Posts from — July 2012

Last Friday we met Tamara, Sage and Conrad in Merritt for lunch and then the grand-kids headed back to Kamloops with us for their annual “Summer Vacation at Namma and Pops. Kevin was working so he was unable to make the trip to Merritt.

Once we got back to Kamloops we immediately got the kids into their swimsuits and it was off to Prince Charles Park to cool off and enjoy the summer weather. Prince Charles Park has the only wading pool in Kamloops. All the other kid friendly parks have water spray parks. It seems that most cities are installing these as they are most likely easier to maintain. Guess what we forgot to take the camera out and take some pictures….. Oh Well!

Right after breakfast on Saturday morning we worked on a stepping stone project which involves them putting their foot into a pie plate filled with mortar and then they get to decorate around the foot impression. Each year the kids have visited they have made a garden stepping stone, it’s great to see the changes in their feet sizes each year.

After that we got ready and headed off to the Kamloops Wildlife Park. This is always a fun adventure and one of the kids favorite things to do when they visit Kamloops.

No visit is to the Wildlife Park is complete with out a ride on the park train, some climbing inside the demonstration tree and of course an ice cream or a slushee.

After a little bit of quiet time at home we headed down to Riverside Park for a late afternoon swim.

Sunday morning started with silly face pictures and lots of laughing.

Then we headed over to MacDonald Park for some playground time and a few more pictures.

Of course no group photo shot is complete without at least one “Silly Family” photo.

Later in the afternoon we made a picnic dinner which we took down to Riverside Park. This gave Sage and Conrad lots of time to play at the beach and in the water spray park.

This is the best picture we could get of Conrad he was just too busy building sand castles and playing in the water to have his picture taken.

Here is a classic picture of our little water grand-daughter under the spray stream.

Monday morning we headed back over to MacDonald Park to meet GGPa and GGMa for  picnic lunch and a visit. Unfortunately Conrad was tired of Grampa Paparazzi and was not that happy to have his picture taken.

In the afternoon it was back to Riverside park for a quick swim, a play in the water park and a snack. .

Then we got everyone packed up and drove back to Merritt to meet Kevin and Tamara for dinner, before everyone headed home. It was a busy and exciting few days.

Last weekend Brenda and I went up to Sun Peaks for a couple nights.

We stayed at Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Lodge. It’s nothing too fancy, but it is very conveniently located in the upper village and close to everything; plus the room rates are amazing at this time of the year. Also, throughout the hotel are display cases and photographs of Nancy’s many achievements world wide; Olympic Medals, World Cup Championships, Order of Canada….. etc.

However, the main reason for us going to Sun Peaks was to see a free afternoon concert on the mountain by Kevin Costner and the band Modern West.

Early Saturday morning I got up and went golfing and Brenda went exploring the Village and the housing areas around the Sun Peaks Village. We are always on the lookout for suitable accommodation for our yearly family Sun Peaks winter get-away.

Anyway, around 4:30 p.m. we decided to head down to the main stage area to watch the opening acts and wait for Kevin Costner and Modern West. We had special wrist bands that the Cahlity Lodge folks gave us which allowed us in to an area near the front of the stage. However as we got near the stage area the Extra Large Adirondack Chair in the lower village was empty. So, Brenda said “Let’s hop in here and watch the show”. Well, it worked out perfectly and we had this as our personal sitting area for the next 3 1/2 hrs.

The chair was off to the stage right side and a fair way back but it worked out perfectly as the speakers were the size of a small condominium and they were directed up the hill and not to our side. It was amazing sitting there and watching the concert and the people walk by and saying hello to many friends that were up for the show.

Occasionally a family or group would come up to us and ask if we would get out of the chair so they could take a picture. We gladly obliged, helped get folks in and out of the chair and take their group photo for them and then immediately we hopped back in to the chair.

We had a lot of laughs and had a great weekend.

Last Wednesday we took GGMA for a day trip to visit Baby Oliver.

GGPA stayed in Kamloops as Wednesday is his day to volunteer at he Red Cross. Pretty good for a person at the age of 89 to still be active and giving back to the community.

On the way to Kelowna we stopped at the road side farm to pick up some asparagus to take down to Jeff and Lindsay.

Unfortunately we did not a get a chance to see Zachary as he was at Little Owl Academy……… Oh the life of a 18 month old…. school, school, school.

Anyway, enjoy the pictures.