A log about those Silly Folks and their Escapades

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.

Oliver Rae Sill arrived into the world at Kelowna B.C. on June 23rd at 1:05 p.m. weighing 8lbs 3oz.

Brenda and I were on call waiting for a baby to arrive. The due date was actually June 29th, although all the indicators were that this baby was going to arrive early.

We had our bags packed and were ready to go at a moments notice. It was kinda funny because on Saturday morning we had gone for a walk and then decided to come back home and put another coat of paint in the basement suite kitchen. We jokingly said that we would probably just open he paint can and get started and Jeff and Lindsay would call and sure enough that’s what happened.

Once Jeff called we hopped in the car and headed for Kelowna so they could head to the hospital and we would look after Zachary.

At first Lindsay thought it was a false alarm, but after a half hour she knew it wasn’t and the baby was on the way. The contractions were coming faster so Jeff called their friends who lived near by to come over until we arrived. It was good thing they did as Oliver arrived at 1:05 p.m. and we did not get to Jeff and Lindsay’s house until 1:30 p.m.

A little later in the day Jeff came home for a visit and Brenda and I went to the hospital for a very short visit.

When we held Oliver he was only 4 hrs old and we both remarked that the last time either of us held a baby this new was when we held Jeffrey as a newborn.

Jeff, Lindsay and Oliver finally arrived home on Sunday afternoon and Zachary is adapting very well.

We are truly blessed. We now have 4 wonderful grandchildren?

Welcome to the family Oliver.

Last Saturday (June 16th) we drove down to Merritt to see Sage in her first swim meet since she has started with the Princeton Swim Club.

GGMa came along for the day and GGPA stayed at home.

Well, it was quite the experience. Swim Meets and Swim Clubs have their own little culture going on. From the different Clubs set up under team tents, to how they get ready for the various swimming heats, etc.

Sage did very well for her first time. She freaked out a little bit in her first event when she saw the that the pool got deeper where the bottom tiles changed color, but she finished her first race and won a prize and a ribbon.

Of course Tamara and Kevin were involved with helping out with getting kids ready for their next event and timing races. So, this gave us a chance to take Conrad for a walk downtown and give him a bit of a break and find a treat.

You have to appreciate the fact that Princeton has a shorter outdoor pool and their swim club has only been active for about one month. Where Clubs like Kamloops and Kelowna swim year round in full size pools.

For lunch we headed back to where Kevin, Tamara, Sage and Conrad were camped for the weekend. We got to see their new trailer that they recently bought and enjoyed a picnic lunch with them.

After lunch it was back to the pool for Sage’s final race which was a Medley. There were four teams in this heat the the Princeton group almost got third place. In the end it was great to see everyone and to spend a bit of time with them.

Last Sunday we met Jeff, Lindsay, Zachary and Willow in Merritt for lunch at the Home Restaurant. After lunch and a visit Jeff and Lindsay headed off to Vancouver for work and we headed home to Kamloops  with Zachary and Willow for their spring vacation.

We have been having so much fun and Zachary has decided the favorite spot for his water cup is on the stool near the front door.

Monday morning we went out to GGPa’s and GGMa’s for a quick visit. GGMa is off to England for 3 weeks with Dean, Judy and Judy’s mom, Betty.

In the afternoon we worked in the backyard picking weeds. Zachary carried the bucket that is almost as big as he is.

Monday was also designated “Silly Hat Day”; if you didn’t have a silly hat you couldn’t be in the picture.

On Tuesday Zach woke up a little early which worked out well since we were going to go to the airport to say goodbye to GGMa as she headed off to England.

Tuesday afternoon we did a little shopping and inside stuff since it was kind of rainy. Zachary did get a new Sun Hat and then he was a crazy driver of the shopping cart complete with engine noises. But he was such a good guy that he also got a helium balloon from the ladies at Save-On.

On Wednesday Willow decided that we needed to be awake at 5:00 a.m. and was full of mischief………… however after she settled down we were able to stay in bed till a little after six and Zach slept in till 7:20. After breakfast it was off to Costco. Then some much needed house sweeping….. it’s so great to have a helper.

Wednesday afternoon, after Zach’s nap we headed off to Pioneer Park and from there we walked over to Riverside Park. It was great to get out and Zachary enjoyed the visit to the park and he really enjoyed it when we fed the geese.

Thursday afternoon we drove back down to Merritt to meet Jeff and from there they headed home to Kelowna. This picture was taken by Jeff at the Merritt Tourist Rest Stop.

Last weekend we headed to Princeton to look after Sage and Conrad while Tamara and Kevin headed off to Vancouver to go in”The Sun Fun Run”.

Like dough-heads we forgot our camera at home so unfortunately never captured any pictures from the fun times on the weekend.

We arrived just after lunch and after a quick “hello” and “goodbye” to Kevin and Tamara, they were off to Vancouver and we were off to pick up Sage at her school.

