Emily is 14!

Yesterday was Emily's 14th birthday! My firstborn daughter has grown into a thoughtful, hardworking, and happy teenager. She's excited to tackle more responsibilities and is always making plans for her future.

Her birthday included some chocolate treats, small gifts, McDonald's for lunch, and plenty of relaxing time at home -- just the way she likes it.

Just shy of 5'6"

Phone call from G-M & G-P ♥

Lava cakes!

Emily's biggest birthday gift happened last week: she shopped for artwork and redecorated her room. Gone are the rainbows and bright colours, in favour of blues, silver, and gold. 

Covering up the rainbow

Inspiration photo at the bottom

Before & After

Before & After

Birthday girl's new room

Emily already celebrated with her two neighbourhood friends (a mall/McDonald's outing) and with the Pauls this weekend. Next up is a Treetop Trekking adventure with her bff, followed by a Sunday dinner party with the Thibodeaus. You only turn 14 once, but you celebrate at least 4 times!

Happy 14th Birthday, Emily!

Love ya ♥

Steve's Skydiving Adventure

Steve always said that skydiving was something he wanted to try at least once in his life. A friend of ours was planning to go this summer, so Steve jumped on the opportunity (and out of a plane) last weekend. 

Signing their lives away

Family pictures before he falls to his death

Thankfully before Steve's jump we had a chance to watch two other groups jump first. It was neat (and reassuring) to see the whole process.

Tiny dots in the sky

Orientation with the tandem instructor

Such a small one-seater plane! Goodbye Daddy ♥

How are you feeling, girls??

A message to Daddy in the sky

It took about 20 minutes for the plane to fly up to the required height of 10,000 feet. The kids and I tracked the plane while it circled up and around until it became a tiny dot in the sky.

The instructors told us that once the plane goes silent, it means they are slowing down and ready to jump. We watched in amazement as two miniscule dots fell out of the plane. Steve said the freefall portion was so crazy that he barely remembers it. Thank goodness he was strapped to a professional tandem instructor while falling at 200 km/h!! He remembers the huge jolt of the parachute opening up and within 5 minutes he was on the ground, safe and sound.   

Still so far away

Smooth landing

Here's some video footage I took of the plane and parachuting:

Episode 46: The Skydiving Adventure

Shalin coming in next

"That was crazy!"

Ears all clogged up

You did it!

The experience was so intense that Steve immediately crashed when he came home. He also said he would never want to do it again. A wild experience for sure!