James family visit

We had the privilege of having Amy, Chris and Emilie come for a week long visit. Chris has not yet met Amara and we haven't seen Amy and Em since the summer. So it was a much needed visit. 

They stayed with us the first night and then for the following two they drove up to Qualicum for a 2 nights stay. Amy is 6 months pregnant with a baby boy and so this was their last family vacation before baby is born and we were so very thankful they chose us to be their destination! 

Brother and sister at Qualicum beach

We went up and had dinner with them the one night. The girls played out the whole evening and Amara was banging on the window and screaming because she wanted to be with them so bad! 

Amara and Chris bonded quickly! 

Cousins! 

My little goof ball

One of our walks down to the beach in crofton- the girls explored forever! 

Fun jumping pictures

Em loving all the sea life

The biggest rock eel they've seen 

One evening we got a babysitter and had dinner with Amy and Chris at Genoa Bay. Still our very favorite restaraunt and had a great deal 2 can dine for $50, which includes an appetizer, main (a $30 steak!) and dessert. And every bite is delicious!

I took the girls on a walk down to Osborne bay... 

They played for quite some time in the girls forts in the woods 

Amara no longer wants to be contained so she also explores the beach... And ruins her pants at the same time! But she sure loves all the different textures I just need to keep swatting things out of her hands as she tries to eat everything. 

At one point as the girls were playing I looked up and saw two fins and water blowing. I squealed! We've always dreamed of seeing orcas and there were 2 of them slowly making their way across. They are such magnificent creatures. 

This picture didn't end well...her feet landed and were quickly followed by her face!

After a little cry she got up and jumped again!

So much fun with cousins! 

Three pretty princesses! 

Last Sunday we had a day to work on the house before guests arrived on Monday night. Our babysitters parents borrowed us their trailer for the next couple of weeks so we could be comfortable with all our visitors. 

After setting up the trailer I asked Danika to watch amara and she watched her for over an hour. It was amazing and have Steve and I the opportunity to prune trees, do some wedding and cut the grass again. I really want my kids to learn to work hard before play and treats! But it is so hard to be consistent. 

Danika took care of Amara and adessa helped pick up all the branches. 

Then we packed up the girls, went and fed ducks at the pond and then for icecream at DQ. It was a great day! 

Random shots of spring break

The last week of spring break was nice, but went by much too quickly! Here are a few shots of what went down...

Making an airplane from my new pots and pans box! The girls were occupied a whole day by this, and had fun giving Amara rides around the house. 

Went for a playdate at the Bastians and I fell in love with the trampoline, can't wait until we have a big enough back yard to get one! It was like a giant play pen for Amara! 

We went and played at the ocean a couple of times. Always fun exploring at the beach. 

The Rock eels they wanted to show me so badly

Love these girls

We went and played at the park a bunch of times... Amara is at such a tricky age because she does not yet walk, but no longer wants to be contained. So all her pants have stains on the knees and her hands are always filthy!

One afternoon my friend Meagan offered to take Danika to see the new Lego movie in Nanaimo. When they came to pick her up Adessa had changed into a beautiful dress and was bawling her eyes out because she wanted to go so badly! So Meagan took 5 kids to Nanaimo and then to McDonalds to play in the play place afterwards.
So the following evening I took her 3 kids for the evening so her and her hubby could go on a date. They are so well behaved and we went to the park and they all ate all their spaghetti and then of course we sat down to watch Frozen. 

Adessa has "helped" me in the garden a bit when Amara naps and I can tackle the ever-growing weeds in my garden beds. She found a whole family of worms and built them a little home. Later when I got Amara up she was showing her all of them by sticking them to the window. *sigh*

Our guest home for the next couple of weeks. We borrowed this fifth wheel from our friends as we have a few weeks of company arriving! 

