Road Trip Day 12

We woke up to another BEAUTIFUL, hot day in Kelowna.  We decided that if we would ever move west, we would pick Kelowna to move to.  What a gorgeous place!  We took the kids to Gyro Beach, which is almost right next to the beach we had gone to the day before.

This is the inside of Jared’s Uncle + Aunt’s house

Kiera was so exhausted that she conked out on the couch.

Again, we got fed supper, which meant we didn’t pay for a single meal while we were in Kelowna, and then we drove to Vernon, which is about 45 min. away and went to visit my aunt, uncle and cousins who moved there about 9 years ago (I think).  The drive there was scenic, of course.

My Uncle + Aunt’s house

This is the big room they added on.  Gary + Sherry live there with their kids Elisha, Emmanuel, Ezra and Eden plus my aunt’s parents live with them, so they needed more space.

HUGE back yard

When we got there, I was completely SHOCKED to see one of my aunts, one of my uncles, my grandparents, and one of my cousins from back home there!  They had flown there for my cousin Elisabeth’s wedding (the oldest of the 5 kids), which we missed by one day because we were still in Bellingham.  It turned into a family gathering and it was great!

My cousin, Erin, visiting with my cousin, Emmanuel

Jared visiting with my uncle Doug and my cousin, Elisha

They served us cheesecake with raspberry sauce while we sat on the deck.  Kiera watched a show with my cousin Eden.

My Aunt Sherry and my cousin Eden really enjoyed Haley.

I thought the evening would be awkward because I’ve never been close with that family, since there is a bit of an age gap between me + my cousins and then they moved away.  I had an AMAZING time with them, though.  I told one of my cousins that I felt like I had discovered treasure and then had to leave it behind right away.  I didn’t expect to feel that way and it was such an incredible gift!  I was very blessed to be able to reconnect with them and that they could meet Jared and our kids!  We definitely want to go back there!

What Happens When…

…the kids discover they can blow into a straw instead of just sucking on it?

…Daddy leaves his sunglasses lying around?

…I find a recipe for finger paint online?

…you tell the waitress it’s your Mom’s birthday?

…Mom + Lois come over?  A dance party!

…the sidewalk chalk was brought out after sitting in a closet for over a year?

…Blake plays dress-up with his older sister?

…Haley finds the pack of diapers?

…Blake plays in the fire pit?

Haley’s 1st Birthday

On Sunday, August 12, Haley became a 1-year-old and we had her birthday party on that same day.  I spent 5 hours making her cake.  It was my very first time doing anything with icing in piping bags and I was very happy the way it turned out.  Ya, it’s not a very professional-looking cake, but it looked like the picture I copied, so I say it was a success!  Oh, and it was a gluten-free and dairy-free cake mix and it tasted good!

Looking out to the backyard

Jared helped me with the balloons….I am really bad at tying them.

Typical “trying on Baba’s sunglasses” picture

The last time we will use the “1” candle on one of our kid’s cakes

“Why won’t you let me touch it yet?”

We didn’t do the whole “stick the kid in the high chair and let them eat cake” thing that evening.  She happily ate on Jared’s lap.

The kids had fun with their Poppy

My friend, Melissa came with her new husband (they had been married for 2 weeks + a day)…such a wonderful couple!

Haley is starting to try to pull herself up to a standing position, but she’s often not successful yet.  Her hair dried super spiky after her bath, which was so cute!

I often forget to get myself in one of the pictures, but that day I remembered!

Opening her presents

Can’t believe my youngest is a year old already!  We will be leaving the baby years behind and moving forward into new adventures.  I’m excited!  Although she will not always be a baby, she will always be our baby. :)  We love you more than words can say, our sweet Haley Joy!