On the Road Again...and Again

August 23 - 25, 2006: Well, before she could change her mind I quickly packed up the kids and headed to the P.E.I. ferry to visit Ailsa and her gang on the Island. The journey there was a great adventure for the kids who have never travelled on the Northumberland Ferry. It was a lot of fun and they had a great (though very windy) time watching the water for whales and seals on our way over to the island. No sightings though!

Our adventure on the Island was even better. We discovered that the east side of P.E.I. holds many beautiful sites and though we didn't see a lot of places, we quickly discovered that Basin Head Beach in Singing Sands Park is stunning. The kids were able to wander about the water finding crabs, star fish and quite surprisingly a lobster.

Photo (below): Grant and Cameron making a bed for their crab.

Photo (above): Ashley holding the starfish she caught at Basin Head beach

Grant, our resident dare devil, decided to jump off the pier which stands about 15 feet high. He emerged from the water screaming, "That was awesome!" There's actually a long version of that story but I'll save you some reading.

Photo (above): Grant making a splash with me directly above him getting set to jump

Photo: Grant climbing up the very high ladder back onto the pier.

Photo: Ashley and Maddie being "cool" at Basin Head.

Our adventures also found us in Cavendish which is more of a touristy area and Murray River where we went on a seal watch but didn't have much luck seeing many seals. We also went to Sandspit Amusement Park and to a cemetery (don't ask) where the kids tried to spook each other silly. We all enjoyed one another's company and were quite sad with the realization that it would probably be another year before we made company with one another again unless we make it home over the winter. Sniff, sniff!

FTV Sneak Preview: September brings Rob's sister Cheryl and her partner Brian for a visit as well as Rob's long-awaited Stones concert here in Halifax. Keep checking for updates!

Note to Ailsa: As promised, I looked it up and they have no beverage cans in P.E.I. because people don't recycle them. They have a 98% return rate on bottles...best in Canada. It's an environmental thing!

Happy 7th Birthday Ashley!

Once all the company departed and things settled a bit, Ashley celebrated her 7th birthday with a Hawaiian Luau on August 20th. We prayed for good weather and well, at least it didn't rain! The 10 girls and 3 boys bobbed for apples, had water balloon fights, coconut and tacky tourist relays completed with a pinata. I think the water balloons were the biggest hit but they all had a blast.

Photo: Ashley decided it's easier to bob for apples when you're in the tub!

Photo: Rob was brave (or dumb) enough to be the target for the water balloon shots.

And Finally...

August 12 - 16, 2006: The Provan family which consists of Charmaine (Bubbles), Norman, Taylor, Collin and Rachel were the last family to visit us this summer. Mitch decided his last summer before starting university could be spent at home earning some money for school.

Photo: Brad Pitt before he got messed up with that Angelina Jolie. Oh sorry, that's Taylor with Collin...but there is a resemblance, isn't there.

Photo: Taylor, Rachel, Grant and Ashley on rocks at back of our property.

Photo: Ashley and Rachel lost somewhere in a bubble bath

Everyone had a great time but we didn't see a whole lot of them as they were quite anxious to do their own exploring and came with a pre-planned itinerary. Of course we did send them to Lunenburg for the Lobstermen Tour and they all enjoyed that. Ashley and Rachel had a lot of fun just being buddies again and they got along very well. Grant couldn't get enough of his "big brudders" even if he told them several times a time to go away...but that's what makes Grant who he is! After leaving here they went on to P.E.I. and then home through the States.

Ding Dong the Bells Are Calling!

Photo: Ashley and Maddie at fishing wharf in Terrence Bay.
Nice finger Ashley...you must get that from your father

August 7 - 12, 2006: Sorry about that really bad title, I feel like grandpa Dempster with my really bad humour! However, part of the Bell family which includes my sister Ailsa and her kids Maddie and Cameron were the next to grace our doorstep. The boys (Grant and Cameron) didn't take long to get up to a lot of mischief. Did I emphasize a lot of mischief? Ashley and Maddie had a lot of fun together and tried their best to keep the boys in line. Ailsa did much of her own touring which included a trip out to Lunenburg for the Lobstermen Tour and a visit to The Ovens. I'm thinking that these Lobstermen guys really owe me big time for doing some heavy public relations work for them. We joined them one day for a ferry ride and another day at Dollar Lake where it was warm and sunny. Rob and his friend Win took them mackarel fishing to a really pretty spot in Terrence Bay but unfortunately the fish were pretty shy that day. Ailsa and the kids stayed in town for 5 nights with husband Dan and son Scott joining them for the final night before they headed out to P.E.I. for two weeks of cottage life. Lucky them! Little do they know that we really will be joining them for a night or two...sorry you offered, aren't you Ailsa!

Photo: Grant, Maddie, Ashley, Cameron and Scott on the rock in front of our house

Welcome Hailey and Katie

Photo: Katie, Ashley, Hailey and Grant at a chilly Rainbow Haven Beach

August 4 - 11, 2006: Ashley and Grant were very excited to welcome Mary, Ian, Katie & Hailey who flew in from Ottawa for a visit. Ashley and the girls were good friends in Ottawa and she was really looking forward to spending some time with them again. We played tour guides and went on the Lobstermen Tour in Lunenburg, to Rainbow Haven Beach and down to the waterfront among other things. Unfortunately, this year's Natal Day fireworks changed its positioning from last year so our strategic viewing area wasn't so strategic! Our guests also went on their own to Bras d'Or Lakes in Cape Breton for a few days which didn't present them with the greatest weather. Isn't that a big surprise - not!

Photo: Grant learning to ride the waves at Rainbow Haven Beach

Photo: Ashley kissing a lobster (yuk!) with Hailey in background. Note: I thought you were supposed to kiss the cod??