Whirlwind visit in Kelowna

We spent the long weekend up in Kelowna celebrating my Grandma's life. We stayed at my dad and Joyce's place but spent most of our time down at my aunt and uncles place on the lake. It used to be my Gram and Gramp's place. I spent weeks there in the summer and it holds a special place in my heart b/c of the wonderful people there. My aunt Betty and uncle Willy have always said to me that me and my family are always welcome there and they truly mean it. They are the most amazing hosts you could ever have. Last summer as we were getting out of the car the girls trampled some bushes but they were both like "Oh don't worry about it! It's just bushes. Here step over these ones too!" They've always had young children around so they  know stuff happens. We spent three days in a row with them- just now realizing that I need to send a nice thank you gift. We're like the tasmanian devil everywhere we go- so much movement and full of strange sounds.

 

 Cassidy was riding my aunt's little ceramic donkey. Couldn't capture her actually on it though.

 The girls spent so much time in the water. Olivia was determined to catch a fish and worked so hard at it. The minnows were so tiny and hard to catch but she eventually did it!

 Cassidy loves being naked. It was pretty warm up there so I let her.

 We needed some time out of the sun so we went to a place called EnergyPlex. It was really cool and the girls had so much fun!

 Lexie lost her hair clip and it was a cute butterfly one that matches a gymboree outfit. I went in looking for it. It seemed like an impossible task but I found it!

 Me with Dad and Joyce. Umm...I'm not that fat in person I think. I seriously need a new hairdo. And color.

 I got to go tubing! This is me with Olivia and M. Lexie was supposed to go but got a little afraid.
Then when we left she started to cry b/c she wanted to go!

 Lexie on the boat before her tube ride.


Lexie finally got her turn!

 Uncle Mike met us up there too. He helped the girls catch some minnows.

 My aunt Betty- finally getting to relax.

 The reason we were all there- Reita Evelyn Knox. I loved looking at the old photos of her. Seeing her with my Grampa brought back so many memories of him too. I need to get those photos scanned onto my computer.

 The girls at the fake palm tree. They rarely get to be up when it's dark. It was a real treat for them.

 My aunt and uncle have a little frog that hangs around their patio.

Sharing a bed with Cassidy. She loves having stories read and requests them every night.

We were up in Kelowna such a short time. The lack of sleep is hard on Dan and I so maybe next year when Cassidy doesn't need a nap and can sleep with her sisters we'll stay longer.

Lexie's birthday wish

                                                                "I wish I could fly."

Hop Skip and a Jump to Portland

So we got back from Portland on July 24th. Since then Lexie turned 5, Dan and I had our 9th anniversary and we've come and gone to Kelowna. But I started this blog post already so I'll do this first and then the others will come.

When I tell people we're going to Portland they usually make a comment about how far away it is. But we've done it so many times and we have our favourite stops so it doesn't feel too long. (Target, Costco, rest stops for the girls to play in) We got Nexus this year so that shaved some time off.

Here are some photos:

Oregon Zoo

OMG- as we're coming up to the farm animals Cassidy (who had been really grumpy that morning) threw up a little bit! Lexie and Olivia had both thrown up a week before we left for Oregon so I was terrified that she had the same stomache bug. But that was the end of that. She was pretty good after that.

We didn't take anymore pictures b/c as you can imagine we just don't have the time to! We stayed at the Embassy Suites again and actually stayed in the exact same suite as last year. The favourite part of the trip for the girls was the hotel pool. We spent alot of the time in and around the hotel. Cassidy wanted nothing to do with the playpen so she slept with Dan and I. It was not ideal. The first night I seriously felt like I got no sleep. The next nights were better but I woke up several times a night to either thumb sucking, Cassidy calling my name or feet in my side. Fun times!!!! Breakfast was fun though- the buffet is huge with lots of choices. We picked up a bunch of school supplies and the next year's worth of shoes for the girls. Next place Olivia (and I) want to go for vacation: Hawaii! Long shot for us to go there but not impossible.

