I love you berry much...

Every summer my sister comes to visit about 6 weeks. This year she came a little earlier in the summer, which meant that she was here in time for Strawberry season!!!

We had already run out of last years supply of Strawberry Jam, and so were highly motivated to round the troops to make jam!

We had just moved into the house, and finally had a kitchen big enough to host all the helpers! I was in my happy place the whole afternoon. It was so wonderful to have my sister and her girls here in our home, with my parents and not feel over crowded.

My Dad clearly thought there were too many cooks in the kitchen, so he opted for clearing out the weeds in our garden. This was a four hour job to get it looking that good. Those weeds were thick and HIGH!

 I'm not sure what happened to my mom, Ellie and Theo as they were there too. I think those photo's must be on my sisters. Camera???

  My cute sister at the "stirring" station.

 Kezia wanted to help so badly, and her little voice often didn't get heard over her cousins demands for jobs. At one point, Colin asked her to help by passing him the strawberries from the sink, one at a time, so that he could hull them! Sadly, I have no photo of that, but it was just the sweetest thing. She did her job with pride. It was so sweet that Colin was able to think of job for her to do- when all others were occupied!

Sweet Cait stirring away.

Eva smashing. Later, we started using the electric food processor- that was awesome!

Hulling.

Measuring.

Only the beginning of our total supply.

Fort Langley

One of the fields trips we did with our school this year was a trip out to Fort Langley. It was a beautiful warm sunny day which made it even more enjoyable. The kids learned lots as we went from station to station learning about all the different jobs that had to be done around the Fort in order to keep the community running!

Listening to the First Nations lady explain what was traded between the Europeans and the First Nations and why!

After identifying some of the origins of the furs, Theo was brave enough to touch them.

Pretending to make some laws!

Learning to Waltz.

Twas a lovely day. It was great to be surrounded by many of my student families, and of course the DiGi-Lakins!

Kezie's Cubbie Bear.

Kezia participated in Cubbie's at Awana, and this year she rocked all her memory verses, sometimes doing two verses in one week. All her hard work paid off, as she earned her Cubbie Bear!

Surprise Birthday Party!

Colin wasn't able to get out for his birthday this year with me or any of his friends, so we decided a to give a couple surprises instead. On his actual birthday we made cupcakes for all the students in his class and snuck into his room while they were at computers. The kids had fun hiding and yelling surprise when he came in the room.

Hiding in the storage area of the classroom.

Hiding behind Daddy's desk, with the sign she made.

Surprise Daddy!!!

This is a well loved man!

But... his birthday was on a Friday, and anyone who knows us, knows that on Friday's we do Pizza and Red Wine at my parents house. First their was ballet for Eva, then off to Vancouver for pizza. So I felt like his birthday wasn't quite celebrated enough. The kids and I decided that the first surprise was so fun, that we would do it again.

This time we decorated and set the table all fancy.

I made one of his favourite meals (lamb steaks with roasted greek potatoes).

Jessie was so sweet and bought him a DQ log!

Kezia loved it so much she had to use both utensils.