Beautiful BC!

This year on our trip home to Canada we:

Spent some time up in Vanderhoof, BC with Lances family. We always have such a great time with them. There are so many cousins for the girls to play with and lot's of fun outdoor adventures to be had. 

One thing we got to do this year was try out their new house boat. They had just put it in the water, for the first time. We all piled on and off we went. It was an absolutely perfect day. Perfect. The river was still as glass, the sun was shining, it was warm, the scenery was beautiful. Ahhh, bliss. We slowly sailed along chatting, eating snacks and relaxing. 

 

The cousins

 

Lance and I

 

Lance and Scarlett

 

Captain Papa

 

Isabelle and Payton 

 

Scarlett

 

Captain Lance

 

Grandma and Papa

 

Lance having a snuggle with his girls

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Grande Prairie, Alberta!

This year on our trip home to CANADA we:

Went to Grande Prairie Alberta for the first time ever! We went up there to visit Lances Sister, Sabra and her family. We arrived on Friday June 3rd, 2011 and we were greeted with snow! That's right it was snowing in June. It was cold too! Scarlett was impressed and curious about the snow. As far as she can remember she has never seen snow. 

We had a super nice time Visiting with the Mclains. They have a beautiful house and were great hosts. They took us out to their favorite Chinese food restaurant and it was yummy! We also did some shopping, went to the farmers market, went out to the show. Sabra made us some delicious tea, the boys went riding on the motorbikes and played some squash. Anthony was a great babysitter while we went to watch Harolds Air Cadets Ceremony. All in all it was great to spend sometime with them. Usually there are a lot of people around when we see them once a year. This one on one time was nice. We are so glad they let us come and stay.

I didn't take many pictures while we were there for some reason. Here are the few I took ~ note the snow!

 

Scarlett with her Auntie Sabra

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E-Town 2011

This year on our trip home to CANADA we:

Spent a few days in Edmonton! It was so nice to be back there. I really do like the city, but I could do without the cold. However Our time spent there was enjoyable. We took the kids to West Ed and Isabelle was such a champ! I was so proud of her going on a ton of scary rides and begging for more. 

We stayed at Lances Sisters. The kids had a blast playing, making mud pies, and getting dirty! We watched movies, ate, shopped and visited. Also, Chelsey gave my girls haircuts! It was Scarletts very first one.It was so nice to spend time with the Depeels, we sure miss them! 

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Scarletts 2!

This year on our trip home to CANADA:

Scarlett turned 2! The girls and I went over to Canada 1 month ahead of Lance. Scarlett had her Birthday while he was still in the Philippines. We waited for him to arrive before we Celebrated. We were so excited for him to come. A month is a LOoooong time apart. 

We made a banner to welcome him at the airport. Let me just say he looked real good to me :)

Scarlett got a baby doll name "Molly" for her birthday and she just loved it!

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Isabelle and Aliya = Two pea's in a pod.

This year on our trip home to Canada we: 

Were able to make lot's of playdates for Isabelle. Most of these were with her best friend, Aliya. I babysat Aliya for a few years. Isabelle and Aliya are just a few weeks apart and spent a lot of time together, just the two of them. 

They are still great friends and it seems no matter how long we go in between visits, they pick right up and never miss a beat. They laugh and giggle and play and play.

 

Ice cream cones on the swing

 

Popcorn and a movie on a sleepover night

 

McDonalds for lunch and the playplace

At the park - Tight hug!

Showing off their shirts we made. They say "Isabelle and Aliya Best Friends."

 

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The new blanket

This Year on our trip home to CANADA I:

Was feeling ambitious and decided to sew Scarlett a new blanket. Scarlett is a blankie lover.

Now I'm not a great sewer...in fact I wouldn't say I am even good. However, I do enjoy it and I wish I could practice more. Someday I will get a machine of my own but until then my projects have been few and far between. 

For this blanket I definitely bit off more than I could chew! I had to make up the pattern myself....anyway long story short the blanket turned out a lot smaller than it was supposed to be due to many cutting errors. It looks good from far but is far from good.

The good? I learned a lot and Scarlett loves it, that's what really matters. 

 

The Material

 

The Pattern...... :S

 

The Girls standing on the finished product.

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Ladies Weekend!

This year on our trip home to Canada I:

Got to go away for the weekend with a few of my girlfriends. My wonderful mom watched my girls for me so I could have some "ME" time. We talked non stop, we ate, we went to the  movies, we laughed so hard we cried, we stayed up way to late, we shopped till we dropped and then we shopped some more! It was so nice, refreshing, and relaxing! 

Can't wait till the next one! Luv these girlfriends of mine, I'm so lucky to have such great friends....really I am.

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Parks and Lawnmowers

This year on our trip home to CANADA we:

Went to parks and for "Lawn mower rides" around grandma's acreage. So much fun! Scarlett loves parks (what kid doesn't?) but she especially loves the swing. It's the first thing she goes to and will stay there the whole time if someone will push her. 

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Mmmm New Baby.....

This year on our trip home to CANADA we:

Were lucky enough to welcome a new baby girl into our Family. My sister Angi Gardner gave her 2 year old boy a baby sister.  We arrived just hours after she was born and we went straight to the hospital to see her. It was midnight we got a few glares from the nurses but it was totally worth it. 

She is just the most precious thing ever. They named her "Eden Elizabeth Gardner"

In my house I had a magnet on my fridge that read "Baby's are such a nice way to start people" and I totally agree :)

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