O Canada!

We just got back from our three week trip to Canada. We had a lot of fun, so here is a quick overview:

The Drive

Sixteen plus hours in a car with a 6-year-old, 4-year-old, and 1-year-old--wasn't as bad as you would think. We bought a DVD system for the Jeep, stocked up on treats and dollar-store toys, and just drove, drove, and then drove some more. The kids were great--real troupers. It was definately better than attempting the whole airplane/airport by myself. I was glad to have Mike with me on the ride home. (The picture is the kids at Burger King, about 1 hour before we got to Canada).

Meeting Janae

One of the hardest things about living so far away from my sisters is that I don't get to meet all my neices and nephews when they are first born. This trip was the first time we got to meet Lisa's newest--luckily she was only 4 months old. Janae is such a sweetie!

Strawberry Picking

Sheri , Dad, and I took the kids to a great strawberry patch! We had fun picking (and eating) a few buckets of delicious berries. The kids did more talking, playing, and smushing berries (and in Tyson's case complaining) than picking, but we had a lot of fun.

Birchwood Dairy

At Birchwood dairy (which is just about 15 min away from my parents house), the kids got to pet a horse, donkey, and goats, sit on a tractor, and eat their very own ice cream. They also got to see all the dairy cows--the baby ones were so cute. We went with Grandpa and the Lambs.

Cultus Lake

The day we went to Cultus Lake was one of the hottest days ever! The water was cool, but it felt great. Tina and Ted brought a cooler of delicious food and we hung out there most of the day. The kids all had a great time swimming, playing in the sand (more like rocks), eating, and running around. We had so much fun that I hardly remember the horrific walk to and from the car in the scorching heat with our 100lbs of stuff and the increadibly painful and swollen bee sting I got on my leg.

The Camp

From the time I was born, until I was seven I lived in White Rock at a little place we called "The Camp". My parents were caretakers of "Camp Kwomais" which was owned by the united church. We decided to go back to our childhood home and look around. It was one of the most nestalgic times in my life. There were many momets when I was seriously choked up. I can't imagine how I would have such strong feelings about a place that I left when I was only 7-years-old. What an amazing childhood I had!

White Rock Beach

Whenever we go home, we HAVE to go to White Rock Beach. The day we went started out a little cool and cloudy, but it didn't take long before it was nice and warm (which caused many of us to get sunburns). The older girls played mostly in the water--swimming as much as possible. Kya, Jill, Holly, and Tyson played mostly in the sand (if you can call it sand--it's more like mud to us Californians). Holly and Tyson were so cute together. Because they are so close to the same age, they like doing most of the same things. They were talking to each other (in some baby language the rest of us couldn't understand, although we saw them both shaking their heads "no" a couple times), filling each other's buckets with rocks, digging sand together--just adorable.

Daddy Joins Us

Two days before it was time to leave Canada, Daddy flew up to join us. He had just been to China on a bussiness trip and brought us all "Chinese Presents". We sure did miss Daddy. We also wished we had more days to spend with him--and that is wasn't raining the whole time he was with us.

Hope you enjoyed just a few highlights from our trip--we did a lot of other fun stuff too, but I can't write about everything. We really had a great time--as we always do. Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us stay with you. It is good to be home, but I of course already miss everyone back home (I mean my "childhood" home--Mike gets upset when I call Abbotsford "home"). Maybe one day we'll live closer...I can dream can't I?

Kya's Mock-Birthday

Kya's 4th birthday is on Sunday, July 1st. Since we are going to be spending the majority of Sunday in the car, driving to Grandma and Grandpa's house, we thought we would celebrate today. We decided just to tell her today was her "real" birthday, since we didn't want her to expect cake, presents, etc. on Sunday. I felt kind of bad "lying", but it was a special day and Kya was happy.
Jordan woke Kya up this morning(definately before she was ready to get up) to open her presents. It took a few minutes before Ky got into it, since she was half asleep, but she loved her presents. Then Kya, Mom, and Jordan made a green butterfly cake (with lots of sprinkles) together. Kya wanted to spend the entire day just playing games. I tried to get her to go to the park, but she just wanted to stay home. When Dad got home, we had cake (which is what Kya requested for dinner). All in all, it was a good day for Kya. I can't believe my baby is getting so big!

My New Hair

Well, I really was brave this time. Instead of just getting blonde highlights (like I have for the past ten years), I got brown and honey highlights. A girl from church actually did my hair. She works at a really nice salon (& spa), so not only did I get a great cut, color, and style, but I paid an arm and a leg for it! She did a great job though--and I am so excited to have something new. Maybe next time I'll be even more daring! Check it out (my hair is in a pony, so you can't see the cut)

What a CROC?!

Okay, I know we joined the band wagon a little late, but my kids LOVE Crocs! I am definately not the kind of person who can bear to spend $20 on a pair of shoes for my kids--especially when they grow out of them in less than a year. So, Jordan and Kya got theirs at Claire's for $8--they are covered in rhinestones and they are constantly getting compliments on them (I always have to say "they're not "real" crocs", but nobody seems to care). So, after the girls had theirs for about three months, I broke down and bought some for Tys (he is OBSESSED with the girls'--constantly putting them on when it's time to go out). Actually I was out looking for some for my sister Sheri's boys, when I came across these adorable camouflage ones--so that is what Tyson got. I love these shoes for kids. Even Tyson (1-year-old) can put them on and take them off by himself. Gotta love thos Croc-nock-offs!!

Funniest Picture Ever!!!

Nacho Libre--My Review

There have only been a couple movies that I couldn't sit through, and this was one of them. I am a big Jack Black fan, so I was pretty excited to see Nocho Libre. I heard good things about it, and the premise seemed funny. I usually laugh at "stupid humor" (like Napoleon Dynamite, Naked Gun etc.). I was seiously surprised that I didn't like this movie. I am not sure if it was Jack Black's Mexican accent that was so distracting, or the lack of anything funny in the first half of the movie. I turned it off and couldn't watch the rest. Today I will return it to Blockbuster, very disappointed.

Goodbye DLI

Mike gave his notice at work last week! He is leaving DLI after four dedicated years and moving onto a new and exciting project. He and two friends are starting up a new distributing company (which will distribute cell phone accesseries). Mike's official first day at his new "job" is July 6th--a trip to China! He is really looking forward to the new challenge and the potential for amazing growth with a new company.

Ballerina Girl

We spent this weekend at Jordan's very first ballet recital (friday and saturday night). I was really annoyed by her six weeks of additional rehersals, two dress rehersals last week, having to put Jordan's thick hair in a bun a million times, and putting on and washing off make-up for every rehersal; but boy was she cute! Her ballet school performed the story of King Arthur. Jordan's class was the "enchanted trees". Jordan did such a great job remembering every step. I was so proud of my little girl. Jordan loved perfoming, although while I was putting her hair in a bun for the friday show she said "I never want to do ballet again if it means that I have to wear a bun in my hair", I guess Mom isn't gentle enough.