Dinner and a Day on the Boat with the AFamily

The kids and I were off to Edmonton for a mini get away and the chance to see the Afamily before CousinL headed off to sleep away camp for the first time. While in Edmonton, we enjoyed a relaxing trip to the French bookstore, went to see the new Percy Jackson movie, did bit of shopping at West Edmonton Mall and had the chance to go for dinner with SunsanR and the AFamily. A fun time was had by all.

 

We also had the opportunity to enjoy a day of boating with the AFamily. They drove down from Edmonton to meet us at the lake for some time on the boat and lunch. I can honestly say that the most I have ever see UncleP and DaddyJ smile together happens when they are enjoying food, fun and enjoying some form of silliness! So as you can imagine, the day on the lake was non-stop smiles from those two which only made it even more fun for AuniteA and me.

 

 

It was a spectacularly beautiful day on Sylvan lake which was the perfect way for the AFamily to be introduced to life on the boat and tube. By the end of the day, even little CousinL and CousinN had found their groove and were enjoying the view from the tube. There is nothing like seeing your kids try something new and find their confidence to bring a mother's heart joy.

 

"No really, hang on tight UncleP and remember to let go when you are falling off"

 Now, for the record, my two are getting a bit too confident at trying out fun new things on the tube for my liking. I see some water skiing in my future!



The Dancing LittleJ's going about 15km/hr on the tube!
 

Thanks for coming out AFamily, we had a good time with you all and a GREAT big thank you to UncleP for talking me through getting the trailer in the water in only two straightening outs.

The pic that sums up the day!

Yum yum Dim Sum, United We Sit

As is the summer tradition, we try to get a family Dim Sum in while the GFamily is in town. This year, our time included AuntieLala and my cousin, CousinK and her daughter,2CousC in addition to our Aunt to all three of us, AuntieE. Major bonus, our favourite meal with a an entertaining visit with family. It was a great way to enjoy a fantastic new dim sum location, catch up with family and get a last visit in the GFamily before they headed back to Houston.

You will note from the pictures, that ScoutJ is finding it very entertaining to point out that he is now closing in height wise on everyone he loves. Oh what fun.

Thank you everyone for making the time to get together and for the wonderful meal GFamily! Remember, it is our turn next time as noted here. MUH HA HA HA

Boating with the Cousins, Auntie and Uncle

The day I smiled and laughed so much my face hurt for two days!

For our first trip out with visitors, we headed out with AuniteLala, UncleD, CousinR and CousinC! It was a fantastic afternoon of fun on the water. We spent the first two and a half hours on the tube learning that our niece CousinR is VELCO! I mean that girl does not come off of a tube when it is fly across the water like skipping stone, is airborne or anything else. It was amazing. I am seriously thinking of renaming her Velcro, lol.

We watched AuntieLala and BrownieJ enjoy a nice, fairly fast ride on the water. It was so hilarious to watch the facial expressions on my sister's face that I really needed to take a break from laughing and smiling as I my cheeks hurt too much. It is amazing how the mix of fear, adrenaline and fun can make for a good time while entertaining those watching you to no end.

Needless to say, UnlceD, the same man who sent us on his homemade clothes line, aka zipline over the creek only the week before enjoyed a very rambunctious ride on the tube. The most entertaining part was as he climbed up the extended dive platform and needed to rest as his legs were to wobbly after being through the blender like experience. I am not certain that we will be able to get him back on the tube at the speed again but they say that time dulls the memories!

ScoutJ and CousinC had many a good laugh together on the tube. They certainly did well hanging on through all that DaddyJ could dish out. My favourite part of the day included my ride on the tube with CousinC. We were chatting about things and then ....the boat sped up an UncleD started cackling with DaddyJ! That was the point that I looked over at CousinC and said "you know there is not other time that I would ever allow you, your sister or your cousins to be dragged behind a motorized object, let alone at 15+km/hr! Also, just in case we die, I love you, you are a great nephew!" Once we survived that section and had relaxed a bit we were back to chatting when it started to speed up again and CousinC asked me "AuntieJ, do you have any last words?" LOL you know you are having a great time with your family when you are laughing so hard you can hardly hang onto the tube anymore.

We headed in to have a late lunch on shore while UncleD and DaddyJ checked out the beach at Sunbreaker Cove and had a floating lunch. They negotiated getting the bimini top up on the boat and collected the shore people for a nice shaded cruise. We spent the last of our time on the water touring the lake, getting some last tube rides in and packed her up before the rain set in. Fabulously, UncleD and the boys took the boat back to storage while the girls vehicle headed into town! Thanks for all of your great help UncleD and your cheering on AunieLala as I attempted to back the trailer into the water.

To cap off our fabulously fun day we enjoyed a PAINFULLY slow trip to the ice cream store in Sylvan before joining up in Calgary for dinner at Wendy's. Major bonus, I got to ride back with my sister where we chatted non-stop for the entire hour and a half! The boys in the backseat also chatted non-stop for the entire ride. Kind of a wonder we did not run out of oxygen....

