ROAD TRIP!

With poor Vannie still getting repairs, we decided to head out to the Okanogan for some real summer sun.  The pro to driving in a regular vehicle is that you get everywhere WAY faster, but Vannie just makes for such a good time so we forgive her for being a little doddley!

First pit stop... Golden for lunch at the diner.  This is how we felt after our little meal.  Little greasy (and too many spiderwebs) for our liking.  Back on the road!

This is at the Sky Trek beside the Enchanted Forest.  Such a cool little stop, though quite expensive.  Sam was only old enough to go on the jungle gym, which was pretty anyways!

Little man on the zipline!

One happy camper!

We arrived at our friends' house that evening and hit the pool bright and early in the morning.  Sam LOVES that they have their own pool and outlasted us all both days!

Plopping the kid into the water.  Nothing but giggles!

My best guys loving the water!

A perfect evening in the Okanogan.  Love love love the sunshine on my skin and watching my boys play in the water.  Life is good here.

We spent one morning in the orchard.  These are some serious faces as the boys raced wood chips down the pipe.  Lots of fun.

Amy and I bought the dads and kids tickets to go on a train ride.  Little did we know that the ride was 25+ mins long.  We decided to eat fudge in the shade so that we didn't miss them too much!

Pickle on a stick... hilarious!  

There is something about this photo that I just love.  Sam ended up in more than one 'twin' sandwich over our visit, but this one was my fav.  Our babies are not babies, these are little boys watching video games... sigh, where does the time go... 

We can't help it, we love the Log Barn.  We've stopped every year since we discovered it.  Gotta feed those goats!

Two happy kids!

Does it get any better than that?  I don't think so!

Sam loves tipis.  He loves to draw them, to teach people about them and on this day he got to stand in one.  He's decided we need to build one out at the acreage.  I think it's a brilliant idea!

Sam's buffalo face.

Highway pit stop at the Skunk Cabbage Boardwalk

Best buddies

This boardwalk seemed like it could use some cartwheels...

so that's just what we did.

Hey dudes, which way to the Skunk Cabbage?

Better when we're together!

Now to get this animal back in the car and hit the trail.  Quick (not at all) DQ stop for supper and home in time for bed. Love that mountain air, lush forest, sandy beaches, amazing fruit and long lost friends but there is nothing like the first night's sleep in your own bed after being away.

Thank you Amy (and the boys) for putting us up, feeding us so well and sharing your home with us.  Your friendship means the world to us.

Summer Play Dates!

Summer got away on me and I feel behind on my blogging!  Dang it!  That's ok, we were busy having fun in the sun and doing mini adventures.  Here are some of the fun dates we had earlier this August.

Happy fourth birthday Mac!  Super fun beach birthday party!  Happy little boys squirtin' water squirters!

We went to the Calgary corn maze with a girl friend from work.  Lots of fun for little people! 

This is Sam's I-successfully-completed-the-corn-maze face!  The kids maze was cool because there were 5 check points that had facepaint to dab a finger into.  Once we had all fingers painted we were done.  Love the kids maze because I could still see how to get out!!! :) 

Lovely Lindsay and Silly Sam! 

This poor kid has small town blood... milking a pretend cow made him SUPER happy!

I LOVE the bouncy hill... LOVE it!

Sam is about to get a huge double bounce!  Go Lindsay Go! 

We had our friends the Alexander's over for a backyard water playdate.  Sprinkler under the trampoline is always a big hit.

And then BAM before our eyes our sweet little boys transformed into SUPER HEROS!!!!

COLOR ME RAD 2013

Today was one of those days that I will file in my memory bank as a great day of all time.  The Color Me Rad run took myself and my friend up and down the hills of COP.  As I hated each step, I loved the experience.  Everyone, and I mean everyone, was happy.  A little color added a lot of life and the entire event was filled with smiling people.  I love runs that all different ages and body types show up for.  I love anything that has people buy into fitness and health because it's FUN!  
Jen kept her phone on her so that we could capture some key moments.  I think they are amazing shots, but honestly don't even capture how cool the day was.  There professional photographers throughout the course, so I'm hoping there are a few more pictures of us in action.  I did check if they were available yet, but oddly enough only 2 hours after the race ended they haven't uploaded shots of 22000 people... weird.

Pre-race... dressed all up in our RAD gear.  We even made our own tank tops (thanks Pinerest!)  We are soooo excited!

I knew a group of former students would be running.  I was told the time and just hoped hard enough that I actually found them in all the colour and chaos!  Hard to believe that these 'kids' were in gr 7 when I started my teaching career and are going into their 3RD years of university!!!  CRAZY!  Love them!

In the starting shoot, sooooo psyched and ready for this craziness!  I even snagged a color bomb.  This is just after Jen yelled JOCKS ROCK!  That's why I love her!

Nervous... not sure what to do with this thing!  To open it there was a little  instruction that said 'bite me'.... hehehe!

Bombed!  First time being bombed!

Mid-race!  At this point I needed a quick stop to empty a lump of pink cornstarch from my eye ball... sneaky bombers managed to get it behind my shades!  Though half blind, I was a little grateful for a pit stop after a couple massive hills!

Finish line!  Too much fun.

One of those moments that I've honestly felt as happy as I look!

My motivation to keep running was Jen being just a couple steps ahead of me and looking so strong the entire time!  RADDEST chick I know!

Happy feet.  Tired, dirty but so happy.

This day belongs on my life highlight reel.  Can't wait for next year... perhaps I'll train for it! :)

Munchkin Movie Date

Had another fun day at Munchkin Academy with Sam and his friends.  Jenny plans the COOLEST stuff and this week was drive in movie week.  The kids worked all week to fix up and shine up their rides for today.  
I got to be the crazy lady to pick up the movie snacks.  7 vanilla, 2 chocolate and 1 fruit smoothy disguised as a milkshake later I was back with everyone's orders.  The poor girls at McDonalds looked at me like I was looney, but seeing how happy the kiddos were was completely worth it!
They parked their cars and settled in wearing their comfy PJs and snuggling teddies or blankets.  A pretty cute scene.  They slurped milkshake and snacked on popcorn while watching Milo and Otis.  I remember seeing it sooo many times as a kid, so it was awesome to see these little monkeys watch it and love it just like I remember.  Such a great day, full of fun and smiles.  Another few hours to prove once again that my Sam is the luckiest little boy.

Pre-movie!  Everyone revvying their engines before the big show (or nap time!)

Cute little Connolley

Loving Milo and Otis.  I loved the constant commentary throughout the WHOLE movie!  So funny to hear their take on it, giggle at the funny animals, reenact scenes.  Loved it!

Funny faces

Hehehe!

Thank you again Jenny for all you do everyday.  I don't know how you do it, but I'm so grateful that you are so passionate and so in love with all these kids.  I've seen you in action and you are the best.  No doubt about it.