Fun Times at Grandma and Grandpa's

The kids absolutely love being at Grandma and Grandpa's.  My mom and dad shower the kids with attention and my kids absolutely soak it all up. 

So Alyssa and Lucas were so incredibly excited when my mom and dad came home and we surprised them by already taking over their house. 

First thing on my agenda was getting the van washed as it was filthy from our camping trip. 

Alyssa was quite "put out" when after they were done washing the car, I went to a drive thru car wash. She just didn't understand that the drive thru car wash could do a better job than little hands could. 

One evening we visited a local park and spray park.  Alyssa was right in the spray park like a dirty shirt, but Lucas did his usual and just stayed on the outskirts; watching his big sister.  I think sometimes that the kids have more fun when going to the spray park just kind of happens and we don't have their bathing suits etc. 

Another night, we took the kids out for ice cream.....Yum....

One morning I took the kids to Riverside Park. As we were walking to the park, a train started coming towards us and Lucas went crazy.  He loves trains and to see one so close up was just about more than he could handle.  He was so excited.

We then moved on to the beach where my little boy was in heaven because he could play in the dirt. 

Yep, there is no doubt about it; Grandma and Grandpa's is FUN.











Summer Ending But New Beginnings in Fall

This last week I have struggled with the fact that our summer is ending.  It's not just our summer ending though, it is that Miss Alyssa is starting school this fall. 

Throughout this week I kept thinking about how this was the last week of our time together.  I know I am being totally unrational and that we will still have lots of time together.  I just feel that we are closing another chapter and it makes me sad. 

I love having Alyssa and Lucas home with me.  I love our lazy mornings, and our fun memories that we have and are still creating. 

This fall will be different, but still good.  Alyssa will be in school in the mornings and taking the bus (AHHHHH......just a little panic for this momma) and that makes me sad, but on the other hand, I will have my mornings with just my little man.  I am looking forward to the time together that we will have just Lucas and I. 

I know that Alyssa is more than ready for school and I am really happy for her.  But, I just can't help looking at her this past week and remembering the little girl that used to hang on my shirttails. 

It has been an emotional week for me and I am sure that next week will be even more emotional, but we will get through it and move on.

Speaking of moving on, I was praying to God and asking for direction on where I needed to be this fall. 

About a year and a half ago, I felt like God was calling me to Leadership but I really didn't feel that it was the right time.

A few days ago, though, I felt in my spirit, that now was the time to join leadership.  So I joined the Ladies Executive at our church and I also agreed to lead a book study at our Women In Touch on Wednesday mornings.

I am very excited, but also a little nervous as this is really a step of faith for me.  I am believing though, that this is God's will and that  he will carry me through this journey. 

I can't wait to see what God has in store for the women of Evangel in the coming months. 

Swimming....

After we decided to extend our vacation.  Matt went back to Edmonton and the kids and I stayed in Kamloops at my mom and dad's. 

My mom and dad, though, were still at their cabin and we couldn't get hold of them so we "broke" into their house (I knew the garage keypad code) and stayed there for two days until they got home. 

While we were there, it was HOT in Kamloops.  I called my mom and dad's good friends Nancy and Ron (we grew up with their kids and they are like family to us) and invited ourselves over for a swim.

Nancy and Ron were more than welcoming and had fun watching my littles take over their backyard. 

Lucas again didn't want anything to do with the pool but he insisted on wearing his waterwings.  I couldn't believe that he didn't want to swim as it was SO hot as you can see by his red, red cheeks. 

Lucas started getting a little more brave, trying to get the noodle.

Alyssa and Nancy in the pool.  Nancy and Ron have been good, good friend with my parents since my sister was a baby.  We have spent a lot of time with their family over the years.

Lucas would stand on the side of the pool and count with us, "one, two, three....GO!!" We could only understand the GO though but he thought it was fun that when he said GO, Alyssa would jump off the divingboard.  









They made a nice dinner for us and it felt just like we were home with our family.  Thanks Nancy and Ron for a great afternoon/evening.  

Horseback Riding

A few minutes down the road from our cabin, was riding stables. 

The first day we didn't know that you needed to book an appointment so we just got to let the kids ride around the yard. 

Feeding the donkey.....

Lucas didn't want anything to do with the horses or the donkey....



The next day we went back for a trail ride.  It was Alyssa and Ethan's first time on a trail ride and they were so excited. 

This is Lynx....the first horse that Alyssa ever really rode (not including pony rides etc.)

It was such a beautiful day.  The sun was shining, the birds were chirping....yet it was silence on the trailride.  Beautiful. 





Tubing

One day while we were camping we decided to rent a ski boat.  It was so much fun.

It was the first time for Ethan and for Alyssa to try tubing and they had a blast.....until they fell off.  It was very scary, but of course they were fine as they had their life jackets on.  Hopefully next summer we will be able to get them back on a tube. 

Nevertheless, they had a lot of fun which you will be able to see in the pictures. 

SO....MUCH....FUN......

Dirty, Dirty, Dirty Boy

While we were camping, Lucas was in his glory; in the dirt.  He spent hours upon hours playing with his trucks in the dirt. 

There is a special relationship with a little boy and dirt.  And my little boy was a very dirty boy each evening. 

This last picture is what he looked like most of the week.  He was always dirty, even after he just had a bath. 

But, he was in his element. 



Cousin Love

We love our cousins and we love spending time with them.  Thankfully we got alot of one on one time with Ethan while we were camping and the kids loved it.  There is something really special about a cousin and I hope that Lucas and Alyssa always have a special relationship with their cousins.

Ethan is such a sweet, laid back little guy.  He is always fun to be around.  We just love his so much.