The Gedny's arrive!!!

Trina and the girls arrived Saturday and as we waited for them to get off the plane it seemed as if it was taking a lot longer than it should, only to find out that poor Torrance was busy getting sick. We were so excited to finally see them

When we got home, we had pizza and then I took them downtown where we saw the Lac Leamy fireworks from the parliament backyard then around to the front to watch the Lights of Parliament show, which was AWESOME!!!

SUNDAY- went to church and Torrance went with Dani and Lexi went with Abbie. As I looked down the pew in Sacrament and saw my girls snuggled into my sister, my heart was so happy that they were here and sad that we live so far away.  After church headed downtown to show them Alin's Lansdowne office, and then to Mooney's Bay to play in the water and the sand.  After supper we picked the boys up from the airport and then the whole Gedny clan was here.  

The girls

MONDAY- We headed to Calypso today and it was AMAZINGLY FUN.  We spent the whole day there from 10-7 in the sun and water and it was perfect.  Packed but perfect, the kids had a ball and Trina's crew was having a great time on all the slides.  The Congo lazy river is my favorite and near the end of the day I even got to go down a slide as well:)  Brent thought today was great!

TUESDAY- We went to Byward Market and it was a scorcher.  It's been hot all week but today was intense.  Trina and Torrance got their long awaited cherry turnover and they we walked to Parliament but the tickets for the tower were all gone which was super disappointing.  Looked at the locks and then we went to Dows Lake to kayak, and SUP.  First time and just for a few minutes but I love it, just need to work on my balance (I kayaked for the rest of the time).  Later the boys went to a show and the girls watched a show at home after the kids were in bed

WEDNESDAY- We hiked around Pink Lake and things are sure fun with cousins around.  Mason rocked the hike today.  Then we napped our kiddos, played mini golf and then Brent barbequed for us (steak and chicken) after picked up Alin and headed to the Lac Leamy International Firework Competition.  Which was Fantastic. We reserved seats which was nice and less stressful and it was at the Museum of Civilization this year.  Best fireworks ever.  

THURSDAY-  Today we headed to Old Montreal, another scorcher.  Poutine and Smoked meat, bouncy castles and the Basilica of Notre Dame, were all on the menu today

FRIDAY- We went to Mooney's Bay for the morning and relaxed while the kids played in the water, it was great.  Then went to the Works and Suzy Q and then went home.  Everyone showered and then we sat on the couch and visited until the dreaded departure time.  My least favorite time!!!! Bon voyage Gedny's we love and miss you

PEI

AUG. 7- We left in the afternoon on Friday after Alin got home.  I had packed the truck, gassed up and ready to leave but there are always those last minute phone calls and things that come up.  I was so happy to get on the way.  I have been looking forward to our PEI excursion for a long time.  The kids traveled great to our first stop in Edmundson, New Brunswick where we stayed at the Four Point Sheraton.  At this point they were ready for bed.

AUG.8- We had breakfast and headed out where we ended up at Hopewell Rocks which is one of my new favorite places.  It was beautiful and I could have spent another day there, in the visiting area, kayaking and exploring.  The rough part of this day was Mr. M was being a little turkey, complaining about everything, crying and making it a little tough to enjoy the experience completely, then he starts to play and have a great time and it's time to leave and it's starts all over because we are leaving.  Sometimes this mom gets frustrated and exhausted of dealing with emotions.  Each situation is different and so it would be a lot handier if each of you little's came with a manual.  So I write this so when you kids have kids you will know that we have been there.  As you all have your moments.  My cousin Tracy was also in Moncton but we missed seeing her and I was extremely disappointed. (Due to cell phone batteries)  Then off to cross the Confederation Bridge into PEI.  That night as we pulled into the cottage I was very glad to not be driving anymore.

Eloise, Daniela, Evie and Mason

AUG.9- Sunday.  We went to church in a little branch in Summerside where Dan and Kate's family go.  His brother in law is the branch president, and who's cottage we are staying at.  Super nice family.  Church was interesting as Kate and I went to young women's where their were only 2 (which were her nieces) we had a lesson on the importance of temple marriage.  Kids had a great time in their classes and then we went back to the cottage, explored along the shore and saw a lot of jellyfish washed up.  The red sand is just how I imagined it would be. They also had blueberry bushes which my girls loved and gobbled up while the mosquitoes were gobbling them.

AUG 10- Today we went and visited Meister's and explored  their bed and   breakfast. Jenny was also super excited to show, and tell us all about her jewellery auction finds. She is amazingly nice and Ken  is super nice as well. After visiting we went to the wharf, fish and chips on the menu.

