A weekend away?? What the *SNAP*??!!

Thats right folks....it was a weekend away!!!  Many sweet memories made....connected with family.....and ate some amazing food!!!  Here is the low down!!

It started out with some sweet time spent with lovely Jinny....she has known me for over 10 years!!  Here we are enjoying lunch before the ferry {Indian for me, chinese for her!}

 Quiet ferry ride over...good book....a quick talk with all my family members before i crossed over into the states {SO glad you are ok dad....mom, sorry about your toe....}...squeezed in a short nap before getting picked up by Susan.  We headed straight to Timmies to meet up with my cousin Wess!!  Its been more years than i can count since i last saw him.....here i am watching him get the tarp off his NEW sailboat that he is fixing up!  Its going to be a SWEET ship!!

WESS!!

Susan and Wess inside the ship!  Not sure why he had a fireman hat and plastic axe....didn't really want to ask since i wasn't sure i wanted to know the answer!!!

 After being down on the docks for awhile (1 dock over from where Garry had his boat all those years ago.....)...Susan treated Wess and I to an amazing Sushi meal!  He is the only one who had REAL raw sushi.....

Then we headed to Birch Bay resort!! We were next to some real party boys (yay for S bringing earplugs!!)--but we slept not too bad....but the morning here was a highlight: reading in front of the fire in pj's...breakfast of english muffins and grapefruit, tea and juice.

 Here is Susan at the Olive Garden...yup...she ate the pepper....and yup, we got refill after refill of raspberry lemonde {fav part of visiting the states!!  they LOVE lemonade down there}, mucho breadsticks, salad and this amazing Gnocchi chicken soup....i pretty much rolled out of there....

After lunch, it was still raining and pretty miserable...so we went and saw 'the vow'....cute, but not worth seeing again.   After the movie, we picked up a few things for the boys including some new pants and pjs...i tried to get a pair of new lulu's...but the lineup for the changing room was too long.....so it was off to the grocery store to pick up a few things for Dinner!!! FISH TACOS!!!!

i don't have any pictures for the rest of the evening...but we got back to susans and she took a little nap under her new Chinchilla blanket....and i sat in front of the fire to read.....we ate at around 7......i LOVE fish tacos.....especially with this family!  We sat around for awhile together along with Josh, a nice boy who is staying with them...he brought a coconut chilie (or was it curry?) chocolate bar for dessert to try.....it was nice.

i slept like a rock....in the morning, nice breakfast (5 star, as usual)....church {heritage service reminded me of what we attend now, and then we stayed for the contemporary service for the singing part for only 15 minutes before we had to leave for lunch with Jeff and Sue}....but walking into the gym for the contemporary service, i think i physically felt myself exhale.  Music is such a big part of how i worship, and its been a desert the last few years....except for camp....that is where i live!!   So, it was short since we had to leave...but it was wonderful.  Loved it!!  It was then off to meet with Susans brother Jeff and his wife Sue!!  Here i am in the backseat being "chauffeured" around!!! {or carted around..i guess its perception!!} But it was awesome!! Except that Susan got the heated seats up front!!!!

Had a really nice time with these 2.....the last time we had seen them was when we took our first road trip down to california 4 years ago!

i thought this was a funny shot of the men paying the bills!!  THANKS MIKE!!!! 

 While i was in the washroom, Susan ran to the grocery store across the street and bought me 2 big blocks of cheese!!!  When SHE was in the washroom at the end of the meal, i stole her doggy bag that she had left on the counter by the sink while she was in the stall.....probably not the nicest payback eh?  She walked out and saw that i hid it behind sue's back on a newspaper stand....We laughed alot....they spoil me....oh man, was i spoiled this weekend!!! 

 Here is the wonderwoman with the most giGANtic block of cheese i have ever seen!!! 

 Kicking me out of the car to go home!! 

