Trip to Nova Scotia

 Loved Nova Scotia!  More details coming soon......

Hirtle's Beach, Nova Scotia

Crooked Lake, Italy Cross, Nova Scotia

Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia

Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia

Les at Port Prim Lighthouse, Digby, Nova Scotia

Jen at Port Prim Lighthouse, Digby, Nova Scotia.  COLD and WINDY!

Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia

Storm Chips - where all 4 flavour's are in one bag!

Les Presents Save-On-Foods Scholarship on Behalf of His Father

 

My FIL was unable to make it in person to present a scholarship in his name. Guess who stepped in and presented on his behalf…..

Fly Hills Adventures

On our way back home, we decided to drive up Fly Hills.  I've often heard the Haddad family talk about Fly Hills but had never been. On Fly Hills, you can look down at Salmon Arm and into the valley.  Such beauty!

Cherry Picking

A visit with Les' parents and we decided to do some cherry picking at Tasty Acres in Salmon Arm. Yummy!!!!! 

Guess whose bucket was 4lbs and whose was 2lbs?!

Mount Woodside Adventures on Father's Day

Unusual in our household to have Les home on a Sunday AND on Father's Day! Got to spend time doing one of the things he loves to do.... adventures on the backroads (FSR). We spent the day on Mt. Woodside. This is between Mission and Agassiz where you'll often see hang gliders taking off. The road was rocky, dusty and steep but the views unbelievable (Fraser Valley views, Harrison Lake Views, etc.)!

Agassiz to the far left

Fraser Valley

Stacey Lake

Harrison Lake

Back Road Adventures on the Lost Lease Forestry Service Road

We headed out on the logging roads today!  Checked out Sylvester Road / Lost Lease Forestry Service Rd. just passed Mission.

Salisbury Lake

 

Stave Lake in the distance

Logging Road Adventures - Norrish Creek Forestry Rd.

 Back on Norrish Creek Forestry Road checking out some different areas.  We truly do live in a beautiful part of the world!!

Crafting

 

Gifts for co-workers can be hard work - committed myself to always gift homemade. So happy with how this years Christmas craft turned out! Frames are thanks to Les' woodworking skills!!

As it Should Be.

Les and Eli have a concert tonight with the Maple Ridge Community Concert Band.  Unfortunately, I was unable to attend but received an email with the above picture and subject line: As it Should Be.  

How I love my tuba players!!

Skipping School........

This is what happens when you skip school to help dad out at work!!!

Eli's new look!

Just for Eli and Les

Being blessed with two tuba players.  Yes, you read that right!  This cracks me up!

The Inexperienced Mixed With The Experienced

MRCB & MRSS Elementary Bands

Tonight the Maple Ridge Concert Community Band was the guest band at an elementary school Christmas Concert.  For the final performance the two bands performed together (pictured above).  Pretty awesome seeing some very young, inexperienced musicians perform with some older, very experienced musicians.  Such a treat to listen to!  

Note:  Both Adrianna and Les performed with MRCB.  Adrianna is pictured to the far right on her bari sax while Les (on tuba) didn't make the shot (he's probably right behind her).  Yes, they are part of the older, experienced musicians! :)

Our music season is officially 

in full swing. 

It's going to be a crazy but 

amazing year!!

That About Sums It Up!

The Book of Mormon 30 Day Reading Schedule

Tonight for Family Home Evening we discussed starting a new family scripture reading schedule. After much discussion we decided that as a family we'll start reading the Doctrine and Covenants.  Adrianna and Eli decided they'll continue to read the Book of Mormon for their personal scripture study.  

While I was looking for a reading schedule chart to help the kids out I came across a Book of Mormon 30 Day Reading Schedule and found myself pausing.  I've NEVER read the Book of Mormon in 30 days.  It's always taken months with lots of studying, pondering and I'll admit a few missed nights.

I then found a .pdf document titled All the Book of Mormon Page Titles   and found myself rather excited to find such a gem.  So between starting the schedule and the chance to record page titles while reading I'm pretty excited about my personal scripture study!  

MRCB's Pops in the Park aka Twilight Tuesday's

Prospera Valley MedioFondo 2014

Today Les biked solo in the Prospera Valley MedioFondo (88km bike ride) but we were there to cheer him across the finish line (even if we did just about miss him)!!  He did awesome blowing his time out of the water from last year.  We're so proud of his accomplishment and example of hard work and dedication. Way to go Les/Dad!!

just crossed the finish line

check out the finishing time!

5 Siblings, 3 Spouses & 10 Sweet Children

We been fortunate this weekend to have my sister Tamsen and her family in town visiting from Minnesota. (SO looking forward to their move in the spring which will mean we'll all back living in the same province after all these years!!)

This meant a weekend of family!  Last night was adult time - dinner out while the kids hung out at the house. Glad to report both parties had lots of fun together!  Today was spent visiting, playing, bowling, eating, visiting, eating, playing..... you get the picture.

Speaking of pictures we did get some.......

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!