Royal Tyrell Museum....

As we have an annual membership to museums now, and it covers the Royal Tyrell, we headed there twice over the weekend.  I couldn't BELIEVE how long the line ups were to get in!  Even an hour before closing!  Waaaay out of the doors and up to the road - and at one point the line up then went along the sidewalk to the external washrooms!!  Crazy!!  

Thankfully, as members we were able to walk straight by the line ups and go on in :)  I was also able to book a class for Abby and Sam for the second visit.  

They took the 'Fossil Casting' class, which basically teaches you exactly how fossils are recorded after they are found - and how casts are made so that replicas of delicate fossils can be created.  

The children then got to create their own cast of a real fossil.  They then were shown some really unusual fossils and casts :)  

It was such a fun class - even for those of us not participating!  

Snapshots from the campground.

time to get caught up :)

I am soooo behind in blogging. We had a lovely weekend away for Labour day weekend.  I booked and paid for it way back in the Summer, and though I was tempted to cancel the trip for various reasons, I figured it was non-refundable (being a Long Weekend) and it wasn't far!  So we headed back to Drumheller for a weekend of camping with friends.

I am so sooooo happy we went - for a start, the weather in Edmonton was cold and wet and horrible - while Drumheller was 28, 26 and 23c Fri, Sat and Sun :)

What was even better though, was the joy that came from seeing my children having soooo much freedom.  The campground just has that amazing safe feeling - cars can't go more than 8km an hour and it's all one way - the whole campground is filled with families - everyone is friendly...

Sam made friends with a big group of kids, who he played soccer with for hours - and they would head off on their scooters and whatever.  We took some dollar store toys, foam planes, games and glow sticks, and they all shared them out.  He was invited to one friends trailer for the evening for a campfire and smores - and the next morning they took him to the pancake breakfast!

At about 10pm one evening I was walking by his friends trailer to the washroom and saw Sam and his friends chatting away around the camp fire :)

It gave Sam such a wonderful feeling of independence and being grown up :)

Susannah and Abigail met up with friends there and were off playing and chatting with friends until late.  A group of teens and preteens.  They all went to Bingo too - and Abby and Sam enjoyed the pool several times.  Sam liked having change to take to the arcade and use - turns out he's pretty awesome at pinball :)

Since we got back, life has been busy with 'back to school' and 'not back to school' things.

The next few posts will be a catch up :)

Camping :)

Just a few snapshots of our camping life :) one more night of camping for this year. Its nice and warm during the day but freezing at night!!! Roll on next Summer :)

29 Faces in September!!

I took part in this challenge in May, and have decided to join in again for September! The challenge is to draw a face every day in September - drawing at least 29 by the end of the month!! The pencil drawing below is my first face this month - drawn at the picnic table at our campsite this morning. The colour picture is an art journal page I did yesterday :) Started at homecand finished by the pool yesterday :)

Saturday in Drumheller :)

We are spending the last weekend of Summer in Drumheller - the children were eager and excited to meet up with friends here again - and I just love camping and getting away - relaxing by the campfire and sleeping in the tent. I love seeing the children have so much freedom in the campground and hearing about the games they play with friends - or watching them play soccer with a big group of kids in the centre field :) Bacon sandwiches for breakfast cooked on the camp stove - and chatting with people from all over Western Canada :)

Today we went for a drive up to Orkney Viewpoint, went to the Roal Tyrell Museum, and relaxed around the campground. Its lovely having free admission to the museum and being able to walk straight in past the big line-ups :) We've booked a class there for Abby and Sam tomorrow :)

The picture attached is one of my favourites so far this weekend - partly because I know why they are giggling ;) Lets just say that I did NOT tell them to say 'cheese' hahaha :)

The playground by the lake.....

After the farmers market, we wandered over to the playground.  Susannah and I sat and chatted, took pictures and Susie continued to watch 'Life Unexpected' which I now have her addicted to ;)  

Abigail and Sam quickly found friends to play with at the playground - Sam and his friend were off on his skateboard and Abigail and her friend played on the monkey bars etc:

Susannah borrowed my hoody - which she now wants to keep!!!!

Despite a forecast of rain, it turned into the most beautiful day - although it got chilly as the sun went down - and you can tell it is almost Fall!!

Another great day!  Tomorrow is our last day of freedom in Edmonton.  School starts on Tuesday and won't be around for the weekend.  Well, Laurence and friends are here - but they are dog sitting, house sitting and hanging out lol!

Snapshots from our Wednesday :)

Rosie getting hugs and kisses from Susannah:

I showed the girls a technique for painting polkadots on your nails:

We went to Goodwill, dropped Laurence at his friends house in time for him to go to work, and then went to the farmers market.  I gave the kids some pocket money each for the market and they could choose whatever they wanted:

Abigail chose fries with her money and also bought a bottle of water:

I had lemonade:

Sam picked a yoyo balloon and a mini cupcake and STILL had $2 left!!  It's a great math skill to give them money and have them choose how to spend it and see how much they have left and what else they can get:

Susannah's teachers Son was singing and playing guitar at the market:

Susannah chose to buy a bag of cherries:

29 Faces in September :)

Come and join us for 29 Faces in September!!!

Draw a face every day for at least 29 days.  

Even if you tell yourself you 'can't draw', give it a try!!

Grab some paper and a pencil and draw!  I promise that by the end of the month

 you will see HUGE improvements :)

'29 Faces' on FB  :)  

tag time.....

listening - to Laurence in the shower and the wind blowing outside.  

eating - mini meringues - too many!

drinking - hazelnut coffee

wearing - capris and t-shirt

feeling - edgy and anxious and I want to go out

wanting - Friday to arrive so we can go camping.

needing - peace

thinking - that I like the idea of being in a relationship, until I am in a relationship and then to be honest I resent the hassle!  I resent being pestered and 'needed' and just want them to go away!  Lol!  

enjoying - the summer and don't want school to start next week or for the good weather to end.

wondering - how this evening will work out....