Thunder clouds

We have been having so many thunderstorms its crazy! We could hear this one rumbling for hours before it came. I really wanted to take pictures of the clouds, but they weren't as dramatic as I thought, but still pretty!

When the storm finally came it lasted well into the night, the kids were nervous of the flashes for a while but got over it. 

Last night, I was invited to a Blue Grass concert at the 108 Church. Tay and I were very excited, so we dressed up in blouses and skirts and headed out with a sweater each if it got cold.  On our way there we drove through a downpour so bad I could hardly see the car in front of me. We arrived ahead of the rain so we sat down to listen, but the thunder became so loud we could hardly hear anything. My friend Bev turned to me and said Meet you at Timmys? you're on! So Tay and I raced to the car in a downpour - I was wearing flipflops - if you have ever run in wet flipflops you know its almost impossible so off they came and we RAN. By the time we got to the car we were dripping wet!

Tea at Timmys was a welcome warm up after that! We had a nice visit while watching the rain and lightning from indoors.

When I got home I asked Ed if the storm went over head and he said one flash was just in front of the house - way to close for comfort - nothing happened Thank Goodness, but freaky !

Sunset after a thunderstorm

Last Sunday we had a huge thunderstorm, it lasted all afternoon, LOTS of thunder and loads of rain! 

But look at the sunset we received from it! 

Holy colours!!!

My budding artist

The picture doesn't do it justice but the detail is crazy!!!

Visiting in Salmon Arm

A couple weeks ago (wow time goes fast) the kids and I headed over to Salmon Arm to visit some family and also to visit my wonderful friend Erin, who was vacationing in Sorrento.

It was a beautiful weekend we stayed with Auntie Colleen and had a wonderful time with her. Sunday evening we all went to Sandy and Rons for dinner with Wayne and Lorraine. 

 Sunday morning started with a thunder and lightning storm and a down pour of rain, but we toughed it out, picked up some lunch stuff in Salmon Arm and drove to Sorrento to spend the day with Erin and her family at Sorrento Centre

Beautiful Shuswap Lake - the kids had a ball! 

Erin Tay and I , hanging out on the beach.

We had a such great time, we had trouble leaving, so we decided to come back for tea the next day on our way home! The kids were so excited to have another swim in the lake too! Good thing too as Kamloops was about 35 degrees when we went through.

Mad Scientist

I brought the kids to work last saturday so we could leave for Salmon Arm right after work.  They were all so good, the kids played a very long mining game (MegaMiner) on the computer while I did paperwork, it worked out reallly good.

Since we receive dry ice with shipments of frozen product, we decided to do some experiments once all the deliveries were done. So among everything else going on, the kids went off to find a bucket, filled some bottles with water and became scientists for a couple hours.

Tay with her smoking bucket notice the gloves!

Things we learned:

We learned the hotter the water the more steam the dry ice created, we also learned dry ice so cold that it will burn your skin if you touch it (notice the gloves on Tay in the first picture) and it will freeze the water around it, creating a bubble which will make it stop steaming until you pull it out and break away the ice.

PS : I also know that you can explode a bottle when you put a bit of dry ice and water in it and close the lid. Pressure builds up and KABOOM!!! But i didn't dare tell the boys this! 

Howard Lake

At the beginning of July, Dylan invited out to Howard Lake with Maryanne, Walter, Mike, Renee and Montana to spend a couple days camping.

 Russ and Tay decided we couldn't let him have ALL the fun so we went in search of this "Howard Lake". We found it no problem and had a wonderful evening exploring and playing and enjoying everyones company.

After we arrived and I had to assure Dylan I didn't come to pick him up, just came for a visit. Then we all jumped in the cars and headed out to a little trail that led to a waterfall. Unfortunately we never found the waterfall but the little hike was like walking through a fairy forest.

Dylan and Mike just coming in when we arrived - you should have seem Dylans face 

Tay waiting for Maryanne and I

Dylan enjoying himself 

Dylan taking me out on Walters 4 wheeler 

Walter and Maryanne prime camping spot on the lake ! 

Mike giving Russ a ride

The kids thought it was hilarous to teach the dogs to float in the boat by themselves - from the look on their faces they didn't find it amusing

Montana taking Tay out for a ride 

Goofing around 

Even Shayleigh had a playmate

We had such a wonderful evening it was hard to leave! The lake was gorgeous, and I had so much fun visiting with Maryanne and Walter while the kids played and explored! 

Dad and GGs Visit

 Last weekend my Dad and Grandma came up for a visit, despite all the rain we had a great time and fit in lots of fun! 

We came in and met Dad and Gram for dinner on friday night at the Firehouse Diner - Super yummy food! 

Saturday Gram and I spent the afternoon together and shopped and had lunch, then headed back to make dinner and dessert. 

Sunday morning Dad and Gram came out for breakfast and Dylan was so excited when Dad pulled out the clay pigeons. So we took them up to the end of the big field and threw them out and blasted away- tee hee it was so fun - I haven't done that for a long time!

Dylans aim was so good we started telling him he had to shoot last so Dad, Ed and I could at least get one shot off! As dad said - oh for young eyes! 

After blasting away lots of rounds we went out to Ruth Lake for Canada Day Picnic we had a good time until the clouds opened up - and wow did it rain! 

 Monday morning we went into town for breakfast and headed out for Clearwater to spend the day with Larry and Sharon and Larrys sister Mabel from Nelson. We had such a great time and oh the spread of food all day long!!! We visited all afternoon and evening, we even fit in some outside games - washoes and bochy ball kids loved that! 

I love this photo!

Bochy ball! Waiting patiently for the outcome!
Looking at the picture Dylan looks so tall! 

Awards Day

Awards Day June 27, 2012 - Dylan Russell and Tayler receiving their certificates for completing Kindergarten, Grade 3 and Grade 5 with their classmates 

Dylan also won the 800 metre run so he received a plaque 

Tayler and her classmates 

Russell and his classmates 

Dylan and his classmates 

Kamloops Field Trip

Just before school was out for the summer the primary class went to Kamloops Wildlife Park for a field trip. It was a beautifully warm day. We saw so many animals, we rode a little train and had a guide take us around and tell us all about the animals. 

The kids had so much fun! 

Packing up after lunch 

Young Grizzly 

Park Train 

Doesn't Russ look happy about this picture 

Tay and her friends 

This peacock is a real ham and poses for any camera pointed at him 

We watched this moose for ages she was not impressed about all of us. She raced through the pond  many times and rushed the fence a few times too - impressive to watch from behind a fence!

These two were absolutely adorable - they are both from around 100 Mile House  - their mothers were hit  on the road  they are going to be relocated back to the area

Russ sat near the front the whole way back to Forest Grove and watched out the window