The Great Friday Picnic 2011

This year the Good Friday picnic took place about as late in the year as it may ever have been. The weather forecast certainly looked upon us in favour as the weather called for rain all week until Friday, then sun, then rain through the rest of the weekend.
We certainly lucked out to start the weekend and prepared ourselves for sunshine, warmth, the Easter bunny, the creek and the barbecues. We were greeted with an absolutely beautiful day.
Here are some of the lads cooking up a storm at the picnic tables.


(Though I'm not sure that Ross did any actual cooking.)
The boys went for their usual climb up a tree and then a walk to the cliff side. Apparently they got quite close to the edge, but we have yet to see the photo evidence of that.
After enjoying some good food,
Dave snuck Saje away for a quite moment on Spy Rock, where just less than 10 years we exchanged our wedding vows. Here we are...goofy as ever and loving each other more each passing year.
Soon thereafter we were off to the creek.
It was particularly muddy this year, as evidenced by the three puppies that got absolutely filthy on their trip with us. (photo evidence being withheld for future ransom demands ;)
While we were gone, the Easter bunny visited. Here are the boys searching for their 'loot'

and Big C finding his Kinder eggs!

and mommy being quite pleased with her little treasure that made the trip here from Jamaica. It seems that the Easter bunny likes to spoil her as much as her loving husband.



All too soon we were taking the family photo and starting to pack up. Here's the gang from this year:

Ahhhh, if only we could have participated

We'd have so been in for this one.
Nice to see people trying to make a change in the world around them.

Easter 2011 Outdoor Easter Egg Hunt

For the second year in a row we were invited to a community Easter egg hunt that is held in someone's backyard. They "hide" more than 2000 eggs and set the kids loose. What a blast!
This year was a particularly wet year and we were grateful for our rain boots. Matt Rainstra was less wise as was Peter Puddlers and the two had to stand back on dry land and watch the fun from afar. Monkey was here, but no where near me so there are no photos of him to be found :(
Doodle had a blast collecting eggs and playing in the puddles.
The event raises money for First Place Pregnancy Centre.
For the second year in a row we brought cinnamon buns and they were quickly decimated.

Jamaica Day 8 - We've had a great visit, hope to come back again

Jamaica was simply awesome.
The white sand beaches.

The glorious sunshine.


The warmth.

We had a true vacation and came back refreshed and blissed out.

Jamaica Day 7 - Just Chillin'

On our seventh day we rested. It was glorious to just sit back and take it easy.
The boys hit the kids club and the waterslides.
The grownups hit the poolside and the bar that opens at 10 am.
Daddy was somewhat congested and seemed to pick up a bit of a cold, but it in no way was going to hold him back from enjoying the sunshine.
Here is a shot of the ocean, as seen from my favourite view - looking at the ends of my feet.
Here's daddy and Big C sharing some 'happy drink' (daddy's having his new favourite called a hummingbird which did indeed have a little extra in it).
And here's Monkey just relaxing and enjoying the warmth.
Jamaica rocked.
Monkey even said that it was better than Disney, except for Splash Mountain that is.

The new blanket-sort of

Monkey recently complained to his g-maw that his blanket had recently gotten smaller and no longer covered his feet. G-maw, being familiar with the common extention of 7 year olds feet agreed to add to the ends of the blanket for him.

He requested orange yarn. It doesn't match at all, but hey, it is his blanket, so she complied. She

We be Jammin' - Day Six

On the sixth day in Jamaica we had patterns pretty well established.
There was Clinton the omelette guy who made everyone super yummy breakfasts.Here are Doodle and his buddy Ry-ry enjoying some of it:
Marsha, the sandwich lady, set us up for lunch after we'd taken in the waterslides in the morning or gone snorkelling or played chess on the big chess board.
Berriss, the bartender, served up Monkey his happy drinks (strawberry daquiris) on a regular basis, though thankfully wouldn't give him one for daddy that included rum.
We lazed our days away at the beachside or poolside and the boys would happily come down the slides, stay in the current until they made it to the shallow section, and the hustle back up for another ride. They must have gone on as much as 300 times a day. Here's daddy taking Ry-ry for a go since he wasn't quite a good enough swimmer to make it on his own
We also took in the little kids area, where all of them could touch the bottom all of the time - which meant that we could totally relax in the sun and enjoy each other's company.
As supper approached we'd have a little down time, then feed the boys at the buffet. After dropping them off at the Kids Club, such as tonight when it was pirate night, we'd meet up with Ry-ry's parents for a grown-up supper. Thursday night featured the Carribean restaurant and pitcher's of 'Rock Steady Baby's. They were awesome! Some rum, lime juice and pineapple juice....mmmmmm.
We had another fabulous day in the sun and warmth.
May it never end :)