Surprise Visitor!

For weeks the girls new that a surprise visitor was coming to see us, but they had no idea who!

Oh I tell ya... what fun to know a secret, but how hard it is to keep it! :)

On the way down to the airport Alia guessed who it was... though I didn't let on that her guess was actually correct!!

We had some VERY VERY excited little ladies when they saw Gramma waving to them outside the airport doors!

This was by far the most relaxing visit (visitor!) we've had! I didn't plan things to do, I didn't plan meals, I didn't clean my house from top to bottom... we just simply enjoyed each other's company!

My mom came with activities that the girls could pick each day, and she managed to spend as much quality time with each girl as possible!

All of us girls got a date with Gramma/Mom and we each got to choose where we wanted to go! Alia chose Dairy Queen for ice cream and a walk at the research centre (a pretty garden type place in our area)... Larren chose an outdoor ice cream shop... Caidrie chose the park and an outdoor snack... and I chose to go a local coffee shop, that to our surprise had completely gluten free cheese cake!! It was fabulous... as was the conversation with my mama!

Mom also got to take in three of Alia's T ball games!

  

  

The base "squeaks" when the kids jump on it... so little sister was feeling the need to try it out as well!

Banana oatmeal muffins for breakfast... with chocolate chips added at Larren's request! Caidrie seemed to enjoy them quite well!

As I said, Mom had LOTS of fun activities planned for the girls each day! They couldn't wait to choose their popsicle stick when they woke up each morning!

One activity was a tea party with their favorite stuffed animal on the verandah!

Animal turned into animals rather quickly!

They enjoyed fresh squeezed lemonade... 

... and gluten free animal crackers!

Lots and lots of memories were made during the week Gramma was out. And I learned a thing or two about my mama as well!

She is a really, really good story "maker upper!" The girls have asked me to tell stories like Gramma did and I haven't been able to come close to her creativity!

And... her heart is so, so, big. I knew she was super loving before this... but again, this trip just made me realize it even more! 

We were all super duper blessed by her visit... 

... and again, just going to throw it out there... ya'll are welcome to come by any time! :)

5 Going on 15

A little while ago our oldest chica turned FIVE! Five... a number that seems so little, yet so big all at one time! She never ceases to blow us away with her maturity, her ability to remember every little detail, her eagerness to learn, and the sweetness of her heart!

Her horsey had given her five helium balloons to wake up to...

... which all the girls promptly went to show daddy. Who was still trying to sleep! :)

Isn't this guy wonderful?! Holding one of the girl's babies while flipping sprinkle pancakes... which he strongly dislikes! Not the sprinkle part... but the pancake part! He worked too many summer at camp and ate more than his fair share, I guess!

We were going to surprise Alia by whisking her away to the city... but a couple days before we realized that it would be more fun for all of us if we just stuck closer to home.

I quickly called Auntie Jer and asked if a horse ride would be okay... and with the confirmed yes... Jon and I set off to plan a day long scavenger hunt for Alia!

All of our gifts (that we buy on clearance through out the year... so it definitely wasn't planned!) worked out well with the scavenger hunt. She would open a gift... and then guess what activity coordinated with it!

She opened her mosaic sticker horse craft set and was excited enough. But when her and Larren guessed the activity that lay ahead, they were bouncing with joy!

Have I mentioned that she really. really. really likes horses?!

And that I said we would never own a horse?

But that we are now starting to consider buying one? Funny what kids will do to ya, eh?

Even her sisters got to go for a cruise, too!

Thanks again Auntie Jer!

We went home and had gluten free macaroni and cheese (a treat for the birthday girl, indeed!) and then "conned" all three girls into taking naps! I enjoyed snuggles with the birthday girl as we drifted off to sleep together, so I would say I was the one blessed with a gift on that round!

After naps we were off to the beach for an afternoon snack. We had the place to ourselves... as you can see!

We haven't had a doughnut since we went completely gluten free in August, and our birthday girl has been asking for one for a couple months. So...

