memories, but here were a few highlights...

Our little home for the weekend... each had our own comfortable bed, a kitchen and bathroom. 

Our first activity was glass pendant making... after lunch we grabbed a delicious coffee at the coffee bar and crafted! 

Friday night there was a jazzercise class and we had so much fun and sweated our butts off, so afterwards a few of us jumped in the lake! So wonderfully refreshing! I love lake swimming. 

The weather was perfect all weekend and the sunsets were stunning. 

Haha... our first night we snuck back plates of food to our room and we each had brought a bottle of wine!

Sent this to Sharon... wish she could have joined us in the hot tub, sipping wine out of plastic wine goblets!

Next day after breakfast we went to the shooting range... my first time! And I loved it! 

My friend Crystal who I was able to bring with me last minute... this girl needed a break and I am thankful I got to know her better! 

We tried out every gun

The shotguns were my favorite... the first half I was frustrated, but by the end I was shooting up those clay pigeons, such a fun feeling!

After lunch we hiked up the mountain to rapell down it... something I have never done and was a bit terrified because I think I am scared of heights! 

Something Lydia had never done either, but she was a great support and we had fun

Jon had to pep talk me down the mountain.

I did it! But I couldn't look down! 

Lydia did great! She was nervous but was all jokes up there!

The mountain we rappelled down... isn't it a gorgeous camp!

My glass pendants I created after being melted

This girl did amazing! So proud to call her friend! Such an epic weekend for so many ladies, and I was blessed to be a part of it! 

Last night dessert bar... apparently we weren't supposed to take one of each! Oops we missed the memo!! Everything was home made, all the cooking all weekend and everything was spectacular! Especially the part where we didn't have to cook or clean! 

The lantern lit pathway

Last morning, we got geared up to head out mountain biking... It was unreal! The girl who taught it is a professional mountain biker and she brought some amazing demo bikes for us to try. I learned so much and we had a blast doing some cross country mountain biking. 

Sharon being thanked at the end for her hard work... she rocked it! 

Amelia Lowe... special girl! Her husband and puppy were at my house all weekend helping Steve with the girls while Amelia and I got to be at camp! We are lucky girls! 

Mothers Day!

What a fabulous weekend! I had a crazy idea last week to fly out to Calgary as I was bored one evening and was looking at airmiles and found the perfect flights. So I called Linsey and she had to work both Friday and Saturday but said she would try her hardest to get them off and we put our plan in motion to surprise my mom for Mother's Day!! 

Friday I woke up sick with the flu... But I still was flying to Calgary! So Steve took me to the airport for the 2:15 flight! It was actually so nice to fly by myself... Brought along a new book and had a very beautiful flight out... I was mesmerized by the beauty out my window... I call this island home! 

I arrived in Calgary at 5 pm and my brother in law picked me up, ran me to their house where Linsey was eagerly awaiting me! We packed up and headed to moms. She called mom the week before to "book" her for the weekend by saying she needed a break and wanted to come for a sleepover for the weekend. So we headed out to okotoks and she went in first- me following 5 minutes later! My sister took a video...

Mothers Day Surprise Video!

It was amazing to be able to surprise my mom and dad! They both had no idea. 

That evening I wasn't feeling to great, but we had a wonderful visit and then went to a church to watch "the soul cafe" where we sat and watched musicians... We thought we could visit, but kept getting looks so we eventually  snuck out one by one. It was fun, but I wasn't doing so great and we were all tired! I sadly went to bed early and in the morning was pretty darn sick! I was so disappointed- but we still made the most of it! We sat in our Jammie's all morning visiting and trying to play a few games. Dad went to watch my little nephews first soccer game and then brought back cinnamon buns from cobbs bakery. 

We surprised my mom with a night at the Hyatt we bought on Hotwire... So I had to get better! I plugged myself up with immodium and my dad made a magic drink he always takes when he has an upset stomach. I was super skeptical, but decided to trust him... And it worked!!! A teaspoon of baking soda in quarter cup of orange juice... Bam!!! Who knew?! 

So amazing when we told mom we were taking her to the Hyatt... because my dad had won a $150 gift card to the Hyatt's fancy restauraunt that was going to expire in a month, and they had had it for a year... it was meant to be! 

