Halloween and Casper is in the house

by cdarimont

Casper

Dog Day -1

1 p.m. tomorrow Thursday October 26 we go go pick up a 12 week old standard poodle named Casper. Stay tuned!

Thanksgiving in Ottawa

Beautiful weather.
Went to the Canadian War Museum on Saturday. Drove around and visited the outdoor exhibits at the Canadian Science and Technology Museum on Sunday before dinner -- turkey and all the fixin's!!

The new van worked well, but we realized we were not given an owner's manual. There were a few things we could not figure out. Brother-in-law Gord gave us an overview as they own a 2002 Odyssey. Seems the light is burned out behind the clock and that is why we could not see it at night :)

Emma goes to Camp Brebeuf

Emma spent 3 days and 2 nights at Camp Brebeuf with her class as part of their preparation for Confirmation. She had a good time -- canoeing, archery, rope climbing, rock climbing -- despite doing it all in the cold rain.
She did not have time to take photos.

"New" van

Our third car purchase in 20 years. Replacing the 1997 Dodge Grand Voyager with a 2003 Honda Odessey. The 1992 Saturn still runs and is still in use.


2003 Honda Odyssey :::: EX Minivan

Condition Pre-Owned
Kilometers 86,155
Doors 5
Exterior Colour Beige
Interior Beige Cloth
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 5 Spd Automatic
Drive Type FWD
Fuel Unleaded

4 Wheel Disc Brakes -- ABS Brakes -- Air Conditioning -- Alloy Wheels -- AM/FM Stereo -- CD Player -- Cruise Control -- Driver Air Bag -- Garage door opener -- Keyless Entry -- Micro Air Filter -- Passenger Air Bag -- Power Locks -- Power Mirrors -- Power Seat -- Power Steering -- Power Windows -- Rear Air Conditioner -- Rear Spoiler -- Roof Rails -- Side Air Bag -- Tachometer -- Tilt Steering -- Traction Control -- Child Lock -- Quad Seating -- Remote Sliding -- Door Splash Guards

Emma and Andrew both make "Red" level of house league hockey

We found out last week that Andrew had been picked up by a "red" house league hockey team. We expected him to be and were surprised he had not been drafted originally. On his team is the son of Stu Grimson (for those not old enough or hockey savvy enough look here)

We found out today Emma also made "red" level in the girls hockey. This was not as expected, but she worked really hard on her skating, shooting and conditioning.

The reward for both is a new composite stick. Hockey can get expensive :)

Application Sent

I sent in our application today.

Lions Foundation of Canada

Foster Puppy Program

Don't know yet the outcome, but we may have a puppy by the end of the month. And this from the person who swore "NO DOGS - EVER". Never say Never.

Soccer Champions

Emma's soccer team (Pizza Pizza U13 A) this year won both their league championship and the playoffs. Two trophies this year.

More photos at: http://sports.webshots.com/album/554160781vcNkjm

Sauble Beach - Day 3

Day three was colder than day 2...bbbrrrrrr....

Bacon and eggs for breakfast and then down to the river for a four-person pedal boat ride. Boy are those things slow, sluggish, hard to paddle.

Back to camp and the decision to leave a day early. Good decision (as you will see later). Packed up and went to the beach. Lunch first...what to eat?? Stopped at the grocery store and purchased meat, buns, and cheese. Ate at the beach. and what is a picnic lunch on the beach with out eating sand!!. Sand storms on the beach, and COLD. COLD. COLD. Almost no one there again. We stayed until about 4 and then started home. Tim Horton's for coffee in Hepworth and away we go.

Ate dinner at the Mount Forest Golf club. Good food there as well. Not great, but it is a golf course. Good value.

Home by 8 and the laundry starts.

Sauble Beach - Day 2

Today was cool as well. Oatmeal for breakfast. Walked over to Sauble Falls to see what it was. Small but nice. Andrew and Emmma both tried to walk across on the rocks, but it is not possible without risking getting wet and breaking bones. Lunch at the campsite and off to the beach. It was cool, I had a nap, and they made sand castles, sand igloos and other things.

