tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82773512024-03-13T04:11:29.016-07:00Cheryl and the M'sLife with Melissa, Michael, Madeleine, Megan, and Maribeth.
<p><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/16468456@N00/"><img border="0" alt="Allan & Cheryl. Get yours at flagrantdisregard.com/flickr" src="http://flagrantdisregard.com/flickr/profilewidget/random/000000/ffffff/16468456@N00.jpg" title="Allan & Cheryl. Get yours at flagrantdisregard.com/flickr"/></a></p>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.comBlogger550125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-60550919985458315522013-05-11T10:50:00.003-07:002013-05-11T10:53:48.749-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong>I've reactivated my old blog - I pulled it to private the beginning of 2007 when Allan and I separated and divorced. I had several draft posts later trying to explain things - but decided to keep it all off the internet. Life has moved on and the M's are doing amazingly well these days and so much bigger than when I was last posting! I've turned the blog public again, mostly for their sakes: for them to read the stories of when they were little. </strong></div>
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<strong>Melissa is in grade 8 and getting straight A's, she's an artist and a writer with a strong creative streak. Her current project is making an iMovie cooking show in French as a French class project. She has a very spoiled pet cat - Sammy - who we have had since 2007. </strong></div>
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<strong> Michael towers over me at this point, he's in Grade 7, an honor roll student, plays clarinet, badminton and current hobby is making his own minecraft videos and sharing on YouTube! Michael also keeps hamsters and his current hamster midnight is his 6th hamster. </strong></div>
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<strong>Madeleine is in Grade 6 and an avid reader and into crafts and art. She's also very girly and does nails and hair for herself and her sisters. Madeline has been taking swimming lessons and played badminton on the school team this year. </strong></div>
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<strong>Megan and Maribeth are in grade 3 in separate classrooms this year. They love squirrels and birds and have a backyard squirrel and bird feeder they keep filled up! They want an indoor pet squirrel, but that is not going to happen! Both girls have been in swimming lessons and gymnastics this year and recently did a gymnastics routine in the school talent show. </strong></div>
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<strong>I'm now 37 years old, have been single parenting since Jan 2007. I'm currently dating a wonderful man for over a year now and working part time as a Lunch Lady making and delivering hot lunches to schools. I'm hoping to get back into office work in the near future. I ended up dropping out of school when my marriage fell apart and I had to work right away - so never did finish my business administration degree and it is now well past the 10 year window to upgrade from the 2 year to the 4 year program. I also stay busy playing cello with the Worship Team at church and helping lead a church small group studying "The Truth Project". </strong></div>
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<strong>I'm not yet sure if I'll keep writing on here yet but thought it best to do a bit of an update post when this blog reappeared!</strong></div>
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<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1166516572773600172006-12-19T00:08:00.000-08:002006-12-26T13:16:26.916-08:00Change is Constant - an Update on Life with the M'sWhere to begin and where to end? Once again life twists and turns and puts us where we didn't expect to be. This time last year, I was home schooling Melissa and Michael with every intention of doing so for years to come. I was dealing with gall bladder attacks and had not yet even contemplating returning to school myself. This year I'm in school, the kids are in school, and other than a twin-inflicted cold, my health is the best it has been in a number of years: physically and mentally - I would say that until I started getting better, I didn't know how bad off I was for so long.<br /><br />The big news here is that we are buying a condo! The subjects are removed; the deposit paid and it is closing the end of February. The chain of events that have transpired over the past year seem to be leading somewhere; somewhere there is a reason for all of this: kids in school, me in school, buying a condo, having a mortgage. Every time I think I know where life is going to put me; things change, the road turns, and I end up somewhere else. There is a bit of stomach turning terror at going into so much debt: I think I've lost 5 pounds just in the process so far.<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/2327692/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/3/2327692_98c96e5a46_m.jpg" /></a><br />Megan and Maribeth two years ago - December 19, 2004<br /><br />Melissa, Michael, and Maddy had their 1st report cards and parent teacher conferences of the year. Maddy and Melissa are both completely on track for their age and grade levels. In short, they're doing well and their teachers love having them in their classrooms. Michael is advanced in everything and is in advanced spelling, reading, and math. He also is helping other 1st graders as well as being sent in to read to the Kindergarten class. Michael is also "extremely popular" at school. Given that he grew up with all girls, that kind of surprised me. I guess that was wasted worry on whether or not he would get along ok with other boys.<br /><br />I finished up my first semester back to school in almost a decade with a 4.0 GPA. I got A's in both my English and Political Science classes. I 'm thrilled with that and also enjoying the time off between semesters. I have proved that my brain is not dead or turned to mush. I'm also loving seeing the kids. Having both them and me going to school has improved our family dynamics amazingly. We all have things to talk about and when we have a break from school we appreciate spending time with each other, instead of just getting on each other's nerves. Of course maybe the thousands of dollars Allan and I dropped into personal and marriage counselling this year may be helping with some of that as well.<br /><br />There is more. There has been so much more, I just can't remember it all. 2006 has been an interesting year that ranged from wonderful times to some of the most stressful things we have been through; things we almost didn't make it through. At the end of all the twists and turns 2006 threw at us, we are not where we thought we would be. It will be interesting to see what happens next year in 2007. I'm getting the chills now because when I went to type 2007, I typed 1997 and then again. 1997 was a year for me of very hard change and transitions. I hope that is not a sign of things to come...Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1164754092104861662006-11-28T14:48:00.000-08:002006-12-04T22:42:30.363-08:00Snow Day!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/308973209/" ><img src="http://static.flickr.com/119/308973209_d300006e69_m.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/308973209/">Snow day!</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acme7/">Allan & Cheryl</a>.<br /><br />The kids had their first snow day yesterday after a storm dumped 29-53 cm of snow over the lower mainland over the weekend and through Monday morning.