Our city day

We all love a day in the city and because it doesn't happen that often, we pack as much as we can into that day. I thought the plan was going to be me taking the kids in and then meeting up with Tony later, after he was done work, for dinner. But as it turned out..he took the day off and we all went in together. I decided that my iphone was the only camera I wanted to carry around. When I looked at the photos later I wished I had taken my Nikon but....nevermind, as the memories are still the same.
We started the day off at Krause Berry Farms in Aldergrove.  Mary was meeting Nana there so it seemed the perfect place to have breakfast before heading downtown.

At Krause there is every kind of berry treat you could want but Taggart decided that nothing would do. My only rule is that he couldn't have ice cream or french fries for breakfast. Not unreasonable, I didn't think. He spent some time sulking while the rest of us enjoyed our shortcakes, pies and waffles. Cooper finally took him back to look again and he came back with a piece of corn pizza. A perfectly suitable breakfast.


I tried to get Nana into this photo but she was darting out of the sun so you'll just have to trust that she was there.

Our next stop was Capilano Suspension Bridge. The day was hot and sunny but underneath the canopy of all the trees we stayed nice and cool.





Hudson, in his usual fashion, spent the day ahead of all of us doing his own thing. We caught up with him at the end and I was able to snap this photo of all 4. One of my faves of the day.

Next stop...Granville Island. Always a favorite of the kids. A wander through the market provides so much for the senses. Love seeing all the perfect produce stacked neatly and there are so many choices of treats that everyone can choose their favorites for lunch.



A trip through the Kids Only market always means some new silly toys to bring home. Cooper was on the hunt to add to his LEGO minifigure collection. Hudson and Tag found some gag toys at the magic shop. Reagan found nothing but didn't mind at all. That girl's a saver, not a spender.


 
A gag knife for Tag and a gag gun for Hudson.


We even managed a couple family photos.
 

But not without bunny ears. At least they provide real smiles, not fake ones like I usually get.

Then we were on the move again. We headed down to the beach to watch the sunrise and just hang out. Of course, kids were hungry again so we picked up some pizza for Tag. Hudson, and Reagan, sushi for Cooper and burgers for Tony and I.
 


I tend to find we eat our way through the city with four ever hungry kids but the smiles here look like everyone was happy and satisfied. Great day.
(Apologies to Jake and Mary, as they actually joined us during parts of our day, but somehow never made it into the photos. We so loved that we could meet up with you. Thanks for fitting our plans into your day.)

A perfect view.
 

Porch time

This past weekend we were lucky to go and spend it with my brother and sister-in-law at their cabin at Lac le Jeune.
The last time we had all been there together was back in 2009 so it was definitely calling us back.
Here's our weekend story the best way I like to tell it...in photos.

The kayaks were a big memory from our last visit and they were something the kids wanted to do first. Lots of time spent on those, especially by Taggart who has happy he could go by himself this time.
 
 
 
 
They tried their luck at fishing but came back empty handed both times. Taggart called this the "speed boat" which we all thought was pretty funny. You definitely weren't breaking any speed records with this boat.


Cooper and Tag dropped these two off at the dock and "sped" away.

 
But then it started to rain so Cooper "sped" back to rescue them.
 
 A mad dash for the cabin as the raindrops came heavier and steadier. We were treated to a whole variety of weather, including and thunder storm.
 
Spying on the bald eagle's nest.
 
Some time relaxing on the dock.




Some knife throwing.




Oh ya, Uncle John and Opa showed up for a visit on Saturday and hung out with us for a while.
(not sure what that face is all about)


Lily and Leo had a lot of fun together.



The water was freezing but a few braved it anyway.


Tony needed his Starbucks fix so him and the boys buzzed into Kamloops Sunday afternoon and brought them back to enjoy on the porch.

And a few more to round out the weekend.
Thanks Rudy and Tina for a lovely time.

Our backyard in the summer

There are a lot of reasons why summer is my favorite. Our backyard is definitely one of those reasons. There's so much great stuff happening back there.

It's a really great place to have an 11th birthday party surrounded by all your best friends. Reagan wanted to watch a movie at the end of her party but the backyard provided way too much fun...they never made it inside or even out of their bathing suits.


Backyard picnics are some of my favorite summer memories. This night it was just my three boys and I (Tony worked late and Reagan was at camp). Pizza, sushi, and my fave Oma picnic blanket.


The pool has become a summer staple. Even thought I haven't personally stepped foot into it this year, it's still a backyard favorite of mine. Sounds of splashing and screaming kids is a sound of summer.


The garden. Tony works to make it lovely and it really is. I bug him about his obsession for watering but I know that's what makes it so beautiful.
This limelight hydrangea is new this year and I love looking over the deck railing and seeing it there against the purple hibiscus.


This little yellow birdhouse is also a new addition this year. Tony isn't loving it as it's not a flower but I like how it looks hanging over the pink roses.


The dahlias against the back fence and the way the setting sun shines through them each night.



The sunsets. They are always different and I never get tired of them.
 
 
 

Hudson Day

For Hudson's birthday this year, back in March, we were at a bit of a loss as to what to get him. He hadn't really asked for much so we were forced to think outside the box a little. We came up with the idea of "Hudson Day". A whole day where he was in charge of what we did, ate, watched, etc.
It was put on the calendar and yesterday was the day. He was very excited and I think it lived up to his expectations.


Homemade waffles for lunch. Can't think of any food that makes this boy happier.

Steak and twice baked potatoes for dinner.

A game of football down on the field.


He also squeezed in a trip to Starbucks and the driving range with Tony, a board game with the whole family, some video game time, and a movie with lemon meringue pie later that night.
Hudson Day was definitely a success for Hudson. I probably didn't really give enough thought to how much work it would be for me. Next year I think we'll just give him $50 and be done with it. :) Actually it was a lot of work, but the smile on his face all day long was more than enough to make it totally worth it.
And a couple of these raspberry mojitos didn't hurt either. Just a little part of Hudson Day devoted to Mama.

{heart}

I have been trying (unsuccessfully) to get back to my blog for way too long. I'm not really sure why I ever really let it go.
I used to say (back when I was a good blogger) that things never really happened if they don't show up on the blog. Like having them there up on the screen made them somehow more real. I know that really isn't true but i also know all those moments (big and small) in our lives seemed to stick tighter into my memory when I blogged them. And that is one reason why I am attempting (again) to document our lives in this way. Another reason why I am here again is because the other night I spent a few hours going through photos, organizing and editing the ones that have been taken in the last year or so. The number of photos I had to go through was significantly less than in other years. That made me sad but still as I looked through the ones I had...memories come flooding back. And i remembered why I love photos so much and why documenting them along with the story they hold is so important to me.
So before I get too caught up in this feeling of what I have possibly forgotten or missed in our lives over the past while, I will instead look to the present and take pleasure in the little things that make me smile right now.
We are half way through our summer and we have had the best weather I can remember having for a long time. We've been to the lake a couple of times, done the waterslides and had spent lots of time in the backyard.
These photos are from yesterday at Cultus Lake when I found this perfect potato chip in my bag. (who goes to the lake without potato chips??)
I {heart} summer!