3030 km in 40 hours...Vacation part 1

Wow, I didn't know we covered that much ground! But over 10 days it doesn't seem as much. It's nice to be home but we all wish we could have travelled more, next year we'll try for 2 weeks or more!

Our vacation started August 19th, we hooked up the trailer and drove to my Dad's in the Cariboo. Usually the drive take 6-7 hours but this time it took over 9hours, we had some pit stops but mainly the truck had a hard time pulling the hills with the trailer. We will be shopping for a new truck this fall/spring.

Anyhow, we spent 2 nights at my Dad's and we also went to the Ranch and lake. The girls love the lake, they didn't swim this time as it was a chilly day but they played on the beach, collected shells and feathers and we all enjoyed the scenery and wildlife.

My Dad showed up this awesome hornet's nest on his barn wall, notice how they built it around a hose and under the slate in the wall. Incredible little builders!

The ranch house from the back, it was not foggy that day, it was smoke! There was some huge fires around Williams Lake.

The girls and I looking for shells.

Mike rescued this huge dragonfly out of the creek with a goose feather.

4 cranes in flight. They were following a pack of geese.

The cranes landed in the field across the creek.

Relaxing and playing on the beach.

The girls loved playing on the stack of square bales while Mike and Dad loaded up the pick-up truck.

We could have stayed longer at Dad's but we were anxious to continue with our travels. Next stop Barkerville!

To be continued...

Summer so far...

I've been rather neglectful of my blog, too much to do and not enough time.

So instead of vacuuming and packing for our vacation I shall update the world on whats been happening with my little family.

On one of our weekend camping trips, we were exploring an unused logging road and came across this cute abandoned cabin.

The girls have been enjoying life. Here they were visiting the neighbours and insisted on having a picture taken.


My Brother Rob and his fiance Jamie and son Cam came for an overnight visit. Rob, Cam and the girls enjoyed the pool for awhile. Sorry no pictures of Cam in the pool but he did have a blast!
"Bike!"

I was surprised how nimble he was with the trike, I predict he will get one for X-mas (hint, hint grandma)

Rob, Ivy and Anna.

Cam was a bit upset he could not go back in the pool nor climb the tree fort, I love his expression (click for bigger photo)

Anna, mid splash!

I was totally freaked out by this guy, I spotted it from across the room, trying to make a home with a bag of quilting and cross-stitching supplies. Mike wanted to take a picture before he shooed it out the window, if it was up to me it would be dead, they can stay outside but don't invade my territory! Mike's big thumb makes the spider look smaller then it actually was, trust me it was scary huge!

As I posted before, the newest cousin has arrived. Little baby Jacob, he's very cute.

Big brother Danny doesn't seem too impressed by the new baby, Yup it's another baby. David has been having a hard time adjusting though, his parents didn't prepare him, he's been smacking the baby and throwing many tantrums. Reaffirms mine and Mike's decision to only have 2 kids.

This past Sunday we went to an old gravel pit so Mike could put some rounds through his 50 caliber black powder rifle. The girls loved exploring.

Mike is priming the rifle, putting some black powder in the pan.

"Fire in the hole!" BOOOOM!

Love this shot with the smoke and the dust cloud behind the target

A typical dinner lately, the girls would rather talk and goof off instead of eating *sigh* but they are cute!

We've been going to the city park after supper when it cools down. Anna loves the Merry-go-round.

And my monkey Mike got the girls to climb the trees.

But they couldn't climb as high as he.

Tree hugger Anna!

Peek-a-boo Ivy!

I guess it's back to packing and cleaning for me. We'll be camping for a week and a bit, so expect lots more pictures with the next post too. Ta ta!

Time flies!

August already! Where the heck has 2010 gone?!

Obviously I survived the day of babysitting the cousins. Luckily David slept for a few hours when he got here and Sylvia napped in the afternoon. Mike dropped Ivy off at Gr. P's on the way to work so that was one less kid and Anna seemed to be on her (next to) best behaviour. I haven't been over to see the new baby yet, I wanted to make sure M was healed so she doesn't ask me to look after the kids again.... that sounds bad but everyone who has met these kids will know why I have this attitude.

This past weekend was fun filled. Friday night was a surprise party for our neighbour, over 50 people, great music, and even better food! It was cut short because of rain but we were there for a few hours and the girls were ready for bed afterwards.

Saturday we went to the pool for Ivy's friend's birthday party. It was a little frustrating because the girls were acting like they had never been in a pool before, clinging to our necks and screaming about being in the water! But towards the end, they relaxed and had lots of fun and didn't want to get out and go home!