5 seconds after this shot was taken and they drove away, that white plastic bag i am waving in the air busted and ripped.....and 30 seconds before this shot was taken, susan had given me a green cloth bag to carry something else in.....good thing!!!  what the *snap*!!  {funny girl said this on the way into Olive Garden and it sorta stuck with us....}  But the weather was wonky all weekend...i mean, look at this ferry coming in...beautiful sky on the right, pouring on the left!!

 Home now....happy happy boys....VERY happy husband.....and happy, renewed, rested Wife.

Who is coming with me next time?  Seriously...message me....come with me!

Memories are sweet.......

Le Carnival!

Isaac was able to attend le carnival on thursday with 650 other French students at the local community centre.  They skated with BonHomme....ate crepes...did crafts...played wide games....and basically just had a blast!  The kindergardeners were unable to attend because they were too young...so the students put a mini carnival on for them on friday!!  Here are a few shots from that sweet morning!!  He looked so little next to all the grade 5/6 kids!!  Aside from the stations that involved dancing and BonHomme....he had a good time!  Especially when they built marshmallow snowmen....fair enough, i mean BonHomme DOES look pretty freaky.

 I helped the kids all make 'voyageur' belts!!

 Elliot is so tiny!!  We walked into the grade 5 room and all the students got up to give the kindergarten kids their chairs to sit in.....they were taught a little bit more about french culture before changing rooms to do the marshmallow craft....he does NOT look sure...he was very huggy {love it!!!}.

After i left his classroom....Jinny picked me up for an overdue visit 

and to drive me to the ferry for my little weekend away!!!  

It's Wednesday.....

Overview:
Morning--cut out piles and piles of shapes for Elliots kindergarten teacher while watching one of my favorite movies on netflix: 'the mirror has two faces'.....OOH! Love it! 

Afternoon--picked up the boys from school .. Isaac and I retraced the playground for my favorite sunglasses {fail!}...and when we got back to the car, elliot had been up to some shenanigans!!!

 The two boys have this running joke that the other LOVES tinkerbell....here

 Elliot did a little window dressing while we were away!!

 Our kids got off school a little early today...so Nic and i met for some goodtimes!!

Here she is all frazzled after coming back from Safeway...i watched her kids while she ran in quickly....

 It was monster day in elliots classroom today....here are his creations! 

He did not want his face painted like a monster....her said he started crying when someone tried to start painting...i can just picture it!

 Feeding the ducks together.....7 children....3 moms...2 goodie bags from Ardeens....

 Makes for a really great afternoon.......

 We had so much fun at the duck park, that i was actually late getting back to make pancakes for Waffle Wednesday!!  Here i am searching for a sweet recipe - - Banana blueberry pancakes!

 Paul dictated the recipe while i put it together and then he grilled 'em up....Mr. Sunshine Vest came in late....but it was a really low key night.....all were in good moods...lots of new exciting things to talk about!

 We love Everett......Cute little baby in a yellow bag.....

Funny story about Elliot tonight.  He asks what JL is doing with Everett as she is pulling him out of his carseat....she tells him....and he responds, with a knowing nodd "you are taking him out for your boobs...."    oh my... we are getting quite close round here, aren't we? 

Tonight, Paul, derek, chris and i went to play volleyball.  Derek is a big guy...and very strong....he actually hit the ball not once but twice at me and knocked me off my feet.  Hit me once in the midsection (if i was a guy, i would have ended the evening as a girl!!!.....and then again in the head)--both resulting in me on my back looking at the ceiling....and i am a tall girl!  Far to fall!!!  He actually got in a bit of trouble at the end of the evening by amanda (head coordinator to tone it down a little ).....whew....we all got a few good rally's in this evening...but there are almost too many people with too many different skill levels....we will see where it ends.....

Freedom?

My beautiful babies are both in school.

This leaves much 'freedom' in my days...right?

Wrong.....

I have found that i can fill my days with things that 'should' be done.....i am reading this blog lately, and i love it.....she speaks so honestly.  This is what jumped out to me today:

”I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy it.

This makes it difficult to plan the day.”

