Daddy and the girls getaway

So Ken and I are so thankful that we could have an overnight getaway to celebrate our anniversary and have a break. We didn't waste a second and before we knew it we were back home tucking kiddos into bed. We packed up Emma and the bikes and some yummy food and headed to the cabin. After a salmon dinner, a fire and a good nights rest we headed out in the morning to Waterton to do some biking, hiking and icecream eating. We are so blessed to be able to go to the cabin and to have family that helps us make getaways happen. What a beautiful place to go to getaway.

Emma's bedhead in the morning. I can tell already that we will have some challenges with this hair.

On the drive to the cabin.

Peek a boo!

Got a few bites.

Our "don't waste a minute" Waterton Getaway

We biked from the townsite out to the park entrance and back on the scenic trail, 16km.

 

This biking trail has some of the best views and landscape in the whole park.

The happy couple celebrating 8 years marriage.

 

The sights and smells were divine.

Hubby up ahead.

I pulled Emma one way and Ken the way back. It was hot. Thankfully we didn't have to pull Isaac this time.

After a picnic lunch we climbed Bear's hump. Boy we are out of shape.

The view of the town. Isn't it stunning?

Along side the paved road that you see is where we biked.

Daddy and his precious girl!

 

We spotted a bear as we were leaving. What a perfect day! 

A Saturday Outing

First family shot at Indian Battle with the timer. Pretty windy up there in the top of the coulees.

 Andrew and Sam and Luke on an adventure.

Daddy and Isaac.

 The boys doing some mountain biking on the trails.

Our Annual Road trip to Edmonton

Can't get any more prairie than this...

 or this...

or this. This is what it looks like from where I live on the drive to Calgary. Miles and miles of land and big open sky.

Baby Emma travelled so well.

I was teaching Andrew how to read a map on the way.

Lots of bike rides.

Emma meeting her cousins.

Painting rocks.

Dress up.

Freezies.

Uncle Dwayne's famous pancakes.

Climbing trees and reading.

Quad rides.

Campfires.

and even real diggers in the yard to watch.

Swimming at the local pool.

As usual we had a blast in Edmonton once all the adults recovered from strep throat. The weather was hot and sunny and the kids burned so much energy playing outside everyday with their cousins. Us mama's are getting the chance to relax more and more on these trips with the kids getting bigger and entertaining themselves so much more. Thanks Uncle Dwayne and Auntie Trixie for always welcoming us with open arms and for starting the summer off so great.

Andrew and Noah's Pool Party

Beach Babe Mamas.

Auntie Mel has her hands full! I can relate to that!

Andrew's learning how to swim under water.

Andrew and buddy Noah who were born a day apart. They sure are opposites in looks.

We booked the town out door pool for the boys birthdays and what a hit. Moms, kiddos, grandparents, aunties...there was so much room for everyone and no mess at home.

Both boys were spoiled rotten with gifts.

It was a bit of a gong show but we tried to keep it simple. Freezies, watermelon and cupcakes were on the menu.

This year Andrew got a ball glove and baseball, books, drawing kit, swim trunks, lego, childrens story Bible, balls, and lots more.

All About Andrew @ Seven!

• he loves to read books. Chapter books to be exact, sometimes  way over his reading level but hey, it's good to challenge yourself right. He even argued with the librarian this year about the level he was at, and said if he didn't know one of the words he would just ask mom.
• he makes friends wherever he goes. Girls or boys. In the neighborhood, at soccer, at playgrounds, during swimming lessons and at school he often played with kids even in higher grades.
• he loves sports and although he is small he seems to have a natural ability to be play any sport  and be decent at it.
• he loves Lego and has been really good at it for quite a while now. Already at 4 he could follow the instruction manuals to build sets that were for 8-12 year olds. Our families collection of Lego is huge thanks to having 4 boys and a Daddy that loves it too.
• he is a great big brother and is always looking out for his siblings. Just last week at Uncle Dwayne's and Auntie Trixie's he came running to me freaking out and said "come quick mom, come quick, there are bees everywhere by the playhouse and we need to get Isaac away from there. Hurry hurry!" Sure enough there was a wasp nest. We saved Isaac but mommy got stung.
• he loves Emma and wanted a little sister really bad before Emma was born. In her first week he actually picked out an outfit for her and said I think she will look so pretty in this mom.
• he is a rule follower for the most part and likes to remind his siblings of the rules too.
• he has just learned how to swim under water and is super excited to be taking lessons this week and next.
• he loves, and dare I say, idolizes (in a good way) his big cousin Kevin. Kevin is the coolest with his awesome truck and dirtbike, and his hunting guns.  He always takes the time to explain things and pays lots of attention to our boys.
• he is very thoughtful and always makes cards and pictures for people. Last week he wrote a song for Emma about her crying and the other day he made a "I'm sorry", card for Sam regarding lego building stuff.
• he really enjoys church and we have been told that he just might become a minister some day. He will, and has numerous times burst into tears because I wanted him to wear a Sunday outfit that didn't consist of his tie. He has also requested a suit for Sundays. On Sundays he is very particular about finding the songs we are singing, and also about writing chapters out of the Bible during the sermon.
• he recently has started saving for a quad and is very eager to work for his earnings. We've been spreading the word in the neighborhood and people are starting to come up with tasks for him. He's content with waiting and saving for an entire year if he has to. He must get his patience from his father.
• he is a serious kid but also a very enthusiastic kid. He gets so excited about the littlest things.
• he is very neat and orderly. He likes organizing things (wonder where he gets that from?) and lines up an animal book set we have by number order on the bookshelf.