I could post just this photo alone, for the story it tells and the joy it gives me!
When we planned this new house, I envisioned a scene like this,
a place for the kids to leave their backpacks and coats.
Now, if you look closely at this photo,
you will see a boy who is very organized but who also
loves to play soccer at recess.
I love it.
They came after school on Thursday.
There was no school on Friday, so we drove into Vancouver.
We had tickets to Fly over Canada.
They were curious what this was all about.
I love the city views, the highrises, the coffee shops and the bustle.
Our show was at the Port of Vancouver in Canada Place.
Since we were a bit early, we had a snack at a coffe shop in the same building.
For the main show,
everyone gets seated and buckled into front row seats,
the lights go off and the floor moves away,
leaving us as passengers feeling like we are hanging over the landscape
inside, a silent open helicopter door.
With no photography allowed,
I have to resort to the photos in my mind's eye,
coming up right next to the snow capped Rocky Mountain peaks,
swooping down on wheat fields or hockey players on a frozen pond,
coming up right over the CN Tower and then
feeling the spray of Niagara Falls.
We took a trip to the Maritimes in Fall, the Northern Lights
and coming home, soared over the vineyards in the Okanagan.
It was a lot of fun to see the kids' expressions, taken totally by surprise,
The funny thing is that even though we never move,
the feeling of movement is so real, that one tends to lean
to avoid hitting what is coming up.
We stopped off for a walk in Stanley Park near by,
then some fast food and home, trying to avoid the traffic rush.
On Saturday Evy joined the threesome.
They made slime.
Not much to say about that.
We had to have German pancakes for lunch.
We played a lot of scrabble, and the boys played hockey.
We watched some fun animated movies,
which seem to have gotten better. =)
A lot of sweet/salty popcorn and strawberries got eaten.
But we also had some real meals.
Sunday morning the kids got up and dressed for church before I was out of bed.
Since their family usually attends the earlier service,
Jade kept telling us we are going to be late.
Meanwhile we were quite relaxed.
Teddy had fun showing us the moving reptile she made.
In the afternoon Jade wanted to bake cupcakes. So we did.
This fun and bubbly girl is eight today.
She has a lot of personality and brings us much joy and laughter!
While waiting for Mom and Dad and Lacey to come home,
Papa showed those who were interested how to play pool.
This old pool table that their dad used to play is making a comeback.
There was a joyful reunion and Faspa and stories.
And talk about stories, there were lots.
The kids are at an age where they love to hear about their dad.
Jade went as far as to exclaim,
"I don't know what would I do without you!
My dad never tells us stories about when he was a kid!"
And there you have it!
Being grandparents is the best.
