Wednesday, July 29, 2009

well...some scrapbooker I am! Would you believe I didn't take one single picture of our site set up? I was browsing through the almost 200 pics I took and not a single one of our tent and screenhouse set up...sheesh! Luckily, I mentioned this to my mom and she went around and took a snapshot or 2 of everybody's set up so I need to wait for here to either email it to me or bring her camera with her when she comes for the long weekend.
I can share with you (although it's probably in my best interest not too) the pics Brian tried to take of me making breakfast our first morning of camping...


He had to have one of these toasters thingies that go over the camp stove (cause his parents had when he camped as a boy...lol) so I had to take a pic of him making toast...

On Thursday night it was only us, my Mom and Bud as well as Bud's son and family so it was kinda quiet and a fairly early night I think.
Friday, more family started to arrive and I was thrilled to hear my cousin Kevin was going to be coming along with his youngest 2 kids who I hadn't met yet. Seems that when Kevin makes it home, I don't and vice versa. My early evening, a lot of the sites were full and a good time was had by the campfire. Everyone really enjoyed the belated Christmas gift we gave Mom and Bud too...Ladder Golf...it it so much fun and great for people of all ages.


Carsyn too an interest in playing crib so after half a day of lessons, he was ready to take on some of the more experienced players in the family. It was great that so many of them taught him too as they went along. It's now one of his favs.
Saturday, we took the boys to the man made swimming hole they have at this campground and the boys and Brian had a ball. I didn't take my camera the first time and man...it's too bad I didn't. Zack asked the boys to bury him in the sand...done. Then, while he was stuck there, they built what was supposed to be 2 boobs on either side of his head and then tried to build him some boy parts...OMG...I am not sure I have ever laughed so hard in my life!!!
I did get a lot of great shots of the boys splashing and goofing around with their Dad but I think it's only fair to have Brian's permission before posting his bathing body on the net...lol!
Being the Saskatchewan Roughrider fans that almost all of us are, we had to support our team (even though it was a lost cause that day) so we set up near the truck radio to listen to the game...

Also, Saturday, was the big family reunion supper. Lots of locals just came out for a visit and supper...it was really nice to see them.
This was also the day that every friggin mosquito in Canada decided to converge on us...I kid you not, there were millions. I guess it had been really hot and hatched them all and nothing we did or put on made them stop. We tried several different types of Off and we still got eaten alive. The boys looked like they had chicken pox when we came home they had so many bites. On top of that, they had these bugs that I called Darth Vader bugs cause they were big and black and sounded like a light saber when they came flying past your head...they were horrible. Only at night and obviously attracted to the fire cause that's where they were the worst. They were totally creepy and at one point on Sunday night, I had my hoody on...tied up tight around my head and a badminton racket in my hand swatting the dam things. Brian, being the ever so funny man he thinks he is, threw one at me...I thought my cousin, her boyfriend and my Aunt were going to pee their pants laughing. Not long after, he went to catch one and missed and in the process, it hit me in the cheek...needless to say, he was a tad chilly when we went to bed cause I was not about to snuggle after that.
Monday, we packed up, said our goodbyes...see ya next years and headed home.
All in all, it was a great trip. Lots of great family time as the 6 of us and with my extended family too. The family average for the first time camping was 7.5 and we will do it at least one more time this summer but not right beside the Trans Canada highway and hopefully with out as many mosquitoes and no Darth Vader Bugs (which turned out to be Spruce Beetles by the way).
Oh, and how could I forget...Zack had his first beer courtesy of my 18 year old cousin and his Dad (my Uncle that used to pull for me before I was 18)!!


I have mixed feelings about this occurrence by the way.

I guess if you look at the pic where we are listening to the football game, you can see our tent on the left and screen house on the right to kinda get the idea.

So, that's the camping trip in a nutshell.
Sorry you had to wait so long but it's late now and I gotta get to bed. Swimming lessons early in the morning for Carsyn and Gavin and a late night tomorrow with Zack's final drivers ed class.
On the upside, it is the August long so enjoy some summer fun with those you love! We'll be renovating our bathroom...can't wait!

Monday, July 27, 2009

ponder this...

Question of the day:
If a pair is 2 then why are jeans and undies called a pair?
This is what the boys were discussing at the lunch table yesterday...lol
camping report coming later today...just haven't had the time to sit here long enough to type it out...pics are on the computer now so that's a step in the right direction...lol!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

hi-ho-hi-ho...a camping we will go

The 6 of us are heading out this weekend to a family reunion (for my side) in SK and we are sooo excited to be camping for the first time as a family. Some may look at us like we are off our rockers cause we are roughin' it in a tent but we can't wait. We've had a practice run setting it up and taking it down...same with the screen house we bought for eating and hanging out in if the weather sucks. I've spent quite a bit of time on the net and found some great tips & tricks as well as a campers checklist which helped in the purchasing of stuff that is needed and useful without getting all caught up in buying everything but the kitchen sink. I did cross the line perhaps when I discovered that the dollar store had tea towels/dishcloths etc in colors that matched the tent..same with the plates/bowls/cups. If nothing else, our site will look pretty. I'll share some snapshots when we get back. It's going to be so much fun.
This will be the highlight of our summer so far as the weather has been kinda off and on so we haven't enjoyed as much time in the pool as we usually do in July. Speaking of pools, Carsyn and Gavin start swimming lessons next week when we get back.
Zack is also starting drivers ed...15 hours of in class instruction followed by a test he has to get at least 80% on and then he moves onto the actual driving part of the course. Holy cow expensive but worth it in the end....we think!
I've been busy this last 10 days getting things purged and organized around in here in the hopes of going back to work full time at the end of August easier...it's been a lot of work but very much worth it. Where does all this crap come from anyway cause I am sure I did this about 6 months ago!
I wish I had something far more exciting to share but I don't.
Thanks for stopping by though.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

true patriot love

We had such an awesome Canada Day celebration.
It started with these...maple leaf shaped pancakes topped with strawberries and whipped cream...delicious! They were very time consuming though so we only each had one shaped one and the rest were round.

After breakfast, we headed off to the parade. These are a few of my favorite shots...


then it was off to the neighbors for lunch, games an visiting. Spent the whole afternoon there. The Dad's took the boys around town to see some of the displays that were set up etc. I came home to cut the watermelon into maple leafs, after my neighbor used the cookie cutter to make these sugar cookies.


Enjoyed a bbq supper...waaay too much food was enjoyed by everyone. The kids played in the pool and enjoyed some ladder golf while I mixed up some virgin strawberry daquiri's for them (followed by adult pina coladas and margaritas) in our margarita machine. Everyone stayed up and enjoyed the fireworks...




It was relaxing and fun filled family time...loved every minute of it!
How did you celebrate our great country?