Okanagan

Toward the end of July it was off to BC for a final holiday with Carrie's family before she went back to work full-time. It was disgustingly hot out there, but at least it wasn't humid. Unfortunately the heat made people want to go to the beach all the time. (I have yet to understand humans and their ridiculous beach urges. Perhaps I'm my own species?)


The whole clan (her side, not mine) showed up and spent a few days together. Mom arranged the every-few-years photo shoot, which is a handy way of making the three of us get a family picture taken for once.


The gang.


A few hikes, some beach time, a round of golf for the guys, and the family photo shoot were a few things to keep the crowd busy. A highlight of one hike in a nearby park was a rattlesnake hiding beside the trail. This experience was, of course, best enhanced by poking it with a stick. It gave us the obligatory rattle and slithered away to find a better place to nap.


August is a time of a zillion birthdays in the family, so we took the opportunity to have a multi-kid party.


Presents abounded...


...as did photos of one-year-old eating birthday cake...

"So... why is my shirt off?"


"Mmmmmm... chocolatey bliss!"


She didn't actually get that dirty. Of course we don't see how much of the cake she's sitting in. Plenty was found (uneaten) in and around her diaper.


Our little one-year-old enjoyed her cousins (this wasn't always reciprocated).


Like her old man, she is not a morning person.


But once those eyes are open, you just get lost in those dark pools.


When the siblings left, Carrie and I did plenty of activities with Dad, like kayaking and hiking. We'd certainly be whipped into shape if we lived nearby.


Carrie and I headed to Kelowna one day for a winery tour. We hit up Mission Hill winery and did a tour along with some wine tasting.


An avid wine disliker, even I participated in the tasting. (Still didn't like it.) Here's me practicing my snob look.


Our time there came to an end all too quickly. And of all the days to fly home, we chose Lily's first birthday; not the best way to celebrate, but she did okay.