Saturday 30 June 2012

A Pirate Ship

Earlier this week the kids and I went to West Edmonton Mall for a playdate at the mall.  The mall is hosting several get togethers for kids over the summer.  This one was "Pirate Ships and Penguins". 

We got to go on the pirate ship (I actually didn't even know that you could go on it, until my sister was here and they went on it) and get sword balloons, watch a magic show from a pirate and then see penguins.  It was a fun morning had by all. 


Alyssa was chosen to the pirate's helper....




Friday 29 June 2012

Fun Summer Day

The kids and I are loving the warm weather and are taking every chance to be outside soaking up the sun.  It was a bit cloudy this morning but it didn't stop us from meeting up with friends at the spraypark for fun and a picnic. 

Lucas is still pretty timid around spraying water so he stayed on the outskirts of the spraypark but still had lots of fun running around and watching the kids. 


By the end of the morning, Lucas had even figured out how to spray his water gun. 

This spraypark, has a really nice park attached to it so the kids went back and forth between the water and the park.  So  much fun. 


Lucas was having so much at the park, but then he found a hill he could run up and down and that it was kept him occupied for the rest of the morning. 

As we were packing up after our picnic, my friend asked me to hold her baby and of course the kids just had to hold the baby as well.  I think this is actually Lucas' first time holding a baby and he was so proud.  So gentle, yet so proud. 


Once we got home, it was naptime for Lucas.  Alyssa and I then took the time to set up the kiddy pool.  It was a lot of work as we had to wash it all out, then pump it up and fill it.  It actually took most of the three hours that Lucas slept!!!  So after supper, the kids had fun playing in the pool. 


Then daddy took the kids for a walk.  I thought it was just around the block but they surprised me by going to Shopper's Drug Mart to buy me Aloe Vera gel as my back is burnt.  I was so excited and it felt so incredibly good on my red back. 

What a great day!!!!

Tomorrow Daddy and Alyssa are having a daddy date and are going to the new movie Brave.  Alyssa is very excited. 

Happy Friday.  




Tuesday 26 June 2012

Swimming is Done

Alyssa had her last class of swimming lessons until the fall.  She has improved so much over the last few months and I am so proud of her confidence in the water.  She passed SunFish and can now go on to Crockodile in September. 

Monday 25 June 2012

Paradise in Edmonton

I have lived in Edmonton twelve years and just today I found paradise in the middle of the city.  I never knew it existed and boy do I wish i had known before we built our house. 

My friend Christina invited us to their lake; which is only two minutes from their house in Summerside. 

You have to live in Summerside and have a membership to be able to use their lake and I understand why.....it is beautiful. 

Christina has two little ones the same age as my two and they all had so much fun playing together.  I'm sure this summer will bring lots of outings with their family (splash parks, leg grounds etc.)

Alyssa and Lucas had so much fun.  I wasn't sure how Lucas would do as he seems to be a little timid around water but he was in the lake like a dirty shirt and had so much fun. 

Without further ado....here are some pics.


The kids liked sitting on the dock and watching all the fish jump.  I have never seen so many fish jump in one place.  It was crazy.

We took the kids on a paddleboat and then toured all the beautiful homes on the lakeside. I would love to have a house that size and that beautiful.  

I love these two pictures of me with my littles. 


This next picture makes me laugh....He is all boy and oh so cute. 

There was also a beautiful park for the kids to play at, picnic tables with umbrella's to get some shade.  It was just a lovely facility for families.  

Saturday 23 June 2012

The Start of our Journey to Bonaparte Lake

Mom and Dad have a beautiful cottage on Bonaparte Lake, just outside of Kamloops. 

After Jasper we were on our way to the Lake.




The outside of the van was serene, peaceful and beautiful.  The inside of the van, not so much.  Four kids under the age of 5 in a van for an extended period of time makes for a noisy, stressful trip.  But, we did it and we survived. 


We met up with mom and dad in Little Fort so we could follow them up the narrow, high, gravol logging truck rode (which was quite an adventure in itself).

