Day 10: July 14th, Vancouver

After disembarking from the cruise ship (a very painless, quick process this year), Ben, the kids, and I got the opportunity to spend another day in Vancouver before heading back to Dallas on Tuesday. Thankfully, we were allowed to check-in to our hotel room at 9:45 a.m. and rest a bit before tackling the city. After lunch, we went to the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. It consisted of this very long and wobbly bridge, as well as a "Cliffwalk" and a "Treetops Adventure."

A very shaky and wobbly bridge, which we experienced with quite a few people. ;)

gorgeous view

Walked decided to nap on the shuttle ride up the mountain, so we got to experience a grumpy and clingy Buddy for a bit before he officially "woke up."

Treetop Adventure

(We walked along bridges suspended between platforms that were built around the trees.)

Whenever Ben sees a small house/shack/tiny cabin, he tells the kids that it will be their "new home." So they took the opportunity to explore this one and check it out! :)

the kids on the Cliffwalk

Scary Cliffwalk!

Lainey took this picture of us. Pretty good!

Lots of saluting happening since the cruise!

Walker's face. :) Ha!

"Takin' pictures is so bow-in' (boring)." But honestly, everything has the potential to be "bow-in'" to Walker. :) And he's not afraid to say it, either!

The view below!

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Ben took this picture of the kids the following morning, just before we woke them up to head to the airport. Lainey is sleeping near Dinosaur-y and Walker is sleeping near Lainey's Alaskan Minnie Mouse. :) So hard to awaken them when they are SO passed out!

*****

Thanks for treating us well, Vancouver and Alaska! We had an unforgettable vacation! And thank you to Bud and Yiyia, for giving us the opportunity to create some amazing memories with some of our favorite people! The experience was truly magical...and we are forever thankful!

July 3rd & July 4th

July 3rd

This is an example of what our dinner table turns into nearly every night. Crusts of grilled cheese sandwiches used as eyebrows and halves of grilled cheese sandwiches used as eyeballs. Lovely. 

 July 4th

As is tradition (well, most years), we participated in the City of Plano's Fourth of July Parade again this year. Walker was not all that excited about it. It was bright, and hot (although it could have been much, much worse), and he didn't want to wave to people. :) Anyone surprised? :)

The End of BlastBall

We ended the BlastBall season with a smile! Woohoo! 

Brayden and Walker

Most of the team with Coach Brad. We're missing Ty. But look at Walker's smile!

Such a stinker. But oh so cute.

Coach Brad handing out trophies. :) 

So happy to have a trophy.

 Good job, Walker! We are so proud of you for having a (mostly) positive attitude this season! You tried hard and really improved your baseball skills! We love you. :)

I took this photo a few days ago. Our very own pout pout fish! We were at the dance studio, waiting on Lainey, and Walker got mad because he get his tower of blocks to stay upright. It kept falling down. So...he retreated to a corner. :(

And, this is what my living room looks like when both kids have temperatures of 100+. Gotta love a fever virus in the summer! Not really. But I did selfishly enjoy this lazy, quiet night! They are both good to go now! :)

First Official Lost Tooth

After having a very, very wiggly tooth for about a week now (and oh, how those make my stomach crawl), Lainey lost her first tooth today. Her brother "sat on [her] face" while they were playing at the gym...and I guess he accidentally bent it backwards and out it came. I'm actually glad I wasn't present for the incident because I'm sure it involved tears and blood. But after the initial shock (tears) and scare (more tears) of actually "losing" the tooth, all is well, and we think the story is funny. Come and visit us, Tooth Fairy!

Looking very grown-up here. I think it's the way she's smiling. She didn't want to smile and point to the place where she lost her tooth, so I told her to smile bigger and this is what she gave me! :)

And hello, Reagan. I'm glad you went to a mud puddle to drink water. If there was a mental institution for dogs, Reagan would be sure to be there...she has such anxiety when it comes to drinking water. So, if she gets water out of a mud puddle and it hydrates her, then so be it. Today I sprayed water at her (gently) and she licked the air, hoping to get drops of water on her tongue! :) See the video below...  

Taco, the Superhero

Walker NEVER dresses up (even on Halloween). So, I am thrilled to have a picture of him in this Batman costume (borrowed from Gage). He attended a superhero camp this week at church and actually - surprisingly - did very well despite a somewhat disastrous drop-off on the first day. This was his first "camp" experience; it took us a couple of days to convince him that we weren't actually going "camping."

These pictures of Walker (as Batman) were taken on the last day of superhero camp. Can't you just see it? Batman, flying through the sky, saving the day.

And because I like to document Walker being sad...like a very supportive mom...I took this picture after he threw away his picture because it "had bumps on it." Full-on meltdown. He used the hardwood floor as a surface to draw a picture. Therefore, it was "bumpy" and not smooth. Ahh. Walker. Poor Buddy. I wish I could just tell him to "get over it" (in a nice way) but I can't. We have to talk through it and figure out a way to solve the problem.

But I had zero sympathy for him when we went bowling yesterday. Anyone who knows Walker knows that he is a sore loser. It's really, really hard to convince him to act otherwise. We went bowling yesterday with friends (fun, right?) and because he wasn't "winnin'" he just pouted and cried and then flat-out refused to play. Fantastic... But Lainey had fun. She happily cheered on her friends and got excited for the winner! 

Last Day of Kindergarten AND Recitals 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

What a weekend...which explains why I'm just now getting motivated to blog about it! :) We finished Kindergarten AND the dance season with a bang. What a fun, emotional, exhausting weekend! I'm glad this only happens once a year! :)

This picture was taken at the end-of-year Kindergarten party...the day before the last day of school. It was so fun. And Walker actually survived most of it with me! Pictured are Ainsley, Lainey, Berkley, and Jakayla.

Last day! Big girl.

I couldn't get a decent picture of them!

Such a typical Walker face these days. :-/

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And from the last day of school to dance recital delirium... :)

at rehearsals with Ainsley and Kaitlyn (two of her very favorite people)

She's a mess. I'm aware of that. 

This costume is my favorite. I LOVE it! It's so cute!

With Maggie, one of her favorite "big girls." (Maggie is one of my favorites, too!)

And with Devyn :) 

(I'm noticing a little smeared lipstick here.)

I love Devyn and her big sister, Ilana. Such good girls! Their brother (in the middle of them) was in second grade when I taught second grade. I feel like I've known their family for a long time!

Silly selfies.

And with Carly. :) I love Carly, too. I'm grateful for these sweet, older girls who can serve as role models for the younger girls!

One Down...

One recital down. FIVE to go! :) Lainey told me today that she wishes she had "500 more recitals." OK. Well, I'm glad we only have five, not 500! :)

before Saturday night's performance

I sorta want to steal her fake eyelashes. :)

Lainey's DARLING teacher and her DARLING son came to see her perform on Friday night. I am so, so grateful for them and the fact that they came. They couldn't stay the whole time (it was a three-hour show!) but I am so glad they made the effort to be there for part of it!!!

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And hopefully you can click on this video and see Lainey's Talent Show performance!!! It's hilarious!!! :) And she did great! So proud of her for being SO brave!!!!

IMG 4189 from Abby Harris on Vimeo.