After lunch we went to "West Point" I liked this beach, the kids had lots of fun and Alin and Dan tried out their wet suits. We spent the rest of the afternoon here

AUG 11- Today we headed out to Cavendish which is the area of  Anne of green gables,were we went on a little tour but our kids were hot and hungry so then we ended up going to another area, grabbing grilled cheese, raspberry cordial (which by the way is amazingly delicious) and having "Cow" ice cream.  Then heading to the Cavendish beach were we spent the rest of the day.  Alin found Dani a crab (that was eternally sleeping) and she carried that around in her hand or in her little bucket for the whole day.  The kids had tons of fun playing in the sand, and jumping in the waves

AUG 12- Today was raining so we decided to go to the potato museum, which Alin thought was really quite interesting.  He busied himself with taking pictures and reading the boards and teaching me a few things he learned along the way.  They had tiny little potato coffins with potatoes inside decorated with the diseases they were taking about.  After we went to the little cafe hoping to get some hot potato soup, but just as we reached the front of the line they ran out.  After the potato museum we hit up a quilt shop and was instantly reminded that I am an old person now:)The Meisters and a few of their kids came out and babysat all the kids so Dan,Kate and Alin and I could go out for dinner which was nice.  Had my first fish taco and loved it.  It's actually been really fun in the evenings because after we've put the kids to bed we've stayed up and visited and played games like boggle and pictionary which have been hilarious.  Another great thing about tonight was that they had a bunch of wood dropped off and we decided to stack it for them, the kids got involved and I was so proud of how hard they worked and till the very end helping us put it all up.  It was a good 1-2 hr undertaking and they didn't complain once.  It was such a fun little work project and I think families need to do things like that.  I really enjoyed it

AUG 13- We went to a place called Thunder cove and it quickly became my favorite beach. Getting there was like you were driving down someone's lane then all of a sudden you just park and there it is.  It was hot and sunny and the water gradually got deeper and hardly any rocks on the beach.  As you walked along the beach one end turned into this amazing red rock with little caves and at the point was beautiful.  I took Mason and Daniela down to the end and they played around and loved the area, calling it their pirate ship.  Later on I also walked down with Kate and Arthur and Abbie.  It was a really beautiful place and I was feeling bad that Alin never walked to the end as he hurt his back building a huge sandcastle with the kiddo's and was resting in our shade tent.  Went in the water and it was a little chilly but felt great after you were in.  I was sad to leave this beach.  When we got home we decide to have a bonfire and roast some smore's which I always love doing but the mosquitoes were huge and hungry.  So we didn't last to long outside. We also saw a fox that was really comfortable with all 10 of us.  He would come really close and was quite a beautiful little creature.  Dani was a little unnerved by him and was concerned at bedtime. 

AUG 14- headed home, stayed in levis

Birthday Bucket List Triathlon.

We did the Super Sprint this year which was 250 swim, 20km bike ride and 5 km run. 

Daniela my sweet girl is "4"

Our blond haired blue eyed angel turned 4.  This kid has a heart of gold, is the best sharer ever!!! and is perfect for our family.  She wanted a Doc McStuffin birthday party and has been talking about it since April. 

I dressed her up in some old scrubs and gave her a first aid kit.  To take the picture for her birthday invite.  She was so stinkin cute!!!  Grama and Grampa Ivanita came for the weekend and  then we had her party on Saturday.  It's always so hot for her birthday, so we play outside, downstairs and all the littles have sweat dripping down their faces after a great play session. 

I loved her little birthday invite. 

Some of the crew

Azzis 

Palmyra Temple and other uplifting thoughts

This weekend we went to Palymra, New York and spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday there. We went because I was fulfilling another bucket list item. I went thru the temple for myself. We asked the McAteers to come with us and it turned into a very relaxing few days. I was so glad we chose the Palymra temple because there is a lot of church history sites and not very crowded. In fact Kate and I walked in the morning from our hotel along a path to the temple. It was a sunny, calm beautiful morning and the anxiousness I was feeling from Wed night disappeared (discussion at dinner party)

As Kate and I entered the temple I could feel nervousness creeping back and so I said a quick prayer that I would feel peace and calmness. As I changed into my temple clothes and went to wait there was a picture that was the exact same one as Renee had given me for Christmas of Esther  (she had written the word Courage on the frame)

As I think about the rest of the time spent there that morning, the beginning was my favorite part. The blessings and words will be etched in my mind and heart, and at the very end as I was sitting in the Celestial room my heart was filled with gratitude and love for our little family, Alin's family and my family. As well as the great friends we have that set examples and encourage us to do those things as a family that we need to be doing. Kate and I sat there for a few moments enjoying the peace and then went to meet our families. As we walked thru the doors there were are beautiful, crazy, busy, loud families that we love. 

