Field Trip to the Apple Barn

On Friday Melissa's preschool class went on a field trip to the Apple Barn. The weather was nothing short of a spectacular fall day!

The kids watching a demonstration of a machine sorting apples...

Visiting the goats...

On the hayride through the orchard with friends Nayimah & Autumn...

A trip down the long tunnel slide...

The highlight of the trip was this huge bouncy pillow!

Garden Harvest

Back in May, we planted a simple garden at my parent's house (see post). The time had come to harvest it to make way for a new crop of cedar shrubs.

Here is the fully grown corn patch...

and our happy pumpkin patch...

Papa pulled out the relic little red wagon from my childhood, and Melissa was happy to get a ride in it!

Loading in some pumpkins...

Digging up the potatoes... Melissa was impressed to see so many had come from one seed potato!

We kept finding crazy shaped potatoes, the kind that never make it to the supermarket... and this potato Melissa said looked like a rubber ducky :)

Picking an appropriate sized pumpkin...

The parade of pumpkins...

Lastly Melissa joined Papa on the tractor (a brave first!) to chop down the plants before tilling them under...

This was such a great learning experience... and what is more fun than eating your own grown veggies! Hopefully there will be an opportunity like this again next year!

Lantern Festival

This weekend we went to the Lantern Festival, put on by Spirit of BC,

at Mill Lake. Melissa showing her lantern...

She decided to get her face painted...

(some venues she will, some she won't!)

Once dark enough the walk commenced...

and it was followed by a rather impressive fireworks display.

I haven't ever experienced fireworks up this close!

Ballet Class

Melissa has been very consistent in asking to be in a ballet class again after she had her first taste of it last year. So today was a very exciting day for her as it was her first class. Later in the year she will learn tap & jazz dance as well.

All the little ballerinas in a circle...

Checking herself out in the mirrors behind her...

First Day of Preschool (4/5 year)

Yesterday was Melissa's much anticipated first day back to preschool after having the summer off. Melissa was eager as can be... I thought I was too, but felt emotional dropping her off. Nevertheless I got over it and she had a great time. This year she has one new teacher to get to know, as well as a few new students. The class ratio is 14 boys to 7 girls!

Ready for school

Since all our little trips have ended, Melissa has developed a serious case of summer boredom... even though I take her out of the house each morning. She is in serious need of school to start up again, and is really looking forward to it... especially seeing all her friends again. This afternoon as I was picking plums in our backyard, she was taking pictures with my camera... and here is a shot that captures it perfectly!

A pic she took of some flowers...

Birchwood Dairy

It had been 3 years since we had been to Birchwood Dairy. Last time Melissa was just over a year old.

This time Melissa was interested in riding the stationary tractors...

And feeding the very hungry goat, lovingly named "Billy"...

Melissa & Nayimah farming together...

Best part was their tasty ice-cream! Melissa tried their M&M one...

So yummy!

Kamloops

Last weekend Melissa & I joined Ken in Kamloops as he was there for training for his work. Turned out the weather wasn't the typical Kamloops style, it was rather overcast & wet for them. Nevertheless it was fun exploring a new city.

Here we are at the CPRail yard just as a train was coming in...

One afternoon we decided to go to the Albert McGowan Waterpark. But as we arrived there, a cloud opened up and there was a massive downpour. So we took a drive around town (shopped at Urban Barn) and came back 1/2 an hour later and the cloud had passed. Funny how quick the rain comes and goes there. (Nothing like here in the valley.) Melissa had this waterpark all to herself...

For dinner that night we went to Ken's Uncle Bill & Aunt Linda's. Cousin Laura plays the drums, and Melissa got to try them out... which was a hit!

And she played their keyboard...

Cousin Laura gave us a little demonstration...

Later that night back at our hotel, Melissa snuggled up with her new unicorn stuffy she got from Laura...

The following evening after another day of exploring Kamloops, we joined Uncle Bill & Aunt Linda at their favorite Greek restaurant 'Mino's' which was excellent! After dinner we took their two dogs to the dog park for a little play-time. Here we are following them, and their dog Misty is very eagerly hanging out the window...

Misty excitedly greets her little dog friend, Carlos...

Carlos posing for the camera...

Melissa & Misty had a great connection, as they had bonded the night before...

Misty's birth brother was at the park too, he was more into getting petted than running & playing with the other dogs...

Aunt Linda & Uncle Bill with their two dogs (Misty & Lotto)...

Melissa was very keen on walking Misty on a leash...

A perfect sized dog for a little girl :)

All in all it was a fun little get-away. We were pleasantly surprised with Kamloops, and hope to return again one day :)

Harrison Hot Springs

On the last day of the August long weekend, we went to Harrison Hot Springs with the McMillan family. Nothing like hanging out at the beach in the summer!

Melissa & Kiera playing in the water...

Riley, getting down and dirty!

The girls taking turns pushing each other around in the water...