WEEK WITH HANNAH

Hannah (Clara's 10 day older cousin and bosom friend) came up to the cabin with my mom and Uncle Josh for the week.  

It was nice for Clara to have a playmate and very nice for the mommy to have a little break from featuring in one of Clara's elaborate games of mermaid kingdom, princess in distress and petshop.

It is a bit tricky trying to get a nice picture of 2 silly 6 year olds...

My mom got this one...

Sam really wanted to join in on the fun, so he offered gator rides from the castle (the deck) to the royal ball (the trampoline)...

And then he took the princesses on a rowboat ride...

To search for hidden treasures (clams)...

Hannah was a good sport and joined in on the communal bath...

This is how it is done on Pasley...

20 MONTHS OLD

Some things I love about my 20 month old

• His round belly
• His cuddles after he first wakes up
• His pats on my back when he is hugging me
• When he rubs his chest to say please
• That his only words so far are ow, hop (hot) and ba (bye)
• That when I ask him what happened? after I hear him upset, he points at his brother or the dog
• That he loves treats as much as I do
• That he loves champagne as much as his Daddy does
• His hair, that turned blond sometime after May
• His giggles
• His squinty right eye
• That he gets into his bed, pulls up the covers and goes to sleep until the morning
• That he shuts his eyes when he is uncomfortable and wants to be somewhere else
• When he plays with Sam and Clara
• When he points and makes "his sound"
• His sense of adventure
• His curiosity
• His love of shoes
• His love of pillows
• That he can't say no, I'm bored or I hate mommy, yet
• The joy he gets from simply pointing at Jake's belly button
• That he thinks doing household chores is great fun
• That he loves being in my arms 

Quite simply, I love all of him.

35 THINGS TO DO BEFORE I TURN 36

1. Make a chocolate cake from scratch
2. Buy a pair of black heels
3. Learn to make great French Press coffee
4. Go to Halfmoon Bay to visit good friends
5. Try tennis lessons
6. Dress up and take Clara on a date to the theatre
7. Own a nice winter coat
8. Throw a party 
9. Design and mail (on time) a family Christmas card
10. Go on a romantic getaway with my husband for at least 2 nights
11. Make homemade jam with the kids
12. Give a gift to 5 friends, just because
13. Go see the Nutcracker 
14. Make an erupting volcano with the kids
15. Get abs like Sam
16. Organize the "Basement of Horrors" once and for all
17. Take a hand lettering class
18. Pick our pumpkins at a pumpkin patch
19. Go on a trip with "the girls" and shop, eat, sleep and watch movies
20. Take Sheye Rosemeyer's Eye Candy Photography Workshop
21. Meet Jake for a monthly lunch date
22. Train for a 10K race
23. Own bras that fit, including a low back number
24. Play the piano more
25. Have some family photos taken by Anastasia
26. Have a French party and make French food and talk in French
27. Print a photo book on Blurb
28. Go skiing with Sam and Clara 
29. Make our courtyard magical 
30. Update the photos on our photo wall
31. Take a cooking class and get inspired again
32. Have a weekly creative evening
33. Buy some make up and learn how to apply it
34. Purge my closet 
35. Surprise Jake

My birthday was actually over a month ago, but I don't think it is ever too late to make and tackle a list...

**Thanks to Andrea at Hula Seventy for this idea

WHAT WE DID ON THE LONG WEEKEND

This past weekend, most of the Guptells (and Mark), Grandma, Auntie and Rocco came to Pasley.  Jake put our guests immediately to work and had them help clear our beach of all logs (of which, I'm sure, have been sitting there for more than 50 years).  We also drew up some plans and began building our beach lounge and bar area (more details and pictures to follow...I hope).

Cleaning up the beach

Rowing out the offending logs and "schmegg"

Work, followed by Margheritas and Mexican dip

Sis woke up from her lounge chair slumber to this scene...Sam rowing Rocco to shore

The long weekend was also PIGS (Pasley Island Games).  We actually made it on time for the Sports Day portion this year, and also managed to corall Kirby in the cabin.  In fact, I think this was the first PIGS that Kirby did not make a sudden and frantic appearance.  

Although Sam and Clara had been practicing their running, 3 legged and jumping sack races in the upper hallway at home, and Sam had been bragging to everyone how fast he is, they both suffered from severe race anxiety.  Even Will froze seconds into the maple leaf toddler relay.  Thank goodness for participation ribbons and for the Daddy piggy back race!

Will frozen

Rocco contemplating the maple leaf race

Sam...not so happy

Clara taking a break from the stress of it all

But she agrees to the 3 legged race

And wins a third place ribbon!

Notice Will slung over Daddy's shoulder

 

Will's new face.  He does this when he hears the word "eyes"

The PIGS picnic was hosted by North Bay this year.  We lasted until 9:25pm and even danced a few dances before taking the kids (and ourselves) home to bed. 

 

Will knocking back a cold one

Clara and Auntie Lisa

Sis and Rocco

Sis teasing Will with a cookie

The boys discovering a new and very fun toy (Jake's travel bar)

CHEERS!

Current and future friends on the Island

Rocco finds some dirt, or smoke as he likes to call it

Will discovers the dirt as well

Ding, ding...time to go home!

TRUMAN'S 4th

Dear Truman.  Thank you for inviting us to your Policeman party.  We had such a great time and were very thankful to be swimming in a pool on the second hottest day in BC history.  And we got to meet a real life Police Officer!  Clara and Sam are still playing with their loot bag contents.  Your mom sure knows how to pick the good stuff and put on a good party.  Of course, your Dad did BBQ some delicious burgers and dogs and he was handcuffed by Officer Baker which was very entertaining.

Happy 4th Birthday Truman.  We love you so much and think you are pretty amazing (Sam in particular adores his best pal).  May all your birthday wishes come true!

BYE BYE