Lexie is 5

Lexie turned 5 yesterday. She really is a character! She's such a smart, happy, feisty, little girl. She asks really interesting, meaningful questions. She's kinda secretive and she will never admit when she's sick or hurt. Her room is the neatest of everyone in our house. It's not that she's super neat, it's more that she plays in her sisters rooms where she leaves the mess! When I was pregnant with Olivia I remember thinking about how much I loved Olivia and how my world revolved around her. I wondered how would I love another child as much? (I knew I would but I couldn't fathom it yet.) Boy did I find out how!! She was a surprise at birth and when I found out I had another girl I was so ecstatic! I had always wanted a sister and now Olivia would have a friend for life. (A mom can only hope of course!) In the weeks after I had her I was on this natural high. Some moms get the baby blues after birth but with Alexis I was just so euphoric. That's our little Alexis- bring so much joy and happiness to our lives!

 At the play area in Washington Square Mall- Tigard, OR.

20 weeks ultrasound.

 Just a day or two before I had Alexis.

 July 31, 2007

I would get (and still get) comments about how beautiful her face is and how striking her eyes are.

Oregon Zoo July 2009.

Sorry for another "swimming is so brutal and aren't I an awesome mother for still taking them swimming?" post.

So let me back to May and June. Every Thursday at 10:35 Lexie would have swimming lessons and Cassidy and I would go to public swim. Cassidy's favorite thing to do was the hot tub which had this great ramp where parents and kids could hang out. The problem wasn't in the hot tub but when we left. She would kick and claw and scream at me. Then there was the other problem of when we were in the deep end she would always want me to let go. Those were her words. The worse part was in the change room though. Bare feet on the floor, having to pee in their washrooms, trying to find a room with a shower, dropped clothes on the wet floor, and lots of crying. So what do I do? I sign up all 3 girls for swimming lessons this summer!!! Every Saturday!!! What kind of a fool am I? A big one. Olivia and Lexie go to lessons by themselves but I have to go in with Cassidy. The first class did not go well. I'm talking really bad. I was THAT parent that everyone in the pool was thanking God they were not. Cassidy has only been for public swimming so the concept of being told what to do was not cool with her. The class starts out with all the kids sitting quietly in their parents laps at the edge of the pool. All the kids except Cassidy. She wants to go to the slide and she's yelling "Slide!" over and over. I actually at one point let her go down the slide to quiet her down but that wasn't enough. She still screamed for the slide. I continued to try and get her to participate in the class but she was spitting mad and kept hitting me and scratching me, all while screaming. We went through the same cycle with her hitting and scratching and me taking her out of the pool for a time out- all while screaming. Her not me in case you're wondering. I was exhausted at the end. I mean it's bad enough I have to put on a bathing suit over my pudgy body and hairy legs but the added humiliation of being screamed and clawed at by a 2 year old was alot to take. I considered taking her out of the class. I really considered that one. All week. But I decided to try another time. My plan was for Dan to take her but somehow he wormed his way out of it. The second class was so much better. Still a struggle but alot better. Please someone share with me their stories of swimming. Am I weird? Does swimming just not go well for me???

Check out our pool! It's on it's second year of use. I bought it 2 years ago at Superstore's blow out summer sale for like $2.99. This was back when Superstore was well....the Superstore of old. Ya, some of you know what I'm talking about. Back when their colors were yellow and black and their sale signs were flourescent colors. Now they're all cool and hip and their pools are $49.99.

This is the same little girl who cries when I rinse the shampoo out of her hair. She's also the same little girl who gets agitated when a drop of liquid falls on her clothes. She then proceeds to get naked and away from the wet. This time she couldn't have cared less.

Remembering the Good Times (Gram Part 2)

I want to say so much about these pictures but in honour of my Gram I want to just share. I think the love in these pictures speaks loudly.

Lots and lots of love.