Grandparent Blessings

To watch facial expessions and hear unique comments is such a treat.

To have a grandchild on their own for a week is a bonus. They grow so quickly and develop right before your eyes.
Vancouver was so special this  August as we worked schedules in order for cousins to get together for the first time in four years.

What a treat to see a 12 year old girl walking down the street to ballet school, holding the hand of her seven year old little cousin.

They shared a trip to Science World, rides on the sky train and aqua bus, an evening at Kits Beach, walking Kenai and many laughs. When he entered the Wave Pool with his uncle, he was heard to say, "This is my Paradise!!!!". a trip to the Lego store at Oakridge Center provided centers for creativity and a chance to buy a cool car kit.

helping Kaiya clean , old bedroom set moving on

the Ronalds men cross their ankles

interesting sidewalk

Low tide means the ramp is on a good slant

off for a trip on the sky train, aqua bus  to Science World

Sleeping in a tent on the rooftop patio for a week was special, one night even saw a movie in there "chipmunks, Chipwreck" too funny!

waiting for the "walk" sign

now, waiting for the sky train at Aberdeen

lucky, got the front seat

catepillar delight right on the sidewalk

sea bus stop

Vancouver sites

Science World fun

Keva Planks were a big hit

Can I lift 75% of my own weight?

how about lifting a hippo?

His favorite station

check out the beaver lodge

and a tree that holds five of us inside

Three piece puzzles completed in record time!

Sleeping in the big tree.

These Vancouver sites are cool from the aqua bus!

Kits beach for Auntie C's volleyball night

your team next???

Try out the big pool between games

an even bigger pool!!

west coast sunset

Off to Oakridge Mall and Lego time

Home to build that 3 choice model

at YVR

heading home!!

Favorite family games were Blokus, Rummy Tiles, and Simon Flash. Many hours were spent on his own making wonderful art projects from the Blokus tiles.

Grammie flew with him back to Edmonton, where Grampie picked us up at the airport after his hockey tournament in Salmon Arm.

A few days in Morinville with the family then we borrowed the first born and head west.

The second week with the older brother was just as special but with different activities. , a road trip from Morinville through Jasper and to Valemount the first night. A beautiful hike through the marshlands and up the observation towers revealed four breeds of ducks we had never seen before.
The water slide at the hotel a big hit as it was one of the faster ones we had seen, must say neither Dave nor I tried it, just watched the happy faces and heard the squeals, not to mention the splashes we received!
On to Sun Peaks for two days and then to Vancouver for the next cousin encounter.
At Sun Peaks, we stayed at Pinnacle Lodge and enjoyed the trails into the village, the covered bridge and an afternoon on Heffly Lake in double kayaks.
Feeding ducks right out of his hand brought chuckles.

We left Grampie in Kamloops to play hockey for the BC Senior Games and caught the Greyhound bus to Vancouver. Auntie Caroline met us at the station, I was afraid she would be squeezed too tight from the big bear hug!
Five hours at Science World the next day showed me that we may had a future hydrologist in the family, or maybe a slalom skier or musician or all of the above. Aqua bus and sky train sure gets us around easily.
A game of Risk took most of the evening, a family fun night but when C and D joined forces, the end came quickly!
Extreme Air , what a great thing for all ages.Then another round at WaterMania! Whew!! Busy time.

Grammie did a flip flight to Edmonton, delivered the big guy to his dad then back for birthday celebrations for Shan and Dave. Caroline had booked paddle boards and kayaks at Deep Cove, packed an incredible picnic lunch for Jug Island and off we went for a wonderful Sunday outing.

A new post with photos because this one is getting too long.
Look for Blessings part 2 as we wind down our summer, return home to bring in the garden and catch up with Port Alberni friends.
What a wonderful summer!!!!