Nana and Papa come visit us in St. Albert

I have been looking forward to my Mom and Dad coming out to see us for like 2 months+. July 15th finally came! yay! They stayed in a Hotel 5 minutes away from our place and were here for 4 days. My brother and his new girlfriend from Las Vegas stayed with us for a few days and were here for half of the day that Mom and Dad came. It was so refreshing to have my family here, and have them to be with during the day! Sometimes I get lonely since I only know a few people here in the Edmonton Area. My Mom especially was so happy to Jayna and Julian, and Jayna was super excited. She even slept over at their Hotel one night and had such a good time. We all went swimming at their Hotel one night which was actually really fun. It was a nice pool (surprising for a Hotel Pool) and we had it all to ourselves. I actually went in a Hot Tub for the first time in over a year for more than 5 minutes!! ( first chance to go in a hot tub since being pregnant ). Julian came in the pool and he LOVED it! He kicked so much for like 45 minutes and then was totally pooped out after and had a great nap. Jayna is such a good little swimmer. I brought her life jacket and she was good to go. It was fun to be able to play with her in the water one on one while my Mom had the baby. We ate at yummy restaurants, went shopping, explored some parks, walked the bridge across the Saskatchewan river near downtown Edmonton, and cruised downtown for a few blocks. My Dad said he saw a park in the city area, so we walked to it. Turns out it was a bit sketchy... We saw a needle on the side walk, saw some sketchy ppl, Cops were there talking to some guys, and a guy was wiping his dogs bum with klennex, multiple times!! Ya we had a good laugh and were grossed out, and bugged Dad for picking such an "awesome" park to check out haha. How were we to know? lol. My Mom and I went out for a morning with just Julian, and shopped for my birthday. It was so fun. That was always one of my favorite things to do with my Mom growing up. Her and I shopping for clothes or whatever together. Julian was an angel and slept pretty much the whole time. I totally scored and got some amazing deals on some super cute tops, a tank top, a belt, a long dress, 2 jean Capris, earrings, and necklaces. Totally scored a pair of Guess and Silver capris for 34$ each reg $80! I love good sales! And I really needed some Capris! ( I finally lost my baby muffin top, so I can actually fit into normal bottoms, hallelujah! ) We went to Famoso for lunch after, but got it to go because my Dad was dropped off with Jay at the Hotel without a cellphone ( he had been with Andrew earlier until he had to go to work at noon ). We get there and they are just chilling watching T.V. So Mom and I ate at the dinning room at the Hotel, and kept our Mom/Daughter Date going. It was so nice to spend one on one time with her for my 30th. Nana and Papa seeing Julian for the first time since he was just over a month old:

Our walk across the Saskatchewan River:

Here's Josh and his new girlfriend Shelby. I think they will get married. Just my feeling. But they just started dating, although they have known each other for like 7/8 years. They met on his mission actually, and she was only 13! haha. She is such a sweetheart and I have high hopes for their future:

Papa and Jayna. This is my Stepdad Dave. He came into our lives when I was around 9 years old, so 21 years ago. I call him Dad, I have since I was 12. He is an amazing Dad and I love him very much. We are his kids, he didn't have any of his own before he met my Mom. He totally accepted us and took us in as his own and did the best he could with his "ready made" family. He had never held a newborn until Jayna came. He has come a long way with my kids and is an awesome Papa!

Some pictures of us girls! I saw this shirt at Old Navy that says " Nana thinks I'm the BEST!" I knew my Mom would like that, so I got it for Jayna. I also got her one that says "Papa thinks I'm great!" Usually things don't say Nana and Papa on them, so that was kind of cool.

Eskimo kiss, and butterfly kiss. My Mom used to always do that with me, and some things you just pass on cause I do that with Jayna now. lol.

My Mom was wanting a picture of us looking at eachother. 10 years ago, I would have complied, but now I just laughed and made it cheesy. So happy my parents came out to see us. It was a really nice 4 days with them. I will be happy to be home in September and have my family close again!

