This past week we went out and celebrated a good friends 40th birthday. The Burdges have been in our lives for the past few years and we always have a great time with them. We were very honored to be part of his evening! 

More play dates this week for Adessa, playing with play dough on the deck 

It was super windy one afternoon so after playing board games with the girls in the afternoon they took their umbrellas outside and pretended to be Mary Poppins! I was in the kitchen making dinner and laughing so hard because every few minutes there were squeals of delight "I ACTUALLY flew that time!!! " 

Last night we got a babysitter and went to our friends new pub they just opened in Maple Bay, called "The Lion Rampant" It is a Scottish pub with the most beautiful view from their deck! We are so excited for them and now have a new place to take all our visitors! 

Hot!

The last few days have been burning hot! We've been reaching the 30's in our backyard! And everyone is grumpy and hot! The girls couldn't sleep last night until they were in their panties with the window wide open. 

We've been keeping busy. Lots of play dates for the girls. Yesterday I went on a long hike with a friend and then we had kailey over for a play date in the afternoon. We walked to the beach and it was sooo hot! We went home for Popsicle's and the sprinkler for the rest of the afternoon. 

Amara was crawling all over the beach, she was climbing over every log she could find and made it halfway up a tree. Every time I tried to pick her up she would scream and throw herself back! Oh dear... Praying this phase passes quickly! 

I will never get sick of this view! 

Today I took 2 extra kids from preschool for the afternoon. I usually take penny home after preschool but I had Coen today as well. When the moms came to pick up the kids there was 9 kids and 3 moms! So crazy! 

This evening we walked down to the beach so meeko could cool down... The girls also went for a little cooling dip before bed! Loving this summer weather! 

Perfect

It was a perfect day! I made cinnamon buns last night and so there was delicious buns ready this morning. We went to church, came home and then Amara went for a nap, the kids watched a movie and Steve and I suntanned on the deck with coolers and snacks for a couple hours. Danika came out at one point with cups of water and icecubes and a tray of cut cheese and crackers... Very impressive! When Amara woke up, we packed the kids up and hiked our new favorite trail to the river while Danika and her friend rode their bikes. We were gone for quite awhile- meeko swam and then we decided to explore further and went where the rivers met the ocean. There were gorgeous beaches all over and we played there for quite some time. We went for icecream cones afterwards and then came home where my hubby made steak, prawns and salad for dinner! Oh and not to mention all the gorgeous presents, cards and plants from my girls!! So blessed!! 

It feels like summer!

Last night we went to the Nagtegaals for a BBQ with the Olsons. It was a gorgeous night! We are so blessed with such wonderful friendships! 

Endless adventures on the farm! 

Amara was such a handful! She cried all through dinner and then all evening was crawling trying to get to the puddles, so I finally just let her have at em! She sure enjoyed it! 

Miriam and Amara are 3 months apart... but Miriam is walking/ running everywhere and seems so much older... but they are sharing their food, so sure sign of a solid friendship! 

Mothers Day

Mother's day is a strange one. A day for your kids and husband to celebrate you as a mother, but for you to celebrate your own mother and then the mother of your spouse (its all up to you!), but your own mothers are out celebrating their mothers. It is a day of expectations and then a day of quick disappointments. Kids who are too little to know what is going on, husbands who think its just another day (which it is!) and then always trying to find the perfect gift for your own mother. I have been feeling in a bit of a slump the last couple of days and I'm not sure what is going on. Other than I am tired, kids are fighting, Steve's been working too much, Amara doesn't ever stop and I just feel BLAH. But tonight as I was mindlessly scrolling through facebook I saw this link, and it jumped right out at me and made me change my stinky attitude. I have SO much to be thankful for, every single moment of every single day, and I think I have been acting entitled. And it is so good to be reminded and pulled out of the slum. So here it is... the title is perfect... How not to be disappointed this Mother’s Day
A couple favortie quotes from the blog...
"the gift of motherhood, the art of this beautiful, terribly holy work is to find a way through to forgetting myself in favor of someone else."
"It’s in bending the knee to serve that we are most satisfied."
And it is so true... when I serve my family by cooking and cleaning, and sitting and cuddling with a smile on my face and no expectation of anything in return, life is a true joy. But when I make everything a painful chore, I bring everyone down around me and life just stinks. So this mothers day I want to try the one exercise that stood out to me on the blog, of something I can do now. "Write each of your kids an individual list of why you love being their mom. This will help you remember why you’ve already got everything you need today."
Danika Raeanne-- Neeka Beeka, My firstborn. My beautiful girl with those beautiful inquisitive eyes and hair that is "never going to get cut" no matter how many times I threaten to chop it all off on mornings when the brush gets stuck. You are a beautiful girl, inside and out. I love being your mom because you have the most sweet, sensitive personality. You are always wondering how those are around you, and know instantly when something is wrong and you want to fix it. You love to cuddle me and talk for hours! Literally you could tell me stories all day. You love to learn, even thought a few subjects are challenging and frustrating you still love them at school. You love recess and organizing games. You are so very good with your baby sister and when asked are such a wonderful helper. I love your interest in sports, you are an amazing little bike rider and scooter rider. You have a knack for swimming and soccer. You made my anniversary the best yet, with your big thoughtful heart making us breakfast and the most thoughtful cards. Thank you for your patience with me and your father as you have been our first and the one we have made so many mistakes with and yet you love us unconditionally and tell us everyday how we are the best mom and dad. Thank you my beautiful girl. I cherish you.

