cousins

• Daddy bought a new vacuum last night, and had left the box in the living room.  The three of you (McDavid was here for the weekend) started playing with it and found the styrofoam blocks inside.  A little piece broke off and you discovered that it broke apart and made snow.  Lila, I was in the kitchen having coffee with Uncle Dan and Dareian and saw you run in and grab the cheese grater, but didn't really think too much about it because I was busy visiting.  I came to the living room a few minutes later, and saw the three of you busy grating the styrofoam into a bowl.  It was so funny. You were so pleased with yourselves.  What a mess.  I let you play with what you had already created, but took the rest away.  Lila, I'm always impressed with your knack for making things.  I think you got grandpa Jimmy's "Jimgineering" genes
• Jane and Katie, I picked you both up at noon so you could spend a little more time with Dareian.  We played for a while at Katie's school.  I could not believe my good luck in getting all five of you in a photo playing together.  Such nice kids you are
• Lila, you and McDavid snuggled together while you watched Trolls.  You're the cutest.  He's just six weeks older than you, and you two seem to have a special bond
• We went to Buntzen lake for a picnic dinner.  The bugs were INTENSE.  They weren't biting us, but there were clouds of them.  It made the picnic a little less enjoyable.  However, it also meant that the lake was pretty much deserted, so we had the place to ourselves.  It's so beautiful up there.  Katie, you made me laugh so hard with your creative solution to the bug problem
• I've gone from taking photos OF Dareian, to taking photos WITH her.  I love it.  Dareian, I'm so honored that you take the time to hang out with your old auntie.  I appreciate you so much.  It's no secret that I love you.  I'm your biggest fan.  You're creative, funny, smart, interesting, talented, kind, beautiful and just kinda all around amazing
• We went to a little park on our way home so we could play without the swarms of bugs.  After a couple minutes, David ran up to me and told me his poo was coming.  Whaaaaaat???  There were no potties.  Oh gosh.  Quick thinking.  We went down a little path and he pooped in the woods.  He was so proud.   I did my best to bury it, and then we just went back to playing like nothing had happened.  Never in a million years could I have predicted all the weird things I would do when I became a mother.  All I can do is shake my head and laugh
• Daddy, Uncle Dan, Uncle Danny and Uncle Luke went to Squamish for their guys weekend.  I moved my computer out to the living room and Dareian and I had a wine/cheese sauce/photo editing party while we watched weird shows on Netflix and chitchatted.  It was so fun.  I stayed up way too late, but it was well worth it