We Went On An Adventure!

   While I was growing up my family always celebrated Canada Day by spending the day at Sauble Beach. We would pack up the family vehicle, leave right after breakfast and make the 2 (ish) hour drive to the best beach around. Think: white sands, beautiful great lake clear water, waves, and (if we were lucky) sun. I have great memories of these days - lazing on the beach, jumping in the waves, playing beach soccer, and I could go on! We would end the day with Canada Day fireworks and then pack up and make the trek back home. I loved these long drives home, cuddled up in the back of the van, listening to my parents chat up front and being lulled into a sleep by the roll of the van wheels. These were some of the best days. Days that I couldn't wait to recreate with my own little family. 

   So, it was only natural that this year for Canada Day I planned (months in advance I might add) to spend the day at Sauble Beach. Only, this year Canada Day happened to fall on a very cool and dreary day. Mark was not at all keen about driving 2 (ish) hours to sit wrapped up in blankets on a cold beach with two irritable and bored kiddos. So, instead of the beach, we decided to go explore the African Lion Safari! It was amazing!! I hadn't been since I was around 5 years old and Mark had never been, so needless to say...it was a new experience for all of us! 

Pj watching all the animals in amazement (and maybe a bit of confusion). 

Big C feeling very big behind the wheel!

   We started the day with driving through the safari. The kids thought it was so cool. They sat on our laps and exclaimed about each animal that we saw (Pj more so than Big C). We got to see quite a few animals quite close up. Pj's favorites were the giraffes and the elephants (which we saw later on). Mark thoroughly enjoyed the lions. And I just loved it all! 

Selfie time while waiting for the cars in front of us to move :).

Pj's favorite - the giraffes! 

   After driving through the safari was walked through the other attractions and ended up at the elephant enclosure. Pj was in awe of them! She loved them and could have watched them for hours. After that we enjoyed some icecream (as the day was actually warming up!) and then we went to the elephant show. Pj thought it was amazing and at the end was even able to pet two of the elephants! Elephants truly are amazing animals! They are so smart and well, HUGE. 

The elephant enclosure! Our favorite!

Pj enjoying watching the elephants. There was a "small" baby there that she absolutely fell in love with!

Being such a good kiddo while "stuck" in his stroller for lots of the day.

Watching the elephants play soccer. They were pretty good!

Pj watching the elephants and loving them!

   After the elephants we headed to the small petting zoo where Pj was able to get up close and personal with some very friendly goats. She wasn't very sure of them at first, but quickly warmed up to them and loved being able to make friends with them. 

   After all the "animal-fun" we headed to the Safari's very large splash pad. The sun had come out in the afternoon and it was warm enough to enjoy the water. Pj loved this as well (let's be honest...she loved the entire day!). Unfortunately, she was about 1 inch too short to enjoy some of the larger (but still small) water slides, but there were still more than enough sprayers, fountains, and play areas for her to enjoy. They also had a small area with little jumpers for kids Big C's size to enjoy. Big C loves the water so he thoroughly enjoyed jumping and splashing around. 

  

Over exposed but I still love this picture - walking off to enjoy the water fun!

Loves his Daddy!

Trying out a slide. Fuuun!

Jumping around in the water.

Just so much fun! 

   After the water park we went to the playground for a couple of minutes before heading over to the little safari boat tour. A great way to end our African Lion Safari trip!

Pj consulting the map to find out where the park is located.

She's just the cutest!

Playing at the park.

On the boat - Big C wasn't so sure about it!

Pj loved it!

Big C did warm up to it very quickly.

   Afterwards we went for some supper and then headed to Fergus for their firework display. It was a bit of a wait but the kiddos were super good and the fireworks were worth it! It was a brilliant, long and beautiful display! I love fireworks :). All in all, it was a great day. Not the day I was planning but a day full of family memories and fun times! I can't wait for our next family adventure! 

A Daddy and his loves!

Chase Turns One!!!