- E.B. White – taken from Leaving Church, by Barbara Brown Taylor

i live in such a beautiful spot.....in my head, i want to be out canoeing in the morning, running through the mountains in the afternoon...picking up my kids afterwards....

But enstead, i clean, fold laundry, skype with my family....hours get lost....and then the boys get home.
 
This week, it is my goal to be more conscious and more intentional and less time cleaning this place based on the sheer redundancy of it all!!  It will be clean before i go to bed....so that i can do enjoy the days AND improve the world!!!

Pre-Church Haircuts.....

Little Elliot with his dustpan....

Isaac with his mirror....

and Chris with the shaver....

 Isaac wasn't thrilled at how short dad cut it this morning.....

 Elliot wasn't thrilled either.....

 He is still under the weather, but for the most part, he was in good spirits....

 My favorite shot of the morning.....eyes clinched closed...and chris with his "concentrating face"

Knitting....

It all started when Isaac and I were searching upstairs for some thicker yarn for a weaving project his teacher wanted me to help with.  I didn't find thicker yarn when i looked into chris's old knitting bag...but isaac found something interesting.
Next thing i know, chris and isaac are sitting together with some yarn and some needles......
Yesturday, when my folks were getting ready to leave, and elliot was still cozied up on the couch with a cold....isaac was trying to find something to do on his long bus ride, alone.  He grabbed the DS, and when the batteries were dead, he grabbed his knitting.
As we were leaving, Chris says to my folks "i hope he doesn't get beat up"...
Turns out, kids thought he was pretty cool. {big sigh!!! phew!!}
He actually did super yesturday...he left with about an inch thick and 3 inches wide....and came home with this:

 As for Elliot, he is feeling better....but he still isn't 100%.

When i woke isaac up for school yesturday....he asked if nona and granddad would still be here when he got home....i said "i am not sure yet, but they may be going home today....." and groaned and says 'noooooo'....i wish i took more pictures...i mean, my camera was there the whole time!!!

Mom and Dad visit....

They arrived Wednesday night around 7 ... i had a nice dinner waiting for them.  Its a long ride from kelowna...and its always so deceiving!  I mean, its only 4 hours from vancouver to kelowna right?  Wrong....including ferry, waiting, stopping....its a 10 hour day if you are fast...12 if you dawdle, just a little!!

We played Dance Central: {thanks for the shot dad, you sneak!!}

We plugged into our devices {or vices??} for awhile:

Elliot had been put in charge of entertaining the grandparents, so upon their arrival, he puked up pink confetti!  {note: no carrots when sick...}.  Awhile later he (obviously), was hungry and wanted mini wheats!  So, i say "you aren't going to puke them up are you?"  He looks at me, thinks for a sec, and yells as he is running away "i will go get my BUCKET just in case!!!"......so here he is with his bowl and his bucket.

Thursday morning, dad and i drove isaac into school while mom stayed home with a sick little elliot.  This is what dad and i saw on our drive in!!!

A herd of elk looking a little trapped in a field....at one point, they walked up to the barbed fence....but then they changed their mind and backed away...guess they've seen a buddy attempt those fences.....i know i have seen a deer attempt it...and it was NOT pretty....

As always, had a great time with dad...way better than riding around in his visor.....

I got spoiled....as always...whenever we are out together, he pays...just like when i was a kid. 
Only this time, i understand and appreciate the value.

Here is dad and elliot playing Blokus......

After we got home...i snagged mom and headed to thrift and to the library while dad and elliot stayed home and plugged in!!  Dad blogged and elliot played on his ipad.

Mom is getting into stocks and learning about how to make money .. so we had a little crash course before she left....i had opened a practice account a few days ago...yup, i have $100,000 to play with !!  With the one stock i started with the other day, i made $168 in 3 days.....and i bought another one last night.....so we will see!!  Its interesting, but my brain gets a little overstimulated pretty quick with it all...but i do like to make money, so thats motivating!!

