During our trip out to Kelowna this past summer, we stopped at a place called Peachland. (Located just half an hour drive west of Kelowna) A beautiful spot with the whole downtown with little shops and restaurants all across from the lake. Matthew decided as we were unpacking stuff out of the back that he would take a try behind the wheel of the car. He really thought he was driving. And having a blast doing it.


The kids really enjoyed Gramps reading them stories every night before bed. Their favorite.....how do dinasours eat all their food.....they both know the book almost word for work. Caitlyn especially. She picks up the book and has the whole thing memorized. We have her on video I think this very day reading the book from end to end.

At the beach in Okanagan BC

This has to be one of my all time favorite pictures of the kids. Taken in August of 2006. I love to look at pictures of us in the hot weather at this time of year. Makes me yearn for the summer again. This was part of our vacation to British Columbia this past summer. We stayed at a so called resort (accommodation was lousy, but it had a great play area for the kids and a great beach). Every day the kids would jump on the trampoline, go on the swings and their favorite.....drag their beach stuff down to the water. Hours of fun.

Caitlyn has a sleepover

Well right now my daughter Caitlyn is at my Aunt Diane's house having a sleepover. She's been so excited about going. She started packing her bag last night. Had a very large bag to go with her suitcase that had about 10 stuffed animals in it. She said she had to take them all or they would be lonley in her room tonight.
Scott and Matthew are out in the Daddy truck doing some errands. I am left thinking what to do with myself. So I decided to come to the computer and write a blog message. I'm sure there are many other things I could be doing. You get very excited when the house is empty. It's like when you were a teenager and your parents left.......Throw a party!!!!!! No Scott and Matthew will be home soon.....and who would come at such short notice?
I packed up ALOT of old blankets, sheets and old clothing that we were not using . ( Four garbage bags and one large box in total ) Took it all down to the Mustard Seed (a homeless shelter here in downtown Calgary) today to donate. I figure if I havn't used it or worn it since last winter, someone who is freezing on the streets may as well wear it. Got rid of quite a bit. Blankets etc....same thing. We got the kids stuff that matched their rooms and had alot of hand me down stuff that was not being used. They are hoping to open another shelter in an old Brick building so the blankets and comforters are really in need. Felt good to give at this time of year. I have done my good deed of the day.
I've just heard my husband come home.....better do my next good deed and get dinner for them.

It is finally above 0 here!!!!!

Well we have been in a winter freeze for about a week and a half now. Temps hovering around -25 to -40 C with the windchill. Did not realize how cold it actually got here. Had to bring all my vending pop inside from the garage it got so cold. Forgot about some and I have a real mess out there to clean up. Did anyone know that Diet Coke explodes.....and I mean explodes when it freezes? It is the first pop to freeze too. Guess I have never had a problem with this before because I do not drink the stuff.
We finally are able to fit a car in the garage. This cold weather made us work really hard to get that done. I now can park the van in the garage so the kids are not frozen little popsicles when we go out in the morning.

The chinook blew in thisafternoon and if feels like summer out there. I think it got up to 3 C today!!!! A month ago 3 seemed extreemly cold......funny how that changes.

Matthew is going through a bit of a cold.....took him to the doctor thismorning and looks like he has an eye infection. Poor guy gets three drops a day for 5 days. Good thing I've had my experience torcharing my children when I had to do this with Caitlyn a few weeks ago.

Caitlyn is getting very excited about Nana and Gramps coming next week. She is also excited about her Christmas performance at school last day before break on the 22 Dec.
They have been rehersing every day now for the performance. She is also looking forward to starting dance lessons in the new year.
For me this month will be a bit of a break. No more swim lessons or gymnastics til Jan.
Don't know how I will entertain these munchkins everyday. Hopefully that won't be so bad once Nana and Gramps arrive.

Caitlyn's first day of school and other photos....click on picture to view album

October 2006

larger photos of the enchanted forest

Daine and Jim's 50th wedding anniversary reunion

Kelowna BC....the location of the reunion/50th anniversary gathering.
To Diane and Jim they thought this was just another relaxing time at "The Sweet Life" park. Until all the guest started showing up. First daughter Janice and husband Geoff, then Jennifer, Glen and Kelsey. Next the the White's from Vancouver.....and then last but not least the Brandon/Mills clan. Boy were they surprised. Mom no longer had to keep this one a secret. For me I don't know how many times I almost blew it. Scott was not able to come so I drove by myself with the kids , mom and dad in tow. Long drive but really worth! We stayed at this little place called the Kokanee Beach resort. Not much of a resort....but set up really nice for the kids with playground and a beach. The accommodation was a little on the shabby side....but we really were not spending much time at the hotel. We had a great day at the beach on the Monday. Winnery tours in and around the area . Some spectacular scenery!!!!
Alexis and Aunt Diane














Janice reads the newspaper announcement for Diane and Jims wedding. Took about 10 minutes to read......you just can't believe they wrote a whole book on a wedding in those days.









Julie and Kelsey

Our Trip to Kelowna BC August 2006

Our Trip to Kelowna BC

We set out on I think it was the 18th of August at 4pm from
Calgary. Leaving so late in the day meant driving through some of Alberta and Bc's most treaturous highways....IN THE DARK. Not something I would recomend that anyone do. I have never been so scared in a car driving in all my life.
We also missed some spectacular scenery!!!!!

We made it to Revelstoke and stopped for the night. Only so many hours you can keep two kids in a car seat. Stayed at a really nice Best Western there. After some breakfast and a swim in the pool we were off again for our final leg to Kelowna.

About 1/2 drive outside of Revelstoke we just had to stop at this place called
"The Enchanted Forest"
A really WONDERFUL place for kids. All built into the forest with georgeous tall trees....
every little stop is a different nursery rhyme. The kids really liked the Three little pigs,
Lady who lived in a shoe and Three little bears.
We spent more time there than we thought we would, the place is very large and lots to look at.