The summer

Fall is well into gear, and snow is just around the corner, so I feel the pressure to blog about our summer. We spent some weeks in BC, even venturing up to Smithers for the first time in forever.

We found a lovely house-sitter/dogsitter so we didn't have to worry about a thing back home. Off we flew, with two kids for the first time. Nora did okay; it helped that when she started her loud squawking on the plane, some other kid was louder and more obnoxious and got everyone's attention.

In Vernon we rented a car. Getting rides with others may be a thing of the past with our huuuge family, and besides, we had a fair bit of driving to do. The rental was the single largest expense of the trip, and including gas accounted for close to half of our trip cost.

We got to relax in Vernon for all of 12 hours after landing in Kelowna, and then we headed to Smithers for the wedding of my eldest niece. Nieces/nephews getting married already... another milestone for me! (Her too, I suppose.)

My sisters Karin and Martine took good care of us. And not just us, as almost the whole Vanderveen clan was in town. We enjoyed much leisure time, good eats and some nice hikes. Lily had a wonderful time connecting with her cousin Lauren. I had a lousy time being forced to get firewood from the bush with an old friend. Kidding, it was fun... especially when he felled a tree and pancaked his nice toolbox!

One day a few of us decided to find the shoe house, a favourite memory from our distant past. We weren't disappointed... it's still standing after many years.

Lauren and Lily really hit it off.

Hiking. At least no more carrying Lily on my back. Nora's only half the weight.

The shoe house on Kitseguecla Road.

Oh deer.

The girls enjoying noodles. I think Lauren gets that look from her mom.

Good ol' Bulkley Valley.

A week in the north, and it was time to head to Vernon again. Another 12 hours in the car. Gas prices were very stable, in the $1.40s. At least the gutless 4-banger rental wasn't too hard on fuel.

From Vernon, we left to go camping at Mabel Lake. This was our second annual time doing that with Carrie's parents... perhaps it will (has?) become a tradition. The weather was hot and dry, as expected. The first part of our vacation was unmarred by forest fire haziness, fortunately. Hot on the beach, cool in the shade, no bugs. Would more could one ask for?

Camping in style. We now require an overflow tent.

Our little artist.

Chillin'.

Not much at this remote campground, but there is ice cream.

This kid and her mermaid imagination...

Chillin'... with Grandma this time.

Since her dad won't teach her to fish, Grandpa has the pleasure.

Hung out in Vernon some more. My father-in-law has been terrorized by marmots on his property for some time, and they're too smart for trap cages. I half-jokingly suggested snaring them, and things took off. A day later, we bagged our first marmot! (I'll spare you the photo... a tough decision.) All I need now is to transfer those skills to my squirrel-ridden backyard.

Nora getting a bath.

5.5 years ago, Lily getting the same bath.

August long weekend brought the Driegen clan to Vernon, where we enjoying a raucous weekend of beaches and yelling and crying. Typical young family stuff.

Hey Lily, who needs Hawaii when you have Kal Lake?

Fun with floaties.

A bunch of us went to a local O'Keefe Ranch. It was fun for the kids to explore life in the olden days and pet some animals. Lily also got stung twice by a wasp; she didn't find that very amusing.

Cowgirl Lily. Does this post have enough Lily pictures yet? Yikes! No? Okay then.

Then it was off to the Fraser Valley for a week. This was where my holiday ended. Carrie's dad and I helped at her brother's house, which was in the process of awaiting a new kitchen and flooring (and a whole lot more.) It was exhausting work in hot weather in a hot house... but a rewarding undertaking nonetheless. The girls did whatever they did, including beach stuff (which I happily avoided).

It was Lily's sixth birthday while we were in Surrey, so a party was held in her honour. She was in her glory, surrounded by a mountain of well-considered presents, which we somehow managed to haul back home in the end.

Tickled pink.

Very proud of her new watch.

Proudly displaying a new outfit for her cousins.

We also had the pleasure of attending Carrie's grandfather's 96th birthday. That annual tradition has always been a treat for us, even if it's probably getting to be an ordeal for him at this point.

Just a small part of the family tree was present.

After the week was up, we headed back to Vernon for a few days to recover. By this time the smog from forest fires was pretty bad everywhere, so it was a good time to vacate the province.