Happy Birthday, Daddy!

A Happy 7th Anniversary Helmet and a Happy 44th Birthday Bike! :)
(Thank you to Grampa Dan, Mimi, Grandpa, Auntie Shilo and Auntie Tess for contributing!)

Our card got a laugh!
Outside: Dad, we wanted to get you the perfect gift...
Inside: ...but how do you wrap a nap???

Make a wish!!!

The creative Birthday Boy decided he wanted to make a Family Splatter Paint Canvas Art Project for the dining room. He is dressed for a mess success!

Shi decides she is a better babysitter than painter!

Jefferson Pollack really got into his work! (And paid for it with sore legs the next day! Ha!)

Yes, Mimi is wearing a BEER shirt!!! (Along with lacy tights and high heels!)

Auntie Tess has a real flare for splatter paint!

Simone gives the brush a whirl!

The Von Trap Family Painters

Here is the finished product, after the canvas has been stretched.
Believe it or not, it's already hanging on the wall!

Here is some footage of the team in action!

What a fun day! Here's to an awesome 44th year, Dear!

Big Sisters!

It may look like a strangle hold, but it's really just a super tight loving HUG!

Here is Ash in a similar wrestling move with even smaller Baby Tess!
(And tanned! Or is that just the circulation being cut off???)

We sure LOVE our little brothers! ;)

Happy 33rd birthday, Auntie Tess!

Ottawa to Vancouver to Kelowna to Regina!

Not your every day summer vacation plan... but this is the route taken by our dear friends, Mona and Stephen! (Mona was my teaching partner in Ottawa and we were so fortunate to have them "stop by" on their way to a family reunion in Regina!!!)

Simone kept Stephen busy right away... first activity: tea party!

Next up (along with her toes!): story time!

Mona kept The Boy entertained with her gorgeous Lebanese curls!

Ba-doing!

 When in the Okanagan, you must hit the wine trail! Stop number one: Quail's Gate.

 Cheers!

 Over to Mission Hill

They were featuring some sculptor, so these statues were all over the grounds.

 Mona and Stephen kept them company!

What's up there???

Stop number four on the wine tasting trail: Volcanic Hills (and the last stop, might I add... Ash decided to get out of the frame before the boudoir shots!)

Dinner out...

,,, at The Minstrel!

Ogopogo!

The Lazy River in Penticton

Getting cozy!

Ah, the Okanagan!

Talk about relaxed!

We were lucky to catch the last few minutes of a Relvis show! (That's Reservation Elvis, of course!)

Christmas Card!!!

Ollie hoped he could convince them to stay by stealing Stephen's glasses! Grabby Grabberton!

Simone was sad to see "That Guy" go!

We feel so blessed to have such amazing friends! Love you guys!

Danny and Janet Pop By!

Our dear family friends, Danny and Janet, stopped in for a quick visit on their way from Pitt Meadows to Vernon.

Ollie was so happy to meet them!

Love!!!

As usual, we put visitors to work!!!

The bottle wasn't enough... The Boy would like to try a bit of your shirt, too!!!

Cheese!

Thank you again for making the trip and for spoiling both Littles with excellent gifts!

Oliver is 7 Months Old!

This month, it's all about FOOD!!!

Bananas - yum!

Cantaloupe - yes please!

Avocado - you bet! (Thanks again to Shelley for the mesh chomper!) He has been doing awesome in that thing - carrots, potatoes... so far he has eaten everything we put in there! Yahoo!

Taking lessons from Grampa Dan and Uncle Scott, Ollie is working on rocking out!

I love my Daddy!

Thank you to Susan for this adorable "Green Eggs and Ham" overalls and shirt combo! We love Dr. Seuss!

Blankie photo shoot!

With MANY different faces...

Call me maybe!

So close to "DADA"!!!!