Long Island Lake, July 13th 2014

A few Sundays ago it was super nice out and we wanted to go to Long Island Lake again. We invited the Sadlers to come with us, and they said yes! So after church off we went! It was nice to have another family to be with. They left before we did, but we had a nice time. I went swimming for a while with Jayna and it was so fun! Having a baby, a lot of times Andrew plays with Jayna and I stay with Julian. It was nice to be with my little girl and have some quality time one on one together. I miss that sometimes with my Jayna girl, because I definitely don't get as much one on one with her now! I also just love our time as a family. Having Andrew gone so much really makes me love our Sundays all together. There is no greater joy than when we are together and everyone is getting along and happy. Family truly is everything. It is why we are here on this earth. I feel so blessed to have my husband and children. So very blessed. Here are a few pictures from our Sunday Funday in the sun... To start off, our sweet little boy just chilling. He is 3 months and 2 weeks old here:

So uncomfortable, however Jayna likes to have a sleep session in the sand at least once when we come to the beach...

Andrew wanted Julian to have his first lake experience. Interesting enough, both of our kids first time in the lake was in Alberta. I knew he wouldn't like it much, and he's still so little, but hey, what the heck. He did cry, but all those pictures he is totally naked in, so I won't post those ;)

Here's a photo of Jayna's first time up to her neck in Lake water. She took it like a champ, no crying for her. She really has always been a water baby...

Even though we give up our summers in beautiful BC every year, we find the best places to enjoy wherever we are. This world is definitely a beautiful place! Oh and here's one of Andrew and Adam with their girls:

Julian and Daddy

Andrew has been saying that he feels like he doesn't know Julian that well, and wants to change that. Since he started his yearly 6 day a week job that lasts for just over 4 months, that statement makes sense. He isn't around much, so how could he know him that well? This makes me sad, but I know a few things that help: Summer season is more than half way over and that means we get Daddy around full time for a few months! And secondly, when babies are under 6 months, I would say they are all partial to their mama and Daddy's can't do that much to soothe them, and may find them a bit boring. For me personally, I looovvee the baby phase. Give me a newborn, give me a baby under a year old, I love it. I love every age, but there is something about a baby that I especially love! Andrew was making Julian coo and laugh and it was so sweet, so I snapped some photos...Julian is 3 months and a week old, Andrew is 31. Taken July 6th, 2014:

Julian is still so little and Andrew has a lifetime to know him, and so do I. He is such a sweet boy and sure brings us a lot of joy.

Just a girl and her Panda Bear

I just wanted to document a sweet little moment of my little girl. We went to a new park today and 95% of the time we leave the house Jayna brings something with her to the car. It's pretty cute actually, and always something different. Today was her Panda Bear from Grandpa Marshall. I thought it was pretty dang cute when she started pushing it in the swing! haha

And down the slide...

I hope I never forget my sweet little Jayna Joy at this age.

My little babes and me!

I realized the other day that I hardly have any pictures of me with BOTH Julian and Jayna. So I snapped a few of us while Jay was getting ready for bed on July 3rd. Nice way to end my B-Day : Funny photos with my kiddos. I am 30. Jayna is 2.5 years, and Julian just hit his 3 month mark a few days prior.

My 30th Birthday!

Alright, so I am not one of those people who dread turning a certain age, but I have to say this Birthday was definintley the strangest thus far in my life. 30. I turned 30, July 3rd 2014. I do remember as a young kid that 30 was old, and seemed light years away. Now it has come, it has happened, I've hit it. I'm 30. And I don't think 30 is old. Truly, I think you are starting to get old at 70....Starting. Not old even at 70. Turning 30 is a whole new level. I am in my 30's now. Bye bye 20's! And man, so much happened in my 20's!! It's what I knew! But now I have the 30's to experience for the next 10 years. After I got over the shock, the strange surreal feeling that I am now 30....I am excited. I feel good. I like it. I honestly feel like I know myself better, have a wider and broader perspective on life and people, I have changed for the better in a lot of ways, and I am working towards a more confident self. There are lots of positives to being 30, and it is a whole new level. Age is just a number, and no one can really set the rules to how you must look or act at each age. Life is about embracing it, experiencing whatever comes your way with strength and grace, and tolerance. Life is beautiful. Life is an incredible journey, and we are all in it. I can't say that I am totally looking forward to getting older, I would like to stay young forever, but I am sure I will just embrace it as it comes. Wisdom definitely comes with age, and that is nice to have. One of the best parts about my special day is hearing Jayna sing/mostly yell out of key : " Happy Birthday to You! " So stinkin cute! Jayna woke up in the night so Andrew was sleeping with her in the bed in her room, and I got to wake up to this sweet boy on my special day. Nothing better I don't think!

