I took the girls down to the fabric store the other day, which is dangerously within walking distance. Big clearance sale on half the store. Also dangerous. Avery picked out the fabric for this dress herself because it has a sparkly stripe (too subtle to see in these pics, which makes it un-princessy enough for me to still think it's a super cute choice). I'm never more inspired to try sewing clothes than in the summer when I can get away with whipping up super quick, detail-free items (i.e. all day pajamas).
Would it be weird if my kids end up wearing the same dress in different prints all summer long?
There's a lovely park across the way from where we're living with a great playground and a creek and woods and trails to explore. Once Levi got home from work tonight we took a picnic over to the park for supper and kept the girls up late so we could have a little together time while the sun still shone.
Avery climbed to the highest rung yet on the monkey bars, and let Daddy push her the fastest yet on the swing, and she earned two scrapes on her knees as marks of a true explorer. Not to mention she jumped on the trampoline with her feet earlier in the day for the first time yet. It was a day for beating personal records.
This baby peach had her very first swing today and surprised me by thinking it was the funnest time she'd ever had. I may or may not have assumed she'd wail from the separation and abandonment to the bucket and two chains, but now I'm beginning to wonder if she might be just a tiny bit more adventurous than I'm expecting. Little baby thrill seeker giggled and smiled and even let go for part of the ride. I did my best to snap pics of her in action with my phone and even got a little video of her sweet giggles.
As we walked home I laughed at how much I enjoyed such a simple outing, but it really did feel remarkable. I am just so happy to be here.
The driest kid around at the water park, but still convinced she was having a great time.
Totally satisfied with swimming in a plastic bin out on the back deck.
Eager for Daddy to take her swimming at the BIG pool early one morning = breakthrough!
This summer is 'operation get Avery comfortable with water deeper than her ankles'. She hasn't had much experience with water up until now. She never requested an upgrade for her infant sized backyard pool, enjoyed the lake from the distance of the grass last summer, only recently got over a paranoia about lying down in the bath tub, and had an epic melt down when we took her to a public pool this past winter. As we talked about moving to Kelowna and enjoying the beaches and lakes and public pools, she talked bravely and with enthusiasm and we hoped that something would click that would enable her to have fun in the water. There are so many water activity options here!
The very first time Levi took her to the pool something did click. She went in bravely and started having fun right away. They've been several times since and each time she absolutely loves it.
Water park: she has to muster some courage in that department still. The most she did this first time was wiggle her little hiney into the odd spray of water.
We celebrated Canada Day this past weekend just hanging out together. Levi had two days off in a row, which was a treat after a long week of back-to-back shifts at his two jobs and overtime at the main one. We dragged the girls out with us to wait patiently while we hooked ourselves up with new cell phones, then we picked up donuts and frosty lemonades and hit up the park near our home to soak up the lovely air. Cell phones are fun. We're so green. It's been pretty addicting testing everything out and seeing what all they can do. Our poor children ... Avery keeps telling me "Mom, turn your head this way! Look at my face!".
Later on, we were offered babysitting so Levi and I went out on a date. We left the house and felt almost overwhelmed by all the options and directions we could go. We've led a pretty date-less and option-less life over the past three years. We opted out of downtown's festivities and fireworks in favor of just hanging out on our own. We picked up burgers at Carls' Jr. and sat by the lake at one of the beach access parks. Seriously the best burgers we've had in a long time. Guacamole, bacon, spicy chipotle, and all chargrilled and homemade-like. It's been a long time since we appreciated take-out food of any kind. It just doesn't cut it where we came from.
It'll be another long stretch before Levi has a day off again, so thank you Canada for giving us a couple days to have fun together!
Looks like Miss E was just about to enjoy a happy splash in Nana's kitchen sink, all sunshine and baby giggles. Nope. This baby hates her bathtimes. It took a good thirty seconds to unlock her legs enough to get her to sit down. She cried long and hard. But oh so sweet to see her relief as soon as she was out of the sink and wrapped up in a towel.
Happy Father's Day to the sweetest daddy to our little girls.
And to my daddy.
And to his.
It's a quiet day for celebrating today. Morning was for pancakes and fresh berries. Afternoon is for a swim date at the pool for Levi and his big girl. Evening is for a pizza party with my parents, siblings, nieces + nephews. Five dads to celebrate in that bunch! It's a gift we don't take for granted that we're part of two great families with two of the best dads, and the best Grampa and Papa our girls could ask for. Happy Dad's Day!
Edit: Did I say it was a quiet day for celebrating? Not so quiet after spending dinner with my side of the fam! See my mom's blog post for pictures of our wild bunch. We're so happy that we get to be here mixing in with them! Love them all!!
We left our home in Eston bright and early Saturday morning. We hit the road at 5:30am, armed with activities, movies and snacks, and set out to follow Levi's brother in the UHaul all the day long. The girls did really well, considering how awful it is to spend a whole day in the car. Ella got the gold star for not crying once until we hit the last hour of our trip, and that was because it was bedtime and she's a responsible sort of girl. Our brother Ian got the double gold for driving the UHaul the entire way without anyone tagging him out. (Thank you!)
We rolled into the valley by 8:30pm, eye-sore and tired and ready for a good stretch. (I must have read the back of that truck eight-hundred times.)
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