We always seem to cram alot into a day when they visit.....dad grabbed my lulu on his way out the door yesturday, thinking it was his jacket.  It was only when chris was leaving for work that he picked up dads sweatshirt and says "did your dad take my sweatshirt?"...nope---turned out to be mine!!!  AGH!!  I packed up elliot off the couch and scooped him into the car, dad turned around....and we met in lake cowichan and did a swap...i don't think the truck came to a total stop!! haha...phew...i wear that lulu every day these days!! 

Not sure if dad could have rocked the fuzzy collar.....but it would have been a great blog post!

Yo V - DAY!!!!

Umm....not THAT V-day....i meant Valentines Day silly!!!

It was a super busy day.....kids got off to school...i cleaned the house....vacuumed out the car...picked up sushi for dinner....picked up the boys...dropped them off at piano....met with Dan....picked up the boys...quick visit with Malea...and when we arrived home, isaac helped me to get romantic dinner table set ready for Chris and I in front of the fire!  The wonderful students invited the camp kids to come to their place for dinner and a play for the evening so us parents could have some quiet time together for Valentines.....YES!!!!

Master of Lighting.....

Isaac put candles all around the room, lit them, including the fire!! 

Then he turned off all the lights before he left for his own valentines evening.....so sweet!!!

Both boys put chocolate kisses and some valentines on our plates......

 Dynamite Rolls got polished off pretty quick......and believe it or not, that is a heart shaped pizza....Chris made me a necklace and bracelet, which was sweet......want to know something funny?  None of us talked about what we were feeding our husbands....and we all did pizza!!  Rach was the only one who DIDN'T make hers into a heart, even though i told her to!!! 
But YO JL!! punch it! heart shaped pizza!!

 The students made sheet forts with all 5 little boys last night!!! The offer was to take the boys so  Oh man, chris and i heard the screaming from our side....crazy boys....but they had so much fun with the students.....

Sheet Forts Rock!!

Lisa planned a sweet little craft of white cups with colored paper inside with crazy heart straws!!

Missing Lisa and Sarah....but it was pretty much a ratio of 1:1!!!

We had such a nice quiet dinner together....we curled up and watched "Midnight in Paris".....and when the kids came home, they were totally zonked and fell right into bed!!  Awesome Day!!!

Hope you had a great V Day too!!!

Elliot attempts Ice Skating....

Elliots kindergarten class will be going skating in 4 weeks.....we have 4 weeks to get this kid ready!  We were lucky to have Mel come along for reinforcement!!!

 Stubborn little guy didn't want to use the bar....so he pushes it away......

 And WaBAM--right onto his boney little butt....oh he cried....

and you can see Mel really attempted to catch him.....

 He recovered......

 Here is Isaac.....he loves to skate....but it took him awhile to learn as well.....

 SO much easier with a happy extra set of hands!! 

Its alot of work for 15 minutes of actual skating!!

 Near the end, this is how Elliot prefered to be....he asked a few times if he could just run around with his runners.....and then if he could just put the blade covers back on his skates {thinking that would be easier too}.....

3 weeks left to get him ready.....stay tuned!

Carrie's Life Right Now.....

Snap Shot of her life at the moment....

Ellie was sleeping....Jack runs in circles holding his ballooon...in his favorite outfit!!

Ellie is awake now and making eyes at her mom!!

Love It!!!

Skyping with dad this morning..............

Oh my, my dad is hilarious.....he skyped this morning while in the car and just put his iphone in his visor where he normally does, i guess.....umm...dad?  As awesome as it is to talk to you....you either need to push the phone further into the visor or hold the phone......

i love my dad....here he is squawking that its the second time someone cut him off this morning and that he made a bad turn into the slower lane....YET....he was late for nothing, nor was he in a rush....i sweetly reminded him to enjoy the ride....here is the better view after the top shot!  Do you think he was holding the steering wheel with the iphone?  If so, his face is super close to his steering wheel...

Have a good day dad.......MWAH!!!!

oh ps: He just sold a Grand Piano last night....

i was envying the rush that you get after a huge sale....SO exciting!!!