Catching up (again!!)

 Our summer has been lovely so far!!The girls have been enjoying the heat, sun and their tiny plastic pool. Jake has been loving his drinks from the hose. mostly compliments of Elin!

                                 So this is me catching up quickly on our pre summer adventures. We made a quick trip to the Valley to see Ryan's parents and brothers' family, and during our flying trip there we made a trip to the zoo. Elin and Grammie were having a time looking at the boas!

                              Elle enjoying the snake cages.

                        Not sure why I enjoy taking pictures of my babies from behind so much, but I find the unaware photos to be so priceless. Here is our 2 year old strolling happily along, having so much fun!

                                                 Elin and Eva peering at the monkeys

        Cousin Carly and Elin patting the pony.

                  Now this young fellow was my personal fave of the whole zoo. (the camel I mean not Dad!!) He was a young camel only half grown and sooo cute and friendly. He loved trying to eat hats, and Dad tried his on him so I could get the picture.

                                   He is trying to reach Em's hat with his big lips.

                                       He and Dad were having a heart to heart here, but then the camel took advantage of Dad's nearness..

                                   Lots of loving sniffs, like I said  , he was so cute!

                              Cousins!

                                     Eva and Elle

                            Elin adding her own whiskers to the cut out!!

                                                 Mommy and Elle snuggles

  Grammie time

                    We finished up our visit with a yummy ice cream treat.

       And Elin make sticky friends with a cat who happened to love ice cream...I think he hung out by the ice cream shop a lot. He would sneak licks from her cone when she wasn't looking, so we had to split the 2 of them up!!

On our way back home we stopped in the Riversdale for a visit to the Sante cousins. Ryson and Tara(Cameron cousins) were there too, so we have a fun time being together for supper!

What we have been up to!!! Before and Afters!!

 So our old house had lovely "bones" or( so WE thought!!) but lacked the character and t.l.c. of a beloved homestead. This is the before picture of when we bought it. an attached garage, and a small hall/entrance way...

                                a plain little lawn with no walkway leading to the homey front porch

                       Well this is what we have been up to the last month and a bit!! Lots of freebie plants("come and dig them...mine are getting too big and overgrown" type of freebies. Free rock and dirt"do you want these? The flower beds are causing my garage to leak water and my back is too bad to haul it all away, but I want it gone, if you want it, come take it " And lots of sunshiney days to work away, and these are the results!!!!

         Our darling home is looking so happy and healthy..(.well don't look too hard at the roof and windows!!)In time...in time!!

  My husband is the oh so talented rocksmith....isn't he a wonder??? :)

    So the old garage and small dark entry we are turning into a sun filled family room and roomy mudroom!! Gone is the dank, cracked cement floor and musty smelling room, and in it's place is a big warm room ready for gyprock!!! So I will post pictures of that when we are done...hopefully before the end of the summer, but we will see!!!

                   A huge big window to let the suns warmth in, and a long flower bed not complete yet.

                    Lots to do but oh the fun in seeing all the changes!

Eva Turns 4

 Eva's day of her party was spent dancing around very excited getting ready for her big celebration, and helping Mommy decorate her fun cake.

                                    When everyone showed up and started in on the food, the party was on!!! Jake found a great spot to rest,under the kiddos table!!

                         THE CAKE!!!!

                                              

                                                           Big puffs and 4 year old wishes

                                            The gifts came fast and furious!

                        And kept piling

                and piling...

  And piling up!!Eva had such a fun time and was a very happy girl.

                        Birthday morning family snuggles on Mommy and Daddy's bed!!

                      Family gifts too. Cards from Grampie and Grammies, Greats and Grands too!

       Eva received this movie in her stocking this past year at Christmas. She was so exited when she opened it that she snapped in in two trying to remove it from its case.The tears and sobs and the questions of "when can I get a new one Mommy" were so that we planned to give her another for her birthday. She was thrilled to open it up. Her real favorite though was the big girl Bible that Ryan and I gave her. She has been so wanting one with the whole Bible not just the New Testament ..and she got a little pink one!! Eva had been such a blessing to our family, and we are so glad that God has gifted her to us to love, cherish and raise  in His ways.

Catching up!!!

 Well, this is really too late to continue on my last post, but here it is, almost 1 month later and on this blog, the next day!!! So we went to Prince Edward Island the first of May for Ryan to take a seminary course. HE sat and learned all day long, and the girls and I had vacation! The first night we went to the beach but it was way too windy and chilly..the next night however......the girls donned their swim suits and lived it up!!! The locals thought we were crazy I think, but what a time the girls had!!

 Gleefully dashing in out of the almost frigid water!!

                        Having a ball in the sun warmed sand.

                                  My not so tiny anymore baby!! She loved stirring the sand around with her hands, feet and toes.

                                            family sand castle building!

                                        Mommy and Elin bubble blowing

                                         Meanwhile back at the farm!!!!!  This is baby May, almost 2 weeks old

This is Moses and May snuggled together

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 Our lady -in waiting Pippa, getting lots of rest...her time was near!!

                    Em and Moses

 Finally the day Emily had waited many months for!! Pippa was in labour!!

 Such a good first time Mommy! Emily helped deliver this little boy named Max

We stayed with the new little family as long as we could but had to run off after an hour to Emily's Awana closing event. When we returned, there were twin boys in the pen with a very tired and happy Pippa!! Emmy was over the moon happy that night!!