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/306974552/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/121/306974552_fa11f7ca50_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Uncle Alvin stuck around for the snow day and helped Michael build a big snowman/jabba-the-snow-hutt in the back yard complete with carrot nose. Uncle Alvin also helped the kids build a snow jump for the sleds and a "snow mountain" in the front yard and the kids pestered both of us for endless rides around the yard on the sleds.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/306948403/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/116/306948403_b710928944_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The surprise of the snowstorm was that the twins LOVE playing outside in the snow - they got into the action with snowball rights, sled rides and even their summer beach toys.<br /><br />Maddy and Melissa enjoyed playing outside as well - but they decided not to go out again in the afternoon - but to stay curled up with books in the living room in front of the TV. Melissa is currently reading through the Chronicles of Narnia on her OWN!<br /><br />Besides playing outside - the kids got to enjoy the traditional "snow day" activities:plenty of hot chocolate, fresh chocoloate chip cookies, movies to watch, and even making Christmas oranments and pictures using copious amounts of glitter. For the first time ever, Melissa was sad to have to go to school this morning.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1163546524154858472006-11-14T15:14:00.000-08:002006-11-14T22:54:18.693-08:00Boo gets Bangs<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/297630503/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/113/297630503_6136ff8bee_m.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/297630503/">Boo with clipped bangs</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acme7/">Allan & Cheryl</a>.<br /><br />She's never had bangs, her hair goes so nicely to one side on its own, but she ASKED me to give her bangs while I was trimming Maddy's. I gave it my best shot, but well, they still need some work, not very even. She's happy though. I think that with this cut our Miss. Melissa Jean looks a bit like my cousin Jeanne.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/297630411/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/117/297630411_b2fdefc485_m.jpg" /></a><p></p>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1162844763727038792006-11-06T12:18:00.000-08:002006-11-07T07:08:03.003-08:00Silly twins<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/290825760/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/103/290825760_ed1e7b19d7_m.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/290825760/">Twins</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acme7/">Allan & Cheryl</a>.<br clear="all" /><p style="">Maribeth and Megan are just a constant source of amusement around here, both what they say and the faces they make! <br /><br />From smiling happy to this and back in just a couple of seconds!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/290825731/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/103/290825731_e2f627ca0a_m.jpg" width="240" height="192" alt="silly faces" /></a></p>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1162363978786299942006-10-31T22:45:00.000-08:002006-11-01T08:50:05.836-08:00Halloween!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/285286880/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/106/285286880_4a42ce7675_m.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/285286880/">Over here please</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acme7/">Allan & Cheryl</a>. <p style="">Michael, Melissa and Maddy went trick or treating with "Auntie Len" while Megan and Maribeth stayed home to help Daddy eat the candy,err - hand out the candy. ;) <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/285293238/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/102/285293238_efde3ce824_m.jpg" alt="Check this out" height="180" width="240" /></a><br /><br />Maddy was a "fairy princess ballerina" (the twins followed her example)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/285294043/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/105/285294043_2a7f48c88b_m.jpg" alt="See my haul!" height="240" width="180" /></a><br /><br />Melissa scorned the planned puppy costume to be "the angel of the Lord", which morphed into the "Angel of Liberty" and back.</p><p style=""><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/285287529/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/100/285287529_64ccb70bea_m.jpg" alt="Angel of Liberty" height="240" width="180" /></a><br /><br />Michael was thrilled for his turn to be "Hobbes" in the fleece tiger costume! Even though the temperature was down to 3C this evening - he didn't need a coat!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/285287372/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/105/285287372_ff892ff097_m.jpg" alt="Costumed" height="180" width="240" /></a><br /><br />Where was Mommy? In English class, but at least I found out I got an A on my midterm.</p>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1162192558959652942006-10-29T23:11:00.000-08:002006-10-29T23:30:44.640-08:00Five Dressed to the Nines<span style="font-style: italic;">Ready for an evening on the town</span> - My mother gave Michael what amounts to a mini-Tux. He's not going to fit it for very long, but while it does fit him, he looks very handsome: 'specially when standing next to Melissa in her flower girl's dress from my sister-in-law's wedding. You'd think they were going to the symphony or something.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/281797007/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/102/281797007_551549a893_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ain't it grand!</span> - Actually, these pictures give me the heebie-jeebies. I'm thinking, if they look good now, what am I going to be up against when they're teens and getting their photos taken for Prom night, or something like that?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/281797110/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/120/281797110_f3935373d8_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Cha-cha-cha!</span> - My step-mother gave Madeleine, Megan, and Maribeth matching dresses and we've been waiting for a chance to dress 'em up to show them off. We took 'em to church this weekend with their dresses to show 'em off to their grandmother. All three were too wiggly to sit, so we took them out to the hall for some pictures and they just wouldn't stop dancing.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/281798420/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/96/281798420_c63466df01_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Four out of five aini't bad</span> - When we got home we herded the M's onto the couch for some pictures before they messed up their clothes. The problem with any photo-shoot with all five is that getting them to all look at the camera at the same time is like herding cats.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/281799437/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/108/281799437_d9746e15e7_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Between Takes #1</span> - I kept shooting even between tries, and got a few interesting shots like this one below.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/281799961/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/80/281799961_9f4b7e6d62_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Happy M's all in a row</span> - I think this shot is the closest we got to all five looking more or less in the same direction.