Adessa Mattie- My little desser the besser, you are a true joy. I love being your mom because you make life an adventure. You live life to the absolute fullest in every moment and you have such a big, kind caring heart. You are so giving and love sending food home with everyone who walks out our doors. When you laugh... everyone laughs, your laugh is the sound of pure delight. You love tickles, cuddling and reading books, playing endless games of go fish, or memory and you are getting very good at them. You are my sidekick during the week and are my chocolate chip girl. You are my hiking partner, you usually end up crying and sitting on the stroller, but you are getting so much better at it! You are also very strong willed and if somebody tries to get you to do something you don't want to do, you let them know it. We are still working on your reactions, but I like that you stand up for yourself. Thank you for making me smile, for challenging me and for your loving cuddles!

Amara Emilie Grace-- Mare Bear, Baby Mara... our third, precious little princess. You fit so perfectly into our family and we truly couldn't imagine life without you.Your first year of life you were the sweetest, quietest little thing and now it seems like we can't stop you. You have found your voice and are constantly saying "Dadadaddadadada," and when you are hurt or tired you cry for "momomomomomoma." I love being your mom as I love watching you grow and discover. You never sit still and cuddle so when I get those rare moments of sitting and reading a book or having you squish your face into mine or when I have you wrapped tightly in a towel and you can't move I love breathing in your baby scent and kissing your sweet little cheeks and little tiny lips. I love how even though you aren't walking yet you crawl everywhere so quickly as on a mission and how I find you standing in the living room or squatting with a book and turning through the pages. I LOVE watching you with your big sisters and how you absolutely adore them, how they make you giggle or how you copy their growls or squeals. I love how you always find Meeko and climb onto him and hug him and play with his face and how he just lets you. I love when he licks you and you squeal with delight! You love your baths, when you are so grumpy at night after dinner and nothing makes you happy, but the water and you can play in there for so long! You are one determined little girl and I can't wait to see how you grow and find your own little personality in these next few years!

I am one blessed mother, and writing these lists I feel like I could go on forever about my precious gifts from God. I am Thankful.

8 years!

Last Tuesday we celebrated our 8 th anniversary. Eight years.... That's a long time! We've lived in 2 different provinces, 4 different homes, 3 children, one dog, one huge lawsuit, several vehicles, a few boats, a few different occupations, I drove school bus, in-putted data, Steve has tried his hand at framing, finishing carpentry, renovations and are now blessed to own our own company where all those years of different jobs are paying off.

Through it all God has been so good to us... Our constant and solid rock. Starting our marriage the way we did, statistics were piled heavily against us, and things have been tough, financially, emotionally and physically being so far from family and our support system. But it is totally true when I say that I love Steven more now than ever before. Because every trial we've gone through and had to pray on our knees through, we've learned to become dependent on Him and truly grown together as one. 

We were so blessed on our anniversary as we woke up to the sound of the microwave and came out to 2 beautiful smiling girls, a beautifully set table, pancakes made with their babysitter the night before and beautiful cards. We were blown away and when I read the cards I had a few tears. My girls are amazing with such big, beautiful hearts. Danika even cleaned the table for me and washed the dishes! 

In the evening we were able to get a babysitter and Steve took me to the Quamichan Inn - a restaurant we've been wanting to try for awhile. It was a lovely night and my husband got me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a gift card to winners. Such a thoughtful guy!
I can't wait to grow old with this man I am so blessed to live out this crazy life with!

Quamichan Inn... over 100 years old, neat atmosphere

Saturday Escape

This past weekend my beautiful friend Sharon Burdge organized another amazing Woman's retreat at Camp Imadene. The last few years I haven't been able to make it. The first year I was in El Salvador, then last year I had Amara. I wanted to make it for the whole weekend, but Steve is not quite ready for the 3 girls solo and I don't blame him! Amara has been such a handful! She is so very loud, screaming all the time it feels like and putting EVERYTHING in her mouth, I noticed she chipped her front tooth... her baby tooth that she will have for the next 5 years!!! ARGH!! all that to say, I needed a little get away. So Saturday afternoon I escaped up to Imadene. It was so nice! I got to sit and relax and drink coffee, catch up with so many friends, and visit with new ones, I joined in on a jazzercise class, ate delicious food and then binged on delicious dessert buffet. Listened to a very inspiring testimony and sang beautiful songs. It was wonderful! And just what I needed!

A little pickle ball... a mix of ping pong and tennis, with a whiffle ball

Chris's Angels... haha

Wife that was NOT impressed

SO wonderful to spend time with this girl, Amelia. She has been in my life since qwanoes... Steve was in their wedding party, and it is so wonderful getting to know her better! This year she was serving at the retreat, but the goal next year is to both be campers for the whole weekend! 

She wanted me to jump into her arms... I wasn't so sure of it!