Weekend together

Kaera sure loves her mom. She's been an incredible baby. We can't imagine what life would be without her. She's been teething and you can't even tell. What a light in our home! (Raeghn too of course!)Adam disciplining the bad bunny...
Mel and Shad went on a photo expedition on canoe on a local river Monday morning and had a great time together. Dad's sure blessed to have a great photo companion.
While Shad and Dad were out teaching the 3rd discussion to some neighbors, Mom and the young ones went on a walk.
Kaera is too cool to be seen with dad but she tolerates him.
Andrew is always happy when he's with Teddy!
Shad and Kaera hanging out
Favorite time of the day


Shopping with dad

Schools Out - Party Time!!!

As is the yearly tradition, we held a party at our house which also happened to match up with Tia's birthday so there were two reasons to cut loose and have a good time. 60 kids showed up and it was quite a task keeping everyone entertained...

Chass, Mitch, and Raeghn did a super job keeping the food flowing. We had cake and ice cream, water melon, pizza, chips, tootsie rolls, cream puffs, etc... (Chass and Mitch also did all the clean up- THANKS (will have to invite them next year again!))


Andrew Playing with some of Wayne's old friends.
Below Tia is opening presents with the help of Shad as the MC for the event.
Mitch capturing the fun.
Shad's band did their first public appearance and they were awesome. It was neat how they took the initiative and put together some fun songs and played with energy only the Oilers of Grassy Lake could match. It was really exciting and a blast to watch.


Here are couple of shots from Andrew's Kindergarten Graduation. He sang great and was one of the most animated actors/dancers! We were very proud of him.

Life

A usual week in life. Kaera tried her first "earth" breakfast and enjoyed it. She got in a couple of servings before I washed her up. I returned her and she went back for more but I intervened.

Shad reading scriptures (reads every night! yahoo!).
Raeghn and Kvinde had a girls night out... well for most of the night until around midnight when they asked me to join them ('Oh and bring the keys since I "think" we locked the keys in the van!'). This is Raeghn after regaining entry.

The Getaway

Raeghn, Kaera, and I got together in Vancouver and stayed the weekend near Victoria in a little house in the middle of the forest right on the water. It was the only one I could find with a hot tub overlooking the bay. We probably spent about 8 hours in the tub. Kaera loved it too and we had some great quiet time to ponder life, path forward, dreams for the future, and contemplate the last two months. It was therapeutic and was the break we needed. The flower pictures are from Butchart Gardens which are amazing and a testament to what a woman with a mission can accomplish. We're now back in the refiner's fire with rough economic realities and kids busy with last weeks of school. Below Kaera and I are soaking in the hot tub overlooking the bay near Sooke on Vancouver Island (Fossil Bay Cabin)
Raeghn and Kaera having breakfast on our anniversary near the tide pools in Port Renfrew. A great little mom/pop restaurant with great food.
Raeghn at our anniversary dinner. Looking as beautiful as the day I met her. She is hot!
Raeghn on the Ferry trying to find something in our little Yaris car. As you can see in the window it was packed to the ceiling!
Kaera tired of my many pictures of the flowers at Butchart gardens.

I got to take the girls up with me to Edmonton on the way to speak at a robotics conference in the Oilsands. We had an incredible time with Torries and the Smiths. Wish they were closer!What a sweety!!!


=


Couldn't get enough pictures of these cuties.
Wonderful to have time with our sister Whitney!
They get along like angels!
Outside the Solarium was a unique Christmas surprise.

We went to a cool solarium and had a great afternoon together.
The cutest girls you'll find anywhere!
They treated us so well. Stan makes an amazing omelet!
This is a Joel shot of his own feet. He's going to be a great photographer.
Here is one he got of his mother.
Raeghn kept asking people to pull her finger, but no one went for it so she did it herself... Weird.
Stan really wanted me to take a picture of their sculpture. Interesting!