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/281800449/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/116/281800449_a4983c983f_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">That's a wrap!</span> - We pretty much decided to call it quits after this parting shot.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/281800856/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/94/281800856_63998e976c_m.jpg" /></a>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1162188218385330282006-10-29T22:02:00.000-08:002006-10-29T22:03:38.413-08:00Madeleine Turns FivePlaying catch-up here. Maddy's birthday was October 22 - one week ago. She had a really great day; Cheryl did a really big build-up, with a Pink Princess themed day. Madeleine just ate it up. All of her sibs liked the girly pink thing, except the boy, but he was told in so many words to play nice or he could sit the day out.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Cheryl putting up the streamers</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/276691179/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/88/276691179_44a2958d37_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Birthday balloons</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/276691561/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/89/276691561_dc2e71eb14_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Feathered pens, kewl!!!!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/276694412/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/105/276694412_7782d311cd_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Later on that day we went over to my mother's place as she had a gift for Madeleine too. To her credit, Maddy was a perfect little lady and behaved herself very well at Granny's house.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/278393182/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/83/278393182_d40531ea6c_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />A couple of days after Maddy's birthday a package arrived from my sister in Toronto. After Madeleine got the wrapping off, she was really on <a href="http://gailatlarge.com/blog/2006/10/27/2892">Cloud 9</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/88/280882625_cbeb149f82_m.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Pink Princess</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/280883072/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/96/280883072_994bfcd127_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I don't know how long Cheryl is going to keep it up with the themed birthday parties, but I'm really wondering how she's going to top herself when the twins birthday rolls around next February.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1161988136645862452006-10-27T15:21:00.000-07:002006-10-28T20:19:20.233-07:00Maddy is crowned "princess"<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/280882991/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/118/280882991_347cfc20af_m.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/280882991/">See my wand?</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acme7/">Allan & Cheryl</a>.<br /><br />Maddy's birthday gift from her Auntie Gail came today and now we have a very happy "pink barbie princess" twirling around our house!! Thank you Auntie Gail!!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1161579654898128862006-10-22T21:21:00.000-07:002006-10-22T22:29:49.876-07:00Hollyburn Mountain - a dissenting voiceCheryl writes:<br /><br />It was the perfect day for a hike; beautiful fall weather; sunny, but not hot; crisp, but not cold; and gorgeous fall foliage. This was the kind of day that Allan and I remember lamenting being stuck inside for school, work, or church. So beautiful, so perfect a day for hiking, that we decided to skip church and take our 5 M's for a hike. Destination: <a href="http://www.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&z=12&ll=49.388631,-123.184547&spn=0.17677,0.363235&om=1">Hollyburn Mountain</a>.<br /><br />For the most part, the M's were happy to be outside but there was ONE exception. Much to the frustration of everyone else in the family, instead of scrambling up the powerline trail from the parking lot, Melissa sulked, whined, and pouted her way up.<br /><br />"I don't like this."<br /><br />"I did NOT want to go hiking."<br /><br />"Can't you just leave me at home?"<br /><br />While still in sight of our van, "Can we turn around yet?"<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276162324/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/122/276162324_4c2ddf77dd_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Our other children were enjoying themselves.<br /><br />To quote Maddy, "This has all the beautiful mountain things that I needed."<br /><br />The happier the rest of us were, the more sullen Melissa became. Just as we were about to turn off the powerline trail onto the Hollyburn trail, she said something that left me speechless and wondering if she was switched at birth.<br /><br />"I HATE this. I wish I was in SCHOOL. I wish I could go to school and be inside ALL the time."<br /><br />For all the days I have spent stuck inside, wishing to be free to be outside, my child was hiking outside on a beautiful, perfect fall day, and wishing she was sitting at her desk in school. It was a cruel irony of life. It will be another 4 or 5 years until Melissa is old enough to be left home while we go hiking.<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276164327/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/113/276164327_50ca497afa_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />As the trail wound upwards through incredible mountain meadows, bushes aflame with fall color, Melissa realized that whining wasn't working and decided to try a new adventure ending tactic<br /><br />"Golden Ears. Golden Ears. Golden Ears," she muttered under her breath as she walked.<br /><br />"MELISSA!" I said to her; indignant that she would attempt to call down rain on our perfect fall hike.<br /><br />"Well, I WANT It to RAIN so we can go home," glared the Baboo, the very picture of slouching, pre-teenish unhappiness.<br /><br />"Do you actually think that we will go home if it rains?" I asked her.<br /><br />"Umm-hmmm", she said; still glaring at us.<br /><br />"But, Melissa, we brought our RAINCOATS!" Michael interjected excitedly.<br /><br />"I didn't," said Melissa.<br /><br />"Oh but I did!" I said. "And if it rains then we will just hike in the rain and have a rainy day adventure."<br /><br />"It will just rain on all of YOU!" said Melissa; mad that I had her raincoat. "It will not rain on me because I have my pink water bottle."<br /><br />The complete lack of logic in that statement had Michael and Maddy in stitches.<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276170789/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/107/276170789_390fc937da_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We were,however, pleased to note, that the rain-making properties of the term "Golden Ears" does not extend to our offspring and we were able to have a wonderful hike. Melissa's disposition improved dramatically once we got to the top of the mountain. She even got to feed some gray jays out of her hand.<br /><br />But still; what child of ours prefers to be in school than to hiking on a perfect fall day????<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276171434/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/85/276171434_71b3bd4385_m.jpg" /></a>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1161538685750786682006-10-22T10:37:00.000-07:002006-10-22T12:54:01.346-07:00Hollyburn MountainAfter a wet and gray week, Cheryl and I were cheered by the weekend forecast: sunshine Saturday and Sunday. We planned straightaway to not waste the sun and dry days. An adventure, the destination of which was left up to me, was planned and the kids packed off to bed (after reading chapter 3 of "The Voyage of the Dawntreader" to them of course).