Summer at the Lake

We just got back from a lovely week at the lake with Leif's family plus a few extras.  The weather for the first half of our vacation was gorgeous!!!  Sunny and above 30 every day.  Then the winds blew in the smoke and chilly air but we still we able to get out on the lake a few times and the men enjoyed some golf.

Saturday was a golf and shopping day.  Sunday we went to Chase and then relaxed around the house.  Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were all on-the-lake days.  On Thursday night some more rellies came and brought their air-chair for behind the boat and the brave ones gave it a try.  On Friday while the boys were golfing (for the fourth time!), three of us ladies took the boat out all by ourselves!  With a talented Molly at the helm, Lola and I both went skiing and scurfing.  Saturday was the clean-up and drive home day.

I didn't take many pictures on our camera and none from the boat.  You'll have to ask our English friends if you want to see pictures of water sports.

Because of all the forest fires in BC, the sun one evening turned bright red. The camera couldn't pick it up quite right, but it's still a pretty site.

And here's another picture of her royal cuteness doing what she does best.

Our Niece Sleeps Over!

This weekend our cute-as-a-button niece slept over at our house for the very first time!  She slept in "Grandma's big bed" with no complaints.  We had some scrapes and bonks at the park, but nothing a band-aid, a jelly bean, and a nap couldn't solve!  And then we had her parents and sibling-to-be over for supper after their long day of painting.

In the afternoon, we baked a carrot cake together.  Here she is with her "apron" on (which doubled as bib when she was eating) helping me stir everything into the flour.

And her she is smelling the mixture.  One time she breathed out when she was smelling and got flour all over her face!

Just had to get a picture of her cute smile!

This is her licking the icing spoon.  I'm actually a little surprised she liked the cream cheese in there.

You can't really see it, but she has icing all over her face!

We're ready for you to come stay with us again sometime soon!  (hint hint M&D)

Big Birthdays

My little sister turned 18 last week!!!  She spent the day with her best bud and then celebrated in the evening with her family.  She even got to have her birthday on a holiday!

So a very special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a very special sister!

Getting ready to blow out the candles.

Here's Annaliese and Kelsey looking pretty and Joel making faces in the corner.  See, Annaliese had 4 candles left after she blew the first time which means she has 4 boyfriends.  For once that old wives' tale told the truth!!! (Just kidding sis!)

An inside picture of the yummy Torte.  The white part is the best!

And this is part of our gift to her - a new bible bag.  (You just said not on facebook!  Our blog is fair game!  Besides, you have to show off your braces-free smile.)

Construction Site Visit

A couple weeks ago, some of us from work went for a tour of the new Hockey Canada Headquarters being built right beside COP. There is some mighty construction going on there! When it’s all done, there will be 3 NHL-sized rinks, 1 Olympic/international-sized rink for Team Canada tryouts and practices, a 5-story office building for Hockey Canada, a full service high performance training facility with running tracks, equipment, doctors, physiotherapists, etc, a banquet room, and the Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame.

This is the Olympic sized rink.  There will be seats installed in there eventually.

Here's another view of the Olympic rink.  The roof will follow the smooth curvy profile on the far side of the picture.

One of the NHL rinks with beautiful timber glulam beams.

Us at center ice!

The red structure at the back is the future Hall of Fame.

I can't wait to see it when it's all done!

Cousin Fun

Last month, my 3 “little” cousins came up from Portland, OR to hang out for a week and then go to the family reunion. We saw them everyday for almost a week! One night we went to our Aunt and Uncle’s house for supper and cake to celebrate all of the cousins’ summer birthdays. They have a trampoline in their backyard and we had some great fun on it.

Leif started off the tricks.

Then Zach showed us his stuff.

Kaden did some super flips.

And Jake even got in a few tricks with a sore knee.

Some collaboration stunts.

And some double-bouncing. Leif gave these boys some serious air time!

Supper on the trampoline!

Here are the cake formalities.

Thanks for coming to see us guys! We had a ton of fun with you!