Vanessa's 5.5 Year Birthday Party

Vanessa had her birthday exactly 6 months form her real birthday. We were in the process of selling the house and so having a party was something we decided to put off until we got settled into the new house. We had a lot of fun renting ponies and going on a scavenger hunt around the yard. The kids had clues and had to collect the stickers at different places. The ponies were great but the tadpoles in the pond stole the show. We had a hard time pulling the kids out of the pond to ride the ponies after their initial rides. They eventually rode the ponies again. Jigs had to be tied up and barked a lot because of the strange animals in the yard that I am sure he would have loved to play with. He eventually got to meet them and behaved when all the kids went home. Vanessa wanted a swamp cake so I did my best. It was interesting to say the least. It was nice celebrating a birthday in the summer instead of winter. It was great to be able to use the yard. we even invited some of the new neighbors that we have met already. I hope to get a few more pictures from Grandma and Grandpa. I was a little busy at the party.

Vanessa's best buddy for preschool

The pond was very popular

Jigs wanted to check out the ponies so badly

The Swamp Cake

Butterflies and Belugas

The gang minus Lyanna the photographer

We went to the aquarium again to check out a couple of special exhibits. They had a special birds of prey exhibit and lots of butterflies in the Amazon section.

 

Beautiful Bird but Not One to Mess With

Lots of little fingers have touched those magnifying glasses. They can hardly see

The monkey exhibit outside the aquarium appears to be back

Best Buddies Forever

Vanessa showing off her new T, true to the T too

Matching T's

A Stay with Grandma Tutu and Grandpa Dave

The girls spent a week with Grandma Tutu and Grandpa Dave in the Okanagan. They went to the beach and to an agro-tourist place in Vernon. The girls enjoy their time visiting with them. I am sure Grandma Tutu and Grandpa Dave needed a rest after they left. I picked them up and spent a couple days there too when my classes were done. We also went on the Summerland train and the girls enjoyed the scavenger hunt on their ride. The only they didn't see on the list was a bear. That's fine with me.

A corn box.

Timothy Lake Adventure

Todd and the girls went camping the first weekend of summer to Timothy Lake just past 100 Mile House. I was starting my summer graduate studies so was unable to go. They had a good time quadding, fishing and spending time with nature and friends. On their way to getting dropped off at Grandma Tutu's and Grandpa Dave's for the week, they popped into visit Todd's brother and his family in Kamloops. They also stopped to do a little horseback riding.