<br><br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276162169/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/107/276162169_c48aa08c81_m.jpg"></a><br><br>I packed our lunches. I made up separate baggies of goldfish crackers and home made GORP: raisins, chipits, and smarties. We had to go without the peanuts because of Maddy's allergies. I made up some PBJ's, packed one apple for everyone, one nutrigrain bar each, and filled up our waterbottles. Everyone had a bottle for themselves and I filled four 1 litre nalgene bottles in reserve.<br><br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276162552/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/114/276162552_29a2bcd70a_m.jpg"></a><br><br>The next day started out with a very thick blanket of fog. We only live about 20 minutes from the ocean, so this is typical. We packed up the van, drove up the hill on 176th St and found ourselves in golden morning sunshine. Forty-five minutes after leaving our driveway, we were at the trailhead of my chosen destination for the day: Hollyburn Mountain.<br><br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276163325/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/104/276163325_292cd32e81_m.jpg"></a><br><br>According to my battered copy of 103 Hikes in Southwestern BC, I last did this hike in September of '92. Fourteen years since my boots touched this trail. That was a little much to swallow. My printing on the margin also noted that I was stung by a wasp. It was the first time I had ever been stung by a bee or wasp. I remember thinking, "Oh great. What a time to find out I'm allergic." Thankfully nothing happened.<br><br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276163974/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/82/276163974_550f7be05f_m.jpg"></a><br><br>Alpine Autumn - above. Melissa headed up the trail - below.<br><br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276164327/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/113/276164327_50ca497afa_m.jpg"></a><br><br>In the middle distance is North Vancouver. Just beyond you can see Belcarra on Indian Arm. Beyond is Burnaby Mountain and SFU. The far distance is the Fraser Valley and the U.S.<br><br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276164960/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/91/276164960_9c57e008fd_m.jpg"></a><br><br>The trail gets steeper.<br><br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276166131/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/79/276166131_c92259ea49_m.jpg"></a><br><br>We passed a number of these little alpine ponds - like jewels in the mountain crowns.<br><br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276167284/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/114/276167284_d9d94e7bdb_m.jpg"></a><br><br>It got pretty steep in places, but it still wasn't as strenuous as Mt. Seymour last summer.<br><br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276168817/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/96/276168817_945a5329d9_m.jpg"></a><br><br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276169971/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/120/276169971_8143364a18_m.jpg"></a><br><br>The Three Amigos. Extra points if you can identify which is which.<br><br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276170146/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/88/276170146_b4937599e0_m.jpg"></a><br><br>Maribeth, "Care for a green smartie?"<br> <br> Megan, "Thank-you. Don't mind if I do."<br><br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276170318/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/94/276170318_e6d20ba70d_m.jpg"></a><br><br>Melissa feeding the gray jays. At first I tried to tell 'em NOT to encourage the jays. They're also known as "Camp Robbers" for their aggressive theivery. I eventually gave up. It's pretty cool having one land on your hand to eat the goldfish cracker or raisin or chipit you're holding out for it.<br><br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276170953/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/117/276170953_10057cc9d0_m.jpg"></a><br><br>Megan is very silly. She did this spontaneously - without any prompting at all.<br><br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276183611/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/276183611_a24887ee1a_m.jpg"></a><br><br>We had a good time, didn't we? Madeleine and Cheryl (and Maribeth in the backpack) silhouetted at the top of the powerline road, just before it plunges back down to the trailhead and parking lot. In the distance, far across a sea of clouds blanketing the Straight of Georgia, is Vancouver Island and behind it the peaks of Washington's Olympic Peninsula. Yeah, we had fun.<br><br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/276186058/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/93/276186058_2108539378_m.jpg" >=""></a><br><br>You can see the rest of the photos in this set by going to this link: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/sets/72157594339914279/" target="_blank">Hollyburn Mountain</a>.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1160595063992317232006-10-11T12:24:00.000-07:002006-10-17T21:29:18.553-07:00Twins and Best Friends<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/267167121/" ><img src="http://static.flickr.com/117/267167121_68f94d1597_m.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/267167121/">Twins and Best Friends</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acme7/">Allan & Cheryl</a>.<br clear="all" />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1160267520963251012006-10-07T17:25:00.000-07:002006-10-08T16:20:35.983-07:00Wagon ho!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/263374943/" title="Wagon Ho!"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/90/263374943_ec1251aa24_m.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/263374943/">Wagon ho!</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acme7/">Allan & Cheryl</a>.<br /><br />Within a 48 hour span we've switched to completely new child-carrying devices. The double stroller, maddeningly past warranty, literally snapped in half on Thursday as I was pushing it loaded with the twins and groceries. Allan points out that it was a light-weight stroller and NOT meant to have the basket stuffed with groceries and have more groceries hanging off the handles. Then the green wagon has been dealing with front axle failure, so that wasn't a good backup option. It was only kind of usable and not good for really loading up. We stuck it out by the road with a <em>free</em> sign and it was gone overnight.<br /><br />The first purchase (not pictured) was a single stroller from a consignment store on Thursday. Allan has attached the Buggy-board to it and now I basically have a "sit and stand" type of contraption for the twins. They can take turns riding in the stroller, on the buggy-board, or just walking.<br /><br /><object width="360" height="320"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="movie" value="http://images.multiply.com/multiply/player2.swf"></param><param name="FlashVars" value="vidurl=http://images.mamacheryl.multiply.com/movie/21/9.flv/flash?enctoken=U2FsdGVkX1,Zc7XFidorjFRm44.1nJZ304e6D0qa4bA=&vidlength=66&numericid=9&userid=mamacheryl&baseurl=http://allane.multiply.com"></param><embed src="http://images.multiply.com/multiply/player2.