Splashpark..

Today it was so hot on the deck that we decided to take the gamble and head off to the splash park for an hour or so. We threw a few snacks in the cool bag and headed over to Beaumont for a while. Not long after we got there, the clouds rolled in and the temperature dropped. Sam was more than happy to play in the water so he had a great time making his bucket fly up when the water went shooting up in the air, but Abigail was a bit too cold to play - so she just enjoyed having a picnic instead! Grandad paddled with Sam though! We had a lot of fun though picnicking there and Terry and Chris thought the splashpark was such a great place!

Still, there were no complaints from anyone and we had a fun day! Got out of the house for a fun picnic and some fresh air. Fun :) We got home and were hoping for some rain and maybe a storm but nothing here!!! Saw some dark clouds and funny green skies north of us heading East - but we got no rain at all - just some high winds that died off - it's a bit windy now but not as bad.....no rain means the fire bans remain in place :(

Free ride......

Charlie at the tree planting...

Chris.....

Chris WAS at the tree planting....but didn't want to be photographed.....and THIS is what happened when I tried to get a picture of him ;)

The hat, by the way, is new and is a permanent fixture these days ;) he went clothes shopping finally the other day and the hat was something he came home with - he went shopping with three girls and came home in a very good mood - but with the hat that hasn't come off his head since lol!

Laurence wasn't at the tree planting......in fact I'm not sure where he was - maybe inside on the computer or somewhere???? Doing what teenaged boys do......sigh......

Digging the hole...

Lloyd and his Dad digging the hole - with a little 'help' (????) from Sam ;)

The Tree Planting!!!

Tree planting!!

On Tuesday night we had a tree planting ceremony here and planted a tree that we bought a couple of weeks ago. It was fun - even Charlie got involved!!

Susannah......

Susie in the new skirt Grandma and Grandad brought over from England for her....

Susannah and her pig......

Susie with Charlie on Tuesday night.....

Teachers card sample

This is a sample of one of the cards I made as a thank you for the teachers this year....to go with their gifts. This one was from Sam for his Pre-K teachers, but I have made the same ones for Susannah's teachers and the bus driver too. Laurence doesn't want to give his teachers gifts or cards, but I do send one to the staff room/ reception desk as a general thank you to all the staff anyway - as it's a K- Gr 9 school so all the teachers get a thank you/ little something. As a Jr High student I guess Laurence just feels too old to being giving teachers thank you gifts although he did give one or two last year to a couple of favourites ;)

Puppy love...

This morning we went over to have coffee with Val and to meet her new puppy, Dakota. Here are a few pictures of Abigail cuddling little dakota!!

I have to admit that Dakota is VERY cute!! I had some cuddles with her too and she snuggled up in my arms like a tiny baby! Very sweet! Sam and Abby both kept asking where her eyes were - both sure they had disappeared ;) In the end, Sam and Abby plotted to steal Dakota, and got my truck keys, and the puppy, and got in the truck with her, ready to bring her home with us :)

Me? I would have rather stolen the banana chocolate chip muffins ;) At least they don't poop lol - you don't have to clean up after them - and they were VERY yummy!!! :)

Thanks for having us over Val!!! And for the pile of books I came home with!!!! :)

Airport....

Abigail at the airport waiting - in the viewing gallery - you can see Terry and Chris's plane in background!! They arrived safely and on time this morning. They are having an hour or so's sleep right now. I think it was my Sister who suggested the best way to get over jetlag is to have a short sleep as soon as you arrive and then to get up and get on to local time as quickly as possible! Anyway, we're giving it a go, so I hope it works!

An evening at Miquelon with Christie.....

Last night we spent the evening out at Miquelon Lake with Christie and her family - where they are camping for a long weekend. It was a lovely sunny and warm evening and we ended up on the beach. The children swam for a while and Christie got dragged into the water by a certain splashy four year old of mine (lol). The fire bans meant we couldn't have a camp fire so that was a shame, but we still had plenty of food and I managed to eat far too many mini donuts which I'm paying for this morning...sigh.......

We had a great time and the children must have a had a REALLY GREAT time because they were soon asleep after their showers last night and slept through until almost 10am this morning!

Lunch with Val

Today I went out for lunch with Val! We went to one of my regular haunts - A Taste of India in Sherwood Park. I've never been there for lunch, but its a busy little place at lunchtime on Friday! It was quiet when we arrived though, so we got a nice quiet table in the back section. It soon filled up fast though and was much busier than it is in the evening on a Wednesday when we normally go!!!

We both had the buffet and Val was good and adventurous trying all kinds of different selections. The owner came over to say hi and she was joking saying how the food isn't spicy at all , so Val should try a bit of EVERYTHING!! ;) then a little later she popped over to our table and asked Val how she liked Indian food (as I had mentioned that it was Vals first time at trying Indian food) - val said she loved it and the owner said that Val would soon be as addicted as Lloyd and I ;)

Val is like me and loves the Naan breads - they really are yummy - so light and fluffy and NOTHING like the ones you buy in the grocery stores which are horrible and I won't TOUCH!!!

This picture shows Val enjoying my favourite dessert there - Gulab jamun - or what I call balls and custard :) YUM!!!! :)

Thanks for coming out Val - I had a lovely time - so good to catch up with you!

we both left to head off in different directions shopping only for Val to get a phone call from her Daughter to say there were funnel clouds spotted in our neighbourhood - so we both headed in the direction of home instead to make sure our little ones were safe! Adult time over :( sigh........