And we are off!!!

Sunday morning started the beginning of our three week vacation. We woke up at 4 am to catch the 6:20 ferry out of Nanaimo. Steve drove up his truck to come across with us forbreakfast... Best husband ever! And boy am I ever thankful he did, we ate breakfast together and then Amara just wanted to do laps the entire time. It was a gorgeous morning, beautiful sunrise with the full moon still out and 20 degrees at 5 am. 

After Steve loaded us on the van and kissed us all goodbye we were off! The girls and I are doing the first part of the trip solo and then he is flying into Calgary next Thursday to meet us for the second part. 

The girls did so wonderfully on the trip and from the ferry we drove straight to kamloops. Stopped for a much needed pee break at mcdonalds where I brought out our picnic lunch. It was much too hot to eat outside and the playplace was a perfect place to contain Amara. She still tried to escape every time the door opened and got my van keys twice and hit the vans panic button- which wouldn't turn off unless I went outside! It was a wee bit stressful! 

But once on the road again she was a little angel.... It's nice having her strapped down! We made really good time and arrived in sicamous at about 2:30 in the afternoon. The forecast is insane for this week! High 30's all week. We unloaded at grandma and grandpas condo and then Adam and Lins picked us up in their insane new boat!! It is amazing! We went ripping around and I got to surf behind it.... It's amazing!  

Last night Amara didn't sleep too well in my room, so praying she adjusts quickly and I get some much needed rest! 

This morning we woke up and then headed to Adam and Linsey's resort for a beach day. The second half of the day we were out on the boat where the girls tubed a bit and then I also tubed, wake boarded and surfed... Feels so good to be out there again! There is nothing like jumping over the wake.  

We sure miss Steve a lot and feel guilty that he is working his butt off while we are vacationing!!

"HURRY UP!"

I read an excellent post on facebook this week and wanted to share. You can read it HERE. 
It was so needed for this mama's soul to read. We are in summer... I am a stay at home mother. But I always feel like I am in a rush. Maybe I plan too much for us to do in one day. But I am always saying those 2 words, HURRY UP. I need to slow down and enjoy these days with my girls. So if you hear me saying those words... remind me!

Butterfly World!

The early start to our summer (because of the teachers strike) has taken a toll on my children's relationship. I have been pretty fed up with the arguing, screaming and disobeying. So something drastic had to be done! We were given the book "How to have a new kid by Friday," by Kevin Lehman, way back when Danika was young and we thought the principles would apply now. So Steve and I spent evenings reading it (it took much too long and we need to re-read once again) But basically the philosophy that we understood was that you say things once, and if they are not obeyed then something gets taken away such as a play date. So you don't get B until A is completed. Anyways, we started it and I felt like I was always mad at the girls and they were always in trouble. A friend asked what I was doing to reward the good behavior and I must have missed that in the book, because we weren't doing anything. 

All that to say, we started a reward star chart. The girls can pick something fun they want to do, or buy and they have to earn stars toward it. 

The girls chose butterfly world in Victoria for their first one, and conveniently it was on groupon. They had to earn 20 stars and they went to work right away! They were happily cleaning rooms, sorting laundry, Danika was cooking eggs for breakfast, unloading the dishwasher and helping so much with Amara. 

So after about 2 weeks of working, we took them on Sunday. It was very fun! Danika was a bit disappointed because a butterfly landed on everybody else but her! Even her baby sister! But we spent about 2 hours in the tropical room, finding all the species of butterfly's on the map. Having the birds land on our arms, checking out the geckos, fish, flamingos, caterpillars, turtles and one of the birds laid a few eggs we got to see. Steve had some fun with his camera and snapped some awesome photos. 

World's largest moth

The place was perfect for Amara, she walked around the place pointing things out excitedly, going up to people saying hi! It was perfect! 

At the end we walked across the street to a really cool park and played for another hour with the girls and had a picnic dinner. It was so fun watching Steve run around with the girls squealing with delight. 

I love my family. 

Last night Steve and I had to run the van to the shop for a tune up and also used the opportunity to try out a pub in Cowichan bay. So we dropped the girls off at the Anderson's house and they had a blast! 

They Ty-dyed some shirts and then Meagan took the girls out on their kayaks and Lauren walked Amara home to put her to sleep. Such a wonderful family! I love getting texts from Meagan of pictures of my girls having so much fun! 

They had a blast! 

Our texting conversation... 

I've stolen your children and am filling them  with sugar. :-) 

You can have em! 😉 bring them back when the sugar has worn off! Haha

Welcome Baby Caleb!!

On Canada day at 11:25 am Amy, Chris and Emilie welcomed their newest addition- Caleb Thomas James, 9lbs 11 oz. 

We are so excited for them and cannot wait to snuggle him when we meet him this summer. So happy he is finally here! 

Long weekend

This past weekend the girls were able to have two sleepovers with Danika's best friend lize. They were very excited about that! The reason being was that lizes little sister kailey was admitted to the hospital because she has had fevers and sickness on and off for the past few weeks. They released her today, thinking it was appendicitis as well as being hit by virus after virus. But it has been very scary. She thankfully is on antibiotics and her body seems to be responding well so surgery doesn't look like it is needed. But we will continue to pray. Yesterday we dropped Lize off at the hospital and got to visit kailey. 

Danika treated us all to DQ with a gift card from her grandma for her birthday. Then we stopped by Steve's work site to check out the progress of the huge house he is building. 

Picnic at our little crofton spray park. It is pretty lame. Because the water just sprays up, so I never really take the girls, but they always love it. 

Visiting kailey in the hospital. Poor little sweetie was so tired! But she still had energy to give Adessa a little ride on the bed. 

For canada day, Steve was working so the girls and I took Meeko to the dog park and met quite a few friends down at the beach. It was cooking hot out! 

We came home and I made my ham and cheese buns for our lunch guests, Nathan and Amelia. We hung out with them two years ago on Canada day, downtown Victoria at the worldmark. Which was very epic. This year they just swung by on their way home from parks vile. But we had a nice catch up. Possible yearly tradition?? 

The rest of the afternoon we set up the pool and hung out in the backyard. It was a pretty low key day! 

This little bean is always trying to grab our cell phones and push buttons. 

Such a helpful, wonderful big sister!

Freezie time!! 

I think she liked it!! 

Camp Imadene Open House

Last weekend we went to the Open House at camp Imadene. It turned out to be a gorgeous day and we had tons of fun in the sun! 

Amara who is now motoring along kept me on my toes the entire day, as she was off exploring the woods without looking back! 

Steve having a little too much fun! 

Amara wandering off without even looking back once!

We had lots of fun kayaking and canoeing on the lake. It was gorgeous! Danika took out her own kayak and did so amazing! She was all over the lake!

Over 600 people made it out to the open house. It was an all day event with a big lunch served, and everything opened up. And we personally know the guy who made it all happen! 😉 

It is an amazing little camp in the most ideal location. We just love it there!

 Sharon sent me a few pictures she took... I was trying to take the girls out on this row boat... a lady warned me it was hard, but we tried it anywhere, and I couldn't move it... so we bailed and got into the kayaks instead! 

My lovely Sharon. It is her hubby was has worked so hard to make this camp so beautiful! She is one proud lady and should be!!!