What I Did On My Summer Vacation (A Composition in Six Parts)

Part 6: The Lang's Visit Us in Beaumont

We had to hurry home because the Lang's were coming to visit us! We arrived about 11:00 p.m. Wednesday, which gave me just a few hours to sort the mail & restock the fridge & get ready for the Lang's arrival at dinnertime the following day! Andy had to work part of the time that the Lang's were here, but Dan helped him chop up a trailer so Andy could have the afternoons off to continue our "vacation at home". We BBQ'd the first night they were here, then spent the following

day at West Edmonton Mall's waterpark. The following day Emma stayed with me while the Lang family & Janelle, my medical doctor wannabe child, went to visit the hospital where Josh Lang was born. Andy, Calvin, Emma & I then caught up with the others at the Alberta Legislature Building, where we waded in the public pools & had a picnic.

Here's Calvin with Ethan & Gabe, and Josh.

Love that picture of Calvin!

The two girls -- Janelle & Emma.

Our friends Jenn & Dan!

After one more visit to the mall (I stayed home & played with mine Emma), the Lang's packed up their RV & headed south.

And then vacation was over. Time to clean the house & go back to work.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation (A Composition in Six Parts)

Part 5: Abbotsford again, & Salmon Arm

We headed back to Abbotsford on Sunday, where we picked up Calvin from Logan's house & went back to the Depner-Lang's for one more night. I got in a little more time with "mine Emma" -- one more visit to House of James!

Then it was off to Salmon Arm, where we stayed 2 nights with Shawn & Joanne Greek. We brought Gabe Lang with us. We got there just in time to celebrate Shawn's birthday. That's James Greek next to Andy in the photo, and Gabe in the front row giving the party a two thumbs up!

Joanne and her sons James & Brendan work at the same hotel in town, so we were able to use the hotel's outdoor pool. Ah, refreshing! But after a couple of nights playing cards, it was time to head home to Alberta.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation (A Composition in Six Parts)

Part 4: Victoria

The day after our family reunion Calvin left for Bible camp on Vancouver Island with his good friends Logan & Gabe.

Andy, Janelle & I headed for the island too. Andy had a trailer to chop up in Victoria, and Janelle & I went on a "real" vacation -- sleeping in, eating out, visiting all the tourist traps, shopping, lounging by the pool, having manicures & pedicures....Seven days in my favourite city!

Here's the Lafarge cement plant where Andy chopped up a trailer. I took this photo from a foot ferry that Janelle & I took to a historical house.

Here is my beautiful daughter having afternoon "tea" on the veranda of the Empress Hotel, and posing in front of Craigdarroch Castle. In between is a photo of our most exotic meal -- an appetizer of Louisanna alligator! It was really, really good!

Thursday Andy's brother Chris & his wife Melody came over for the day. Andy took the day off work and we went to the Royal B.C. Museum. The Titanic display there is amazing. We wandered around the inner harbour and ate dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory.

Andy, Janelle & I ended our trip to the island by taking in the firework display at the Butchart Gardens on Saturday night.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation (A Composition in Six Parts)

Part 3: Small Family Reunion

We had a pool party at Andy's sister, Melody's, house in Coquitlam with all of the Smalls that live in B.C. - plus two nieces who live in Alberta but came out for the reunion! That's Melody & her husband George.

This is Andy's sister, Barb, and in the pool are cousins Ryan, Luke, & Calvin. That's Calvin & Ryan below. Looks like Calvin got a sunburn!

What I Did On My Summer Vacation (A Composition in Six Parts)

Part 2: Abbotsford

We spent the next few days in Abbotsford, enjoying the Lang-Depner "hotel", which included an entire 3 bedroom house to ourselves, and use of a swimming pool! Thank you, Judi, Dan & Jenn!

Janelle took the camera to a sleepover with 4 of her school friends from Mouat Secondary. These are just a couple of the great photos she took.

In the meantime, the Langs graciously opened their home & pool to about a dozen of Calvin's friends. They spent all day playing in the pool and in the Lang's big backyard. It was a very special day for Calvin. I got to visit with Daryl Cote, the mom of Calvin's friend Logan. She even bought Starbucks frappaccinos for Jenn Lang & I! Now THAT'S a good friend! Thanks, Daryl!

Because Janelle had the camera, Daryl & Jenn took photos at Calvin's party for me. I'll post some when I get them.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation (A Composition in Six Parts)

PART 1: The Journey from Alberta to B.C.

We travelled to Kamloops the first day and spent the night with the Denbrabers. They were awesome hosts, and it was refreshing to visit with them. Thanks for your hospitality, Len & Leanne!

The next day we continued on to Abbotsford, stopping on the Coquihalla to take these lovely photos. The odd green one? Those are tadpoles that Calvin found in a pond!

July long weekend

Canada Day we went to church in the morning. Afterward Andy said aloud what I was feeling: ECC feels more like "family" every week. We really love our church.

One great thing about where we live: fireworks! The kind you set off yourself. They're available for sale year-round. We aren't supposed to set them off within town limits, although the town was pretty lenient about it on Canada Day. When we get our own acreage outside of town, we're having fireworks every month! Of course, we took advantage of these great laws and purchased a bunch of fireworks on Sunday afternoon.

One not so great thing about where we live: it doesn't get dark enough for fireworks until after 11:00 p.m.! The town fireworks started at 11:00, and the sun was still setting behind the fireworks. The sky was light blue with yellow on the horizon. We took Calvin's friend, Conner, with us to the park where the town set off their fireworks. The fireworks were, um, well, very small-townish!

After the town's fireworks, we went to a school yard and set off our own display. We're pretty sure some of ours were better than the town's!

Holiday Monday we did LOADS of gardening and painted the first coat on the garage door. I'll have photos of that later.

We're off on a holiday to B.C. tomorrow. Will blog later!