Oh, the Snow!!

 It just doesn't want to stop!!

Maple Ridge Caribbean Festival 2014

A few years back the kids and I attended the Maple Ridge Caribbean Festival and I LOVED it!  For whatever reason though we haven't been back......could be that its always so HOT, HOT, HOT?  This year was no different but with a few hours left in the evening we thought it would be something nice to do as a family instead of sitting in the HOT, HOT house!

So glad we did.  Sun was going down, a nice breeze had started to stir and the entertainment was excellent!  

Band - Los Furios 

An excellent band with lots of fans mixed in the crowd.  People were laughing, dancing and just having a great time.  A fun band to listen to.

Band - California Beach Boys

I still haven't figured out what the Beach Boys has to do with the Caribbean BUT that was the closing act and as you can see from the picture they drew in quite the crowd!  

We sat and enjoyed the tunes and crowd for a bit and then decided to take in more of the festivities.......food and shopping......

A huge fan of the pineapple drink!

We learned that this was the 14th year that the Caribbean Festival has come to Maple Ridge.  Looking forward to the 15th!

A 'Wicked' Night Out

I'll tell you as I get older it seems harder to keep friends in the same town.  It seems everyones lives are ever changing and due to what is best for our families somebody always seems to be relocating.  However, I'm so grateful for the friendships that have continued to blossom even if there are hundreds or thousands of miles between us.

This week has been so much fun having Kris in town visiting. We've had late night chatting and will have shopping across the border in a couple days.  However, today was a fantastic day spent in Vancouver shopping on Granville Island, driving through Stanley Park, a dinner full of laughs then ending the evening with a fantastic production of Wicked!  

Kristine, Jennifer, Tricia and Adrianna

Hooray for technology and transportation that help make these friendships lasting!!

Teachers Strike = Sudden Road Trip

With Les off and the kids suddenly off due to the rotating teachers strike we decided to take advantage of the weather and family time.  A road trip to Whistler which included shopping and a picnic.

A nice reminder of just how beautiful of a place we live in....don't you agree?!

Never A Dull Moment

It seems Stanley Park always leaves us with lasting memories.....today's visit was no exception!  An afternoon spent walking the seawall (approximately 11 km's) and nearing the end of our walk we suddenly have a cop car screech to a hault in front of us as the lone officer tackles a fellow to the ground.  Lots of yelling and struggle of enforcement had us stepping back from the situation as it clearly looked like the officer was not going to be able to handcuff the fellow on his own.  Many sirens blaring in the distance getting closer as a large in stature man jumped out of the vehicle to see if he could help.  All we heard from the officer was, "back up is coming but if they don't get here soon I may need you to assist".  I'm pretty sure it was seconds later and this gentle was in position helping.  Looking around people were either gawking, taking pictures or videoing which included jumping out of their vehicles to get a closer look (we just wanted to continue on our walk but couldn't proceed).  Suddenly, dirt was flying everywhere behind us as a ghost car jumped over the curb racing across the cross to get to our location.  Two more cops to help out and suddenly 3 more cop cars were surrounding us mor cops out and running.  What a production!  We were under a bridge so the sirens echo was ear piercing.  Finally traffic redirected, the cops seeming to have the man handcuffed and foot cuffed (is that what it's called?) we felt it safe to manoeuvre our family to the other side of the street and keep walking.  For a 14 year old that was the highlight of our walk.  Of course it couldn't be the other 10 km's of enjoying the beauty around us or the quality family time!

SNOW.....Finally!

Our ONE snowfall of the year....don't blink because you just might miss it!!

An Unexpected Adventure

Being stuck on the wrong side of a bridge automatically becomes an adventure. Especially when the map in the car is 6 years old!

It was as innocent as knowing we had to kill a few hours before being able to complete the test at the hospital so why not cross a bridge and do some shopping?  Who knew that during that time the bridge would be shut down with no inclination of when it would re open.  

