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!

July 27-29

Middle of the week… sunny day and the morning schoolwork accomplished, when friends call we jump up and head to the park. Renee and her boys had invited us out to enjoy the park and the connected lake with its pseudo splash park set up. Sort of a little waterfall and such set up for kids to play with.

It is so lovely to have the opportunity to up and spent quality time with a friend. Doubly so when our kids get on so well.

Our afternoon was spent picking up the amazing Aidan and bringing the kids back to the house.

We ended the evening with a movie. The kids did amazing watching Jack the Giant Killer all the way through!

We spent much of the next day outside in the backyard.

With the end of our overnight visit finding us at a small park with a geocache called Riverdale Park where we met up with Darcy and Alex. Every overnighter we get in with Aidan is so much fun! I really hope we can eventually have Alex over again!

We ended our week with another big conclusion – Gavin finished his journal! Time to move onto titles, dates and 7 or more sentences!

Trinity completed her review book for the year. She was so utterly proud.

We ended our day with the yard work. The whole family out in the sun giving the yard a tidy. What a perfect way to end the week! Time to face the weekend AND creeping up on the big goodbye. The cousins are off on the 1st of August. Where has the time gone??

August 13th is a very special day for our family. The baby of the group is officially FOUR! And still not on a Friday. We had already had a mini party with Chris and Renee and their family but today was THE DAY. So we dropped everything to do a wee bit of celebrating. Echo got to wear her new birthday dress (her gift from Mommy and Daddy this year that she helped to choose). Grandma and Grandpa Mike called for their birthday call and we went over to the local library branch where they had a beautiful flower display.

Then over to the park where Echo opted to open her gifts from Gammie and Aunty Holly, Uncle James and Cousin Jimmie. It was a special request… gifts opened ON the actual birthday. Who are we to deny such a reasonable request?

She was in love with ALL of them and not the least bit upset to not get the chance to run the park. Instead she walked the babies, tried on the backpack and checked out her new book.

With a run to the grocery for park snacks it was back to the house in time to open the gift from Aunty Faithe, Uncle Joe, Gabbi and Zachary mailed from Florida… Barbie movies!

Light lunch and we packed back up for Andrew’s Park complete with splash area and all! And best of all… Darcy and all 4 boys (though Anthony came and went).

Aidan with his belated (way) birthday present… I made him a soccer ball, he just happened to be wearing his jersey!

We had a blanket for the adults set between the wet and dry areas, a container of snacks and birthday CUPCAKES! We were set for hours and happy as clams.

Ken in my new hat

In and out of the water… up and down the park stuff.

Echo opened her very special gift from the Novaks complete with a mustache and TWO special teddies from Alex’s personal collection. She LOVED it all!

The kids seriously INHALED the cupcakes…

And of course splashed their hearts out…

Anthony’s dramatic hair dry

It was an amazing afternoon and the company could not have been more fun or entertaining.

We came home to a strawberry twinkie “cake” for miss Echo to blow the candles out of in front of Nana and Baba.

And topped the evening with Daddy building Echo’s special gift from Aunty Holly and family which she and Trinity combined their ponies and sets and smiled until bedtime!!!

So thank you everyone for the birthday wishes and those mentioned above for today’s gifts… our baby is growing up so quickly!