It was a beautiful, sunny day so Dad got the boat out and took it for a spin on the lake.  I stayed back on dry land as I was still feeling pretty green from the ride up the twisty, turny dirt road.  But, apparently the boat ride was a big highlight for the girls. 


My poor little guy was so under the weather that apparently he didn't really even open his eyes on the boat.  He just relaxed in Grandma's arms for the hour. 


After we had a delicious supper cooked by Grandma (she is the best cook ever) it was time to get the kids settled into their pj's so they could have smores by the fire. 




Fun, fun, fun.....





Thursday 21 June 2012

Kindergarten Orientation

This evening was Alyssa's Kindergarten Orientation at her new school.  As we walked through the parking lot into her school, I have never been more aware of her little hand inside mine, as I was today.  The way her little hand fits just perfectly inside mine.  Her smooth skin and delicate bones.  So perfect a fit.  My little girl is growing up though, and soon she won't need the security that holding hands brings. 

But, today she did need that security.  She was so excited yet I could tell a little nervous.  As we got closer to the front door she moved a little closer to my side and held my hand a little tighter. 

I was actually pretty surprised by her nervousness.  She has always been such a social little girl that I thought she would jump right in.  Instead though, she kept a tight hold on my hand while she led me through the different centres that Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Cox had set up. 


After we went through all the centre's she wanted to explore the library, the bathroom (she must be my daughter), and even asked Ms. Gordie (the principal) to see her office.  Her grip on my hand started to loosen a little bit as she was gaining more and more confidence. 

She led me back into her classroom and we were working on another worksheet when Mrs. Allen rang the bell and told the children that it was time to leave their mom and dad's and come upstairs for story and music time.  She hopped right up and without any trepidation started lining up with her classmates.  A little wave back at me, and she was off.  She was ready for Kindergarten. 

I sat back, with tears in my eyes as my baby girl once again became a big girl right in front of my eyes. 

After story and music time, we headed back out to the van where she told me that most of her nervousness has gone away and that she is ready to start school after summer. 

I took her to Dairy Queen for a celebratory treat and we had some mommy/daughter time. 



Wednesday 20 June 2012

Our Jasper Adventure

Around ten years ago, Shelby and Steve met at Jasper Park Lodge where they were both working.  So of course on our way to mom and dad's cabin, they wanted to stop and show the girls where they met.  It was a good stopping point on our road trip and the kids had alot of fun in Jasper. 

We may have been a little crazy....packing all seven (Matt was in Houston) of us into the van for a road trip.


When we got to the hotel, Lucas needed a nap and I needed some downtime so we stayed back at the Hotel while Shelby and Steve took the three girls for a hike. Here is my sweet guy having a nap on the big, comfy king size bed.



Here are some pictures that I stole from Shelby of the hike that they took the girls on.


When they got back from their hike, we ordered pizza and then went swimming in the hotel pool.  So much fun. 


My poor little guy was so fevered here.  He was a trooper though and kept up with the big kids.  On a side note, he ended up getting a weird virus.  He had a fever for three days (in Jasper and then at the cabin), then when we got home he was limping and not wanting to put much weight on his left leg.  I took him to see his pediatrican and he diagnosed him with transient synovitis of the left hip.  It sounds way worse than it is, but, basically the virus went into his hip and caused inflammation.  Motrin and rest were prescribed and my little guy was back to walking normal in about four days.  I had no idea that a virus could go into a hip; my kids sure do keep surprising me. 



Steve lit a fire in the fireplace.  My kids were quite amazed as they have never seen a real (not gas) fireplace.  It made it nice and cozy in our hotel room.  


This last picture was taken before the fire picture, but I cannot for the life of me, figure out how to switch the order.  Anyway, the three girls are settling down for bed and watching Caillou on Shelby's tablet.  

Jasper was a lot of fun, but I'm not going to lie, it was a lot of working unloading and packing back up for only one night's stay.  But, it was well worth it.