Swimming with Daddy (and Happy Birthday Kevin!)

After a long week, Kevin woke up to his three girls snuggling him in bed.
I suppose it would have been great on any given day, but today was his birthday.  I looked over and prompted them, mouthing "Happy Birthday Daddy!" to Kamille and whispering into Karis' ear.  Eventually they caught on and he was loved up!

Kevin's wish for a great birthday - included some time with his girls and some time in his cabin.

With first official BC Family Holiday weekend upon us, I did not have to go to school this Saturday and was able to attend swimming lessons and see my girls in action.  Kevin has been taking them over the past 4 weeks and he had loved his time alone with them.  While Kamille has her class he hangs with Karis and visa versa for the next time slot.

 I absolutely love the wonky eyes!

It was just so great seeing the girls in the water - so confident and having a lot of fun while learning!

Their one-to-one time in the water was equally as fun, or a bit more! ; )

In the afternoon, Kevin headed on out to the cabin he build last August.  In preparation for this coming season, he purchased a small wood stove and was determined to make it an all weather cabin!  He spent his afternoon installing the stove while the girls and I ran errands and prepared for Kevin's birthday dinner and dessert.

A favourite slow cooker dinner of ours - Asian Noodles and Beef with Bok Choy was on the menu plan!  Sooooo good!

Last year or the year before we had learned from his mother that his favourite dessert as a child was macaroons.  We had made them, but it just wasn't "perfect" without them being chocolate we were told.  This year I was determined not to disappoint.

I found this amazing recipe, added 1/4 cup raw cacao to it and voila!  INCREDIBLE and DELICIOUS chocolate macaroons!

Neatly arranged on a narrow white rectangular plate with 4 green candles placed among them, the macaroons were an appreciated display of goodness!!  We sang Happy Birthday and acknowledged Kevin's 42 years of life!

Tonight we took more video than photos and we took more in with our own eyes and stored memory.  The girls loved up their Daddy while giving him gifts of home made cards,  a brand new tea pot and loose leaf tea.   And later the carpet was cleared for an awesome dance show put on by the girls to their most favourite Top 40 hits.

We loved watching them dance together.  Kamille is really getting into the lyrics of the songs and putting actions to words, Karis was always two beats behind in step and in copying Kamille's every move!  Simply priceless to sit back and watch.

Happy Birthday to our awesome Kevin/Daddy!

Livin' In A Snow Globe: Part Two

It would be hard to pack all the snow lovin' fun we've had into just one post.  

In the days following Christmas we made our way up the road to our home away from home - this time with a heavy duty sled and snow shoes!    The snow had stuck around and the sun was shining!  

Kevin had rigged the sled up so that he would be travelling comfortably with the girls in tow.  

they were pretty happy with their ride!

Ah fresh air, snow and sun.  You do us good!  

The girls found a familiar item, but it wasn't much of a swing with the snow being so high!  ; )

Its amazing to think that we have basked in bathing suits while lying on this beach!

Onward we trudge....
We were taking the long way to our summer spot and these had me going just fine!

Icicles!  I realized just how unfamiliar my girls are with these!  We rarely see them in our corner of Canada.  As a kid I loved to bite away at icicles each winter!

Talk about living in a snow globe.......

Snack time please Mommy!?!

If you can see, there are people walking along the shoreline.  That is how magnificent this place is!  We are so small compared to our surroundings!

Kami-shot!

Oh hello back light!

There was a lot of tree damage.  The weight of the snow had caused a lot of trees to snap, like this....

And then we arrived!

but we continued on.  We had plans to go to our island.

She was thrilled by this time.....

We ran into our "next door neighbours" out here and they took a couple family snaps for us.

And then it was time for the river crossing....All aboard Daddy!

To our place of all day picnics and family frolicking.  Usually in the summer, but today....

we tried out a winter picnic!

It was gorgeous.

But as we ate, we lost our sun to the mountains.

We had to get moving to stay warm.....

The girls went face to face and laughed all the way now that they had full tummies!!

And soon after they had their first tumble.  They thought it was hilarious!

And back to our bulldozer???

Karis was not keen for a photo!  

Our snow globe living extended right on into January too!  On the 1st, the girls and I took a New Years day walk along the Eagle viewing dyke.  Our town boasted a count of over 800 eagles this year!  Its a great spot to come.

This guys soared down infront of me just as I was taking my camera out.  We figured if we watched him long enough he'd give us a great fly-away shot.

Not a bad spot to sit and wait for an eagle to fly away......

Baby its ccccoooollllddd outside!  

Woudn't you know, that eagle found himself a fish carcass and was in no hurry to fly away anywhere.  

Karis patiently waiting while eating snow off her mitten....

I scoured the scene for other eagles to photograph.  Surprisingly for a large eagle count, on this day, there were barely any around!

The girls began to get cold and impatient.....

And so we eventually left.  Ha!

I am really glad that I am not a weather forecast watcher.  I don't think I could be while living out here. The weather is more unpredictable or often forecasted wrong. The very idea that we are in our "rainy season" right now, is all I need to know.  Anything non-rain is bonus and deserves our time!  

Fortunately for us, the Snow Globe living continued on into January and there have been many more outdoor days of gorgeousness to follow!  ; )