Science Centre & Strawberries...

(A thrill for the guys to ride on the Knights bus!)

Connor and I spent last Friday at the Science Centre for his year end class trip. The class was able to fund raise enough throughout the year that the entire trip was FREE! Coach bus, entrance fee, lockers and snack bags on the way and on the way home!! What a great and relaxing day. I had a ball babe!

Con-man and Mama

Rock climbing at the Science Centre

FATHER'S DAY 2007

The kids ladening Daddy with their homemade and store bought gifts...tictactoe game, cards, Oscar cologne and a new updated summer outfit...sorry Daddy, the tank tops are being replaced with muscle shirts...;)

Mmmmmmmm!!!!!

I wish the whole world smelled like strawberries!

How blessed we are to live in an area that grows so much local produce! The strawberries are just the beginning !!(of course we can't forget the delicious asparagus we've already enjoyed as well!)

The eager berry pickers/samplers

Trent being a boy :0)

Finishing off the task with some fries from the chip wagon

Mackies...a true sign of summer

Last Wednesday, Nicole and I took Mom out to Mackies for lunch (the twinnies too). She enjoyed the outing but tired quite quickly. Unfortunately her walking is rather cumbersome and she is suffering from an ingrown toe nail :( and bunions. Poor Mom. However, she remains very content in her life -- totally unaware of any change in it. I couldn't help but think as we trudged towards the van - Nicole aiding her on one side and I on the other - that 3 years ago she was chasing the kids on the very same beach - alive, healthy, full of vitality, love and life. Many afternoons we would spend shopping in the little boutiques along the harbour, ending the afternoon with a freshly made yogourt cone from Brodericks - remember Aunt Mare, Carole, Nicole? She loved to sit by the bridge and watch the boats come in, people watch and enjoy her family,creation, etc....I try to not to go those places in my heart too often - those memories hurt way too much to visit ...and when I do, I seriously can't believe that those days are gone, over, never to return on this side of heaven and that is so hard to take - we all miss her SOOO much!

The rides at Mackies

The chilly lake, Trent wasn't too keen on going in but Mags had no hesitation going in up to her waist!

For you Mama...Aww, how could I tell her not to pick the lupins??

A wonderful spot to read on a hot summer day!

Connor being Connor, if he's not upside down or wrestling someone on the trampoline - something's wrong. Somedays it's better not to look. He has now perfected his back flip!!!

Loving this weather!

Well, not the weather we experienced on the Victoria Day Weekend...we decided to pack up and head home Sunday morning since we awoke to (no exaggeration) 5 degree weather and drizzle. You know it's cold when the kids are inside at the campground with hoodies and the furnace cranked up! I shouldn't complain, Friday we opened the trailer, had a nice fire til the wee hours of the night and had a good morning at the pond on Saturday---loads of Sun Fish! That's when it ended...the weather forecast was wrong and it began to rain and rain and rain.


Sunday Morning...brrr! It all worked out in the end, Kev, Carole and kids came down Sunday afternoon, as did Wade, Nicole and Dad and we had a nice bbq on Victoria Day...and Colleen and kids joined us - everybody was there (Mom too!) except Steve who is still at Fire Fighting school.

Some cute shots between gardening...AWWW!

Feeding the geese at Waterworks - what a gem of a park we have!

Kelsey practicing her sax - I envy the opportunity she has to learn another instrument free of charge - keep at it babe! I hope she capitalizes on it and continues playing it right through highschool!

Track and field day - a 31 degree day!!!

Maggie snug as a bug in her newly decorated room - I do say - I LOVE to paint and lately I have the painting itch! "SIGH" thinks Bri.

Another milestone for our family! The time has come that we can all go out (to a restaurant) and eat - leisurely that is. It was so exciting to be able to go out for dinner and see a movie with the whole family and thoroughly enjoy it. Mags and Trent were so good. However, Shrek 3 was a major let down...don't waste your money! Trent (above) with the free mask.

The kids were very impressed with the balloon lady at the restaurant, as were Brian and I!

