Quick Update on the house

We have a foundation! The concrete was poured July 21 and the forms have been stripped and we are well on our way. Unfortunately we have not left yet from Victoria. In our usual fashion we are finishing things up and still getting ready. We are leaving tomorrow come H-E-!-! or high water. But here are some pictures of the progress. I will post again at the end of August with LOTS of progress and pictures.

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Check out whos already working on our house - Marg and Ted worlds best in laws! Check out the smiles - what you don't see is a thermometer saying its about 28 -30 degrees and probably a little hotter in the hole with no breeze. Like I said worlds best in laws!

Check back at the end of August - Love Kelly and Ed and the DRT Gang

Fun in Edmonton!

I have spent the last four days having a wonderful visit with avery close friend from Nova Scotia. Charlotte and her kids, Robin and Landan, met me at the airport Thursday morning and we headed off to West Edmonton Mall. I still can't believe how big it is. We walked through the the funpark saw the ice skating rink went on the Santa Maria and had a look at the wave pool - just HUGE!!! Oh and we stopped at the Childrens Place to get some clothes that were a get price!

After that we headed up to Legal, AB to Chars parents to visit and wind down.

Friday we found a water park for the kids in Morinville, AB just south of Legal. We had a picnic lunch and spent most of the afternoon there and had a great Ice cream before heading back for supper.

Saturday we participated in a farm tour called The Country Soul Stroll. We drove down to St.Albert, AB and went to Horse Sence training and Petting zoo, where we saw all sorts of exotic animals as well as miniature horses (with foals) chickens, pigs, goats, donkeys and sheep. Inside the barn they were giving kids pony rides and Robin and Landon headed right out and didn't look back! They both loved it. After another picnic lunch amoung the pastures of horses (with Kelly in her element) we headed of to Prairie Gardens and .... yep you guessed it, Petting Zoo - it was really neat lots of little buildings full of all sorts of plants and gifts, with a little play area and ice cream too.

Then Saturday night the biggest thunder and lightning storm I had ever seen,lasted about 4 1/2 hours - it was unbelievable. I tried to get some videos but nothing could show how spectacular it was. In the second video below you can hear how excited I was over the lightning I thought I got on video, but in fact, I had not pressed start until that particular flash of lightning was done.

Some of the lightning

My excitement!!!

Then Sunday morning rolled around and with mixed feelings I headed to the airport with Char, I was sad to leave a very close friend but happy to be heading home to my family. We had a great time together and even the with years and the miles apart when we get together its like we saw each other yesterday.

Forming Walls

Here are the walls started for the house!

Front Wall Form Front Wall Form

Looking from the back to the front !

Holy Wow!!!

BIG HOLE!

Digging, sizing, measuring, Digging!

Dig, Dig, Diggin

Ed and the boys just returned from 100 Mile House. Our "big Hole" has been started see pictures


First scoop............................................................. Russ running the excavator


Dylan in his Glory ............................Russ helping out


Diggin.............



Sizing up the walls - Wow this is so deep Dad

While the Boys are away the Girls will play

Tay and I have been having a blast from attending birthdays to Butcharts Gardens. Yesterday we went to the Langford Summer Festival it was very lovely, we snacked on mini doughnuts and rode a mini train.We even rode the Trolley to the mall for tea with Erin and the boys.

And to top it off we went for dinner with GG and Grandpa.

Today we spent the day with Erin, Dylan and Sawyer at Butcharts Gardens -SO Beautiful!!!

Our big entrance and looking in the wishing well - what is this bucket for?

We had a lovely picnic on the grass!

My wishing penny!

Then to top off a lovely day we had a wonderful dinner at Erins - Tacos my favorite!

This evening Tay was sitting with me talking about where Daddy and the boys were (see post below for explaination) and she very quietly said - I want to hug my daddy and my kids (Dylan and Russell) then she fell asleep. So sweet - its true heaven is having a sweet little girl fall asleep in your arms.

The Adventure begins!

Ed and the boys left yesterday for 100 Mile House and our Property. Today started our biggest adventure ever! breaking ground for our new house. Yes we are moving to 100 Mile House and building a new home. We have been planning for the past year and finally it begins. Pictures to come.

Look at me go!

I'm so excited and very proud of myself - I laid most of the laminate flooring in the kids room - ALL BY MYSELF! Ed had to finish the bay window there was way too many angles. It looks so big and bright now!

Before picture with the messy plywood floor

Clicking floor into place went so easy

Using power tools, a bit daunting but I did it!WOW What a difference! Just baseboards left and hopefully I get those on this week!

Happy summer Day

Today was beautiful summer day mixed with accomplishments and fun.

Ed left very early this morning to work in Duncan and because the kids went to bed around 10:30 the night before they didn't get out of bed till 9. So I was able to almost finish painting their room (they had camped out on the living room floor)

Once they finally got up and had breakfast they raced out to play with the nieghbour kids. Around 11:30 we all (me, 5 kids and two dogs) headed up to a very quiet cul-de-sac minutes from our house, so they could ride bikes and skateboards for an hour. It was great, the dogs and I sat in the shade of a little tree and I watched 5 kids run back and forth in the summer sun.

I wish I had taken my camera because they were all taking turns on Codys (neighbour)new skateboard. One would sit on it and the others would push it and run beside it. Tayler looked so sweet with her little pony tail flying and a big grin while the kids ran around her in case she went off course.

When we came home I decided today would be a great day to rip out the carpet in the kids room too. So I spent the rest of the afternoon doing that while the kids continued to play, oh and they went to get slurpees too -a must for a hot summer day

Ed came home around 4:30 exhausted, so I decided I didn't want to make dinner - so we went to one of our favorite restaurants -MyChosin Cafe. SOOOOO Yummy. We had a lovely dinner and the kids had ice cream cones after, Tayler decided her flavour of choice was licorice - so here she is with her flavour of choice

Isn't she a cutey! Kisses anyone?!?!?!

Behind MyChosin they have a Critter Corner with goats, ducks, bunnies and chickens. So while they were finishing their Ice cream we went down and said hello to the critters.

After dinner Erin and I went for a lovely walk then came back for scones and ice cold water - it was 10:30 and we were chatting on the front lawn - how nice is that for a summer evening - wonderful!

July 1 - Happy Canada Day

Today started with a huge amazingly yummy breakfast at Erin and Allans around the corner from us. Waffles, Hash Browns, Eggs, Bacon, Fruit and of course, numerous cups of tea. We rolled (almost literally we were so full) leisurely back to our house around noon and did some work around here and then decided that BBQ Steak, chips, pop and very few veggies was a great Canada Day Feast! The kids loved it especially the few veggies, chips and POP!! At 9pm we met my parents and Hayley at the DQ for ice cream and caravaned to Esquimalt Lagoon to watch the fireworks at 10:30. I'm sure the entire population of Sooke and the Westshore were there but the fireworks were beautiful! Here are some pictures of us having fun for the camera - no fireworks though, to far for my little camera.


Much to Dylans surprise we happened upon a close friend from school who he spent the rest of the evening with - Amazing in the sea of people by the sea we find a friends and in the dark no less!