Sage & Conrad Summer Vacation 2011

On Wednesday of last week we met Kevin, Tamara, Sage and Conrad in Merritt for dinner. After dinner we headed back to Kamloops with Sage and Conrad so they could have a summer vacation with Pops and Namma.

We survived the first night with only a little bit of separation anxiety; that is Brenda and I having our free time to ourselves……. ha! ha!

Thursday morning we headed to the B.C. Wildlife Park, this is always popular with the grand-kids. The newest display was the baby grizzly bears, the B.C. Day Weekend was the first time they were to be on display to the public. Another highlight was the Birds of Prey Show. Sage got to help feed the Barn Owl. She held a button that rang a buzzer and when instructed pushed the button and the owl flew to the sound and would find the  meat that the trainer put on a wooden post.

They really enjoy seeing the animals, experiencing the many attraction at the park and most of all riding the Miniature Train or for Sage having ice cream at the Blue Heron Cafe.

After the wildlife park we headed to Prince Charles Park and the Wading Pool. It is so much fun, as the water is warm, there is lots to do and lots of other kids to play with.

It was hard to get them to leave at 5:00 p.m. however all the other families were headed home for dinner so that made it a little easier. Everyone slept well after a very busy day.

Friday was opening day for the movie “Smurfs 2”. So after a morning spent at Riverside Park playing on the playground equipment and then at the beach, we headed off to the Cineplex Odeon. Brenda (deserves a medal for this one) took both kids to the movie which gave me a chance to get caught up on some other stuff.

After the movie it was off to Aberdeen Mall for shopping at Claires and for Conrad and Pops to ride the escalator 147 times and the elevator 52 times. He gets quite bossy when he is at the elevator controls and people aren’t moving in or out fast enough!

After dinner it was off to Music in the Park and more playground and beach time.

Saturday was going to be a very busy day. First we had a surprise of a train ride on the Kamloops Heritage Steam Train 2141.

We arrived at the station about 45 minutes early and got in the line up so we could get the correct side of the outdoor rail-car. Once we boarded a few minutes later the train ride started and took it’s regular route out to the CN Junction and then back to the Old CP Station. As we neared the CP Station the train received mail that train robbers were in the area and sure enough we went a little further and the tracks were blocked and out of the trees came three banks robbers firing their guns. They stopped the train and got aboard looking for gold. This was very exciting for the kids.

What a great morning.

After the train we headed to Riverside Park for a picnic with GGMa and GGPa. Once lunch was eaten Sage and Conrad headed for the water to make new friends and get as wet as possible.

A couple hours later we headed home, got changed and Conrad and I went over to Tom Ecclestone’s house to look at his garden train(s). Tom and Paulette have done an amazing job of setting up a very extensive train display in their back yard. 2 different layouts, many switches, bridges, waterfalls, etc…………. it was almost too much for Conrad to absorb, but he was totally enthralled.

Tom had set up Thomas the Tank Engine and Percy the Engine on the upper track and Conrad was wide eyed as he watched these two speed around the track and villages. Then their grandson Aiden got the lower track going with an old fashioned steam train complete with bell, whistle and steam sound…….. well that was just too much for Conrad, he kept running back and forth making sure everything was running correctly and all was working as it should be; when it didn’t he made sure everyone knew there was a problem.

Before leaving Tom took us to his garage which is completely filled with trains, tracks, villages, mountain displays, tunnels, bridges, etc……….. truly amazing. Conrad and I were overwhelemd with everything; what a great display and true commitment to a hobby of a lifetime.

Sunday we planned to make it a little quieter. So after a quick visit to Walmart to pick up some clothes for the kids we came home had a quick bite to eat and then headed off to Prince Charles Park and the wading pool. GGMa and GGPa met us there and we had a good visit.

After the park it was back home and some backyard fun with the canoe and water hoses. Both kids were pretty tired at the end of the day and slept very well on their last night.

Monday we headed to Merritt to meet their Dad and Mom and have a picnic in Merritt’s Rotary Park. Jeff, Lindsay and Zachary also made it over from Kelowna; Zachary got passed around so much he must have felt like an Ultimate Frisbee.

It was the end to a great summer vacation for Sage and Conrad and it was a  great family gathering.