Tag Archive | Nathan

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

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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A Very August August

Whatever that means… Echo turned 7 in August. And summer continued to happen.

The twins did the Splash and Dash at the YMCA. This was the last year they could register and the first I had heard of it. It was just a fun thing and they did enjoy it. I think this year Ken will do a fun run with them. The other three with the rest of the clubY kids who were there were around to cheer them on.IMG_20170819_110223_762

IMG_20170819_110341_865We spent a lot of time at the YMCA in August. Lots of walking in the sunshine to do what we could do there. Zander chose to do schoolwork over club as he really does get bored. They are so quickly aging out of the program really.IMG_20170826_104211_498

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It was quite the trick to get this daycare art with its paint home!

It was quite the trick to get this daycare art with its paint home!

Don’t forget karate!IMG_20170803_200105_644

We did try to see the total (well mostly here) solar eclipse. We went so far as to make viewing boxes… but weather conspired against us. So we went from an eclipse viewing to playing in the warm rain! Not a bad trade off!IMG_20170820_151832_817

With our viewing boxes early in the morning when we could see some clear sky.

With our viewing boxes early in the morning when we could see some clear sky.

So much for that!

So much for that!

How we had to watch it

How we had to watch it

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Our revised rain party

Our revised rain party

Of course we worked on getting used to our newest member of the family. She is so fun to photograph (if you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you would be well aware of this already!).IMG_20170831_223650_062

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20170811_215055Emanuel took a week off the family and went to a camp with his friend Aidan. It was so odd to only have 4 kids!FB_IMG_1502383358796

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FB_IMG_1502383435268We made as many beach trips as we could on our sunny free days. Sometimes including friends like the Schwartz boys and their mom Renee.20170831_164222

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20170831_162838We went to a neighborhood community event hosted by friends we made at the YMCA who were also instrumental in getting me off my butt and into the R.I.P.P.E.D. classes!

Bike parade

Bike parade

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IMG_5417Had school in our classroom AND in the sunroom.20170830_120440

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20170830_083640We did our part and sent some of our useful items to the YMCA collection for the YMCA in Houston after the hurricanes. It was so amazing to be part of a very successful drive where the two YMCAs worked together to fulfill a requested need.20170829_115520

Miss Echo lost her first teeth!IMG_20170814_211141_146

And I sewed up a storm.IMG_20170830_214228_949

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A purse!

A purse!

We visited the Pixar exhibit at the science museum with out homeschool buds.

Echo and Nate

Echo and Nate

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IMG_20170812_145904_049Ken and I visited the local soda shop.IMG-20170825-WA0006

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And visited with Cousin Robbie. As well as baby Karissia when we were over at the Novaks. You will remember pictures of her baby shower HERE (her mom is Sophia).IMG-20170812-WA0002

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Snoopy!

Snoopy!

We had lovely fancy ice cream out at a place near the Novak’s as well.20170826_141647

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20170826_141636Snuck in some Canadian pride time at Canada Days in Little Canada. Though it was less exciting than we expected.IMG_20170806_122755_026

It was a great month in retrospect. I love that these moments flash back into my mind as I look at the pictures. I hope you enjoy them too! 20170831_162848

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Squirrel

Squirrel

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