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="360" height="320" FLASHVARS="vidurl=http://images.mamacheryl.multiply.com/movie/21/9.flv/flash?enctoken=U2FsdGVkX1,Zc7XFidorjFRm44.1nJZ304e6D0qa4bA=&vidlength=66&numericid=9&userid=mamacheryl&baseurl=http://allane.multiply.com" wmode="transparent"></embed></object><br /><br />But the big find was on Craiglist yesterday: listed as a <em>kid's chuck wagon</em>. It had been used for a paper route and is in excellent condition. It has real pneumatic wheels, a pad in the bottom for comfort, and a removeable rain/sun canopy. There is room for twins plus sand toys or groceries, or for the twins and Maddy. To be honest, if I had found this first, I might not have bought the single stroller. Hopefully this is the end of the road for new strollers and/or wagons. The kids just love the new wagon.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1160346984423359642006-10-06T21:47:00.000-07:002006-10-08T15:36:24.456-07:00Maribeth potty-training update<em>Posted on behalf of Cheryl</em><br /><br />First day in panties all day: she only had ONE accident and it was my fault really as I was on the phone and could NOT take her when she needed to go and then she didn't make it; even being out of the house much of the day. She tells me when she has to go but then I also am having her go before we leave the house anymore. I'm taking spare clothes with me everywhere in a wetbag just in CASE of an accident! <br /><br />Maddy is having fits though because she decides she has to go too anytime Maribeth tells me she has to go. Maddy gets mad about waiting for Maribeth OR having to walk UPSTAIRS or DOWNSTAIRS (to whatever floor we aren't on) to use the 2nd bathroom. Of course since DH and I grew up in houses with one bathroom when we were young AND since Michael and Melissa remember having only one bathroom, Maddy is NOT getting a lot of sympathy from anyone about either waiting for her younger sister or (gasp) walking to the other bathroom. <img src="http://www.theswap.com/BBS/Images/tongue.gif" /> She has had a couple of accidents after deciding that she would NOT walk upstairs to the potty and if I wouldn't let her go downstairs before Maribeth, she wouldn't go potty AT ALL. THAT didn't work out so well for her. I shouldn't laugh but, "If I can't pee first - i won't pee at all", is just NOT a stand to take.<br /><br />That saidm Maddy herself hasn't even been potty trained a year yet. She potty trained in November/December last year and still had accidents even through this spring. Megan shows no interest yet, but Maribeth is sure trying.<br /><br />"I'm a big girl - I wear my panties."<br /><br />"I went pee in potty. MEGGY - you need to go potty."<br /><br />"Mama - change BABY'S diaper: Megan poopy."<br /><br />Megan reacts to be called a "baby" by saying "gaa gaa, goo goo" in affected baby talk. Still, I'm hoping twin power will work eventually. <img src="http://www.theswap.com/BBS/Images/evilgrin2.gif" /> <img src="http://www.theswap.com/BBS/Images/eek2.gif" />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1159917413703595832006-10-03T16:13:00.000-07:002006-10-08T15:56:37.070-07:00Busy, Busy, BusyQuick update here on all of us.<br /><br />Me: In school 2 nights a week and finding it a bit of an effort to get used to college again. I'm studying after the kids go to bed most nights and any other free time I can find in my day. I got my first English assignment back with an A- and my first political science paper got a B+. Which isn't too bad considering I've been out of school completely since Dec 1997. I also had a sinus infection for several weeks but am currently on antibiotics and that's getting better. I did quit the community orchestra because I felt that I would not be able to practice enough with the kids and school work. I'm also on our co-op's board of directors; can't get out of that one.<br /><br />Allan: The company he works for was sold to an American company based out of Ohio. It looks as though the new owners are planning to keep the Canadian office open. Breathing a sigh of relief that he still has a job, for now anyway. Allan is currently at a conference, so he won't be around for a few days. His dad will be watching the kids for my classes tonight and tomorrow night. So pray for Grandpa because this is the longest he will have had all the M's for; however, I came up with no other babysitting options and simply can't miss those classes. Allan also has been diagnosed with moderately severe sleep apnea and is being referred to a sleep clinic. In addition, his tests have turned up high blood pressure and pre-diabetes high blood sugar. So his health is a concern as well.<br /><br />Melissa: Doing incredibly well in school and happy as a clam in the classroom setting. She is now reading way, WAY above her grade level. She's into full-length chapter books now and reads several hours a day. Her teacher sent home a form where the parents are to fill out their 2nd graders reading time and sign off on it. I had to laugh because Melissa put in 90 minutes of her weekly 2 hour minimum in just the first day that form came home! I'll likely not attempt to document all of her reading time though.<br /><br />Michael: Also doing very well in school both academically and socially. He completes all his work at school, so doesn't bring homework home yet. He's really enjoying having PE and learning sports as well as playtime with other boys at recess. A group of them are doing a digging project in the sand pit at recess and lunch. He's reading probably on a 3rd grade level from what I can determine. He's able to read things like <em>Magic school bus, Berenstein Bears, and Little Golden books</em>. He only needs help on only a few words here and there. He is still reading out loud though and is not yet willing to try books with no pictures. He also has grown a LOT and is half a head taller than Melissa.<br /><br />Maddy: Maddy is loving afternoon kindergarten but she struggling with learning how to write her letters. I spend more time working with her a day than the other two put together. She IS trying though. She has always been behind with motorskills. It is helping some to use paper with raised top and bottom lines. She IS starting to be able to sound out some words. I'm working with her at home using Phonics Pathways, sandpaper letters (for the writing part as well), and Bob books.<br /><br />Megan and Maribeth: The twins are growing like weeds. Megan is up to Maddy's shoulders and in size 3-4. Maribeth in size 2-3, but is so skinny that pants which are long enough for her legs fall right off unless she has a bulky cloth diaper underneath; but those days are numbered. The girls are talking a LOT now, but are so calm and laid back compared to my older three. For the three hours a day that I have just the twins life is so CALM and quiet and they are fun little people.<br /><br />The big news is that Maribeth is starting to potty train!! She is so tiny that size 2 panties barely stay on her. She has been dry in the morning two nights in a row and been asking to use the potty throughout the day (but I have to actually take her). Yesterday she was dry until I was preparing supper and than had another accident during supper. She got put into a pull-up and is still in the same pull-up as she was dry this morning as well and has been using the potty this morning. I'm getting the feeling that it's not going to be very long until I have only one in diapers (I've had at least two children in diapers since Michael was born in September 2000 and three in diapers for a total of almost three years!). Megan has NO interest in the potty and does not even tell me if she is wet or poopy.