Papa and Mer Mer Visit!! -- Echo Lake

\My mom and dad were coming to visit us in Canada so we had them meet us at Echo Lake at the Low's cabin! Brian and Cynthia were very generous to have us all there and our kids were so lucky to have both sets of grandparents under 1 roof for 2 days!! That doesn't happen very often!

 

Here I am with my water babies. Kate could seriously swim all day. Adaleigh is still getting used to it. She LOVES to tube though!

 

 

First the kids went for a ride...

Then we got Grandpa and me on!

And then Mer Mer joined us! They loved it! It was really funny because my dad got really nervous whenever my mom would let go of the handles. "I'm serious honey, keep your hands on the handles!" He was so afraid she was going to fly off! :)

 

Pretty wild! ;)

Zach and Justin got to drive the boat while Justin's dad took a turn on the tube. :) He is ALWAYS behind the wheel...he has to have a little fun too!

Kara in her favorite spot on the boat. Mine too! Love the wind blowing through your hair...

Mom trying to scare Dad doing no hands...watch out! So dangerous! ;)

Kara showing us all how to Easy Ski.

We went for a walk along the lake and my mom weaved/wove (?) these flower wreaths for the girls hair! She used to do that all the time as a kid in Minnesota. So, so cute.

Mer Mer with her flower girls.

Addie's first Sea Doo ride!

My mom LOOOOOOOOOVES Sea Doos. She really really does. She's a free wild woman on them and loves every second of it. She feels the need for speed. It was fun to watch her let it all go.

Dad loves it too, but isn't as wild and crazy.

 

Echo Lake 2013!

The Lovebirds.

And the whole crew!! Thanks so much Brian and Cynthia for letting my parents stop in. They LOVED it so much. It is heaven on earth to them! Next we got to take them home to Cardston and show them our new life. :)

Cody and Jess Visit!!

My big little brother Cody came and visited us up in Canada just a few days after we moved in. He served his mission in Calgary 5 years ago so he came to see us and to visit the mission with his beautiful wife Jessica.
 

These kids LOVE their Aunt and Uncle!!

Lovely, mosquitoey walk around the temple. :) It has become a fun Sunday tradition. 

Jess is a cosmetologist! She gave all the kids hair cuts in trade for room and board...and a t shirt. ;) What a girl!!

Zach and Kate got trims. She was patient with their wiggles.

And Miss Kara got a CUT!!! We chopped off LOTS of that long beautiful hair. Up to her shoulders!

Look how long it was! But really, how often was it so nicely brushed out?? Like...never?!

 

I love it. I was so nervous to cut it off. I mean I always wanted to and knew it was a great length for her...but when I saw that gorgeous hair in the pony tail I asked her a million times..."You sure? You are SURE you want to do this??" She just kept saying yes mom, yes mom. And then the deed was done. She was so excited to get it done. She really wanted it!

 

Long ponytail GONE!

We took them to Waterton...you can barely see the chipmunk the kids were having so much fun feeding. It was getting a little too close for my comfort!

  

Zach in "his" tree. :)

"Mom, quit taking pictures and help me!" It was funny to watch her try and throw rocks into the water...she doesn't quite grasp the concept yet of letting go of the rock mid throw. She ended up just leaning it in and dropping it. She just wanted to be like the big kids!

I love this picture. These girls don't know how lucky they are. I hope they are always best friends. And look at Kara's cute piggy tails. :)

 

Thanks so much for coming guys!!! It was SO fun to have you here and you are welcome back ANY time.

End June, July 1, The Move, July 4...

Yep, it all happened that fast...

Just a few pictures before, during, and after our move.

 

I cleaned out the buffet and the kids thought it was a lot of fun to lock each other behind the glass doors. Even Addie loved it. :)

 

 Glenn and Natasha Jefferies came and visited us with their cute kiddos and we had a little party in the back yard.  Addie enjoyed her Popsicle...so messy!!

 

I made this for our neighborhood grandparents, Dean and Alice. They were so kind and good to us and the kids LOVED them. ANY time the kids saw them out of their house they ran to an open window or opened the door and yelled "Hi Dean! Hi Alice!" Dean and Alice would often bring them suckers or little candies and even small gifts sometimes on holidays. Alice brought the kids the shirts and dress they are wearing in this picture right before we moved. We will really miss Dean and Alice. I made this picture for them to make a magnet for their fridge so they won't have to miss us. :) Just have to figure out how to make it a presentable magnet now.

 

Justin came home FOR GOOD the evening of Sunday June 30 after his last residency call shift ever! Boy were we are SO HAPPY daddy was home never to go far away again!

And who wouldn't miss this face. :)

The next day was July 1...we went to the Raymond Parade, and then came home and packed all day because our moving day was the next day!! July 2! 

 

The day we moved my wonderful friend Heather Jubber took Kate, Kara, and Adaleigh for me so we could help in packing the truck and everything. Zach wanted to stay and help in the move, and boy he did! We hired movers this time and it was SO worth it. We packed the house...they did the lifting. Zach was right along with them, moving boxes, pushing the dolly, and lifting what he could. The workers were very good with him and let him help a lot. He is a great worker.

Thanks so much Heather! I will miss you, and Lethbridge and my friends (and the stores) there. ;) But I will be back monthly at least!!! I ALMOST cried a few times as I cleaned and packed...but then I realized this is a happy good move! I am excited for my nice house, living on a cul de sac with a million kids, living close to the border and to Waterton, and Justin having a real job!! We had a wonderful life there in Lethbridge and made good friends, had a baby, finished residency...many memories that we will cherish, but we are excited for our new future and settling down. It's been great so far!!

Addie eating in a sea of boxes. Moving. So fun. Actually, it was fun this time! I have so much storage space, so it is fun to unpack and have a place for everything! Now to keep everything in its place...

She's okay with that!

 

Made a last minute cake (had to be a tiny one because I didn't have enough of the ingredients! ha ha! Whoops...I am such a good planner.) At least my mother in law brought us strawberries and blueberries the day before! Thanks Cynthia!

We invited our Canadian Friends over to celebrate with sparklers. :)

 

Happy 4th of July!!!!