Summa Time!

I am going through my blog, and I have posted very little this summer. I haven't felt much like blogging, and to be honest, I haven't done a ton (a lot of people have been camping, having holidays, etc, despite COVID), but we have pretty much laid low. I looked for work (albeit VERY slowly!), looked after the boys, went to the library (when it FINALLY reopened), met with my friends for coffee and dinner, went on a few walks, went to a couple of beaches (Lac La Jeune once, and Chase Beach twice), and I was going to go camping with my friend and her kids, but that didn't end up working out (more on that later). I had hoped to house/dog sit for some friends, but that didn't work out (actually A LOT of things didn't work out this summer), which was a bummer, but I also looked after my nephews, so that kept me busy, at least. 

It was defiantly a different summer; with covid, and my looking for work. Anker and I didn't do a ton, either. I did go to the ranch 3x, but two of them were b/c I was looking after kids. Oh well! It was still nice to get out! Emily and I continue to watch movies once or twice a week. It is nice to have that neighbourly connection. She has come to church with me a few times, which has been really nice.

And as of 2020 hasn't been crazy enough, we got the smoke from the US fires. Ugh! At least it isn't horrible. Thankfully, there hasn't been a ton of fires in BC this year! Last Saturday, I met with what I call my "Old Ladies Group", where we "ended" the summer with a bbq and an evening on the patio. It was lovely to catch up before the busyness of September starts.

Labour Day weekend, I went out to the ranch for a few days. Anker stayed home, and I ended up staying at my aunt and uncle's, as they were away as well. It was a lovely few days, of eating, sleeping, reading, visiting, and movie watching. A and K were up with the boys, too, so we spent some time together. The weather was PERFECT, and it was nice just to "chill and grill" for a few days. I was going to dedicate an entire post LD, but I just wanted to get it out ASAP, b/4 Christmas came! Besides, it wasn't that exciting of a weekend (at least, not that much that it warranted an entire post of its own!)!

Speaking of Christmas, I never did talk about our Victoria Christmas TWO Christmases ago....oops! Well, we went to Victoria (we flew on Christmas Day!), spent time with his sister and her family. Ate, opened pressies, relaxed, made gingerbread houses, visited, and of course, slept. I think Anker was "fighting" with his new Mac that our BIL gave him, which caused me stressed, so I went for a walk. Oh, and we watched movies, and we walked around the harbour, and had a nice dinner one evening. One day, I met up with L and his family. A was pregnant with E at the time, so it was "only" N and L. We all had a lovely day wandering around V-town. Anker spent the day with K going to the BC Aviation Museum, which if we had been there a few more days, I would have gone, but since that was the only day that worked best for L and his family to come down, I chose to visit them. The Christmas in Victoria was lovely, and we will probably do it in another few years.

I think this was while I was spending a few days at my friend's; house/dog/plant sitting! Oh yah, I did have another set of days hanging out at my friend's for a few days in July! Murphy and I always have a fun time together!!! That was a lovely few days of eating, sleeping, meeting with friends, and I think I also met up with another former (but we are still friends!) work/school family; where we had dinner in the park. The weather was pretty cool here, but we finally got some hot weather the end of July, and into August. K and I took the boys to the river a few times, which was fun. Jill and I had our annual "Jill and April's Day of Fun", which I will try my darnedest to get posted! My friend, Adela, and I are trying to go for sushi once a month. She and I are also planning on going for a day trip to my parents' in a couple of weeks! 

I also took the boys to one of the parks, where there is also a wading pool. K needed to get some stuff done, and I was feeling bad for her, and I was kind of bored, so I offered to take the boys. We went to the park and wading pool first. Then we went to Scoopz, and then H begged me to let them play at the park next to the parlour, so I decided I would let them. Bad mistake. J decided that that was a great time to go the bathroom (ummm..yah...Thanks, Covid, for allowing ALL bathrooms to be shut down!), and then as we were leaving, J decided that he didn't want to go home, and he had a trantrum. So yah, fun times! A very tired aunty dropped the boys off! Hey, it was a memory...what can I say?? It was a fun way to close out the summer!!!

I have been enjoying a few sips from Starbucks, and of course Dollar Drink Days from McDs!!!

I haven't been journalling as much lately, nor have I been reading books (or even magazines) as much, either. I did, however, sit out by the river and read for over an hour yesterday, so that was nice. I haven't been doing a ton of "stories" on IG, either. I have still been posting, though, so go ahead and take a look, and get "caught up" on what we have been doing! We still are still running the a/c and fans, in our house, car and office (more on that in another post). I am still wearing capris and sandals. Laundry is still free :) I have been watching A LOT of Hallmark movies, along with some cooking shows, some JJ, and I have also started reordering "Murder, She Wrote". I have also started watching "Counting On'. I really like it. I remember watching "19 Kids and Counting, and I am really enjoying watching the kids grow up, get married, and raise families of their own.

We had our 5th Cali-versary in August. We love her so much!!! Just now, she was "helping" blog! She sure loves her pets, especially at night.  We love you, Cali-Girl!

Oh yes...Anker has been making salsa, as we have had a billion tomatoes!!! He made jam, and I made two fruit crisps, and helped with freezing some beans and carrots!

More to come.....plus an annoucement!