I really don't like store-bought jam and I complain about it a lot, so this year I decided to stop whining and just make my own. Mmmmm... homemade strawberry jam... I am not disappointed.
For Canada Day, we went down to Mt.Baker and did a hike and an overnight camping trip to see how the boys would do, hiking and tenting. It was a great success, actually! We couldn't do the hike I planned since the road up there was closed,
so we did a mild one that kept Jeff and I trying to keep up with Callum most of the way (he probably hiked over 3km). But the boys especially loved exploring the camp. Max is just about the perfect age not to take camping, since he was most intrigued by the raging river next to us and the campfire - but we managed to keep him alive.
Oh ya. Jeff introduced me to "Spider Dogs", which he is appalled that I hadn't heard of them before. That is what I am roasting in my left hand.
Jeff is also the best marshmallow roaster I have ever met, hands down! Evenly golden on all sides and gooey in the center, so he made perfect Smores that actually melted the chocolate. Impressive.
It did end up being a little colder than we hoped, so we drove back and found Vancouver to be warm and sunny, so we went to the beach and had a BBQ, including corn on the cob for Callum and Max.
The boys crashed early tonight so I thought it would be a good opportunity to post some of the many awesome things we've been doing and the accompanying photos, but then my far-away friend gave me a call, so you get one day at Granville Island instead.
It was another one of those weird weather days that miraculously worked in our favour, as it started out just O.K. out, but then the sun perked right up to allow the boys to get wet at the waterpark without going completely numb.
Waiting for the Ferry.
The arcade upstairs at Kids Only Market (I love this photo, though, don't worry, I don't actually let my 3 and 1 year olds play arcade games).
Callum obviously doesn't mind that I refuse to put money in the car in order for him to have fun.
The waterpark.
And, of course, some frozen treats before heading back home.
When I'm not feeling guilty about not getting to bed, I will update you on my amazing jam-making abilities, about our decision to go house-hunting in White Rock, about our fun Canada Day camping trip to Mt.Baker and about Max's skill at eating corn-on-the-cob with only 7 teeth.
I guess the photo above demonstrates that we spent way too much time indoors yesterday. That, and the fact that we also went swimming (which is something I usually do on crummy weather days), goes to show my disappointment in summer thus far. Oh well.
I seem unable to do one post per week anymore, but I guess that means we are busy doing better things than sitting at home in front of a computer, right? Well, not necessarily, as I use any "free" time I have to work on my parents house, but there have been some good times outside too.
A couple weeks back, Jeff participated in the Sun Run, but he was so fast that he had already passed our place by the time we got down there. The boys had fun in the sun anyway.
I managed to get away for the long weekend to spend it with my sisters in Kamloops (Krista is judging there this week for the Gymnastics Championships, so we met her there), while Jeff did some bonding with his sons (and some driving around North Van to see where we want to live!).
Jeff and I are currently in the process of trying to choose the better of 2 goods, and we're really not sure how to make the decision. All I know is that Callum is currently registered for 2 different Preschools and on the wait-list for 2 others, since who knows where we will be this September, and if I don't register now, he will be out-of-luck.
For Canada Day, we went down to Mt.Baker and did a hike and an overnight camping trip to see how the boys would do, hiking and tenting. It was a great success, actually! We couldn't do the hike I planned since the road up there was closed, so we did a mild one that kept Jeff and I trying to keep up with Callum most of the way (he probably hiked over 3km). But the boys especially loved exploring the camp. Max is just about the perfect age not to take camping, since he was most intrigued by the raging river next to us and the campfire - but we managed to keep him alive.
Oh ya. Jeff introduced me to "Spider Dogs", which he is appalled that I hadn't heard of them before. That is what I am roasting in my left hand.
Jeff is also the best marshmallow roaster I have ever met, hands down! Evenly golden on all sides and gooey in the center, so he made perfect Smores that actually melted the chocolate. Impressive.
It did end up being a little colder than we hoped, so we drove back and found Vancouver to be warm and sunny, so we went to the beach and had a BBQ, including corn on the cob for Callum and Max.