Ivanita's and McAteers in front of the Palymra temple

My treasures are on this bench

The McAteers 

We then went and ate lunch, napped kids and a dad😀 and when everyone was up again we went to some of the sights. Alin and I had been to Palymra about 6 years ago before we were married and Alin was able to meet Pres. Uchdorf  and see the sights. So this was a little different with 3 kids in tow. Our first stop was the Sacred Grove.

I love how peaceful this picture is.

McAteer Clan

The Palymra temple has a clear window in between stained glass so you can look straight toward the sacred grove. We visited the homesteads on the tour as well. Then we headed to the Hill Cumorah, the visiting center is beautiful and there were so many moments that I could have frozen time.  We were all in the room with the statue of Christ and I looked over and Alin had his arm around Mason and they were looking at the statue, visiting and it was such a beautiful little moment for me.  I love the choice I made to marry this amazing man and every day it is solidified even more for me.  I love the little man we have and how he thinks his dad is his very own super hero. 

A few other moments I captured that made my heart melt 

At different times during our stay each of the girls were held by Alin. It doesn't happen often with Daniela as she's always on the go but here she was snuggled with her arm wrapped around while they read boards and watched little videos. 

Abbie's turn came at the Book Store, she's still pretty cuddly and always wants to be held

SATURDAY MORNING

This morning we went to the visit the printing press where the first Book of Mormon was published, we did the little tour, I love the printing shop part of the tour. 

Peter Whitmer Farm

This is the first time we've been here and it was beautiful, the chapel is still in use today and the little log home beside is where the first church meeting was held. The visitors centre had a little 4 min video that we watched, it was on the growth of the church and I could feel those tender feelings of the spirit so strong. The one part that really hit me was a mother carrying her baby thru the river and my heart burst. The feelings I have as a mother and wife are so strong. The thought of the sacrifice and hardships that mothers and fathers went thru with young children and the cruel elements  they faced fills my heart with gratitude as other scenes flipped by and saw people of every nationality going to the temple or to church, families having family home evening and then ending with a picture of the huge congregation at the conference centre. With the hymn " Come, Come ye Saints" playing in the background of the video. 

Dinner party • Another item of my 42 list

 I wanted to have a dinner party that celebrated friendship so last night I did.

I wrote on mason jars different sayings and popped colored straws in for our rhubarb slush (which everyone loved) then the girls took them home at the end of night. I had huge plans but in the end there was an emergency run to farm boy and the evening turned out great. 

Tania, Elizabeth, Michelle, Kate and Amanda

Laurie, Christine, Kendall and Cori

Me, Suzanne, Tania, Michelle, Elizabeth,Kendall, Kate, Cori, Laurie, Amanda and Christine. 

I really wanted to take this evening and celebrate each one of them, the people they are and how they inspire, encourage and love me and my family.  They are amazing women that come from every walk of life and have had many different experiences and that's why I loved this party.  Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the last guest left at about 11:30. I'll have to do it again another time as a few of my good friends weren't able to come

I DID IT!!!!!!!! 21 km worth every single sweat drop

So I also ran my first 1/2 marathon and I'm hooked.  I was so nervous about this race, like feeling like I was going to get sick or wet my pants, neither a very pretty option.  When Alin was asking why I was nervous and pointed out that I've done lots of races before, I had to point out that this was my first running one since kids (triathlon's don't count) and that I'm still packing the weight equivalent to Mason and I have a very sore knee (physio).  What I didn't tell him was that I was more nervous not to finish, or to be a disappointment to him or the kids and myself.  We have worked hard at training as best as we could with 3 little's and all the other responsibilities that come along with that.  So the morning of the race arrived and I set off, I was 3 hours early and when I was picking up all our stuff (kids were running a 1 km race at the same time) when I asked the fellow how many people were running the 1/2 marathon and he told me 25, my heart dropped.  I would rather run with thousands of people than a few, more chance to get lost in the crowd.  Then to add insult to injury when I asked him "how long the course stays open" as I figured it would take me 4 hours he laughed and then when he saw I was serious he chocked out "I'm not sure" as I left the building with my stuff I called Alin and started to cry...sometimes my fear manifests itself like that.  Then Trina and then Amanda after encouraging words from everyone Amanda just said to me "You should ask if you can start earlier with a group that was going an hour before our start time of 10am" So away I went to ask, and they let me.  Best thing for the outcome of this race.  So as I got ready and couldn't concentrate, hands shaking, my sweet little family with their signs started me off on my journey.

Before my race and they all have their racing shirts on for their 1 km.