Tag Archive | Jeffrey

Much Anticipated Yearly Aunty Karyn Visit!

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!20180810_123550

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.IMG_20180804_214050_258

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.IMG_20180805_220306_162

Bedtime stories were read with Aunty of course.IMG_20180805_220228_325

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.IMG_20180807_215711_361

We took our favourite walk to the Catholic Church.IMG_20180807_215853_035

And took her to our favourite beach. That was just Karyn and my supervision on that one. We managed it!20180808_103243

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Then over to the Schwartz family’s for dinner and Mystro time.IMG_20180808_231459_425

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.20180807_125043

Friday was our early birthday fun. A trip to the zoo no less. Birthday girls’ choice. Karyn is working on becoming an amazing photographer.20180810_102653

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Then a nice long dinner adults only after the dance recital. And the week was over.20180810_163036

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!!!20180811_073005

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And here is the overflow of awesome!20180808_103234

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This entry was posted on 21/12/2018, in Uncategorized. 1 Comment

March Already! Woo!

Here I go, March 2018… catching up in a timely manner. YES! Or not… my fast and furious blogging took a hit with the much anticipated Karyn visit AND a semi surprise last minute Shauna and Jeff down from Canada weekend. And then life in general kicked my butt… but here I am.20180328_234601

So… March, what was March… it ended in Easter weekend. So we had our own little egg hunt in the house. The twins did the hiding for the younger 3.20180331_121040

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We also decorated eggs.20180331_150916

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And even made square ones!IMG_20180331_214359_802

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The other “themed” day was St. Patrick’s Day. We had all sorts of green stuff going on.IMG_20180317_100926_312

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I jumped all in on working on Irish and Celtic knots. I have purchased a few books and some lovely satin cord. Definitely a skill I need to find time in the fall to continue with.20180317_153021

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I invested in some gorgeous reversible sari skirts which I can tell you NOW I wore ALL summer. There is something amazing about wearing bright colours and patterns that swish when you walk.

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There was plenty of time spent at the YMCA, of course. I hope it has been at least somewhat fun for the staff to be such a major part of my kids’ growth and enjoyment!20180325_111909

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I took a walk down memory lane and bought a Tamagotchi! If you don’t know what that is… well I won’t ask your age, cuz that could end up sad.IMG_20180323_215210_715

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There was plenty of time spent petting the fluff that is the chinchilla.IMG_20180330_130357_717

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Echo lost teeth, important teeth – the front ones – and they took FOREVER to grow back in.IMG_20180319_195807_664

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I got in my crafting time. Crochet keeps me sane after all.Message_1520976686682

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And we did plenty of school.IMG_20180313_113943_664

Ken and I even snuck in some dinners out dressed to impress.IMG_20180316_224326_543

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And we helped celebrate Jeffrey’s birthday. Which ALSO means, Mystro pics! You can thank me later!20180303_202457

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I love how the twins can be before and after pics at the same time.IMG_20180331_222318_219

My final thought on this quick WAY belated peek back at March… WOW was my hair long!!! And that is that.20180308_141649

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Way to Run Boys!

One of the big summer goals that WE did do in a timely manner was getting the twins ready and registered to run 2 almost back to back 5K races. One at the Catholic Church down the street from us (with Ken) and the other at our local YMCA.IMG_20180811_092448_961

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The twins spent the summer in once a week run club at the YMCA with their favourite coach Ben learning techniques for distance running. He was so awesome, walking them through how to properly warm up and pushing them to push their limits.

The first 5K was run with friends and Dad! The Schwartz family are members at St. Joe’s and were the ones who alerted us to this 5K opportunity. Their whole family signed up to run. Ken, Zander and Gavin joined them. 20180811_080048

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Trinity, Echo and Emanuel made signs and we got up WAAAAAAY early in the morning (for us) and walked down the street to cheer everyone on. I was surprised we were pretty much a solo act but we did our best. (after saying good bye to Aunty Karyn who had to leave to drive back up to Canada)

We love you~

We love you~

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Zander was the first to finish out of our crew. Ken and Renee ran together and Gavin and Nathan ran together with Chris, Evan and Jeffrey went at a much more leisurely pace. 20180811_082507

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After cheering them until the end it was back to our house for naps, food and resting up.IMG_20180811_092151_328

The following Saturday we were all up super early once again to head over to a VERY familiar place – our local YMCA. This time for the Officer Shawn Silvera Rotary Run. This yearly event begins and ends right around the YMCA. Last year the twins did the splash and dash through the YMCA, but this year they had aged out of it. 

Wearing the shirts from the week before's run

Wearing the shirts from the week before’s run

I was very proud of my boys. Zander came in first with Gavin not too far behind. We brought new signs and cheered them on. 20180818_080850

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There was other fun things to do in the parking lot. The other 3 built stuff at the Home Depot tent.20180818_074348

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And we had some snacks and time in the bouncy house. It was a great way to round off a summer of hard work and determination.20180818_075505

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