<br /><br />The older three M's are all taking swimming lessons at the YMCA on Sunday mornings and loving them! Having five mobile non-swimmers was starting to scare me, so we are doing swimming instead of soccer or dance this year and possibly next.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1158002838931542692006-09-11T12:27:00.000-07:002006-09-11T12:27:18.933-07:00Rolling Our OwnHomemade vegetable rolls. Yum. And they're not as hard to make as one would think.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/240664377/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/94/240664377_0e47306061_m.jpg" /> </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/240664220/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/89/240664220_912a20b54c_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Interestingly enough, all of the kids liked the salmon rolls I made. Madeleine, who is allergic to fish was happy with the ones I made with some steak. I made three kinds of vegetable rolls - cucumber, vegetable (carrot, cucumber, lettuce), and vegetable (lettuce, bean, carrot, cucumber, and mayo).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Note</span> - These photos are of the leftovers, so they're a little worse for wear. And interestingly enough, these four rolls were conspicuously absent from the fridge when I made breakfast this morning. Therre was however a small dish in the sink with some soy sauce in it. I'll have to quiz the kids if they saw or heard anything during their nighttime visits to the potty when I get home today.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1158002594492187572006-09-11T12:22:00.000-07:002006-09-11T12:23:14.530-07:00S'mores the StickierThis was Cheryl's idea. Take 9 oven baked s'mores (leftovers from our camping adventures) and combine with 5 silly kids. You don't even have to shake well.<br /><br />We tossed 'em all into the tub afterwards, then <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span> I scrubbed the table, chairs, and mopped the floor.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/240663674/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/94/240663674_d7ea819048_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Yes Megan, it has amazing powers of adhesion on human skin and smooth surfaces!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/240664029/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/85/240664029_7d3616b985_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />No, I don't think you should have anymore. Besides, you haven't finished what you've got already. No, eating all the marshmallow and chocolate out from between the graham crackers doesn't count.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/240663445/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/94/240663445_ee48d63df6_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Beware any child wielding a sticky, oven-baked s'more in one hand, and a half-chewed sushi roll in the other.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/240663766/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/96/240663766_7b1c51ed0d_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Melissa is the picture of gentility by comparison.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/240663260/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/85/240663260_866f1eac72_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Away wit' ye! Madeleine shooes off the paparazzi.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1157823584523052552006-09-09T00:39:00.000-07:002006-09-09T10:39:44.550-07:00Labour Day 2006: Day 2 - Behind the ScenesBefore I go on to Day 3, I thought I'd post some more photos from Day 2. Don't forget that you can click on any of them to go to our Flickr site where you can see larger versions of the picture.<br /><br />I did manage to take some pictures of the M's before they fell off that giant fallen log.<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/235308486/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/96/235308486_2576bc817b_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Looking at the photos now, I wish I had more people or things in them to better help indicate the scale of the thing pictured. Take the picture I include here for example. The tree itself was an organic skyscraper, and in many ways surpassing anything made by hands. It seems a little prosaic though in this image.<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/235305730/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/80/235305730_25de3ac93d_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I should have had Cheryl or dad in this following picture instead of Megan. She's barely 3 ft tall, so yeah, any tree is really big compared to her.<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/235301996/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/79/235301996_879849584f_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I think I mentioned in the post that I gave Cheryl the heebee-jeebies by standing really close to the end of the cliff above the falls. Maybe this picture will give you an idea of how close I was to the edge. Or, maybe it doesn't ...<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/235318778/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/79/235318778_17045bacaa_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Maybe this one does a better job ..<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/235318135/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/86/235318135_9f4ae26c41_m.jpg" /></a>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1157724705185596272006-09-08T07:07:00.000-07:002006-09-08T07:11:45.186-07:00I'm in Kindergarten!<a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/236567187/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/84/236567187_bfae7ddda1_m.jpg"></a><br><br>Madeleine has been really excited about going to school this week. Gotta love that grin!<br><br><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/236567476/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/85/236567476_9fcd0dcac8_m.jpg"></a><br>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1157724053623162172006-09-08T06:58:00.000-07:002006-09-08T07:00:53.626-07:00Indoctrination, eh?Remember a post a while ago about Cheryl reading her algebra text to the kids at bedtime? Well, she's at it again.<br /><br />This semester Cheryl has a 100 level Poli-Sci course which is an intro to Canadian Politics. So right now she's indoctrinating the kids with what all good Canadians should know about the CBC, CanCon, the CRTC, the National Film Board of Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts, and on and on.<br /><br />To their credit (or not, depending on how you look at it) Melissa and Michael are still awake.<br /><br />Still I couldn't keep from laughing out loud as Cheryl read the words, "Canadian Drama". Discussions I've heard about how real Peter Mansbridge's (current) toupee is crossed my mind. Yes, I know about <span style="font-style: italic;">Da Vinci's Inquest</span>. And man, oh man am I ticked that <span style="font-style: italic;">Regenesis</span> is only available in the more expensive cable packages. Still, the phrase Canadian Drama just puts me in mind of excruciatingly earnest radio hosts on CBC radio discussing Very Important Canadian Literature.<br /><br />Oooooh. Now she's reading the words, "Domestic Canadian Policy." As if there were Canadian policies which weren't domestic.<br /><br /><img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/shade.png" /><br /><br />Okay. I'll stop now.