Sunday, we were invited to another neighbours surprise party but I didn't want to go and convinced Mike to leave town for the day, we ended up taking his parents to Rossland to visit his Grandmother. it was a lovely trip and everyone (kids and S) were in good moods. We did some shopping and got to visit Derek too.

Holiday Monday we relaxed at home and did very little!!

I wish I had photos to share but we can't seem to find the camera.... actually I should look in the trailer... I also forgot to post that my Brother Rob and his little family were out last week, overnight. Baby Cam is getting to be a real boy, lol I'll have to start calling him little Cam instead of Baby. There was lots of talk about their upcoming wedding, the girls will be flower girls so we have to find some matching dresses in blue and cream.

Oh and I got new glasses today! I don't like the clip on shades but I love the anti-glare coating on the glasses, I'm not squinting as much. Can't wait to see how much my night driving improves.

Not again!

I'm upset with myself, I really have to learn the word NO and be more assertive!

I got a phone call today, didn't recognize the # and was not going to answer but double guessed my instinct....

It was Uncle Troy.... His new son arrived today, 2 days ahead of the scheduled c-section. Mother and baby are doing great. Jacob, 6lbs 11oz.

... And then comes the true reason for the call.... Can you babysit the other 3(horrible, misbehaving, toy stealing, book destroying) children till Martha comes home..... ummmm NO!!!!! Well I wish I had said that no but instead I said the only day I can babysit is tomorrow... then he said he'll drop them off at 5am...(What!! 5am!! %$#@&) ... Fine see ya in the morning...

I'm going to tell Troy, he is going to look after the rabbits when we go away for a week in August! It's only fair... actually I think he'll be getting off light. Oh well.... Wish me luck, hopefully Mike won't come home to a blubbering fool, needing a nice long stay in the Mental ward...

Summer is too long!

I have never liked summer, I much prefer fall and spring!

The heat is too intense, the sun is way too bright, the day is too long and it is too long of a break from school!!

Who invented this season?!?!

Too many thoughts

My head has been buzzing with too many thoughts. Once again I am having trouble sleeping.

I initially started this blog so I could get things off my mind and lead a less stressful life, but I think I forgot how to do that recently.

Other than my husband, children and in-laws, I have no contact with my family. Why is this? Well, some I do not want to talk with, some I wish I could and others are lost in limbo. Why do some not call or visit me? Am I so unlikeable, have I chased away everyone?

I feel abandoned.

My girls are starting to forget, they mix up some relatives with others relations and friends. It's sad.

This all may sound dramatic, there are some family I see/talk/chat on a regular basis but most have grown very distance.

The one that hurts the most is my Mother, she is the one relation that reads this blog, I post the pictures for her, but she does not respond. I am the cause for much hurt but am I to be forgotten because of it? I am still here, I still love. I am hurting too.

Father's Day Weekend

For Father's Day Mike wanted to have a family camping trip, and his Mother has been wanting to go to the hot springs for several years now, so we planned a weekend trip to Nakusp Hot springs and Campground!

The weekend was filled with many emotional ups and downs for everyone, but for the most part it was wonderful.

Grandma P and Uncle F drove their 5th wheel to Nakusp early Friday morning. Then K&S came and got the girls in the afternoon and Mike and I were to follow 2 hours later but Mike ended up working late so we didn't leave our place till 6:30 pm. The trip took over 4 hours, so we were very late getting to the campground.

I took this shot on the drive up, we had stopped for a pit stop. The moon looked eerie glowing through the old burned trees.

Our camp spot.

The in-laws spot with ours in the background.

The family went for many walks along the hiking trails, for some reason they always left me behind to make the meals or to have naps (the girls didn't sleep well, so neither did I)

Mike, Klara, Ivy, Anna and the dogs posing by the old foundations of the first hot springs.

The girls enjoying the Hot springs pool.

Sister and Brother, K and F.

Anna waiting for something...

Ivy did really well in the pool, after a day she was starting to swim with very little help of the floats.

Anna's wait is over, her Grandma K came to help her.

A happy shot of Mike and I, our first in a long time...since our wedding day maybe...

On the drive home, Sunday, we stopped in Silverton at the Outdoor Mining Museum.

Mike loved all the old machines.

Ivy loved reading the pamphlet and teaching us about each machine.

Anna, K and puppy Molly exploring.

Ivy and me.

The drive home was fast and we all didn't want the weekend to end. Since then Ivy and Anna have been on and off sick with flu and head cold, then they past it along to their daddy who is still sick. Hopefully everyone will get healthy so we can go camping again.... but not with the in-laws.... at least for awhile!