The joys of living in a place full of waterways and bridges!  We slowly meandered our way on the wrong side of the river to get to the bridge we could cross along with all the other people only we had a time restriction (I'm sure others did to but we REALLY had a time restriction).  

As the opening statement indicated using a 6 year old map definitely found us in an adventure we hadn't anticipated!

Kissed By the Sun

Again, lots of rain lately but today was gorgeous and we had to get out and enjoy it.  What better way than a fun game of mini golf?   So we packed up and headed out to Castle Fun Park.   Maybe we had improved?

If nothing else we've gotten good at posing!!

And ended up with some colour to cover up our pasty white skin.  Proving we'd been out long enough to be kissed by the sun!

2012 Prospera Valley FamilyFondo

Our family has signed up!!!   Check it out http://www.valleygranfondo.com/ 
(largest mass-participation cycling event the Fraser Valley of BC has ever seen).

Les and I would love to do the 80 km but I'm thinking I better not get too ahead of myself and stick with my 2012 goal of 40 km.  

We thought it would be a good experience for the kids to participate so we're signed up as a family.  They can easily do 3 km but the only other rides are the 80 km or 160 km and they are neither old enough or capable of doing that.  At least not yet.  The distance isn't a challenge but it'll be a new experience to ride with a mass group of people. 

Much of the money raised goes to the Special Olympics how fantastic is that?!!

Out and About

The kids were off, Les was off, the sun was actually shinning so it was the perfect day to head out and enjoy it all!  We decided that North Vancouver was our area of destination, not only could we go shopping at a couple specialty stores in the area but we could also accomplish another one of our 'Things to do in August' list (we got a little side tracked due to Adrianna's dislocation).

A Skinny Pig we saw at the Pet Store

With shopping completed we headed first for Lynn Canyon and it's Ecology Centre. We first checked out the Ecology Centre.........

Could it be a Smurf house??

What animal do you measure up to??

Then it was off to the suspension bridge (far from a priority for Les)!  However, when we got to the bridge it was really busy with tourists so Les decided we should walk one of the trails (anyway to procrastinate).  We started a trail that would lead us to Twin Falls Bridge and loop us around to the other side of the suspension bridge (this would mean he's only have to cross once). 

We quickly realized that with Adrianna still recovering from her knee injury there was no way she'd be able to do the trail so she and Les headed back towards the suspension bridge while Eli and I continued.  Eli and I also quickly learned that we were not equipped for this hike.  No water, plus flip flops and rain boots are not the most ideal!

A much need rest from stairs!

Mother Nature is amazing!

Finally making it to the bridge we found Les and Adrianna waiting for us on our side.  This now meant that poor Les had to endure crossing the bridge one more time!  Why he crossed in the first place is beyond me?!  A guy thing?!??

Holding on for dear life!!

Heading across for the 2nd time!

 Realizing we were all starving from our adventure in Lynn Canyon we headed to the grocery store for some snacks and head up to Cypress Mountain view point to eat and relax. 

It just didn't seem to be Les's day.  First the suspension bridge and then an incident with dog poo at the view point that had me peeing myself laughing.  He was getting kind of mad at me but it was VERY funny, although I'm sure I would have reacted with much more dramatics!
We then headed to Lighthouse Park located just off of Marine Drive in West Vancouver.  75 hectares of virgin temperate rain forest, this park is home to some of the largest Douglas Firs in Vancouver. 

In the future we'll check out both areas again but next time prepared for hiking with proper footwear, water, camera (all these pictures taken with ipod), food, etc.

Service for the Community

Well after months and months of talking, planning, organizing, etc. the day arrived!

What a fantastic couple hours this morning it was! Les was the driver while Adrianna, Eli, my girlfriend Cassandra, her daughter Savannah and myself walked around the same route we walked 6 days ago only this time to pick up the filled grocery bags of food for our local food bank. Then it was off to the church to drop off all the bags and help unload the continual stream of filled cars.  What an eye opener to see just how generous the community has been. Bags upon bags upon bags of food weighed, separated, loaded into banana boxes, loaded onto trucks and delivered directly to our local food bank.