... we got a couple boxes from the health food store and Jon warmed them up at the beach.

Remember my post about him being a possible Canadian redneck... cough cough... it may or may not be more confirmation! :) (One thing we can be certain on... he wants to bless his girls as much as he possibly can!)

The doughnuts were delicious and made for a number of happy campers!

As were were at the beach we noticed that the water tower was leaning... so we decided to drive over and take a look. 

Sure enough, they were taking it down! After years and YEARS of being a visual in Morden, it was time to see it off! Apparently it was supposed to be down earlier that morning, but they ran into complications.

So we waited and watched...

... picked dandelions and practiced grass whistling... 

.. got a closer look and waited some more...

... then all of a sudden... 

... it started going...

... and BOOM!

It was the biggest boom I've heard yet in my life! Almost instantly rust started pouring out... so our viewing quickly came to a halt and we rushed to the vehicle!

But my oh my... what a cool thing to see on Ali's birthday! A little piece of history in the making and something we won't quickly forget!

We joined our "adoptive family" at one of Alia's favorite outdoor places to eat and enjoyed catching up / eating / playing together. With a little ice cream... of course!

They had brought her presents...

... so she opened those...

... we played some more, and then said our goodbyes!

It was such a fun relaxed day! Our birthday girl felt blessed...

... and we got another little chance to tell her/show her how much we love her!

Canadian Redneck

I can no longer be in denial... this picture is blazing proof that yes, my husband is indeed a Canadian redneck.

A cheap beat up (smelly!) car and it's ugly ugly wheels,WITH a hitch and a trailer on the back. Wow!

I am pleased to report that this car was written off and has gone on to car insurance land... and will probably end up in scrap yard heaven! When Jon told the girls they whooped, hollered and cheered!! :)

Cause this was replacing it in the drive way!

Those of you who know my husband, know that he can go from cheap redneck car... to decked out truck in a New York minute.

And then right back to a rusted truck without blinking! 

He likes to keep our neighbors (and his wife!) guessing as to what will be in the driveway!

I've Been in a Slump

I've simply had no desires to take pictures. 

I feel like we've been cooped up inside forever and it's just the same ole thing day in and day out... so I've kind of went on a photography strike. As odd as that sounds! But it will help explain why I've been on a blogging vacation! 

I'm glad to say that the little va-cay has given me new appreciation for my Nikon, and I'm once again excited to learn new things and snap, snap, snap that shutter button! Oh and the fact that it's FINALLY starting to feel like spring here might help too! Cause really... taking pictures of us crafting and running around the basement daily for the last 6 months just might not hold your attention for long!

My computer is practically empty of pictures from the last month, but today as I was looking through some things I found these random pictures that the girls took on my point and shoot. (Which I just got as a diaper bag camera... and it's nice, it is... but it makes me really REALLY like my DSLR!!)

So, I may have been MIA... but here's a couple from Alia & Larren's perspective!

  

These last two crack me up! We were reading "Grandma's Attic" outside while Caidrie was napping... on a rare warm day... and I told the girls I was going to soak in the sunshine for 5 minutes... TOPS! All of a sudden I fell asleep and the girls just let me rest there! No interruptions, no nothing... when I woke up I thought that rather odd... but now I know why! They got to use Mommy's camera and they didn't want me to take away that opportunity! :)

So... my vacation is nearing an end... and I will try to get a little better at consistency. But remember... try... is the main word there... TRY! :)

Making Mommy Smile

May I Take Your Order, Please?

I printed off some fabulous free "menus" to go with the girls Melissa and Doug play food then laminated them (because I have a bit of an obsession about laminating everything after receiving a laminator for my birthday!) and the girls have been playing practically non-stop with the things!

No stuffed animal has gone hungry!

And the service is next to none... guaranteed it always comes with a smile and a "when you're done with that sandwich I will gladly make you another!"

Beauty Salon Before and Afters

 

Curious Caidrie