sisters

It is so much fun to see how these two are starting to interact with each other.  Ella's figured out crawling and is raring to walk if only her tiny feet would cooperate with her.  She wants to chase after that big sister!  Avery adores Ella and loves to get right up close, squish her cheeks, make her giggle, and lets E push her around like she's a circus strong-baby.  

Just had to share a quick video from tonight of our rascally little girls!  Love these little ones!  (Those with aged ears may not register the high level of squealing going on in this video.)

fourth birthday

We celebrated Avery's 4th birthday yesterday evening at home with just us.  We made her favorite supper - pancakes, or "paypakes" - with all the deluxe toppings.  Whipped cream, strawberries, blackberries, peaches, bananas, syrup, and sprinkles (for the birthday girl only).  Delicious feast for our sweet as can be girl.

Her homemade gift from Mama this year was a little nurse's outfit (under clothing optional apparently), which she totally saw coming.  She saw the blue fabric laid out on the table and gasped "Are you making something for me!?  Is it a nurse's outfit!!??".  She loves dressing up, loves imaginary play, and her dress-up collection has been sorely lacking.  This is the year to start changing that.

From Nana and Papa, a new set of fairy princess dress-up clothes to further boost her tickle trunk and a special little pencil box all the way from Korea.

Ella had her first taste of pancakes deluxe and was popping bites in faster than Nana and Daddy could cut up and supply.  She's definitely one of ours.

Tonight we gathered with Avery's Gramma, Grampa, aunts, uncles and cousins from my side of the family to party it up one more time.  We were rained out of our plan to get together at the beach, but had a great last minute option with Karl and Lisa's covered deck.  

Everyone brought their own picnic to eat and then Avery opened presents.  A Polly Pocket slide and pool set, the game Trouble, a big girl Lego set, flowery barrettes, new bath toys, and her own little 'Cars' toy to fit in with all those boys.  

Happy fourth birthday to our darling little girl!

with the browns

We skipped over the border to Bellingham this past weekend.  The sole purpose was to spend time with our friends the Browns who have just recently moved there.  So nice to live close enough for a casual weekend visit!

On Saturday we spent the day checking out some of the local spots that Derek and Katie have discovered and also had a tour of Derek's new work place at Logos.  Bellingham is really pretty and we're so happy for our friends to have such a great place to settle down in for a while.  They made us an awesome supper that evening, complete with blackberry mojitos.  After the girls had all been tucked into bed we had a great night together playing games, laughing and chatting.  Sunday morning we slowly rolled out of bed and then Katie and I dashed off for some mamas-only shopping at the mall before it was time to gather our stuff and make our way back home to BC.

Zuanich Park

 The clever and adorable Evelyn.

Touch tanks at the Marine Life Center.

Ice cream treat at Mallards.

And Avery got her long-wished-for Barbie.  Her actual b'day was on Saturday and while we knew we had plans to celebrate after the weekend, we did bring this one gift for her to open and she received a new sparkly tutu and cute top from the Browns.  Happy girl!

Our visit was short and sweet, but well worth it and so easy to enjoy just one whole day together knowing it won't be long until another visit.  (Even if that supposed "quick trip" is actually a quarter time longer, no thanks to the littlest travellers and their tendencies to potty breaks and explosive diapers.)

survey

- A Survey with Avery on the Day Before Turning Four -

Favorite food to eat at breakfast?  Toast.
Favorite food to eat at lunch?  Peanut butter sandwich.
Favorite food to eat at supper?  Bow noodles.
Favorite thing to do with Daddy?  Go swimming.
Favorite thing to do with Mommy?  Bake.
Favorite thing to do with Ella?  Keep her away from danger.
Best friend?  Ava.
Favorite TV show?  Dinosaur Train, My Little Pony.
Favorite movie?  Rapunzel (Tangled).
Favorite song to sing?  Twinkle Twinkle.
Favorite big toy?  Big stuffy bear.
Favorite little toy?  Play food.
Favorite things to sleep with?  Mousie, pink bear, big bear, and pink blanket.
Favorite color?  Purple (although I beg to differ).
What do you want to be when you grow up?  A mom.
What can you do when you turn 4?  Play with Barbies.
What makes you happy?  Surprises.
What makes you sad?  Falling.
Where do you like to go?  The park.
Favorite treat to eat?  Popsicles!

ten years

We celebrated ten years married this weekend.  TEN. 

We started our anniversary date off with big ice cream cones from Marble Slab (Peanut Butter Crunch for him and a Tipsy Sailor for me).  Worst cones ever started dripping through the bottom almost immediately.  We gobbled them up on our way downtown where we gave ourselves only one quarter for parking meter time.  We poked through a bookstore for a while, then took off on a little drive up to the highest point where Levi's been working this summer.  A short hike up at Kuiper's Peak to give ourselves a panoramic view of Kelowna and the lake, then we made our way back down for our dinner reservation.  

