Our summer is filled with impromptu moments of fun. Last week we decided to meet our friends Sadie & Taylor, and their beautiful pregnant mommy, Staci at Hume park. The original intent was to pick blackberries, but the playground was more enticing.
After our picnic lunch we noticed a craft table set-up by the spray park. The kids had fun painting and decorating batons in the sunshine.
It is one of the highlights of our summer: the annual Pickleball Tournament that our friends, the Buzza's, host. Many of my friends have no idea what I'm talking about when I tell them we're off to play pickleball... so here's a short clip with some pickleball play. This year I played with my running buddy, Lesley, for the Women's Doubles, and my dear hunky-husband for the Mixed Doubles. We didn't do as well as past years, but it is still fun!
Mark's older brother Blake just moved from LA to Seattle area. They popped up for a quick visit last weekend, and I caught this shot of the two of them snuggling up on the couch. Isn't that sweet?
My dad decided it was time to do some family portraits - it's been awhile since we got pictures done of my side of the family. Now that our neighbour, Sherri Morrison, is a photographer, we hired her to do the deed. Unfortunately, the evening we set aside to head to Rocky Point park, it was a little wet - a Scotch Mist as dad would say.
I'll upload one of Sherri's shots soon, but here's my snapshots of our evening. Sometimes it's just fun to watch the adults trying to get a good photo of the kids!
Sherri was great, and it was a treat to have her sister Janna as our stylist/assistant/kid wrangler/umbrella holder too!
Why do we live in the Vancouver area? Because of beautiful summer nights like this one. Four nights every summer, people gather around the edges of English Bay to watch the Symphony of Fire. There are hundreds of boats of all sizes on the bay, and beaches are crowded and streets for blocks around downtown are closed.
We took the kids down around 7:00, played on the beach with our friends, the Roberts, and at 10:00 the magic began . 400,000 people are down on the Bay, and it is so quiet as everyone is listening to the music as the fireworks are set off in precise choreography. It is one of my favourite things about summer!
We spent 2 weeks with Mark's parents in Shawville. Mark grew up on a dairy farm, which his oldest brother, Grant, now operates. The original idea was to have Christmas in July, but with Mark's brother Blake unable to attend, we settled for a big birthday bash of July birthdays. For a few days the house was full as Mark's sister Gayle from St John, and Nancy, Brian, Gracie & Griff from Seattle were also there. It was great fun: a good balance of activity and rest. The kids had a great time playing with their cousins; I think Hannah and Caleb liked having 4 cousins from the West visit. Joshua did not want to leave... the farm life (at least playing on the farm) captured his heart!
July 13, Mark's company took the whole family to Penticton Lakeside Resort for the weekend. It was a great start to our holidays! Mark golfed his best game ever, an 80!
The kids and I enjoyed the Saturday market and the beach. We rented a canoe for a nice paddle on Okanagan Lake. Mark's co-workers and families all met at the Heritage Inn in Naramata for a lovely supper. (I'm still thinking about the Creme Brulee!)
Before we left town, we enjoyed a float down the canal that joins Okanagan to Skaha Lake and a round of Mini-Golf. Mmm... wish we could have more weekends like this one!
Our summer is filled with impromptu moments of fun. Last week we decided to meet our friends Sadie & Taylor, and their beautiful pregnant mommy, Staci at Hume park. The original intent was to pick blackberries, but the playground was more enticing. 
I'll upload one of Sherri's shots soon, but here's my snapshots of our evening. Sometimes it's just fun to watch the adults trying to get a good photo of the kids!
Why do we live in the Vancouver area? Because of beautiful summer nights like this one. Four nights every summer, people gather around the edges of English Bay to watch the Symphony of Fire. There are hundreds of boats of all sizes on the bay, and beaches are crowded and streets for blocks around downtown are closed.
July 13, Mark's company took the whole family to Penticton Lakeside Resort for the weekend. It was a great start to our holidays! Mark golfed his best game ever, an 80!
