Baking Birthday Cupcakes

Tomorrow my little baby girl turns 2. I guess she is officially a toddler but in my eyes she'll always be my baby girl. Harvie and I are working so she is celebrating the big day at her daycare. As today was my "off" day we "made" some cupcakes together. We had celebrated her birthday this past weekend with our families. The baking set was from my cousin down in Bellingham and we put it to good use already. Did we have fun baking? Let the pictures tell you!

Good Bye Summer, Welcome School!

I have been counting down the days until September 7th, which marks the beginning of a new school year. I have been anticipating the big day with great joy and excitement. For some moms going back to work is a mixed emotion event. For me, I am jumping for joy like a child awaiting their first day back to school. School is home for me. Staying at home the last two years was difficult for me. Don't get me wrong, I love Adrianna far more than I love my job. The love of a parent to a child is a beautiful indicator of God's love for us. Becoming a parent has taught me far more than any other event in my life. I have such admiration to the endless work of parents. But I also know without a shadow of a doubt that I am called to be back in my classroom. Adrianna loves her daycare which we call "play school". She eagerly walks to the door and waves good bye to me without hesitation. She is surely an independent little girl. Omi, her daycare provider, lovingly calls her Miss Independent. I rest assure that she is in a loving and caring place in wonderful hands of someone who genuinely cares for her. I am learning to trust others, after all raising a child takes a village. This makes me realize how important of a job I have. Other parents do the same to their school aged children. They entrust their children's little hearts and minds to me. What a treasure that is. I pray that Adrianna will experience love through others, just like I pray that my students will experience God's love through me. I pray that as my little girl grows up that she will be impacted by other adults who serve and love a good God. I can't be there all the time or be everything for her. That task is too big for me, but not for our heavenly father. My hope for Adrianna, for my grade three students, for Harvie and for myself is that we can learn more about God through our relationships with each other. Back to school, back to routine, welcome home!

First Cousin Sleepover

Adrianna had her first sleepover with her one and only cousin Adalyn. It was Marlen and Sue's anniversary and we were more than excited to have 3 month baby Addie for a sleepover. Although we kept both girls in different bedrooms, we still considered it a sleepover. With time, my hope is that they will enjoy sleepovers as much as I did with my cousins. Growing up school vacation was never complete unless we went for a sleepover at each other's places. My prayer is that these two adorable cousins will become lifelong friends.

It was so cute to watch Adrianna be gentle with her baby cousin. She imitated me the whole time. While I gave Adalyn her bottle, Adrianna did the same with her doll. Her dolls also had to play in the playgym and bouncy chairs. I thought Adrianna would be more jealous, but she was so precious!

What did I do during the 24 hours with two under two? Nothing but take care of them, that is a busy job! Even though I loved our time together, I think having one is enough for me...at least for now.

Will we do this again? Absolutely, if Uncle Marlen and Auntie Sue will let us, that is. We all love you little Adalyn, you are a beautiful and precious little girl. You are welcome here anytime!

Summer Camping

We went camping in the Okanagan again this year. Great weather and great friends pretty much sums up the week long adventure. We went to two different campsites with two different sets of friends. We also squeezed a visit to Mission Hills Winery, which was right in between both campistes.

The first part of our camptrip we spent at Bear Creek with some of longtime friends. We started camping when we were all single and over the years we added quite the crew. The picture goes from youngest to oldest. It was very precious to see Adrianna try to keep up with this little gang!

Camping certainly makes a toddler quite dusty. A quick nighttime bath was a must each evening to remove all the daytime fun dirt.

But the hightlight was definitely the water. Although still cold for my Brazilian blood, a daily dip in the lake was a welcome cooling for the hot Okanagan weather. Even Adrianna enjoyed floating on the water. Hopefully she will come to love swimming in the water too!

Looking so much more like a child these days....

We rented a tent-trailer this year. I don't think we (or should I just say "I") will be going back to tenting. We are definitely going to be investing in something like this for next year. Adrianna and Harvie LOVE the outdoors so there is no better holiday for them than this.

Adrianna was in all her glory from the minute she woke up in the morning...but trying to make this little girl sleep when there is fun to be had outdoors was quite the challenge at times. We had to find creative ways for her to nap...

The second part of the trip was spent at Okanagan South. It's the third year we venture that way with some great work friends of mine.

The tradition continues...a visit to Summerland Sweets with a big ice-cream treat!

Spending lazy mornings at the beach...that is my kind of holiday. However with a toddler around, there wasn't much relaxing time for us. But it was still fun watching her enjoy beachtime her way.

Bins serve dual duty when camping!

It was a great family trip. It was well worth the days of packing and unpacking, organizing and reorganizing, laundry piles and extra pounds (camping food is great!). Summer camping, it had me a blast; Summer camping it happened too fast!

Priceless Smiles

Feeling quite accomplished after trying to sit her doll and herself in one small basket...

This little smile melts my heart! So precious and sweet (and quite mischievous at times)!

Hopefully our upcoming camping trip can bring many of these smiles to both, Harvie and Adrianna. Although camping is not my idea of a relaxing holiday, I am looking forward to spending time with friends, catching up, not worrying about cleaning a house and maybe even some swimming in the lake.

Our Funny Little Girl

This is our little girl at bedtime. What used to be the most challenging time of the day when she was a baby has become the most enjoyable now that she is a toddler. After her bath and bedtime bottle (yes, I know time to take away the bottles...) she becomes so much fun. At times we just don't want to put her down for the night, especially because on most nights Harvie has just walked through the door. Sometimes we know we keep her up too late these summer days, but that's the price we pay for enjoying some daddy time.

