From one extreme to the other.....

One of the things that I enjoy doing but don't do enough of is designing and creating my own cards.....this week it seems I have been going from one extreme to another.

One Saturday we attended a wedding so I sat down that morning to make a card for the bride and groom. I liked the design so much that used the same idea to make an Anniversary Card for my sister the next day(Happy 35th Ev) since they were coming over for coffee and dessert that evening.

Monday and Tuesday evening I made cards out of photos that I have taken(sorry I don't usually take pictures of those since I send them out as soon as I make them) to write some thank you's to special people in our lives.

And then today, well today I created a card for Aidan since we were going to be celebrating his birthday with him tonight, complete with gift giving and Birthday cake. I remembered I still had some things from when I worked on Jody's grad album so I dug them out for this special grandson who loves all things with balls....but especially baseball and yes, basketball which his Daddy coaches!

My life truly extends from one extreme to the other....even in the cards I make! And I enjoy it all.(well most of it anyway :-)

Happy 4th Birthday Aidan!

Aidan you are a very special little boy, our first grandchild and first great-grandchild on our side. This picture was taken the first time you came to our house just a few days after you were born. I knew that I loved you at first sight but had no idea how you would change all of our lives. How I love to hear the knock at the front door that announces that you are here just before you literally bounce right through the front door announcing your arrival!

You make us laugh...both with her actions and your wise words! And how we love to hear you contagious giggle! But you have a soft side too, like when you told Pa last week that you 'were sorry that you wouldn't be here on Saturday to go to Tim Horton's with him'. You love your Pa and the feelings are mutual!

Both your Opa, Oma-Gigi and Gigi love you too little man, and that's what you are becoming, a little man. I don't know where the toddler years went but they are definitely long gone. You are growing up, a tall, athletic little boy who loves absolutely anything to do with sports and balls.That's why I love this picture because your form is perfect....you have watched your Daddy up to bat enough times to know how to stand.

The year ahead will hold a lot of changes for you as you start pre-school in a few weeks and your world will get larger with all that holds. Just remember that we love you lots and are so blessed to have you for our oldest grandson. Happy Birthday Bud!

It doesn't get any better than this....

What does this picture tell you about us? :-) We were laughing as Megan grabbed the camera to capture the moment.....can't you just tell that we are grandparents? Me with a lollipop that I was given for safe-keeping and Dave with a special rock that Aidan wanted him to hold until he could show his Mommy! It doesn't get any better than this!

You see last Sunday was a hot Sunday so we decided to head out to White Rock after church for Fish and Chips at our favorite place and then some fun on the beach.

It was so warm even Jaxon decided to try out the water.....

As the tide went out, there were patches of sand so there was a place for some serious playing in the sand.

Jamie got into the act too....building a water slide with Jaxon and Aidan(Aidan was getting the water).

Gotta love this concentration...

It really was a perfect summer Sunday afternoon....and it doesn't get any better than this!

Rub-a-Dub-Dub, Three Boys in a Tub

"Please Mom, can I join the big boys too?"

"This isn't as bad as when I have to have a bath all by myself."

"What was I thinking? I don't like baths....get me outta here."

Rub-a-Dub-Dub....Two boys in a Tub. :-)

Our Three Grandsons

My Buddy or just plain 'Bud'

 

Mr. Smiley

My brown-eyed Munschkin

This week Heather and Kai came to visit and we have had lots of fun watching our three grandsons together....It won't be long before they will all three be running circles through our house. But for now the youngest is crawling like crazy trying to keep up with his older cousins. We are so blessed!

Naples and Capri

Back to our trip, just two more ports....we had been having such wonderful weather that we were surprised when we woke up in Naples and it had been raining during the night. The clouds made a great back drop to this view from the port. But unfortunately the rain that poured down on us off and on throughout the day made it memorable for how wet we got and not for how beautiful it was!

As we walked through the port, we were immediately struck at the contrast between a modern European city and the medieval history seen in the castles.

I had to wonder what stories these old castle walls could tell! But we didn't have long to admire them because we had heard about it's beauty and so had booked a tour to the island of Capri on this day.

It really was incredibly breathtaking, especially along it's shoreline.

The island is known for it's production of the famous 'lemoncello' and lemon perfume, made from the lemons that we saw growing everywhere on the island.

The island was incredibly crowded, with tiny streets and hairpin curves on the roads. People drove either scooters or small cars and smart cars....this parking lot is very telling! We wondered how people ever got out?

It was a beautiful island, but our time was limited and the ship was waiting for us.....we had just one last night onboard.

When white isn't really white......

When is white not really white? When you plant a white hydrangea bush and watch it unfold. As the flowers begin to open up the centers are more yellow or light green than white.

As the days go by, and the flowers open up more, the centers of the each little flower turn white.....then pale blue.

You can see on this picture how some of the centers are small blue balls....but with each passing day, they open up to become the most delicate little blue centers!!! Who knew? Certainly not me......and I thought perhaps some of you might be just as surprised!