Summer Life Lesson/Taste of Edmonton

 My Gparents are absolutely the coolest! 
Getting to have a date at Taste of Edmonton with them has been a highlight of my summer. I LOVE THEM!!!  They took the LRT up to meet us at Churchill Square, they had never taken the LRT before (always growing & pushing themselves).  We were lucky to find a table in the shade and then looked over the menus making a game plan. It was so yummy and so nice to be in such good company.  The girls were a bit more adventurous this year, they are becoming the best little sidekicks. We left filled to the brim.

Life is good. This summer has been oh so good. As Graham and I discuss decisions and possibilities and our family it takes but a minute to start listing the good things, the good people, the experiences we are so blessed with. Of course there are things in our lives that can bring me to tears in a second and make my heart hurt.  Come what may and love it, is the thought I have had.  Somethings in life we have the choice, we get to weigh the pros & cons and make a choice.  Other things are beyond our control and part of our life experience and growth come from navigating that stuff too, that which is thrust upon us.  This phrase has come to mind numerous times when I start contemplating our 'stuff'...

My Gparents are good for the soul and the three folks I get to have in my little unit, I don't even have words. Love them.

~ Mrs. P

refresh part II

I like to change up the decor, that is just how I roll.  My sweet, sweet husband he is a doer so when I want to tackle something he helps make it happen.  He trusts me which I appreciate.  I sadly didn't take a before picture but we have had this buffet for 10 years and I was itching to change it up.  Went with red because it was striking and I have some other red pieces in our living room.  So sanding, priming and three coats of paint later here she is. I was so eager to get it back into the kitchen I went all hulk and helped Graham bring it back in from the garage where we had been painting it.  I can be strong when needed. I am super pleased!

~ Mrs. P

yard pride

Two years ago our yard was basically a massive dirt pile.  It remained dirt because of a tangle between our builder, the city and the developer.  Once it was finally resolved we were able to get our landscaping done and have slowly made it more of what we wanted, we added two raised garden beds, rhubarb, some fruit bushes and some perennials.  I am actually pretty proud of our yard this year. When we had our evacuated family with us Mr. P let them help a bit with his yard work.  Kingston LOVED the riding lawnmower which I sadly didn't get a photo of.   Graham is quite particular about his yard and it makes me love the guy just that much more, he does different designs...love it.  We always have the intention to go sit on the back deck after the girls are in bed but honestly we usually just pull back the curtains watch the storms rolling in through the window in our bedroom because the evenings have been full of thunderstorms with rain almost nightly.  The weather has been crazy!

~ Mrs. P

ice cream date

Dancing after ice cream because why not?!?!?!

Dad was down for a few days staying out at the Hinko farm with Grandma.  The farm is the exact other side of the city from where we live.  Sooooooo we drove into Edmonton with the Bird girls and met Grandpa for an ice cream date.  We sure love the guy and the girls, all of the girls are smitten with him. Each little lady has a nickname or something special that they do with him, like mom he really goes that extra mile to build relationships with each of his grands.  Love the guy so much!

 ~ Mrs. P

check ups {eyes, muscles & teeth}

We had a busy week of check-ups, seemed to get everything in this week hahaha   At least they are done and over with, mostly anyway.  

EYE CHECK - We are diligent about eyes and the little ladies just adore their optometrist Dr. Constantine, she always has pretty earings and fancy nail polish.  Stella had a new prescription so she scored a couple new pairs of glasses.  My ladies aren't really rough and tumble but we learned early on that having two pairs of glasses are a good idea.  This time she decided to try getting some sunglasses, we shall see how much those end up being used.

 

MUSCLE CHECK - The women are followed by doctors at the Glenrose Hospital and get yearly checkups for their muscle development.  When we go there I always feel incredibly thankful for the facility we have at our finger tips.  The girls and I all have a super rare muscle condition that isn't degenerative, which we are grateful for.   I always describe it as initial strength just limited endurance, we are just kinda wimpy. They are able to answer any questions I have and offer great suggestions. We have great services through the Glenrose; physical therapy consultations, dietician consultations and speech, super grateful. 

TEETH CHECK - Something else I am super grateful for, the dentist!!! Mostly grateful for anyway haha.  Amelia ended up having three cavities the poor girl.  The was a trooper though.  The check ups went great.  The first filling for big A went excellent, the second filling she ended up biting her lip while the freezing was still in it and it was super traumatic for everyone! We have yet to go back for the third. Ugh, necessary but not fun :(

 Amelia says she "LOVES going to visit the dentist!"  She really did say that after her first filing. Oh my positive girl.

As I reflect on the services we have in our Country, such gratitude.  There was very minimal cost to us personally this week.  Kids get taken care of in our country!!!!!  Kids SHOULD ALWAYS be taken care of.

~ Mrs. P

beautiful yellow flowers

The fields are almost a florescent yellow right now, the canola is in full bloom. It is absolutely beautiful!!!! As we drove home from camping I knew I wanted to get the ladies out for some pictures so we went today after church.  I do not have skills with a camera, ugh it is kind of annoying actually. I am trying to be better, I took a course last year to learn the basics of composition.  I totally have the vision and like to pull outfits together, I am pretty good at that but being behind the camera, not my strength.  Anyway, my girls are absolute beauties and we had fun until they 'accidentally' stepped in a mud puddle.

The sky was a bit overcast and it rained later today but we had a picnic lunch on the church grounds and then went for a drive in the country to find a field to explore.  Graham had to stay after church so it was just a ladies date. 

So beautiful.

~ Momma P

CAMPING Gull Lake

These smiles are what it is all about!

Lots of chill time.  Lots of exploring.  Lots of ice cream.  Lots of beautiful nature around us.  Oh, and lots of rain.

 Mr. P is seriously, seriously an awesome guy!  So I'll admit the rain, ugh not so fun but the guy does not complain and always helps us all make the best of it.
Exhibit A - air band
Evidence - photo below

 Another perk of rain, ANTIQUING!!!!!!!!  I love checking out old stuff.   I had a great little sidekick this year.  She was pretty pumped to find an 'A' at one of the stores we visited.

 Friends of ours were also camping at Gull Lake, they have two little dudes.  The activities they had at their site were quite different then what we had :)

Pretty good times!

~ Mrs. P