This is the reason I hold off folding laundry until Adrianna is napping or asleep for the night. If I leave the laundry basket anywhere within her reach, she begins to put on the clothes, regardless of whose it is...or if it clean or not. That's right, even her parents' underwear is fair game. I should really take a picture of that for her future embarassement! On a positive note, if I need a few minutes of peace and quiet, a filled (folded is even more inviting) laundry basket can keep this busy toddler occupied and engaged for quite some time.

Hup Holland, Hup!

The World Cup soccer final match is only a couple of hours away. Some in our household have been cheering Holland since the beginning, some only after Holland beat the five time world champion, Brazil. The orange clothes have been worn for a while now, and I know at least one person in our home is hoping that orange will be the colour many will wear after today's game. Will Holland become the world champion for the first time? And, although still sad that it isn't the samba kings that are in this game, I am cheering for the dutchies...after all, I have a half-dutch little blondie in my life that kept pointing at the dutch flag over the brazilian flag whenever we would ask who the better team was or who would win the World Cup. That's right, we don't need a octopus to tell us, only a busy and adorable little toddler! The table of chairs were bought in honour of the dutch flag. I am not sure the more costly Ikea colours (over plain pine) would have been approved by Harvie had they been yellow and green....

Summer, At Last!

We have been enjoying some hot weather this past week, much to Adrianna's enjoyment. The pool is set up and the backyard and deck has become our favourite places to enjoy the warmth and cool off from the heat.

A Surprise Little Visit

At around 11:30am last Monday morning, we had an very unusual surprise visit in our backyard. Good think I was inside with Adrianna and our neighbours caught this shot from their back deck. Harvie had put some pineapple peels in the compost so I guess the sweet smell was just too tempting for the bear cub. The scary thought I now have is: Where is Mama Bear and when will I get a visit from her?

Father's Day

Adrianna is definitely daddy's little girl. Nothing makes both, dad and daughter, happier than spending the day outdoors. So for Father's Day we kept it close to home and went for a little stroll in the woods to celebrate the day. We took the chance to take some father/daughter pictures to remember the day.

One thing is for certain, Adrianna, nothing makes daddy smile more than when you run to him and give him a great big hug, say "datty", or just do the little things you do that make you you! From the first moment daddy held you in his arms when you were born, you stole his heart and became his little princess. He loves you so much!

We took a peek at the carshow in Mission, which is held every year on Father's Day. Quite impressive!

I am so thankful for Harvie. He is an incredible father to our sweetheart. His kindness, peacefulness, gentleness, playfulness are truly admirable. There are certainly much I can learn from him. He makes me want to be a better parent, spouse, daughter and friend. Although this post is a little late, my Father's Day wish for you is that you will know and experience many blessings in this coming year as a Father. May Adrianna's first words of "datty" be one of many joyous moments to come. Know that we are your biggest fans!

Graduation, At Last!

This journey began nearly four years ago. Back in the spring of 2006 I began contemplating pursuing graduate studies. After looking into various programs, I chose to apply to the SFU Field Programs Graduate Studies. The first two years I spent with a cohort in Abbotsford in a graduate diploma program called "Exploring Mathematical Literacy". After completing those two years, I debated whether or not to continue on with the Masters or just to graduate with a diploma. So much had happened, I had Adrianna and life had been forever altered. It was a hard decision, because I knew I couldn't go back to work, complete a masters, and take care of Adrianna (and Harvie, the house, etc). So I looked into a leave of absence from work and if that got approved (and I got accepted into the program) then I really knew this was my path to take. So it was, that in May of 2009 I began to purse my Masters of Education in Educational Practice (what a mouthful that is!). And, finally the end is here. After much $$$ and hard work, the graduation day came.

Joining the 4 step graduation program...

But before the gown return...the processional. It was a really long, but amazing experience!

Walking right passed Harvie during the processional...not planned at all! We didn't take Adrianna since it would be a long event for a busy toddler to attend.

After walking the stage, a picture moment with Shawn. We started the same graduate diploma back in 2006, took the same Master's program, but in different cohorts, yet stayed competitive all throughout the four years. I couldn't have had a better competitor and colleague in this journey.

And finally, my biggest supported and encourager through these last four years. When it all was too much for me, when I didn't believe in myself, when I needed someone to proofread and edit countless pages of teacher-research, when I needed someone to listen to my ideas, when I needed someone to build a model bridge, Harvie was there for me and with me. I couldn't have done this without Harvie. This degree is his as much as it is mine. Thank you!

And this is how I really feel! Yes, a little bit silly, crazy, and excited, but what more can you ask after so much reflective critical thought?

Where to go from here? That's too much for me to think about now. I am looking forward to going back to work in September (well, it all starts already in July...whoever thinks teachers have the summer off doesn't really know the profession first hand). I am teaching grade 3 this coming year, after six years of teaching grade two. I did teach one year of grade three prior to MEI when I first started teaching. I am sure there will be challenges, but I know that the classroom is the place I need to be next year. I feel incredibly blessed to have a job that I love in a profession that I know God has called me for. He has and will continue to pave the way for me in journey as a learner and a teacher. I look forward to the possibilities that lie ahead. And, just like Harvie's comment his graduation card for me, "Oh the places you'll go!" (Dr. Seuss). I rest in God's promise that he will take me to the places I need to go.