Camp Elphinstone

The girls spent a week at the YMCA daycamp, Camp Elphinstone, last week. Chris went there as well as a kid. I also went to overnight camp from the time I was 7-17 years old and some of my best childhood memories are from there, so we were excited to get the girls started at camp, and ..... They LOVED it!!! They are still sharing stories and singing songs. The day campers have the option of sleeping over for a night, which Sedona did. She is already talking about going to overnight camp next summer! On the last day, the girls got to go to the "Tuck Shop." With the same amount of money, Sedona got this camp hoodie, while Aja opted for a water bottle, yoyo and lip balm. Here they are displaying their goods while singing "Elphinstone: We've got the Spirit!"

Dancing Partners

We went to Thormanby Island today for Auntie Ann's birthday. It was a little on the cool side and overcast, but we had a great time nonetheless! Aja and her cousin Theo spent a good hour dancing on the beach.

Veggies for Sale

The girls have been enjoying doing "lemonade" stands this summer, so when we had an overabundance of beans and cucumbers a while back (after we had already given some to our neighbors and friends), we suggested they fo a little produce stand- they made $12 in half an hour... a lot more profitable than the lemonade stands!

Movie in the Park

The other night, 1500 people set up their blankets and chairs and met for the movie "The Lorax" at one of our local parks. The girls are snuggling with their friends Karys and Avery.

Adventure Day

The other day, my friend Erin and I did a fun adventure day. We ran to some local falls where we swam, ran back to our car, had lunch, went for a ride and then met our other friend Lydia for a paddle. Not a bad way to spend one of the last (oh please NO) days of summer!

4 Lakes Race

 

 

 

We went up to Katherine Lake the other day for a race. I did the 10 km race with my friend Jeanette, while the rest of the family did the 3 km non-timed family version. Chris and Sedona ran most of the 3 km route and came in first place!!! Nan and P.K. walked the route together and came in just about a minute after me. Chris misplaced the camera by the time we got there, so we only have pics of Sedona crossing the finish line. She was pretty pumped!

Beach BBQ at Sargeant's Bay

 

 

 

Car Show

 

 

We took Nan and P.K. to the annual "show and Shine" the other day. Here are a couple of our favourites. 

Piper Point

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday, while Nan and P.K. took the girls to the Iris Griffith Nature Centre and out for lunch, Chris and I paddled up the inlet to Piper Point. We played hide and go seek with the seals (I say that because as soon as we see them, they go under water and come up somewhere else until we see them again), saw the biggest sea stars I have ever seen in my life (they were so heavy!!), and went swimming.

Nan and P.K. Visit

Nan and P.K. are visiting from Toronto right now. The other day we waled along the seawall and stopped at the Fish and Chips truck- something Sedona has been asking me to do all summer!

Richmond Night Market

When we took the girls to Playland, we spent the night in Richmond and did a bunch of city stuff. They have a great Asian night market on the weekends (Chris and I discovered it a few weeks before when we spent the night there before heading to San Fran). We took the girls this trip. It's full of amazing vendors with all sorts of Asian cuisine and all sorts of little trinkets. This guy is cooking up a bunch of octopi.

Playland

We took the girls to Playland on Friday. We were a bit worried about how busy it would be because it was the start of the long weekend, but there were no lineups at all so we had the park to ourselves. Sedona was tall enough this time that she could do more rides this year so it was a lot of fun for her. What happens when we get older though? I used to love all rides when I was younger- in fact, the crazier, the better. Now, being older though, the ones that really twist and turn definitely make my stomach turn in knots! Now I understand Mom!!! (Remember the kiddie roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland)?

Aja's New Scooter

 

Aja has been asking for a new scooter because she felt she was ready for a new one, as opposed to her old plastic rickety one. She feels so proud. Aja has not been particularily excited for kindergarten (with the exception of going to school with me every day because I got a job at the girls' school), so everything this summer has been about being ready for kindergarten. She is now even starting to say these things too and today she said "I can ride this scooter because I'm ready for kindergarten." I think she's slowly wrapping her head around it!

Splish Splash

 

We had to get a new bacyard pool this summer because our other one broke. The girls have been swimming a lot. Aja would never put her face in the water up until now, and you can't really swim until you put your face in. Well yesterday, she started putting her face in the water using a snorkell and mask (not pictured here). Overnight, she has learned how to swim and is doing her floats, swimming under water, dunking under.... but only with her mask. So now, we'll have to work on weaning her off that so when she does swim lessons again, she might actually be able to master some of the skills. It's amazing though, how once they put their face in, they can swim!!!