Special Visitor

Gosh, where has the summer gone. I can't believe September is on the horizon already. **Sorry for the late delays on postings.**

We were so lucky to have my cousin, Amanda, come all the way from England to visit us for a week in late July. We had such a fun time with her. Amanda, Danielle and I took an overnight trip up to Vancouver. OUr hotel was right on English Bay and the south end of Stanley park. We took a long walk through the park and stopped by the Aquarium. We were lucky enough to see the baby baluga. Danielle LOVED seeing all the fish. It's an amazing place!!


Momma & baby


The baby Baluga.


Checking out the tree frogs.


We saw turtles...


...paranas (ranas as Danielle would say!...


and so many types of jelly fish!!


Having cocktails at a restaurant near English Bay!!


Danielle LOVES "cocktails"! Amanda taught her to say "cheers" and toast her cocktail.

Amanda, Kim and I took a girls camping trip while she was here. We decided to go to Birch Bay State Park. It was nice the day we arrived. We played on the beach, roasted hot dogs on the fire and had smores in honor of Danielle's real birthday. The rain clouds came in, which was our wake up call the next morning so we packed up camp quickly and was home by 930AM! Despite the rain, we had a great time and lots of laughs.

Avery & Danielle gobbling up blueberries while camping.


Amanda & Natale... eating melon.


Tyler, being the gentlemen that he is, escorting the girls around in the wagon. We forgot a couple of things so I called my friend Rachelle who lives in Birch Bay and she came to the rescue. :)


Tyler & Danielle around the campfire.


Morning giggles from the girls...

On Amanda's last day here, I took her to Seattle and went on the ride the duck tour. If you have the chance, it's SO worth it. We had a great driver & learned a lot of interesting fact about Seattle... our city is the most literate and we have the most library cards in the US!!!


RIDE THE DUCK IS AWESOME!!


The sleepless in Seattle house!!


Good ol' Seattle!! (look at all those cranes!)


Silly Tourists... talking about the kid in the back. :)


The happy family (minus Grant... he was working)


Amanda & Danielle


Cheers to you Amanda!! May the trip you are on be filled with lots of happiness and many lasting memories. We miss you so much already!!

Danielle is TWO!!!

Danielle turned 2 on the 28th. We celebrated her birthday on Sunday with family and friends at, Fairhaven Park. The park has sprinklers which are her favorite. She showed everyone how much she LOVES the water and cupcakes. :)


The Birthday Girl in her party dress that Nana made her.


Daddy and Danielle


Danielle and her friends testing the waters.


Sammie girl having fun in the water!


Danielle showing Amanda how to get use to the water.


Avery thinking it's way TOOO cold (and she was right!)


The sprinkler dance... WOW look at the paparazzi!!


The sprinkler Queen!!


Getting ready to blow out her candle.


Yummy, ELMO cupcakes!!


ELMO cupcakes.


Her cousin & friends helping her open presents.


One of her new books!!


Proud parents of our sweet Punky girl!!

Pickin' Strawberries

Last Thursday we went out to a local u-pick berry farm, Boxx, to picked the last of the strawberry crop. The kids had so much fun "helping" us pick the strawberries. We had a great time!! We'll be back next week for raspberries and a couple weeks later for blueberries.


Danielle got her bucket, she's ready to pick!!


Voilet helping her mama, Kelli, fill her bucket.


Mmmm... gotta love strawberries.


The kids are starting a bucket band!

4th of July!

The DeRemer family had a great 4th of July!! Uncle Bubba came up to spend the day with us. Grant and Bubba took in some golf so Danielle and I went to the Blaine parade with Shay & Hayden. We met up with Tyler and his family. I didn't know how Danielle would do standing around for an hour watching a parade, but she had a GREAT time. She would stand there, dance around and wave at the floats driving. But the best part was catching candy!! Shay, Thad, Hayden, and Brian came over for a BBQ and to set off & watch fireworks. Danielle thought it was so cool. She wanted to help out, but we just watched from the sidelines. Hope everyone had a great day with family and friends!!


Waving to the parade patrons


Tractor tractor tractor is what she said as it drove by.


Tyler & his Momma. He's telling me 2 suckers are better than 1. :)


I got a sucker!!


Rachelle, Tyler, Danielle & I


Danielle got so excited when a group of doggies passed by. She wanted to pet them all. This dog would jump high in the air to catch bubbles. It was cool to watch.


Parades are FUN!!


Uncle Bubba setting off bottle rockets.


Thad joining in on the fun!


A true fireworks display. Ha ha!


WOW, that was LOUD!


Shay, baby Hayden & Thad... good friends & neighbors.


The festive & yummy dessert.

Stayin cool on a HOT summer day!

Last weekend was SO HOT! Too hot for Danielle &I. I bought a sprinkler toy to keep us cool. Here are some fun photos of Danielle keeping it cool or should I say drinking water.


Danielle keepin' it cool in the sprinkler


She shortly figured out it was sort of like a drinking fountain...


mmmm, fresh cold water!


BLAH!! :)

So now everytime we put the sprinkler on she thinks it's a fountain. Too funny!!