There is definitely a protocol when picking up kids at the school. Parents line up in the hallway just past the library and for few minutes it is relatively peaceful and quiet and then all of a sudden the doors fly open and it is chaos….. we survived!

Once we got home it was off to Lions Park. Lions Park is Sage’s most favorite park in Princeton. We and she are not quite sure why, but she absolutely loves it. After the park it was time for dinner and then a movie and bedtime.

Saturday morning the kids watched the rest of the movie and then it was time for a quick lunch and Conrad was off to a birthday party at the Bowling alley.

Once we dropped off Conrad we headed to the local coffee shop for Namma and Pops and Sage got an chocolate ice cream sundae from D.Q. Then it was back to Lions Park before we picked up Conrad.

Once we picked up Conrad we headed for the local water-park and playground which has lots of fun stuff to play on, climb on and play hide and seek. Sometime during the playing around Pops was designated a “Tickling Grizzly Bear”. Part of this required Pops growling very loud causing the park neighbors to head inside their houses shaking their heads and Sage and Conrad to scream and giggle with delight. There is absolutely nothing more heart warming than hearing grand-kids giggle and laugh and having fun just being kids.

After a bit it was back home for dinner, another movie and then off to bed.

Sunday was little more laid back with a walk to the water park, off to Coopers to pick up something for dinner and then an afternoon movie. A note on Coopers in Princeton – we stopped by there three days in a row and each time the kids very politely asked for a free cookie at the bakery and each time they tried something different; the bakery staff at Coopers is excellent. Also, be aware of crazy kid buggy cart drivers they spin in circles, try to crash into things and cause grand-kids to laugh uncontrollably which causes smiles on most of the shoppers and staff.

Just as we were finishing dinner Kevin and Tamara arrived. They did very well at The Sun Fun Run, had a great weekend together in Vancouver but were happy to be home to see the kids.

This week we have had our grand-daughter Sage here for a visit…… what fun!

Last Sunday we drove down to Merritt with GGMa and met Tamara, Kevin, Sage and Conrad for lunch at the The Homestead Restaurant….. food is always very good there. Unfortunately GGPa could not make it as he is still getting over a bad cold he has had.

We have been keeping very busy with lots of activities and lots of fun stuff.

From making Jello.

To swimming at the Canada Games Pool.

Lunch at GGMa’s and GGPA’s.

To shopping and watching movies.

Wearing funny hats.

Feeding ducks, geese and seagulls at Riverside Park.

And then a very special event, we all got dressed up and went out for dinner to Pete’s Pasta.

It’s been so much fun having Sage visit. Special times with a special grand-daughter.

On Tuesday afternoon we headed out to GGMa’s and GGPa’s to see our 1 month old grand-niece; Amelia McPherson.

Dean (Brenda’s brother) drove down on Sunday from Prince George with Sabrina and baby Amelia who was born on February 10, 2012. Mike (Sabrina’s fiance) arrived by Bus midnight on Monday; so it was good to see them all.

Amelia is adorable and gorgeous and a perfect little baby girl. Grampa Mason (Dean) is obviously enthralled to be a grand-parent.

Brenda was able to hold Amelia for quite a while until she got hungry and Sabrina had to go feed her. I did not hold her or get to close to anyone as I am still getting over this nasty cold. In fact GGPa also had a very bad cold so he kept his distance as well; but GGMa was more than happy to take his turn holding baby Amelia.

Sabrina and Mike are definitely proud but somewhat tired parents.

Sunday was very special day; it was Conrad’s 4th Birthday.

The condo was decorated in balloons and streamers and Conrad was very excited and surprised by the decorations.

Lots of presents were opened, there was a game of “pin the tail on the donkey” and then we all sang Happy Birthday as the birthday cake with 4 candles was brought out. Namma did a great job with the cake and the party.

One of the very special presents Conrad received was a hand made quilt from his Namma. It was a train theme and she did an amazing job on it; he was very excited about this present.

Unfortunately I was very sick and didn’t even get out of bed till early afternoon just before we took the annual Family Photo and right after that Kevin, Tamara, Sage and  Conrad headed for home.

Saturday was skiing day for Kevin and Jeff. Plus it was Sage’s first time to take a ski lesson.

After Kevin and Jeff headed off Brenda and I and Tamara, Sage and Conrad took the car down to the village so we could get Sage set up for her private ski lesson.

Sage’s instructor was a young Aussie girl and the two of them really connected and within 1 hour she had Sage skiing down the hill by herself full of confidence. Sage did awesome.

We all returned to the Condo for lunch and made plans to meet Kevin around 3:00 p.m. so he and Sage could ski down a couple runs together. Sage did outstanding and was so excited to be able to head home to tell all her friends about her skiing adventure.

It was great afternoon out for everyone and we all enjoyed our time on the hill and in the village.

Later that afternoon I was starting to feel like I was getting a cold and right after dinner I headed to bed and left the grownups to decorate the Condo for Conrad’s birthday on Sunday.