Sept 2, 2020 Grouse Hunting and Berry Picking

Chilling in our new digs.

Our day outing is a grouse hunt...with a berry picking option for the non hunters. 

Cousin time.  Love it.

Huckleberries!!

We refound a lake/pond. 

Handsome guy.

Beautiful girl. Plus extra guy feeling left out. 

Since not a bird could be seen, a shooting range was set up.

The art of knocking over a pop can was perfected.

Tips were given.

Melanie pampered the young girl, who, I am sad to say, prefers her over me.

Evelyn was so pleased with her collection of berries. She washed and sorted them as soon as she got back.

While we were having fun,  Grandpa and Nathan were working on my soon-to-be hitch.

Grandma took two pellet gun-shy grandkids with another family to a different, but more juicy, berry patch.

Judging by the blue faces, the berries were delicious!

After plying this girl with more berries candies and cheese than was good for her, she condescended to allow me to offer my pinkie finger to hang on to as a stabilizer. An honour, indeed.

Sept 1, 2020 Hike near Harvey Mountain

We started the month with a beautiful hike.

Although Anne didn't approve of me yet, I carried her for part of the hike. She permitted it for a while. Unfortunately the weather was not so beautiful.  So Ed took the littles back down to warm up while those who could handle it carried on manfully. 

We spotted some mountain sheep in the distance once we hit the alpine.  Looked like snow, maybe a bit dirty for snow. And they moved. Neat!

Yup, we are wet.

Look at all the soggy people!

Even with the heavy cloud cover we were able to enjoy lovely views. 

And alpine. So wonderful to be on a mountain again!!

We didn't hang out too long for the view, as its cold standing still. And the way down was a nice easy beginner slope, just like the uphill was. But the last bit of the trail always seems the longest.  Always the van is supposed to be another corner or two down, but it is not.

After we dried up I went to pick up the girls.  They aren't great hikers. I'm glad we didn't have to deal with them on the wet hike whining all the way up and down. They appreciated their cousins very cool house.

 With indoor swings.

Plus a trapeze upstairs. 

What a treat to have a babysitter who spoils my kiddoes! Evelyn, who is often shy, seemed to feel at home. As long as the dog wasn't nearby.  ;)

Aug 30, 31 2020 Sunday & Monday

Sunday was quiet. We missed being able to go to church in person.  Got to see family, though, and go for a walk. Peaceful day of rest,  with much to be thankful for. 

Monday was more cousin time!! 

Melanie obviously was feeling at home fighting/complaining to me about sharing a swing. She probably said she didn't miss me after I did not take her side and kick her cousin out of her cousin's swing. :p

Evelyn re-bonded with Mark. She's had his picture up in her room for two years now, so she felt like she knew him.

Kick the can is an absolute must to play if there are lots of kids home. So many buildings and vehicles that make the game so interesting. 

Although  really, its kick the milk jug.

Such an easy holiday...just unwind inside when you need some downtime.  We have a whole house to ourselves! Prestocked with tous games books food  anything you need. So spoiled!!

Aug 29, 2020 Settling in, logging, visiting etc.

Matthew and Daniel got up early and did some exploring outside together.  

And inside. Grandma's sewing machine table is pretty cool.

Melanie made us fresh pancakes with huckleberries. 

 The girls check out the toys Grandma has laid out for them. 

After being cooped up for four days I jumped at an opportunity to go logging with Derek. He demonstrated his felling skills,  dropping the logs onto the road where the truck was. 

Then he cut them up. (Nathan did a bit too) The big ones got chopped, and Matthew and I loaded them onto the truck.

Derek tried to show us how he drags the trees onto the road if they only reach to the ditch. We loaded it good and full and even stacked it in the customers woodshed.  Quite a workout after all that sitting!

After cleaning up I took some kiddoes with me to say hi next door. Some of them got introduced to Wii.

And more cousins came to say hi.  And a game of kick the can was organized. 

Annie Oakley, and others, tried out some target practice after dinner. Fun!

Aug 28, 2020 Smithers!!

We woke up to a chilly morning. It didn't quite freeze overnight, but it was close.  Good thing it is our last night...our trip back will be colder, so this is a good wake up call to be prepared!

Evelyn hates layers, so she refused to put on her jacket.  And she was not happy with any of her old pants either.  Since shes worn shorts since May, I didn't know she'd be unwilling to wear any of the thicker options I brought.  Or layer anything. So she was cold.

No gloves! Good thing we had a hot breakfast planned! (As always -my travel meals are predictable)

Yeah, I'm cold.

Cold fingers! Matthew helped pack up. It helped keep him warm and got us into a warm van faster. More helpers might have sped up the process. 

Mountains in the distance!!!!

The kids liked the mountains too, hard not to with all the adult enthusiasm. 

As per tradition (second time now on our cross country road trip) we got out to do the Maligne Canyon trail. Otherwise Philip would not be happy.

Kinda annoying "trying" to physically distance on narrow trails. Wasn't too packed, but the parking lot certainly was not empty!

I did have to acknowledge that the Canyon was impressive.  But. We were delayed an hour from our destination.  

BC border!!!!! At last!

Oh, wait, it's a few more hours to go still.

We had paving construction delays that made our last "hour" of driving torture.  Well, slow, anyways. "When can we go?" "How much longer?" X4 each stop. 

But we made it!!! It sure felt surreal when we arrived.  Nathan and Melanie looked so different.  And Grandma and Grandpa too. And still the same.  Unbelievable to be there at last. Safe and nothing to delay us but a bit of paving.  Soooooo thankful! Soooooo tired.