My birthday fell on a Thursday this year, so Andrew had to work, but we had a few hours in the morning together. I really wanted to go to Duchess Bakery and get a little treat for my birthday ( I am doing 21 day fix which is a daily workout and an eating plan ) so no cake for me on my birthday this year. We found a sweet cafe 5 doors down from the bakery and man oh man am I glad we went there! I couldn't have picked a better place to go, and I know I will remember this cafe when we leave Edmonton!! It was delicious food, and great atmosphere! And the best part was there was a "breathing room" pretty much a play room that occupied Jayna when she wasn't eating which was soooo awesome! No more running around after her while eating out, it was truly amazing.

After lunch we walked five stores down to the Duchess Bakery. I must add that I LOVE bakery's. I always have. And half the time I find that the baked goods aren't quite as good as they look. Well that ain't the case with this one. Everything looks as good as it tastes. They are especially famous for the macaroons. I had never had one before, but wow are they ever good! For my birthday cake this year, I got a chocolate coconut macaroon haha. Nice and small, and I enjoyed every tiny bite oh so much!

After the Bakery, we headed home and Andrew went to work for the day. My friend Saren called and we made plans to meet at Castle Downs Spray Park, I had just discovered this place a few weeks earlier, and it's pretty sweet for kids. We played there for a few hours, it was dang hot! It was nice to be with a friend on my birthday and not just me and the kids...I mean it was my birthday, the one day I think every one should get some love and extra good treatment. It was a nice day. Let the 30's begin!

Andrew's 31st Birthday!

Andrew turned 31 on Sunday June 22nd. What. The. Heck. It is weird enough that he is 31, but what is even weirder is that means I'm turning 30 next week!!!! Kind of crazy to think that I have know my husband since he was 17 years old... that's almost half his life. Andrew isn't big on birthdays, but I LOVE them, although being married to him has probably mellowed me out a bit. He just wanted to have a good family day together, and so we did! I bought him a few small gifts, nothing major. He told me on his birthday after I had been asking him for a few weeks that he wanted a gun. I was going to try and pull it off, but Cabala's didn't have the one he wanted.( Good thing, because the next week after his birthday he went out and got the Hunting gun he wanted, and was one happy man. ) He's ready to stock up the freezer this Fall. We both still feel bad about hunting, like poor animal. BUT it is healthier than store bought meat, and God put them there for us to eat in moderation, so there you go. Last year we had deer meat and we loved it. Andrew was super lucky this year because his birthday fell on a SUNDAY! His only day off each week from May to August. So after early morning church we drove out to Long Island Lake, about 1 hr and 15 mintues North of St. Albert. It was definately worth the drive. Quite a nice lake, with a good size beach and a small playground. Jayna and Andrew played and swam, and I pretty much just chilled with Julian, and we all went walking together on the beach. I went swimming right before we were gonna leave, it was very refreshing, glad I did that. We definately miss our beaches and lakes in BC every summer. The Island is where it's at for summertime and we haven't been on the island during summer since we were dating back in 2007! SO Andrew and I will for sure have a celebration when one day we get to stay home for the summer! Yay! Until then, we will explore where we live temporarily and have fun doing it! Can I just say, And I LOVE my City Select Baby Jogger stroller. It's so nice to have a double stroller for my babes!It even made it through the sand nice and easy.

Nice and cozy with Daddy. Jayna sure loves it when she gets to spend time with her Daddy. Every day she asks: " where's Daddy? " I say : " He's at work. " She asks : " Why? " I say, " Because that is what Daddies do, they work to provide for us." Thank you dear husband for working so hard for our family and for making our life so exciting. Even though I have struggled at times that our life isn't super "stable" as in staying in one place to live, and even though you are far different than most men... I know everyone is different, but those who know Andrew know he is extra different lol ;)I have come to accept this as my life and find excitment and joy in our life. I would be so different and my life would be so different and for sure more boring if I didn't marry you. And I really like my life.Happy Birthday sweetheart, we love you so much!!! I know you will have an awesome 31st year!