Today, Brad’s cousin, Vanessa, got married right here on the family farm. As much as we spent our morning wishing and hoping that the rain would would not grace us with its presence, it did. All. day. long. So when 2:30 rolled around, we made our way down the long gravel driveway with golf umbrellas, trying our best to get out of the way of incoming cars and minimize the amount of mud entering our shoes. While I arrived at the wedding with puddle-filled shoes and mud in between my toes, Miss G arrived, clean, dry, and warm. 
Just as we were asked to take our {hay bail} seats, something miraculous happened… The rain stopped. It couldn’t have been more perfect. We enjoyed a beautiful short and sweet ceremony, while Grae gobbled down a container full of raspberries, a mandarin orange, and part of an apple (hungry girl!)
After the ceremony was complete, we enjoyed a few minutes without rain. Gracen explored the yard and checked out the playhouse, and we were able to snap photos of her with her Great Grandpa Leo and Manmaw.
But sadly, the dryness was short-lived. The rain started coming down in full force once again, and the crowds rushed under the dinner tent to take cover. Gracen did really well with being trapped in her seat and happily coloured, read, and enjoyed more snacks, but with a 3 hour break until dinner and very little space to move, we headed back to Manmaw’s house an hour in to work off some energy before dinner.
We arrived back just as they were starting to call tables for dinner, and Grae kept busy with jam towers while we waited for our turn.
It rained on and off during dinner and dessert (apple fritters – delish!), but whenever it let up, we’d take Gracen out for some exploring time.
She was having a great time picking at the hay bails and smelling the flowers, until she saw another little guest wearing a polar bear hat, that is. After that, it was straight to the photo booth to check out the props. And they were awesome. With each new hat, she’d ask me to take her photo so that she could see it on the camera display. 
Unfortunately, we had to leave before the speeches and slideshow began (two of my favourite parts), but bedtime was calling. Congrats, Vanessa and Cody!
♥
Gracen sends her love to all of her wonderful grandpas…
Sadly, Bradley has to work today… But since we’re headed home to the Okanagan at the end of the week, we’ve set aside a day to celebrate our own little Father’s Day while we’re there. Grae and I did manage to sneak out of the house this morning (in pajamas and gumboots no less) at 6:30 a.m. to retrieve Papa’s favourite hot drink and breakfast treat from our local cafe/bakery. We stayed a while, allowing Brad to sleep in, and when he awoke, he was very confused to find us at the table with our goodies all laid out. Yay for little surprises.
After lunch, we headed home for Gracen’s nap. She slumbered peacefully while I prepped and packed for day two at the beach. When she awoke a couple hours later, we climbed into the car and made our way to Spanish Banks for another beach adventure. The afternoon passed quickly as we frolicked in the sand, splashed in the water, and collected all sorts of drift wood, and before we knew it, it was time to head home for dinner, bath time, and bedtime. 
Gracen sends her love to all of her wonderful “manmaws”…
Today Bradley turned 30 (I love the couple of months a year that we’re the same age). We’re pretty low-key about adult birthday celebrations around here, but to celebrate, Miss G got to stay up late to have a family dinner and open a couple of little presents once her Papa got home from work.
This may have happened too… Her first ever taste of a chip. *Gasp!*
Papa and his little lady.
Manmaw, Papa, and Grae.
Uncle Brett and Grandma Charlotte.
Miss G enjoying the most delicious-looking Gooey Cheese Griller and Sunset Corn and Chicken Soup.
We arrived fairly early on, meaning that Gracen had her pick of equipment to test out and play with.
We really didn’t know how to properly use this little contraption, but all that mattered to Grae was that it was purple, sparkly, and perfect for swinging around.
After enjoying the toys, we joined the mass and lined up to create some outdoor art. First job – collecting a stash of pretty rocks, glass stones, and shells.
Gracen would have been perfectly happy if playing with her pretty rocks was the activity in itself.
But there was more… We were waiting on some cement mix.
When it arrived, she carefully transferred her gems into the mix, giving each a gentle poke in order to set them in.
With her project finished and in the drying area, we headed off to the face painting station. Earlier on, Grae had seen a little girl with a sparkly butterfly mask painted on her face, and she was certain she wanted one too. The line was painfully slow moving, but we used our time in it as a lunch break and made some friends along the way.
Before we knew it, it was Gracen’s turn.
She sat bravely and patiently, inspecting the artist as she painted.
When it came time to painting the black outline, Grae decided she was done and wanted nothing more to do with the whole process. Luckily, the painter had a trick up her sleeves – sparkles!
So with the promise of sparkles being added at the end, Miss G sat a minute longer.
And she was glad she did. You should have seen the proud little look on her face when she saw herself in the mirror!
Face painting complete, my little butterfly and I headed back to collect her {almost} dry garden rock.
Pleased as punch, she insisted on walking herself out of the park and carrying her cement block the entire way. I’d say it was a good day.