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1157695117098663382006-09-07T21:08:00.000-07:002006-09-09T10:40:49.663-07:00Labour Day 2006: Day 2 - Ancient Cedars Loop<a href="photos/hi-res/5/7?xurl=%2Fphotos%2Fphoto%2F5%2F7"><img src="http://images.allane.multiply.com/image/6/photos/5/500x500/7/Map6.jpg?et=dS0i%2Bx%2CBIGDJQ%2BgPBhHhQQ" height="300" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Saturday dawned bright, beautiful, and early. The kids popped out of their bags like Gary Larson's <span style="font-style: italic;">African Rake Snake</span> and started giggling and hooting to wake Cain. Thankfully we did not yet have any neighbours in the site closest to our tent.<br /><br />We were going to make oatmeal, but dad had brought a box of <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3362/553/320/2036.jpg" target="_blank">champorado</a>. If you're like me and never heard of this, it's a kind of sticky-rice porridge that takes waaaaaaaay more time to cook than porridge. At least, it did that day.<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/235286582/" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/235286582_c224823db4_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />When we had cleaned up after breakfast, we piled into our van and Dad's jeep and set off to find our day's objective: the Ancient Cedars loop trail just north of Whistler.<br /><br />According to <a href="http://www.jackchristie.com/">Jack Christie</a> in <em>The Whistler Book</em>, "Core samples taken from wester red cedars on Cougar Mountain indicate that many are well over 600 years old -- with some approaching the millenium mark. And though the Douglas firs on the periphery of the cedar grove are much smaller, they are about the same age. Proof that size isn't always a good indication of a tree's age." The guide book goes on to say that you can tell you've reached the ancient cedars: the trunks swell to 3 m (9 ft).<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/235288357/" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/86/235288357_3d1cc4876b_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />With that in mind we drove south on Hwy 99 until we got to the turn-off to Cougar Mountain. We drove up a packed gravel forest service road and then passed through what seemed to be a private compound onto a more narrow and rugged gravel road. We drove for a few minutes, wondering if we had misread the directions and put ourselves onto the wrong road. A large tour-van came down the road and slowed as they came up to us. The driver rolled down his window and we asked him if we were on the right road to the Ancient Cedars forest. In an unmistakeably Australian drawl he replied that he did not think so and that the road we wanted was further north. He told us the road ended at some stables further up and suggested we ought to ask there girls there. Dispappointed, we decided to find a turn-around in the road so we could find our way again. About 10 minutes later, on our way back past the private compound we spotted a map board beside a trailhead close to the road. We stopped and I found that we <em>were</em> on the right road - 16 Mile Creek Forest Service Road. The private compound belonged to an adventure tour company that was licensed to use the recreation area where the trail was located. I guess the driver was summer hire who wasn't terribly familiar with the local geography beyond where he worked. So we turned around and made our way back up the road.<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/235291292/" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/91/235291292_a713a83027_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />About fifteen minutes later we passed the stable the driver mentioned turned a corner and found the trailhead.<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/235290568/" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/80/235290568_d999f42d88_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The kids were raring to go, excited that Gumpa was along for an adventure. Each of the older three M's partnered up with a grown-up and we set off. Melissa took the lead, practically pulling her mother and Maribeth (in the pack on Cheryl's back) up the trail. Michael tagged along with me and Megan. Madeleine was Dad's hiking partner for the day.<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/235309982/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/94/235309982_049480ae57_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We made our way up the trail, enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of a boreal forest in the late summer / early autumn. The trail made it's way through several switch-backs, quickly climbing the slope. It (and carrying Megan) quickly left me out of breath. Melissa, on the other hand, continued to fly up the trail.<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/235296480/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/235296480_2329df2d8c_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />After about forty minutes the trail flattened out, came over the brow of a hill, then broke out of the forest into a wide valley. The view was gorgeous. However the reprieve didn't last very long. The trail quickly had us panting up the side of the valley again. After another switch-back we found a very welcome bench and had a water break.<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/235295501/" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/235295501_119e84831a_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />About 10 minutes later we finally reached the Ancient Cedars Loop. A small bridge crossed a creek at the start of the loop and we stopped to let the twins out of their backpacks to walk with us.<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/235301332/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/91/235301332_ee05bce23f_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The cedars were indeed huge. There were a few pairs of trees whose trunks had grown together, having a combined girth that would take at least 10 adults holding hands to go all the way around.<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/235312593/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/79/235312593_6f613dbde3_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/235311593/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/87/235311593_3fed747586_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The walk back out was relatively uneventful. In the heat, Maribeth fell asleep in the pack on my back.<br /><br />We also stopped at a viewpoint on the highway above Nairn Falls and took pictures of the Green River just before it tumbled into the canyon. Cheryl was a wee bit concerned that I myself was going to tumble into the canyon taking those pictures, but I was very careful.<br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/235316279/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/89/235314798_b0bdcbeece_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/acme7/235315123/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/83/235315123_60ad1ea48e_m.jpg" /></a>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1157526801990362802006-09-06T00:07:00.000-07:002006-09-06T08:53:08.056-07:001st day of school<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/235759564/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/90/235759564_6ad557524d_m.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/235759564/">Ready to Go</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acme7/">Allan & Cheryl</a>.