STILL LAUGHING OUR BUTTS OFF

We are still here laughing out butts off...and eating and drinking and napping and swimming and a little bocce ball playing.

We actually did go for a run yesterday...and almost died of heat exhaustion. I think Jake is still recovering from the last hill up to the house. Between that and his allergy attack, we lost him for 42 minutes last night. His new nickname is "Shazam" which we all find really funny.

And we did make it out to one winery for a tasting. We must remember next time, that the wine tastings end at 4:00pm, not 5:00pm.

The Meighens left for home this afternoon. Sadly they live in another country, but happily they will be in Vancouver in a month.

Just me and my husband, for another 2 nights...

5 NIGHTS/10 YEARS

Oh, hello California. It is so nice to be here for 5 nights with my husband. In 4 days we will have been married for 10 years, and I'm not telling lies...I love him more than ever! We plan to eat and drink and nap and read and hold hands and make out. It is going to be awesome!

Going on a airplane without 3 children is actually kind of fun. The drive from LA to Santa Barbara, however was not so much fun. Jake is very cranky pants when it comes to traffic. But a stop for an In n' Out Burger helped a bit.

The view from the house we are staying out (thank you, thank you MacKenzies!)

A morning hot tub, after getting out of bed at 9:00am!!

A morning coffee and some breaky (dining is so pleasant without children as well):

And this afternoon our besties arrived! Together, our combined 7 kids have been left at home with Grandma's and YaYa's and Auntie's, and we are so thankful. We are reliving our University days when we used to get together and eat nachos and drink raspberry hefeweizen and laugh our butts off at Barney's. Only now we are in the second part of our 30's, eating artichokes with aioli and drinking champagne, but still laughing our butts off.

LONG WEEKEND (PART 1/3)

Part one of our long weekend in pictures. I have promised myself and my body that I will go to bed before 12:30am tonight, so I will wrap up the weekend tomorrow?

I saw this quote on the sweet + lovely things blog (thanks Misha) and I thought we accomplished these things on the weekend:

READ BOOKS

ENJOY THE COMPANY OF OTHERS

MAKE THINGS

LOVE PEOPLE

BE HAPPY

VISIT NICE PLACES

SAY YES

LISTEN TO MUSIC

DO THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY

MAKE A LIVING

HAVE FUN

BE YOURSELF

FORGIVE AND FORGET

ENJOY LIFE

This is my view, from my lounge chair. A place where I sat and read many magazines and did not feel guilty.

Claudia, in her usual entrepreneurial spirit, started a braiding/beach glass business on the deck. Here are some of the results:

And Truman, in his usual work man spirit, did some leaf blowing and some fishing:

Afternoon nap (love watching Will sleep!)...

We caught 16 crab! I love Will with his juice box watching his Daddy cook them up...

The paparazzi in the background...

A late afternoon movie and some Smartfood popcorn to wind down...

THE ROCKETEER

Will has been spending a lot of time in the Rocketeer lately.

Perhaps tomorrow I will post some pictures from our long weekend on the island (it was a really, really good time).

XO.

A TRIP TO THE FARM

This week, Will and I joined Sam's preschool class at Maplewood Farm. I love that I used to come here for field trips with my school (and my mom) when I was Sam's age. The farm is in my kid's top 10 favourite places to visit in Vancouver. You should go check it out!

And just a little funny story, while on the topic of farms. Clara was unusually tentative about drinking her one of many glasses of milk today. She said that she was having second thoughts about milk because it came from a cow's vagina, which was very unsettling to her (I don't blame her!). Anyway, we talked it through and I explained that an udder was definitely not a vagina (although I suppose the udder thing it is still kind of unsettling, and don't even get my mom started on this topic).

Anyway, have a lovely May long weekend everyone (in Canada)! We are heading to the Camp in the morning.

(one of Sam's lovely teachers)

(these boys crack me up...I have to include some more pictures)

THE FARM

Coming later today on the blog (since it is currently after midnight): a trip to Maple Wood Farm...

RAIN

This morning it rained really hard. Clara reminded me rain was good because it helps make the flowers grow. Sam reminded me that if it is too wet outside to ride your bike, you can always build a big fort inside. And Will reminded me that rain is good because it is fun to jump in puddles.

BIKES, BALL, ICE CREAM, TACOS & A FERRY

It was Charline's last full day with us on Saturday before we sadly dropped her off at the airport for her flight back to France (she is coming back in June!). We wanted to go somewhere she hadn't been to yet, although I'm sure she has explored more of Vancouver than most people who have lived here all their lives! Anyway, Sam suggested we go to Hawaii, Charline wanted to see Whiterock and we ended up on the ferry to Bowen Island. Sam brought his bike, Will brought his trike and we played on the field, ate and drank and bathed in the warm sun. Sam made a new buddy-a crazy Jack Russel who Sam says runs as fast as him. We are going to miss Charline this month, but thank goodness she is returning. It is too hard to say goodbye.