Meeko's sleepover

We were working on the yard this evening a bit and Meeko was outside with us, when we came in for dinner we realized Meeko was gone. We yelled for him, then I took the van and started circling the block. I saw 2 ladies and they said Meeko just followed them up the street and then continued on walking when they turned off. I knew exactly where he was headed! I called my friend Crystal who watched him while we were in Mexico and sure enough, she looked out her window and Meeko was in her yard!!! Their family was ecstatic! He even got a sleepover out of the deal... what a dog!!!

Danika had her third sleepover Saturday night, this time with her good friend Madison. The girls watched the movie "Frozen" and sang their little hearts out to each song... even Amara joined along. It is such a great movie... I love it too! 

Sunday after church Steve wasn't feeling so great, so he stayed home with Amara while she napped and I took the three girls to the pool in Duncan. It was SO fun... and so special to spend time with my older 2. I often feel so impatient with them as I feel so stretched between the 3 girls and Amara requires so much of my attention, so it felt nice to just have fun with them. We did the water slides several times, played in the wave pool, went around the lazy river and then did the diving boards. Danika no longer wears a life jacket and even jumped off the 3 meter diving board. She mentioned to me that she would like to and told her to try it... she climbed up top, walked to the end and didn't even hesitate, just jumped right off! I was so suprised! And so proud of her! I didn't even do it! 

They also had a running mat out on the water that the girls kept doing over and over... I thought I would give it a try as it looked so fun, went to run out and it instantly sunk and I went under... how humiliating! But I got right back on and tried again and we used it like a slip n' slide. The girls also love sitting in the hot tub so in between each new activity we went and warmed up. We spent almost 3 hours there! 

Monday I said no to all play date invites and we just had a home day with no electronics whatsoever... it was just what the girls needed. They had been bickering quite a bit, so just some one on one time was good for them... I kicked them outside with there dolls and they played for quite some time- ending with a popsicle break... 

Sweet sister love 

Monday afternoon we went and met the newest addition to our life group. Millie Reese Geiger, born March 15, 8 lbs 12 oz. She is a little sweetie and the girls fell instantly in love.
Danika has been raving about her ever since! 

The proud mommy... Alycia has been very special to our family. During my month of bed rest with Amara she organized all meals and childcare and then when I was in the hospital she came and slept at our house with the girls for a couple nights. It is so neat sharing life together and now welcoming sweet little Millie with her. 

Amara is at such a fun stage, this morning when the girls woke up they took Amara into the playroom and I got to stay in bed a bit longer. Danika's friend stayed most of the day and I also had a friends 2 kids. It was a bit crazy! 6 kids... But half of them were mine! 

Little Faith loves meeko! The Matter family watched meeko while we were in Mexico and there daughter fell in love with him. She asks for him all the time, and they come pick up meeko at least once a week for a walk. 

The shirt I got Steve for St. Patricks day! 

SUN

This morning we went to our neighbours for a play date we have been trying to plan for months. It was a gorgeous day... Felt like summer. Danika got picked up by a friend for a play date and adessa and her friend Ayla played outside for a couple hours. They found a mud pit and so proceeded to take off shoes and socks and get good and muddy! They got it everywhere... The trampoline, the slide, handprints on the deck- but they loved every minute! Amara on the other hand was being summoned to the deck with the moms and was not to happy... She wanted to join in the fun too! 

So badly wanting to leave the deck... Big bad mom keeping her on! 

Muddy hands! 

Bath in a bucket. I had a lovely visit with my neighbor... She fed me yummy cookies and delicious coffee... The way into my heart! ;)

When we got home amara went for a nap and I headed into the backyard to pick up a winters worth of dog doo and then decided to lawn mower our foot long grass. I was in capris and adessa came out in shorts and a t-shirt. When amara woke up we picked up Danika and her friend, Hailey and went to the dog park and then down to the beach to play. 

Hailey came for dinner and then a sleep over. The girls really wanted to sleep in the play room, but someone else beat them to it...

Meeko is so loved- instead of the garage tonight looks like he gets a sleepover too! 

It was such a warm, wonderful day, sure gets us all excited and talking about summer plans! And the weather couldn't be more perfect for spring break!