Summer is winding down for sure...

Well we've been spoiled for sure regarding the warm and sunny weather. If the recent camping trip was any indication; fall is definitely right around the corner. The family got pretty wet in their tents on the second day. After enjoying many weeks of sunshine the weather in Vancouver is definitely changing. The family recently went on two trips, one to Harrison Hot Springs and the camping trip to Cultus Lake. Both trips were with multiple families which has really enriched the experience for all. The family spent a lot of time in the pool at Harrison Hot Springs, and luckily the kids all got along very well. Roger even ran into some friends from elementary and high school. Camping was fun, it's actually the first time Roger and Tracey have gone camping since having kids. Can you believe they waited almost 7 years! Here are some pictures from Harrison Hot Springs and Cultus Lake:

Malcolm's summer.

Malcolm has had quite a summer. It has been the summer of milestones. At the top of the list has been his development in swimming skills. He's now able to dunk his head and submerge underwater. From his current lessons, he's able to push off the wall both on his back and face-down to be able to swim for a distance. It's hard to believe that this is the same kid that freaked out when he got water in his eyes from the bath, leaps and bounds I tell you. Also for the first time since he's eaten solid food, he ate a regular hamburger. Mind you he started off with one of the very best (in Roger's opinion), the In and Out in San Diego. Now as long as there's only ketchup on the burger, he'll eat one. Lastly, he's been able to pump on the swings. This is a huge relief to Roger since he doesn't have to push him on the swings any longer. Despite the few behavioural meltdowns, Malcolm has had a great summer. He's certainly learning a lot of new things and having a lot of new experiences. He started a long laundry list of things to do over the summer and with only two weeks left, there are still a number of items still to be checked off. Hopefully, the family will be able to knock a few of them down before the start of school. The boy is starting the 2nd grade, wow how time flies.

Sechelt 2013

We had a wonderful time in Sechelt and this time I mean "we" cause I went too. Tracey managed to find a wonderful house in Sandy Hook, the house was pretty well stocked and six bedrooms to boot. All the kids got along so well. There was a significant challenge in trying to eat all the food we brought, but we managed to do a pretty good job. A great time was had by all.

Sechelt 2013 from Obiwanhavanese on Vimeo.

San Diego and etc...

The family had a wonderful trip to San Diego. They came back late on Thursday night. They would have gotten back sooner if it wasn't for the terrible delay at the border. As Tracey put it, "The border line up went so fast", said no-one ever! What's not to like about San Diego the wonderful weather, beautiful sights, and multitude of things to do. To be perfectly honest, Legoland was a bit of a disappointment, but all in all fun was had by all. Perhaps if the Legoland trip didn't end on such a sour note the family may have had better things to say about it. You see apparently, during the wait for the final ride Melody accidentally swallowed a lifesaver (whole) and it was logged in her throat for a good few minutes. It was a bit scary, but she managed to swallow it. The kids did really well on the flights, they sat in their seats, ate all their snacks and worked on all their activities very well. Maybe they are ready for the longer plane ride or even more extreme time zone adjustments. The family really does enjoy travelling, next on the list is the upcoming trip to Sechelt and overnighter to Harrison. Also after an almost 7 year hiatus, Roger and Tracey will be dusting off their camping gear to venture out into the wilderness on a camping trip to Birkenhead. Here are some pictures of San Diego and the past weekend filled with kite flying and waterparks galore:

Summer 2013

Melody has had some real great strides with potty training as of late. She's been pretty reliable throughout the day with a lot of success. We just hope that it continues, she's been quite a stubborn monkey in general, but again we have to really focus on the successes. Last night she even woke up in the middle of the night to go pee. The summer time activities continue. We're looking forward to spending a little time away next week. We're heading down south to San Diego. Unfortunately, I won't be joining the family. They have a bunch of activities planned, I'm sure that the weather will be great. The kids are really looking forward to it. Here are some pictures from the weekend: P.S. Congratulations to uncle Lane and auntie Jen with their wonderful arrival. We can't wait to meet Gavin one day soon.

Summer has finally arrived in Vancouver.

Yay, summer has finally arrived. Wet and dreary June has come and gone, July has started with quite a bang, sunshine and temperatures hovering around the high 20's. The kids absolutely love summer. They've been outside everyday, playing at the water park, swimming at the pool and really soaking up the sun. It's only the first week of summer vacation and they've already been to the beach, various water parks and the local outdoor pool already. They're also planning a trip to the waterslides this weekend. Here are some pictures of the Granville Island Water Park. With the onset of summer, it's also allowed Roger to resume his "Vancouver After Dark" project. He's been going around town taking long exposure night shots of famous spots. Here are a few of his recent ones: