Seriously, VERY anticipated, we love having Karyn on her once a year pilgrimage to visit our family. This year she drove down which always makes her arrival more of a surprise.

This year she chose to come down in August. Her timing was pretty perfect. The right week to see Trinity and Emanuel test for belt levels in Karate, to see Echo’s dance recital (solo act version), see off Ken and the boys before their first 5K run AND celebrate an early birthday for Echo. Yup, we kept her busy!

We had all sorts of fun. Karyn is one of the very few who has now met our Momo in person. They got along swimmingly.

Then in a last minute plan we went out to meet the Schwartz family at a splash park. We sent the twins and dads out to play Pokemon. It was a little on the cool side, but fun was had.

Bedtime stories were read with Aunty of course.

And Karyn and I ducked off to check out a larger quilting and yarn shop and then on the way home stop at a series of outlets where we enjoyed Five Guys.

We took our favourite walk to the Catholic Church.

And took her to our favourite beach. That was just Karyn and my supervision on that one. We managed it!

Then over to the Schwartz family’s for dinner and Mystro time.

Karyn and I snuck off a second time for a marathon shop at Mall of America. Ken has still not accepted the flowered Dr. Martins I bought at an absolute steal. Never could afford a pair as a teenager.

Friday was our early birthday fun. A trip to the zoo no less. Birthday girls’ choice. Karyn is working on becoming an amazing photographer.

Then a nice long dinner adults only after the dance recital. And the week was over.

Hugs at dawn on Saturday and a tearful good bye and the visit was over in the blink of an eye! She came bearing snacks and gifts from her previous travels but the best part was just the time we got with her. Never enough, but so very precious and well loved. Can’t wait until next year!!!

And here is the overflow of awesome!

Well well, I had not posted this ON time, but I shall post it now… April 26 – Trinity turned 7! Where has the time gone? For her birthday, ON her birthDATE Trinity requested to spend it at Aunty Shandai’s creating pretty things for her wedding.

So Ken dropped us off at Shandai’s and we spent the day quietly there. With the inclusion of a new friend – the daughter of one of the other members of the wedding party.

Before that Aunty Renee took us on a girls’ day out fun day… we enjoyed Charming Charlie’s (HERE) where we tried on all sorts of fun accessories. Nana had given each of the girls 5.00 which was put to great use.

Aunty Renee had each of them pick out a pretty headband to purchase as well!

You can see Trinity’s headband in this one

We are at 5 Guys where we quickly realized burgers and hot dogs were way more than the girls needed… rather all they wanted was some fries and PEANUTS! Tons of free peanuts!

We ended our time out with decadent cupcakes! Talk about a perfect girls’ day out! Thanks Aunty Renee!!

Trinity assured me it was the BEST birthday month EVER! So I think we did well. But really, where has the time gone??