Over the Mountains and Through The Woods...

Yesterday was spent in the truck - driving, driving, driving - for 12 hours.  Over the mountains and through the woods to end up in Osoyoos, BC.   We had a very enthusiastic welcome from the Bournes when we finally got to their home.

But today's blog is about the mountains.  I took a few pictures as we drove through Jasper and the Yellowhead Pass.  Have a look:

This is near the entrance to Jasper National Park.  I love the darkness of the trees against the mountains and sky

This is in Mount Robson Park, just across the border into British Columbia.  There were a lot of low-lying clouds.  This one seems to have fallen into the valley and is just sitting there.

I turned my back to the mountain in the previous picture and this was my view.  It's difficult to get a picture of Mt. Robson when it's not hidden in the clouds.  I was lucky yesterday. We used to travel this highway a lot back in the 70s when we lived in Prince George and would travel to Edmonton a lot.  This is a very familiar scene for us.

As it got darker, we were treated to beautiful sunset colors reflected in the fluffy white clouds.  My favorite is this one with the trees  against the sky.

Another light cloud has fallen into the valley

And finally the sun is disappearing behind the hills and the rest of the trip was completed in the darkness.

Today promises to be a fun filled day with Mary, Greg, Layla and Baron, as Spirit Ridge Resort, where we're staying, hosts a Christmas fair with a hot air balloon, crafts, Christmas tree festival, finishing with a bonfire and hot chocolate with marshmallows.  Stay tuned as I try to capture the excitement of the day.

...And We're Off Again!

Tonight is our last night with Anson.  His parents and sister are coming home tomorrow.  We're going to miss being with him every day - he's so interesting to be around - never a dull moment.

I'll drop him off at the Children's Centre as usual in the morning and then Lloyd and I will head across the mountains to BC to take Christmas parcels to our daughter Mary and her family who live in Osoyoos.  It's a long drive - about 12 hours - and it'll be winter through the high passes, as it is here.  Mary and Greg usually come home to Alberta for Christmas but couldn't this year.  I'm kind of relieved at that.  I hate the thought of them making that drive in the dead of winter, with two of our grandkids in the car with them.  Better that Lloyd and I go a month early, save them a trip, and have a visit at a less hectic time.

Here's some more pictures of this week with Anson.

In the playground in the snow - that's Anson's 'you're taking another picture of me?' look.

Lovely red/green McIntosh apples - the second basket full - Anson loves them and ate several every day.

"Good morning Grammie" - that's his "say cheese" look.

Bacon, rice cakes, and raw vegetables - all dipped in ketchup

And we bundle up and head out to the Children's Center for fun and learning

I forgot to take my camera with me on some of our outings - his favorite one was last night when we went to Edo Japan at the mall. He loves eating there and can easily out-eat Lloyd and me.

It's been a fun week.

Now off to new adventures...but we'll be back.

Snow Days With Anson

This week I'm having fun with our 10-year old grandson, Anson, while his parents and little sister head off to Disneyland  during Brooklyn's school break.  They would have taken Anson but for a child with his degree of Autism, it would have been a nightmare for him - all that noise and crowds and strange sights would be unbearable for him.  He loves his Grammie though and doesn't seem to mind that I'm here instead of his family.  It was hard on Cindy to leave him though.

All bundled up at 6am Sunday. They'll be hot when
they get off the plane in LA, but it was -13C here.

Anson and I went out for a fun-in-the-snow morning today.  It had warmed up to -3C so it felt lovely out and Anson didn't want his hat.

Point a camera at Anson and he says 'cheese'

His hands really aren't that big. He wanted to wear my gloves.

 We went to a nearby school, which was closed today for the Remembrance Day long weekend.  We had to walk around the whole school so Anson could check all the doors.  I think if one of them had been unlocked he would have gone in and explored!

At the back of the school I found some icicles hanging out of Anson's reach so I broke one off for him. I don't know if he has experienced icicles before but he sure liked the one I gave him.  It tasted as good as the snow he layered on it.

There was a large ice mass hanging by the downspout.  Ice was melting and dripping into a self-made ice cup way up at the top of the fall.  Anson sat down to watch it and listen to the sound of the water dripping.  I guess maybe he did need his hat on - look how red his poor little ear is.  Oh well, next time.

He's a fun and interesting grandson to have...not too great at interpersonal relationships but here's how I know he loves me.  Several times a day he comes up to me, wraps his arm around my neck, and sings his Grammie song - 'rock-a-bye Grammie in the tree top, when the wind blows, etc'.  He's our special boy.

A Whole Week of It!