I must say as our first passengers, they were spectacularly fun. Thanks for an amazing day GFamily, we can not wait to do it again next year. Y'all come back now, y'a hear!

Announcing BabyJ aka "The Lab"

 

Well, we did it, less than one year after the kids and I went tubing for the first time on Bear Lake UT we bought our own boat! I can honestly say, we all love being out on the water. Whether we are swimming, lazing on the boat chatting or on the tube we LOVE it. After a few rentals, you do some quick calculations on the benefits of owning verses continuing to rent and you quickly see the value in having your own boat. Thus our plan going forward is to use BabyJ the boat in central Alberta as much as possible all summer long for years to come. With that said, I present BabyJ our boat!

ScoutJ sizing it up at the dealership, Renfrew Marina and Quentin are great if you are in need here in Calgary.

 

DaddyJ putting in the copper drain plug for the maiden voyage, the all important piece to the whole operation!

 

Enjoying the boat on our first of many Sunday’s at the lake to come.

Mini-Baker BrownieJ and ScoutJ goes to the Crowsnest Pass

 
 

We had an exciting week of BrownieJ at SAIT for a Mini-Bakers Camp. These are fantastic camps where the kids get to do some great themed activities, make new friends, play games and do some sports like swimming. The theme of BrownieJ’s camp was introduction to baking.

During the week she made:

An Apple-Spruce Pie which is an apple pie topped with a mixture of spices and sugar. Think of it as a crumble without the oats! It was wonderfully tasty.

Raspberry White Chocolate scones that kept us well fed for breakfast for the rest of the week.

Challah Bread that was to die for, cupcakes with hand piped chocolate decorations and chocolate chip cookies:

Pretzels, both sweet and salty

 

Cinnamon Buns, truffles and cake pops

Needless to say, it was a yummy week full of amazing treats. BrownieJ seemed to have a GREAT time, learned a bunch and created wonderful memories.

 Meanwhile, ScoutJ made a trip down to the Cabin to hang out with his cousins, AuntieLala and UncleD for three days. It seems to have been a crazy good time between trying out the homemade “Clothes Line” aka Zipline, driving the quad and have bonfires! Now all of that is heaven for an eleven year old boy. DaddyJ even got in a ride on the zipline, some quading and a round of golf while picking up ScoutJ on Saturday. Epic summer memories were made this week.

 

 

It was a great week for all! Thanks for hosting me, DaddyJ and ScoutJ down in the Crowsnest Pass TeamG. it was a zippy good time.

Super Saturday!

 

For something new we spent a Saturday enjoying a day at Sylvan Lake! This was followed by  the best bbq/social evening with AunAng, CassAng, MiAng, LiAng (super cute almost two year old son) and got to properly meet baby SavAng! Epic day of fun.

The day began with us renting a boat from some great guys in Sylvan Lake. They have this BC Shushwap Relaxed type meets Grown-Up(ish) skater guys. Let’s just say we have noticed a trend that those whom rent boats are able to slip the word “DUDE” into every sentence at least three times. It is always a little bit like talking to the turtle Dad in Nemo. While the boat was not in the meticulous condition that the others that we have rented have been in, it did the trick. We got loads of tube time in, floating, swimming and enjoying lunch. It was the perfect way to spend five hours on a gorgeous day on a lake. If you want to rent at Sylvan, the only company there does a busy and good little business.

After our time on the boat, we headed the 13km into Benalto, a lovely little town with a school that has a MASSIVE yet invisible speed-bump, a post office and a small store. Somehow since the GPS does not have streets for this town, we toured half of it.  While I was inclined to like it because my Besty has ABANDONED Calgary to live it, it was so sweet and close to my new favourite "quick drive from home lake" that we could not help but warm up to it immediately. If you wanted to live in a small town, this would be a nice choice.

 BrownieJ and CassAng were thick peanut butter and white bread after not seeing each other since Stampede. LiAng was really enjoying both placing his watermelon on the deck between bites, with DaddyJ’s encouragement and playing with ScoutJ. Best of all, I got lots of baby snuggles in with SavAng this newest addition to their family while catching up with AunAng.

DaddyJ and ScoutJ drove the four seater  quad around the block, perhaps a little quick for DaddyJ’s nerves a few times when ScoutJ was at the wheel! As MiAng aptly noted, it was more fun than I bargained for and could more than likely become a wish list item. LOL I will say, that baby drives faster than you would believe.

 So, have I ever written about what an EPIC hostess AunAng is? In her LONG ago University Days,  AunAng was the BEST party planner I have ever known complete with decorations, games and themed invitations? Well if you need party ideas, she is your girl and you can be guaranteed that anytime she is hosting you are in for a GREAT time. So, needless to say, between her and MiAng her husband, we had a wonderful evening. There is nothing like a BBQ with friends, all of the kids all having fun and great food to make you remember that “Life is Good”! Those people sure do make great burgers and fabulous beans! Thanks for dinner AngFamily.

Well, here's hoping that we get lots of more summer days like this one in the years to come.....