Dinner out in Sauble Beach. DNL's Restaurant. Small family run restaurant. Great food. Great price. Great value.
DNL\\\'s Restaurant - Restaurantica




More s'mores, taught the children Euchre and early to bed. The propane lantern Albert bought at a garage sale is wonderful.

Sauble Beach

Camping this week at Sauble Falls Provincial Park.

Nice park. Nice site. A little close to the "Comfort Station" but that can be a benefit as well. The temperature was a little cool but we went to the beach after setting up camp and went swimming. The water was very cold for August and there was almost no one there.

Made s'mores and went to bed. At about 3 am I was woken up by a girl yelling at someone on her cell phone. Now, it seems that she told her boyfriend not to go somewhere with his friends, and he went anyway. So huge fight with screamed phrases like "how could you treat me this way", "how can I trust you now", and "why did you hang up on me". This was followed by tears and multiple calls to friends. I finally got up and asked her if she was going to be much longer. My goodness -- 3 am -- who cares!!!

Shopping, Fringe Festival and Dinner

Last day in Edmonton. Went shopping. Did a scratch and win at the store and got 50% off so I added more clothing to my list. I am wearning my new PJs right now :)
Emma also went shopping.
Then we had lunch at A&W and went to the Fringe Festival. Then to Grandma's and then to the cemetary to visit Grandpa and then to dinner at the revolving restraunt at the Chateau Lacombe. Yes the same hotel the CFUW conference was at.

Most of the clan was there. Albert's sister, her husband, three of their four boys (two of which brought girl friends), our four and Albert's mother. 12 for dinner.

From Drumheller to Edmonton -- the back way

Travelled via Stettler, Looma, Camrose. Left my wallet in the Tim Horton's in Camrose. Stopped at the CAA office for a map of Alberta and noticed it was missing. Went back and they had it...hooray!!

Royal Tyrrell Museum -- Dinosaur Heaven

From Edmonton to Drumheller

CFUW Conference is over and I actually sat at the table for the final lunch with the incoming National President. I had a few issues and took the opportunity to discuss them with her. One is the lack of press. Seems national has not been issuing press releases on anything. That explains why I cannot find any when I search. Second is the level of technology available for members to use on the web site and elsewhere. If they want younger members, they will have to speak their language and their language involves interactive web sites, blogs, podcasts, and rss feeds.

We are now in Drumheller. Tomorrow we go to the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

what the family did while I am in meetings

Albert and the children went to Grandma's house, went shopping, and went swimming at the Ramada Water Park. They ate breakfast at Ginger Ginger, and dinner at Wendy's. They purchased King Kong and watched it with snacks in bed.

First day at CFUW Annual General Meeting

I went to my meetings. Interesting debate on fees increase.

The evening was a BBQ dinner at Fort Edmonton. Nice place. It is not just a fort. It has a 1855 street and a 1905 street.

I went into a 1911 Arts and Crafts house. BEAUTIFUL

Love that WestJet

Flew from Hamilton International (Hi) to Edmonton on Thursday August 17. Flight was on time, pleasant and friendly. They did not have enough sandwiches, but that was not a big problem.

Rented a car at the airport -- Dodge Magnum!!! Lots of power and goooooo!!

The hotel is round.

Spamalot

"I'm not dead yet"
"and your father smells of elderberries"
"brave, brave Sir Robin"
"You're using coconuts! "
"Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony."
"It's just a flesh wound."
"RUN AWAY"

They are all there, and more.


We went (my husband, my mother, my sister, her husband, and me) on August 9 in Toronto. Left the children all home alone :)

It was good, not great, but good. Worth the almost $100/ticket?? maybe :)

The family (at least the mother and daughter anyway) in the row in front thought it was hilarious. Laughing so hard they were bouncing in their seats. Clapping madly at everthing. It was a little distracting trying to see around the bobbing heads and trying to figure out if this was the first Monty Python they had ever seen. Because if you have seen the movies and TV series (over and over) and can already quote the dialogue, the play is interesting in its new spin on an old theme, but not bouncingly hilarious. IMHO