I can't believe I spent a whole week - from last Monday till yesterday - doing nothing but scrapbooking!  Mickey and I had our own scrapbooking retreat/marathon here in Edmonton (alas, not in my super scrapbooking room in Lethbridge) which ended with a weekend on-line crop.  I am all scrapped out.

I'm a slow scrapper and managed to complete 18 layouts in that time.  We didn't get an accurate count of Mickey's total but it was easily double mine.

Mickey hard at work

Here's a sample of some of my layouts

I started with pictures of my grandparents.

.
And here's a few more.

I usually don't do layouts like this but one of the on-line crop challenges was
to do one about what I like about me.  I went for the light-hearted layout.

Another challenge required participants to do a two page layout from
a provided sketch

There were a few more, but they're buried somewhere on this computer.  I think I've posted enough anyway.

It was a fun week.  I don't know when I'll bet around to scrapbooking again.  I have a busy time ahead of me for awhile.

Have a good week.

Snow Fun

I dropped in on Sara this afternoon just in time to go out in the yard with her and the kids to build a snowman.  In Alberta we get lots of snow but usually it's too cold and dry to be able to build with.  This snow, however, was heavy and wet, what we used to call 'sticky' snow back east, and perfect for packing. 

Charlie rolled the 'body' ball while Max rolled the 'head'

They were surprised at how quickly the balls grew almost too heavy to push.

Meanwhile, Sara rolled the bottom ball and then began the job of trying to lift the
center ball onto the bottom one.

Quinny thought she'd try to lift it.

Then all four of the kids tried to help Sara lift the heavy ball



Then Sara, engineering genius that she is, found a long piece of board
and she and Charlie placed one end on top of the bottom snowball and
rolled the middle ball up the ramp and onto the bottom ball.

By the time the snowman was finished, Quinn had gone inside.  The remaining
three kids sort of posed for pictures with their new friend.  Those red things that seem
to be floating in air are little mittens attached to the skinniest little tree branches
ever - all we could find for the arms.

I think Charlie and Max were quite proud of their accomplishment,
although as soon as it was done Charlie wanted to knock it over.
She was convinced otherwise.

In the meantime, our lovely Mickey (named after my friend) was enjoying
playing on the kids slide set.  She's really a fun cat to watch, so serious and
always looking for something alive that she can catch and bring home.

Surveying her domain from the top of the play set.

And that's our winter fun for today.  It's supposed to warm up enough this week for the snow to melt, but we always know there'll be more - lots, lots more.

Hallowe'en in Kindergarten

In the midst of our week-long scrapbooking marathon, Mickey and I took a break this morning to go to Kindergarten.  We each have a grandson in the same Kindergarten class so it was a fun break for us to go visit them.

The teacher dressed as a tree.

 

 

Aidan was so surprised to see me there.  He made sure I followed them as the class paraded through the whole school.  Which was a good thing because he told me when they got to each of his sisters' classrooms so I was able to take pictures of Kenzie and Sydney too, although their classes didn't dress in costumes until after lunch.

 

Aidan, the skeleton

 



Sydney

Aidan and Me

Aidan in his Class

 

Kenzie

Neither Mickey nor I were able to find orrecognize her grandson, William.  Finally, when Mickey asked the teacher where William was, she indicated the boy beside her.  Usually pale, blond haired William had completely transformed into a dark-haired, green skinned Hulk.

 

Mickey's grandson, William

Mickey and William

So that's our Hallowe'en so far and it's only noon.  Hope you're having a fun day too.  Now, back to my scrapbooking.....

Another Birthday for the Old Guy

When you're a kid you want a big birthday bash with all your friends there to help you celebrate the change in your age (and bring presents!). 

When you reach a 'certain age' all you want is a peaceful, low stress day and a quiet dinner with whatever family members are within reach.  Unless it's your 100th birthday of course - that calls for a whopping big party...but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

The other day we celebrated Lloyd's 60something birthday in a way that made him call it 'the best birthday ever'.  How did we do that?  Easy.  By staying home all day, just the two of us puttering and getting some work done,  and then going out to dinner with three daughters, a son-in-law, and four grandkids.  Then back to Amy's place for cake where we were joined by three more grandkids.  Not a full house by any means but a nice little celebration.

Emily, Lloyd, Sara and Amy

Papa's grandkids (some of them)...Sydney, Kenzie (making a face), Charlie and Max

Blowing out three candles representing past, present and future.

Lloyd and his 'baby', Emily

Amy, Tate and Curtis. 

In two years when Lloyd becomes 65 we'll try to get all 36 family members together for a really big bash, but for now, this was a lovely way for him to celebrate a non-milestone birthday.

Happy birthday Old Man!