   I started back to work at the end of May - this is my excuse for being MIA in the blogging world fo the past two months....but I am hoping that that is going to change! What better way to get back into blogging than by celebrating and discussing my little BIG man's first year?
   That's right! My "baby" turned one! I cannot believe it! It feels like he just joined our family...and yet, at the same time, feels like he's always been around. I can't imagine our family without him! I do not think I am ready to say 'goodbye' to Big C's baby phase...but, alas, I really have no say on the passing of time.
   Just like with Pj I am going to write a little letter/report for Big C on his birthday milestone. So, here goes:

Dear Big C.
   Wow! One year with you has flown by! I cannot believe that you are already 1 year old! You are such a fun little man and I can't get enough of your giggles and smiles. Your smile lights up your whole face and when you smile at people they often comment about what a handsome little man you are! I have to say that I agree - you are the most handsome! You also have a serious side and like to take in the world around you with big observant eyes. I would love to know what goes on in that head of yours! Unfortunately, you are not willing to discuss your thoughts as you are not too keen on learning to talk. You learned two words a couple of months ago...and they are your only words so far. They are "hi" and "dada". I have been trying to encourage you to say "mama" but you just smile and giggle at me. Just because you don't have words does not mean that you don't make noise! You babble constantly and have quite the piercing screech. You like to play a screaming game with Pj where both of you take turns screaming and then giggling while the other screams. I do not love this game. I can't wait for you to start talking more because I think you are going to be a funny little man! You love to laugh and will laugh at almost anything. Your daddy and Pj are the best at making you laugh long and loud. You thoroughly enjoy their antics!
   You are a healthy little boy with a very healthy appetite. I do not think you have every been "done" a meal. I have never known you to turn down another bite! The one food that you do not like is eggs. You will not eat them. If I sneak a piece of egg into your mouth you quickly gag and spit it out! You like everything else! Even black olives! I love that you are not picky and that you love to eat. Such a change from your big sister who happens to hate eating and is picky! You are still nursing (despite my best efforts to wean you!). You typically only nurse once a day in the morning. I don't mind this because it is our time to cuddle and connect before the business of the day (especially now that I am working!). Sometimes you also need a quick nurse in order to settle down for bed. You are not a tall boy - in fact, your cousin Carter (who is barely 6 months) is almost as tall as you! You are wearing size 12month shirts, but only size 6month pants (typical VanGrootheest, I hear!). You weigh approximately 20 lbs. Your last Dr. appointment was when you were 8 months old but you have another appointment in one week. I am excited to hear your new numbers and to discuss you with our Doctor. You only have 8 teeth - which you have had since you were 10 months! No more teeth growing yet (that we can see or feel).

   You are a great player. You enjoy your exersaucer and jumper still and spend quite a bit of time in each of these. That said, you are enjoying your freedom more and more and love to crawl around. You are an excellent crawler (you should be, you have been crawling for over 6 months!). You are very speedy and can get around! You are able to walk around furniture but do not have a great desire to walk without support. I think that crawling is just so much quicker for you that you don't see the need to walk! One of your favorite games is to crawl with a car under your hand. You like how your hand glides with the car wheels and you giggle the whole time. You will play with your cars for hours each day! You haven't figured out the stairs yet which I am okay with! You sometimes will sit at the bottom of the stairs and contemplate the climb...but as of yet you do not attempt more than just standing at the stairs. I am glad of this and am not looking forward to the day that you decide to climb! Your very favorite game to play is "Peek-a-boo". You love to hide your head and "pop" out while screeching something that only a Momma could pass as "peeka". You would play this game all day if you had the audience for it! Its really cute to see where you hide - behind the curtains, under a table, behind a wall, etc. When you "pop" out you have the biggest smile ever! You love your sister so much. She is able to get smiles and giggles out of you so easily. She does "over-love" on you which you find a little disconcerting. I often have to pull her off of you as she showers you in hugs and kisses. Even so, you are so patient with her and allow her to cuddle you often!
   You are a GREAT sleeper! You still go down for a nap (only one now though) which often lasts 3+ hours! Sometimes you also enjoy some quiet time in your crib in the morning -you won't sleep but you will play quietly. Its cute to listen to your babbling as you play quietly and independently in your crib. You sleep very very well at night. You are typically ready for bed around 6:30 or 7 and will sleep until 7:30 in the morning. You rarely wake up during the night...but if you do its just for a quick cuddle and back down you go!

   You are the most cuddliest! You love to give hugs and cuddles. Often you will hold onto your Momma or Daddy and just lay your head down on our shoulders. Its so sweet. You have also learned how to give kisses - big, wet kisses! They are my favorite! Whenever Daddy or I come home from work we are greeted with a huge smile, a hug and lots of "welcome home" babbling! It makes a parent feel very loved!
   Every night your dad and I pray over you. We pray for health, for wisdom, for strength to be the little man God created you to be. Most importantly we pray that you will know God in your heart and that you will serve Him your whole life. We are so thankful and overwhelmed with the gift that He has given us in you. You are such a great part of our family and we love you soooo much! Keep growing (but slowly) little man!
Love, Your Momma!