Adventures around town

We've had a few adventures this week. Yesterday afternoon we went to the Sooke Potholes for the first time visit Dylans best friend and his family, who were camping. The boys had a great time bobbing in the river and skipping rocks. We had hotdogs over the fire and the kids played and played till we had to head for home. It is absolutely gorgeous up there well worth the visit. That was the first time we have seen the popular Deer Lodge - what an amazing place that would have been - perched right above the river with a waterfall in view - just amazing.

Last weekend we all went downtown on the bus for symphony splash. It was a beautiful night, completely clear and LOADS of people everywhere. We spent the evening with my Aunt and Uncle and all my cousins and GG too. It was so wonderful we had a great time. Unfortunately we had to catch a bus home so we left around 9pm and made it home around 10:30 - the kids were bagged, and on the way home asked that we stay home the next day. They had a blast goofing around with my cousins and watching all the boats from the top deck. What a fun afternoon.

A close friend of mine (and my whole family) just had a new baby girl Jamiesynn, so we celebrated with a baby shower in my moms back garden - it was a great afternoon Tayler and Jessie were having a tea party with their new friend Veasia- so adorable.

Today it has rained most of the day, but the kids still insisted on building a railroad in the pouring rain in the backyard - total outdoor kids.

I still can't believe the summer is half over - we are starting the bed time routines and trying very hard to keep up with the math and reading - but the days fly by so fast I find we are having trouble keeping up.

Anyway take care Love Kelly and the gang

Much needed vacation

Yep back to the property we go for some peace and quiet. This time we did some inprovements to the kitchen - boy does this make kitchen creations easier. We now don't have to make the emergency runs to 100 Mile for water - we can double filter the water up there. And now we can read at night with an electric light thanks to our solar panel and battery. We also painted the cabin, now its all one colour, much better than the three it used to be. And we did some clearing of slash from when it was logged over 20 years ago. Believe it or not we consider this relaxing times.

The boys are now arguing over who gets to drive the 4wheeler around the property with mom or dad on the back. And Shayleigh has figured out that riding on the back, beats the heck out of running after it. Ed can't even start it up without Tayler running to him - "I come, Daddy"

On the last day she showed us she knows how to start it - Ed was hooking up the trailer and she was sitting on the seat - next thing we knew she had turned the key, slid the red button to "run" and pressed start. Now we have to watch her with eagle eyes.

The weather was beautiful, lots of overcast days, but I think that kept the heat down. We had a pretty big - for us any way - thunderstorm with pelting rain, hail stones and wind - that was pretty exciting. Tayler wanted no part of it though and spent all of it curled up in a ball on Daddys shoulder.

On the way up we missed our favorite stop in Clinton - The Clinton Emporium with LOTS of old stuff. So we decided to go down on Tuesday to check it out and the Chasm too. We didn't buy much but it always interesting to see what he has in the store. We finally stopped at Chasm, which we both thought was a town - turns out it is a huge canyon, an absolute must on the way to 100 Mile House.

As usual its always hard to pack up and come home. We sure apreciate our modern conviences though. The kids were excited to see Honey cat again and play with friends too.

Ed and I look forward to the next trip - hopefully in August.

Getting Away

Last weekend we finally made of first trip of the year up to 100 Mile House and Out to our property. Well overdue! Ed finally was able to ride his 4wheeler he bought last fall, and from the pictures I'm sure you can tell how happy he is, also note how happy the kids are!

My friend Sue surprised me and came down for the weekend with her girls, it was great to see them again, and the kids had so much fun together.

Lots of fun

Lots has been happening around here lately. As everyone knows its getting close to the end of the school year. For Russ end of the year field trip we went out to East Sooke and had a beautiful day on the beach. The kids had a great time exploring the beach and making all sorts of sand castles and holes. Russell graduated preschool and received a certificate and a scrap book of the year.

Dylan finishes up this week and he is counting down the days with excitement, but he is pretty upset that Russ is done and he is not. Iam very exceited as well that I don't have to drag them out of bed and make lunches and rush off to school - for a little while anyway. I'm sure by the end of next week I will be wondering what summer camps I can put them in.

Dylan had a visit by the wonderful toothfairy, yes he has finally lost his first tooth, and the second is well on the way.

Dylan and Russ had their first experience on horseback at the beginning of June. Dylans best friend had his birthday at Oak Meadows stables and all the kids got to ride the ponies. Picture this 12 boys! in a stable yard where they were asked no running or yelling, no playing fighting , no normal boy things! They were all great fairly calm and all of them had a wonderful time riding the ponies. Ever since then Russ has been asking for his own mini pony to ride.

Fun in the crazy back yard

The boys figured out that they can make a swing out of rope and my pergola and have been setting it up everyday - with mom and dads help - just in case. In all the craziness of our back yard they have a ball, digging holes, making and breaking forts and now setting up swings.

Birthday Season

April May and June are big celebration months for birthdays, anniversarys and holidays. I think at last count between the three months we have 2 anniversarys, 10 birthdays and Victoria day - WOW!!! I just discovered I don't have as many pictures as I thought - goes to show who is standing still when I have my camera.

Out in the Sun

Who knew this day, we would go for a really nice walk in the afternoon. I woke up with a migrane - which I don't get very often - but I go down like a ton of bricks. The morning was a write off I couldn't even get children to school and Ed was up island making a delivery. So Dylan took care of me - it was so cute. Ed came home, he figured it was a pitched nerve in my neck so he helped me onto the couch and stretched out my neck and by the late afternoon we were out in Metchosin walking through the trails to the beach - go figure!