Eat, Sleep, Swim our new summer routine

With the beautiful weather we've have had to change up our daytime routine a little. No more going to run errands in crowded grocery stores or getting sleepy in majorly air conditioned malls this is the time to enjoy the great outdoors.

So with the help of our neighbours we have incorporated swimming into our daily activities. We are lucky to have neighbours like Andy and Traci and their great kids who are willing to share their pool with us. So here's the swimming floaty that Traci bought for Liam to float in since he is a very hard little guy to simply hold in the water. He is always on the go and ready to kick those legs. Guess he's a born swimmer...I imagine being in a water environment for 9 months must really get those Olympic swimming skills going. :) Maybe we have a future Olympian on our hands?!

I must admit all fantastic temperatures we've been having really make going outdoors a lot more enjoyable. So I was able to go on our Tuesday night group ride while Domestic Dad Matt stayed home with Liam for some serious dad/son bonding time. The ride started out well and I thought "Hey it's 29 degrees today why not wear a sleeveless jersey?"...well I"ll tell you why not because all the trails we went through are now overgrown due to the heat and of course a major plant in these parts is the famous Blackberry plant. For those that don't know much about Blackberry plants they are thorny and when you brush by them they like to stab you with their nasty painful thorns. Needless to say without sleeves my shoulders look like a backscratch gone very wrong. I"ll put a picture on the next post. However, despite the bloody shoulders it was a great ride with great company and of course fantabulous weather!

On a beautiful Wednesday afternoon I received a phone call from our friends, Shandalin
and Tammy, with a great idea. Well, since it is so hot out there why don't we head out to Cultus Lake for a few hours of sun and swimming. How could we resist? Liam swam his little heart out which led to his rock solid afternoon snooze! Yeah see once again swimming and its benefits...

Auntie Shandalin another blueberry sil vous plait!

Auntie Tammy showering Liam with attention. Another cheerio chop chop!!

Ladies, ladies there's enough of me to go around!

We hope everyone is having a great summer!

Love,

Matt, Mo and Liam

Oh how we wish it was Chilli in the Wack!

Okay I am not going to complain about the weather here but wow this is what I call a heatwave. Today it hit 36 again...normally I would be fine if we were let's say in Maui where the ocean breeze would be bringing in a nice tropical scent and you're glistening more than sweating. However, we are dealing with 36 degrees of humid air that I will admit smells like manure at times depending on which road we travel on.

On a more positive outlook this is SUMMER!! Wow I haven't enjoyed this much sunshine and heat in a long time apparently it goes like this into August and then the beginning of September.

So this post is clearly dedicated to what we did this week to beat the hot hot heat of the 'Wack!

MONDAY - Karen, Samuel (he's the little dude under the blanket), Liam and I headed out to the park for an afternoon of swings, fruit smoothies, crawling, chatting and simply relaxing. It was cool to see Liam enjoying the playground (although in this picture he looks a little blah he was having a good time on the swing) and to think in a few months he will be cruising around these parks. Watch out world trouble is on his way!

TUESDAY - In the afternoon (L-R) Andrea, Tammy, Liam, Shandalin, Karen, Samuel and I headed out for a little hike up to Cascade Falls! What a cool spot too bad we did not know there were swimmable pools above the falls otherwise we would have been beating the hot heat in one them. There is always next time...

WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY: Liam decided to beat the heat by simply running away from it I mean climbing away from it. Yep he's learned to go up and down stairs...descending not always so great he sometimes forgets to go down feet first therefore leading to some baby carnage lying at the bottom of the stairs. Don't worry he always bounces back for more!

FRIDAY: Yep Liam typically lounges around the house like this now a days. He loves his ice water...we've tried the juice and no go he rather go for the cup of cold agua a la ice cubes. What's he watching you ask? Hmm maybe some true crime or ultimate fighting...kidding just a little Tour de France before dins.

SATURDAY: So we...no better put I broke down this morning and went to Sears and bought an air conditioner. After last nights sleep downstairs I figured something needed to be done as I do actually enjoy full use of our house so I caved and bought this little machine. Not exactly aesthetically pleasing but whatever I am not sweating like I just ran a marathon sitting upstairs. Thanks to our neighbours, Andy and Traci, for picking up the little air monster and installing it. Here's a pic of Liam enjoying his air being blown in the freezing cold air firing out this machine.

Well I hope this makes more people want to visit...hmmm coool air conditioned room, famous Chilliwack corn, fresh berries from the farms, 35 degree plus temps...need I go on?

Have a great one!

Love,

Matt, Mo and Liam

The little man is growing up!

I know the last few post have had a tad of a sombre feel to them so I thought for today's post I would try to put some sunshine into your day so here's a little recap of the past few weeks:

We have had a great time hanging out with Liam's buddy, Gavin along with his parents Har and Sheila. They had the boys up for a little pool party on Canada Day. It was pretty funny to watch Gavin and Liam eat popsicles since Gavin politely sat and let Sheila feed him his popsicle. Of course Liam on the other hand grabbed the stick out of Sheila's hand and decided to put the whole thing in his mouth. Yep he's a big eater!

The boys chillin' in the pool eating their popsicles.

Little Liam has been busy growing tons the last few weeks. He has really started to enjoy crawling...on his KNEES (who knew he was just being lazy dragging his belly all over the floor! haha) and pulling himself up everywhere including the bathtub.

Can you tell he loves bathtime?!

Sunday morning Matt, Steve and I headed out to ride Bear Mountain in Mission. The cross country trail starts off with a nice climb and then into even sweeter downhill. Technical, fast and it really gave me an idea of westcoast riding...lots of rock and slippery roots.

Mo, Steve and Matt on Bear Mountain

Mo riding some fun downhill section

Matt practising his faux smiling (oh he's going to kill me for putting this photo in)

Just a little insight into the fun we are having here in the valley. Apparently this Thursday the temperature calls for 41 degree heat...insane is that even possible outside of Las Vegas??

Later,

Monique, Matt and Liam

"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life...

Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof." Richard Bach

After receiving the news of our friend's, Cam's, death we booked our tickets and headed on a plane to Edmonton. Suddenly, the realization of why we were back really set in. I have to admit even today I still feel like I am going to get a phone call from Cam and Sandy letting us know when they'll be passing through the 'Wack as was planned but then the reality sets in. I know I was glad to fly back to Edmonton to be with our friends at such an emotionally trying time and to celebrate Cam's life. On Tuesday at his funeral we did just that. Although there were tears shed it was amazing to see all the things Cam had done in his life by the time he was 27. The celebration only reconfirmed to me and the rest of the world that we had lost a fantastic guy. We were blessed to spend some time with Sandy and to see how she was doing. We consider ourselves very lucky to have an amazing friend like her. Lots of hugs and kisses Sandy!!

Being back in Edmonton I enjoyed bonding with 'my family' - my immediate family but also the Pedalhead Family. Although we have moved away to come back and be welcomed back like we never moved was a great feeling. We definitely miss you guys!

To all those people we were unable to see I apologize. We'll try again sometime or if you are heading out west please make a stop here. :)

Here's a little photo montage to celebrate 'Our Family'...

Liam and Cowfu Miles laughing it up!

Uncle Andy - amazing mechanic at Pedalhead

Uncle Chris - Pedalhead Owner working on his side business as child entertainer

Great Grandma Robertson you're GREAT!!

Sandy - you're incredible and we love you!!!

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

Love,

Mo, Matt and Liam