We sat out on the patio at Wild Apple for three hours, enjoying blazing sun then sunset and finally darkness with candle light.  Appetizer, delicious wines, fancy entrees, dessert coffees and a complimentary 'Happy Anniversary' truffle plate from the chef.  All very lovely.  We left the restaurant with enough time to dash off to see a movie.  Went to the wrong theatre - so completely wrong that the right one was across the lake at the other end of Westbank.  We were going to see The Amazing Spiderman, so didn't see much loss in arriving a bit late and made the turn around anyway.  I enjoy a good super hero flick right alongside my comics fanboy, but I do declare that was my favorite one.  

Over the course of our date, we gave ourselves some mental exercise and reminisced through all ten years.  We remembered the main features of each year and then had fun coming up with the highlights and distinct memories, big or small.  Ten years!  Where has the time gone?

First kisses.  First dates.  Wedding day.  Poor man's honeymoon.  FGBI.  Kentwood Apartment.  Shake n' Bake and sidekicks.  First cat Mokie.  Kay's House.  Dance parties.  Cafeteria.  First turkey.  East coast trip.  Orchard House.  Grilling suppers.  Fancy meats.  Carriage House.  Stubby the cat.  Burritos.  Back to school?  Yes.  Most expensive one?  Sure.  Regent College.  Kibble Suite.  Friebel Suite.  Best friends.  Camping trips.  Bird sanctuaries.  Pizza.  House parties.  Birthday parties.  Beach parties.  Fireworks.  Whistler trip.  Ikea.  Cheap hot dogs.  Shaughnessy Apartment.  iMac.  Burgers and fries.  Quebec trip.  Made a baby.  Farewell to friends.  Mexico trip.  Became parents - welcomed baby Avery.  Moved back in with parents.  Paint colors.  Jolly jumper.  Graduated from Regent.  Quail Place Apartment.  Eston College.  Became homeowners.  Games nights.  Dear students.  Vegetable garden.  Made another baby.  Became parents again - welcomed baby Ella.  Packed up ship, moved back to Kelowna, and here ... we ... are.

I love you, my honey.  It really has gotten better every year and my heart can't wait for what's in store.

yard day

We spent an afternoon out in my parents' backyard yesterday.  There's enough space to set up a kiddie pool for the girls and it's always a treat for them to have different toys to play with.  I'm loving these laid back days of summer!  Pool time, popsicles, iced tea, popcorn, coloring books, heaps of little toys, and a wireless connection for Mama while Ella napped and Avery got absorbed in watering flowers.  

This little one is so close to crawling.  I'm predicting one more week, if that.  She's eager to move!

And look at those little pearly whites!  I'm a big fan of those first little teeth.

 Can't get enough of  seeing how these two are starting to interact together.

Love these little summer girlies!  Thanks for letting us invade your yard, Gramma and Grampa!

dough

We made play dough yesterday.  Lots of it.  In neon colours no less.  It constituted a trip to the store for new storage containers and a bigger bin to hold all our supplies.  We've gotten a little more serious about it over here.  

Easiest thing ever to make your own play dough and it's so much nicer to use than the store bought stuff.  (We got our recipe from here.)  Avery loved helping me mix (at least in the early stages of each batch) and watching the colour swirl together.  Then she started playing and I'm pretty sure we hung out at the kitchen island for about two-and-a-half hours.  Not bad entertainment, I'd say!  

reunion

Last weekend was the long awaited reunion for me and my Vancouver girls.  After months of planning and dialoging and waiting impatiently, the day had come.  We were Idaho bound!  

It was a pretty joyful reunion and I got the best welcome being the last one to arrive.  Love these girls!  We enjoyed one night out on the town in Boise for drinks and appies at Bardenay.  Then back to Grace's for the night.

All ready to go Friday morning ...

... after a quick pit-stop at Target for sunscreen, etc.

Then we made the two hour drive up the mountain to our destination at Warm Lake and the most perfect little cabin that belongs to Grace's extended family.  We couldn't have asked for a more ideal place to retreat.  It's beautiful and peaceful.

There is nothing more relaxing than floating on a lake.  I want to go back.  

Our days were pretty agenda free.  Get up, eat, go float on the lake, eat, go float some more, eat, play games, dance, sing, talk, laugh, cry, pray ... repeat.  

Two went jogging and three went huckleberry picking.

A little dance party, a little Mad Gab, a little Wits and Wagers, and a stellar weekend soundtrack.

It was amazing to have such a big break from constant questions and little demands, from running errands and daily tasks, from diapers and bottles and all the rest. 

We ate seriously good food.  Baked oatmeal with yogurt and strawberries, chicken salad croissants, polenta fries with chili lime dip, avocado and feta salad, grilled halloumi cheese, huckleberry pancakes and bacon, chicken quinoa salad, sweet corn on the cob, toasted bagels with cream cheese and peaches, grilled shrimp and chicken skewers, coconut rice, lovely wines and a pretty wide variety of drinks and brews.  Not bad at all, Mrs Cramer.  You fed us real well.

Matching hoodies were in order for the weekend ... and of course a photo shoot (naturally).  

Not accomplished without its fair share of goofiness.  

Monday morning we packed up, swept ourselves out the door, and made our way back down the mountain.  One last meal together - a giant slice each at Flying Pie Pizza - and then one last shot of the five before goodbyes.

In my life there doesn't exist another group of girls just like this.  We were so blessed in Vancouver days to form such a lasting connection and I love each of them dearly.  Can't wait for next time!