Oma and Opa came for a visit and our lovely neighbours brought over a huge piece of their anniversary cake for all of us to share...thanks Linda, it was delicious!

And finally, the finished product! We absolutely love it! Now time to start planting some pots to add some color and VOILA, R & R time shortly! So, consider this an invitation to come have a coffee some afternoon or a beer (or glass of wine) some evening with us. TATA.

The weekend

DECK BUILDING

After many hours of contemplating, planning and "re"planning, Bri and I came up with a blue print for our long awaited deck(s). Pictured are Brian and Dad making the plan a reality! Thanks for all your hard work guys. They built 2 decks in 1 1/2 days...much quicker than they thought. So all that's left to do is the railing, steps and lattice! What an improvement...before and afters to come...

Trent hammering away - Brian hard at the second tier (in background)

MOTHER'S DAY 2007

We spent Mother's Day @ Mom and Dad's place and brought Mom home for the day, took a few pics and afterwards realized that we forgot to take the cowboy hat off of Mom - the medication(s) she is on tend to make her burn--so uncharacteristic of her who was always brown as a berry, hence the reason for the hat. She was very content sitting there in the backyard with us, totally unaware of her circumstances (which is a blessing for her) but oh how it breaks our hearts to see her this way. I miss my MOM!

Where is everybody? Brian & Wade had to work, Kev and Carole had a sick baby and Steve and Colleen are in Alberta!

Beautiful Kelsey wearing her mother's sunglasses - I have to watch my things, they seem to end up on her or in her room - we are starting to have some similar tastes in accessories and shoes (almost the same shoe size!) I think I'm just as excited about sharing as her!

You know the saying..."The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence..."

Connor reaching his reading goal for the month - he was instructed to read in an unusual place...;)

Springtime...

A few more signs of spring...

Secretary's Day :)

how good my bosses are to me (us) especially since I'm only in once a week! Thanks!

The observers

The observed

The twins and I searched and searched for the well hidden Killdeer nest by the pond out back...they thought it was quite something that a nest was not built in a tree!!

Enjoying their umbrellas from Kelsey and Connor

All "caked" out!

Happy 9th Birthday Con Man

The wrestling ring cake

3 of the 10 in attendance

April is a busy month for birthdays in our own family and extended family...needless to say we have consumed alot of cake...AND baked many a cake this month...7 so far...and one more b-day to go...maybe we'll change it up a bit and go for a pie or a baked cheesecake?? Better yet, an angel food cake which is virtually fat free! Once again we have much to be thankful for, another year of health and happiness. Praise God!

Actual day of birthday - Trent passed out on us early

Kelsey is learning to play the saxophone - look out world - and trying out for badminton. Connor competed in Cadetorama on the weekend and his team placed 2nd overall and he placed 3rd in the annual Speed Stack tourney!

Connor's main gift

Connor (April 3rd) decided to have 10 boys for his party, with the mindset that he would have 2 teams for a rockin' soccer party...the weather however had other plans and we awoke to 3 inches of snow the day before the "shindig"...it then became a wrestling theme...and yes it was rather wild but lots of fun!

The birthday party cake - had to share - Dora and Diego a sure hit!

Maggie and Trent (April 17th) had friends from StoryTime (church) and had a grand time. This was their first official birthday party with friends (rather than only cousins) and included loot bags. YEE HAW! Oma, Opa and Papa continued the celebration into the evening with a nice birthday supper...and ANOTHER cake(s) - individual cakes;). They have to have some individuality!!!

Trent has come up with some good ones lately. Kelsey had bought Connor some Crocs for his birthday and Trent was mighty interested in getting a pair himself...so we looked all over for his size with no success. The next day he states, "TODAY are we going to get some Crotches for me, I mean Crotchies?" Then we were at the Family Enrichment Centre playing with a Fisher-Price pirate ship, curiously I asked him if he knew what the big black thing with a chain was on the boat..."Oh that, that's the YANKER"...not too shabby Trent!