Once I was feeling better we had some fun taking some pictures, and then went to Calgary so I could have a visit with my beautiful 94 year old grandma... so wonderful to see her! We took her to Tim Hortons for a Danish and she loved it. My dad was going into town later to take her for dinner. 

We checked into the gorgeous hotel and had the most wonderful surprise! Dad had arranged for chocolate dipped strawberries and wine to be waiting for us when we checked in! Such a lovely surprise!
It was gorgeous in Calgary so we went for a walk right downtown and ended up in Winners until it closed... I love shopping with my mom and sister! So much fun!
We went back to the hotel, freshened up and went for dinner... so fun with my mom and sis... and knowing it was paid for! :)
We then went back to the room, got ready for the hot tub, soaked for a bit, went back to the room to rent the movie "Tammy"... which mom and I both passed out for! Sorry Sis!

Sunday morning we slept in, then got ready and went shopping again... we drove out to the huge balzac mall and shopped for a few hours before all fading, going for a nice lunch, then the dropped me off at the airport where I got to say a quick hi to Joel and Nikayla and headed for the plane! 
It was perfect! Quick trip... but so much quality time together... the best mothers day ever! So blessed to have such a wonderful family. 

Steve and the girls were waiting to pick me up and they all were so happy to see me... Steve was my superhero! The girls were all fed well (he cooked and made the best chicken and omelettes the girls ahve ever had!) And my house was spotless! I am SOOO lucky!!! :) 

Mom sent me these fun pictures she took...

We had too much fun trying on riducously high heels and trying to walk in them... We were laughing pretty hard! Kind of wished I bought those ones! 😉

9 years!

For our anniversary we did a combo night. Steve was feeling pretty sick so we layed low and I cooked a favorite meal of chicken broccoli curry and then followed by an ice cream cake. The girls were super excited to celebrate with us- so it was nice to include them! 

Sunday was low key... But Amara was dancing around the backyard in her pretty dress so I had to snap some pictures! She never stops running! 

And I saw those overalls at winners on super clearance and thought Adessa as soon as I saw them! She was ecstatic over them. Because we have a problem with a bum crack... I thought these would solve the problem! And when I was a kid I apparently lived in a pair of overalls! 

Nathan's 30th!

Saturday was pretty low key other then Steve needing to run up to the hospital to take back a heart monitor he was wearing for 24 hours (he had some heart issues last year so they monitor yearly.) 

Then he was starting to feel sick so we layed low for the day suntanning in the backyard... It was gorgeous out! 

In the afternoon Meagan came over and Steve and I drove to Brentwood bay for a good friends 30th birthday celebration. Such a good time! They rented a big party room at the Brentwood bay hotel, we had our own server and there were games and a photo booth. One of there good friends is a fantastic photographer so that was so fun! We got home super late and Meagan was already sleeping. So she had a sleepover! She is so fantastic... She took the girls for ice cream and cleaned my house! Love her! 

Sick week

Last week Adessa was home sick for the first part of the so she was at home Monday- Thursday. It was a long week, but super nice to have time with Adessa but we were both ready for her to go back to school on Friday! The week was pretty uneventful other then taking the girls out each day for an adventure. 

We went to the duck park and fed the ducks and played on the park...

And we went to the river in Duncan three separate times. It is perfect because Meeko can run off leash and swim and the girls enjoy exploring. It is so beautiful! 

On Friday Adessa was back at school so Amara and I headed up to Sharon's for the morning. Always a wonderful visit with her... She greeted me with a latte, we walked around he camp a but and she showed off all the wonderful things her hubby is doing with the place! They have such an awesome ministry at camp imadene and Sharonmis amazing because she drives back and forth daily and I complained going up for a couple of hours! It was nice... And Amara passed out as soon as we got into the van! Then off to pick the girls up for early dismissal. 

Since everyone was feeling better for dinner we headed to the Nagtegaal farm for a BBQ. And as it's a farm everyone had to work for their meal! 😜

They had a bunch of calves who needed bottles so the girls were more than happy to help... Especially Amara! Too cute!