THANK YOU to all those that donated it touched our hearts to see how willing people were to help out the less fortunate within our own community.

**UPDATE**The results are in! 153, 960 addresses visited, 14,752 hours of volunteer time, 247, 605 pounds of food collected, $672, 852 value of support raised! Thank you SO much everyone! What an amazing job!

BC Thanksgiving Food Drive

The BCTFD Project is a province wide initiative that helps feed thousands across BC who rely on food banks for their basic nutrition needs. 

This evening the kids and I along with my friend Cassandra and her daughter Savannah delivered bags to 166 homes and are looking forward to picking up the filled bags this Saturday, September 17th!  Feels great to be able to do something for our community.

Free is Our Kind of Fun

Eli the Warthog

While the kids and I were out doing some errands this morning we came across signs along the road that read 'free fair'.  We didn't think much of it until we passed the free fair and saw all the fun that was taking place and new we needed to join in!

Eli the Santasaurus

What we found ourselves at was the Northridge Carnival which is put on by the Northridge Foursquare Church.  The kids received free game tickets, free hot dogs, chips and drink, free tattoos, free face painting and played on free bouncy castles and at the wacky photo booth.  Plus lots of free fun prizes won.

Goodies the kids picked out!

Two and half hours later in the hot, hot sun we headed home with a face painted warthog that was sadly sweating away the paint and some fun prizes picked out from the games the kids participated in. 

It's fun to be spontaneous and jump into something that leaves one filled with smiles, laughter and the feeling of pure enjoyment!

Mamma Mia!

Yesterday we headed into Vancouver in the afternoon to do a little of this and a little of that before the show.  Here is just a little of what was captured on my iPod.

 While shopping we found these yummy angry birds carmel apple treats!  We didn't eat them but did have a yummy treat!!

You've got to LOVE the creativity of Robson Street!

Dinner before the show!

What we've been waiting for ALL day..........

Still impatiently waiting........

This is the second Broadway show I've been to with my children and I have to say I get choked up every time (I'm beginning to think I'm a cry baby).  Its their pure joy, the emotions they feel and express as they watch, the laughter and wonderment they experience.  I love that I can give that to them and share those moments with them!!

WICKED!

A few months back tickets were purchased for my sister Tricia, my sister-in-law Nikki and myself to attend Wicked. How could one have ever guessed that that same night would end up being Game 7 of the Stanley Cup? Vancouver against Boston IN Vancouver!! Last night this is what we experienced:

This is what we witnessed just prior to going into the theatre. Thousands of hockey fans out on the streets watching 'the game' on the big screen.

This was our whole purpose for being downtown! A fantastic show!








This is what we witnessed as we hurriedly made our way to the Skytrain to get out of the chaos that was happening!

Beautiful Jericho Beach

It's not often that we're all home on a Saturday and so we made sure we took advantage of it! Loaded all up with coats, boots, buckets, umbrellas, water and lunch we headed to a beach. We started this little adventure not knowing what beach just one that was in Vancouver and so with the GPS guiding us we ended up at Jericho Beach (I remember passing this beach when I participated in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer a couple years ago).

Breathtaking isn't it?!

Of course we just had to venture into all those tall buildings but more specifically to Robson Street - a first for the kids. I loved it, Les tolerated it and the kids got a little overwhelmed. SO much to see!

What a FANTASTIC day!

I Love To See The Temple

What still seems so hard to believe is that we can drive by the Vancouver Temple while getting errands done in Langley!

I don't think I've ever really thought of living close to a Temple. I've grown up always driving to one and it's never bothered me that's just how it always was. However, today Les and I drove by the Vancouver Temple and today and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Wow! We are approximately 20 minutes away and its so easy to add a drive by to our days activities. I am so excited for my children to have that ability a part of their lives.