Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween

We survived our first party in France!!  We invited 20 people, and we had 16 show up!

We had our Canadian friends join us, as well as 3 French families!  It was a great success.  I think all the kids had fun!  We played "Find the Ghost"--a game in which we had tissues shaped as ghosts, and numbered, with each kid receiving a number to find!  We then decorated treat bags--sac a bonbons, to use later for Trick or Treating.  We also had some spooky songs to sing, and scary stories to listen too!  Lots of delicious treats, and I think it was a fabulous success!




Our upstairs neighbour spent his morning making this scarecrow for the boys!! 



Playing "Hide the Pumpkin"  


  Decorating treat bags--sac a bonbons.




  One of our French guests! 

Saturday, October 29, 2011

A Night at the Beach

The boys enjoyed a quiet night at the beach this past week., in Cannes, on the Mediterranean Sea......

Earlier in the day, Joshua studies the calm sea.  

As night falls.....a storm out to sea...

Watching the tide come in




Sea crashing at the end of the walkway

Nafe got in a little too deep! 

Thursday, October 20, 2011

UK Edition...

Finally, I will get these promised pictures up!  We had a great trip up to the UK, to visit friends of ours from 11 years ago!  Todd worked in Manchester for 1 year when he was with Nova Chemicals. Anyways, we invited Phil and Liz to our wedding, 10 1/2 yrs ago, encouraging them to come see Western Canada.  Well, I guess they must have liked what they saw, as we have seen them at least once per year since!  They have seen more of Western Canada and the United States than we have by a long shot!  In fact, they are in Canada/US right now!  We stayed with Phil and Liz, Wed - Sat, and they flew out first thing Sunday morning.
Phil and Liz spoiled us all--but especially the boys!  I think it was just what the boys needed!  Anyways, here are the photos!


Conway Castle in Northern Wales:  The boys were all given a "top secret" file with which they had to solve a mystery.
Being daredevils walking over the grate.  This was at the top of the tallest tower....so a long ways down....







Not sure who was more interested in solving the mystery--Phil or the boys.....








Nathan adored Phil, and had to eat just like him! 




Pub games!  



Eating breakfast in front of the TV at Phil and Liz's!  Cartoons in English, small boxes of cereal, bacon, and sausage: could it get any better!

53 Elm Grove, Didsbury, Manchester!  Our house while we lived in the UK 11/12 years ago!

Todd with the boys at 53 Elm Grove 

Checking out the treats in our old neighbourhood, Didsbury.


Family Heritage: 
Area where my Grandma grew up!


Area where my Grandpi grew up!



This is where my great grandmother lived while we lived in the UK.  Her flat is the main floor one right behind us.  We would go down on weekends for a visit, to Melton Mowbray.



Beer for Dad!  (Okay, so this was mine.  A light beer with some sprite added to it!)

Lots of signs saying open 24 hours, only to find it closed! 
 Cadbury World:


Cadbury World Chocolate Factory--a great experience, if you love chocolate!


Lots of chocolate!  To start the tour, we were give 10 Curly Whirly, and 6 full size Crunchie bars.  We then got 12 full size Dairy Milk later in the tour.  We still felt the need to buy more in the gift shop though!




 London in a day: yes, we are crazy!



Big Ben in the background

At Buckingham Palace, and we saw the changing of the guards.

London Bridge (or is it Tower Bridge??) in the background.



The "Cove",  This was in the basement of a pub where we at lunch in London.  It was really neat!



 London Eye: 

Joshua is a little afraid of heights!



Joshua finally venturing out.  




Countdown to the Olympics in Trafalgar Square. 




Coming up from the London Underground.






This is how we fit a family of 6 into a room that sleeps 3 adults!  2 on the small sleeper sofa and 2 on cushions from sleeper sofa on the floor!  One under the table, and 1 between the beds.  We used the duvet covers and extra towels as bedding.