Family Reunion

We went to Terratima Lodge for father's day and a family reunion with the Baker/Blain family. There was one main lodge and there were a lot of bedrooms in it. There was also a games house where all the grown-ups played poker. I played croquinot and pool with Dad there. I met some cousins and played with Xavier and Kailen. Instead of breakfast and lunch we had brunch on father's day.
We have a BIG family!
Nathan

Kootenay Plains

Kootenay Plains was a great campground. We were there on a Pembina Institute camping trip. Kootenay Plains is in a valley in the mountains. It took four hours to drive there. Lots of kids came including Jessica, Eric, and Logan (Eric's friend). There was a PIAD-a-thon which was eight games that you played in teams of 4 or 5. Nathan's team won. The games included frisbee tossing, basketball shooting and knocking wood over by throwing wood at it (that game was called "George").
I caught 15 crickets in the first day there. The next day I caught 20, including a big one that could fly.
We went on a LOOOOOOONNNNGG hike to Siffleur Falls. They were amazing. Even though by the time we got back I still wished we had stopped at the bridge. I was pooped. It was still hot.
That night we played Ultimate Frisbee. It was a very fun game. Even though I didn't get included much in it. We also skipped with a huuuuge rope. I was one of the best skippers there.
Next weekend we are going camping with a family of friends.
Emma

"Summer Colours"

Art by Emma

Home on the range

We haven't been blogging since returning to Alberta. One reason is that living out at the farm means no internet or phone. The chance to live simply (conserving water as we have to haul drinking water from the city, doing simple farm chores, and being 'unplugged') is a natural fit with homeschooling. The kids and I have days where we follow our own rhythms and move from reading to birdwatching to chores to games to reading! Chris bought me a hammock at Granville Island in Vancouver and so swinging in the hammock with a good book is a favourite activity for all of us. Life is sweet. We are enjoying looking for the Great Grey owls that come and hunt in our pasture each evening. The small song-birds are amazing this year too. We've spotted white-crowned sparrows, wrens, phoebes, warblers and even hummingbirds. There are also lots of woodpeckers (mostly hairy), some flickers, and many tree swallows around and about. Late spring in Alberta is a wonderful time for listening to birds as they mate, build nests and defend territory.
We've had to do a lot of driving since coming home. Chris' commute from the farm to the office is LONG - he drives the truck to the Dalhousie C-train (40 min on a good morning), then takes the train downtown (20-20min). Often he doesn't arrive back at the cabin until 7pm. It's worse than the Maple Ridge to Vancouver commute! Which is why we are now enjoying spending weeknights at my Dad's house in the city. Dad is at his cabin in Saskatchewan and we are enjoying having a home with laundry, showers, internet and proximity to friends and errand locations!
I'll leave it at that and let the kids say a bit more about the special things we've done since coming home.
Juleta

Pictures of a great day with friends

These were taken at Third Beach in Stanley Park on April 30, 2009. Maddie and Gregor (and their parents) spent a great day with us!