<br /><br />Here are the elder three of the M's getting ready for the first day of school; which really was only an hour of "find your classroom/introductions" today. Melissa and Michael both have a number of friends from last year in their classes. Melissa is in the same classroom as last year, just with a differnet teacher as the school re-organized some of the classrooms! Michael has the same teacher this year that Melissa had last year. Maddy is in afternoon K with Mrs. L - who taught Michael last year. They are excited about the first REAL day of school coming up tomorrow (oops - later today - I need to get to bed!).Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1157489710287665612006-09-05T13:49:00.000-07:002006-09-09T10:40:26.530-07:00Labour Day 2006: Day 1 - Nairn Falls<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/235255453/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/81/235255453_d7b511fec9_m.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/235255453/">Hi Everybody!</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/acme7/">Allan & Cheryl</a>.<br /><br />When we decided over 3 weeks ago to go camping this weekend, we knew right away that we would not hazard the long weekend border traffic or ferry line-ups to Vancouver Island. Instead we thought we would try and find somewhere nice to camp closer to home than ¾ of a state away.<br /><br />Well, that was easier said than done. We checked the province's reservation system for campgrounds in its parks. Even with 3 weeks advance notice, no parks within 1, 2, or even 3 hours of the Fraser Valley had vacancies. This was frustrating, because there was no way that we would gamble that any of the 'first-come, first-served' sites would be left; not with five kids in the van. So we kept looking until we found a little place called <a href="http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/nairn.html">Nairn Falls Provincial Park</a>, just outside of Pemberton, BC.<br /><br />We read through the park description online and then consulted our hiking and camping guides. According to <a href="http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/planning/mgmtplns/nairn/nairn.html">management plan</a> posted on the BC Parks website, the site was designed to help provide overflow capacity (oh good!) as the Sea-to-Sky corridor is very busy and popular for recreational activities. Beyond that the park preserves the falls as a local native heritage site as well as protects the habitat of the <a href="http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/kootenay/natcul/natcul4_E.asp">rubber boa</a> - the northernmost member of the boa family. Well, Cheryl just about fainted after reading that. But she soldiered on, as this was seemingly our last hope. The guide books mentioned the trail to the falls as having some hazardous sections where families with small children should take care. They also said that this park was a popular base-camp for further exploring the Whistler region.<br /><br />After some deliberation we decided to post our reservation, since time was running out, and hoped that we had made a good choice.<br /><br />***<br /><br />We drove up Highway 99, the "Sea to Sky Hwy", leaving just before 10 am Friday morning to avoid the horrible long-weekend traffic; which we did!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/235242187/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/96/235242187_0be3cbdffb_m.jpg" alt="Friday morning - heading out of town" /></a><br /><br />We got into Nairn Falls Provincial Park around 1:30 pm. We checked the reservation board near the entrance and found our site number. We just about cheered when we saw that our assigned site was well away from the river (one of Cheryl's concerns) and not too far from the out-houses.<br /><br />As we cruised down the park lanes we saw that there was a hand-pump to draw well water for drinking. And there seemed to be wood available somewhere for a camp-fire. The sites were well spaced so some privacy was to be had. In short: the place was beautiful!<br /><br />With three adults to keep an eye on the small people, we got camp set-up in about an hour. Well short of the 2½ hours it took on our trip to Washington. That left us plenty of time before supper to go and visit the falls!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/235253551/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/96/235253551_49e3007760_m.jpg" alt="Hikers" /></a><br /><br />The "narrow and hazardous" parts of the trail were not nearly so scary as the guides had made out. Or maybe it was just that our children are experienced hikers. At any rate, you can see in the pictures that even Maribeth and Megan got to do a little hiking. Maribeth, for the record, is very much the little rock-gymnast. It remains to be seen how we long we're actually going to be able to steer her away from climbing.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/235247910/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/86/235247910_988696db14_m.jpg" alt="IMG_5662" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme7/235253064/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/92/235253064_949b188f4f_m.jpg" alt="IMG_5679" /></a><br /><br />The falls themselves were very pretty. Worth the hike, but not "awe-inspiring". The guides were correct however that they are a very good example of "the erosive power of water". Even Michael could see how the water had carved the potholes and where two potholes had worn into each other below the surface, leaving a natural bridge.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1157491990084116002006-09-05T13:25:00.000-07:002006-09-05T23:58:53.793-07:00Edwins at Large: Labour Day 2006As hinted at on Friday's post, an adventure for the Five M's and their harried parents was in the offing. However this time Gumpa came along!<br /><br />Four days, three nights, and 650 kms (about 400 mi) later, we're safely home with scads of pictures and a few videos to share. Watch this space.<br /><br /><a href="http://allane.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/5/12?xurl=%2Fphotos%2Fphoto%2F5%2F12"><img src="http://images.allane.multiply.com/image/2/photos/5/500x500/12/Map8.jpg?et=FBq3wJ5aVcNkQE68tPy%2C4Q" height=300 width=400 alt="" /></a><br /><br />Day 1 - From: Here at home in the Fraser Valley. To: Nairn Falls Provincial Park, about 3 kms south of Pemberton, BC. Via: Trans-Canada and Highway 99. Distance: 200 kms.<br /><br />Day 2 - From: Nairn Falls camp. To: Ancient Cedars forest, Showh Lakes Recreation Area and back. Via: Highway 99 and Sixteen-Mile Creek forest service road. Distance: 50 kms.<br /><br />Day 3 - From: Nairn Falls camp. To: Lillooet, BC. Via: Highway 99 (Duffey Lake road). Distance: 200 kms.<br /><br />Day 4 - From: Nairn Falls camp. To: Here at home in the Fraser Valley. Via: Highway 99 and Trans-Canada. Distance: 200 kms.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277351.post-1157119965819221182006-09-01T07:04:00.000-07:002006-09-01T07:12:46.133-07:00The Last Weekend of SummerThat's all folks. We're down to Labour Day weekend. The last weekend of summer. Next Tuesday the kids and Cheryl(!) are back in school, and it will be officially autumn*. All good things must end. I hope you all have a very enjoyable and safe long weekend.<br /><br />Our weekend forecast :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3362/553/1600/forecast01.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3362/553/320/forecast01.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In imperial units, for those of you aren't familiar with metric.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3362/553/1600/forecast02.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3362/553/320/forecast02.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />* Not that I'm complaining mind you. Autumn is my favourite time of year.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701455876364892314noreply@blogger.com2