The Summer Ritual

Our usual adventure as a family in the summer...load up the 15 passenger rental and head WEST!  We love exploring different lakes and after years of camping, every way possible (RV, trailer, tent trailer, tent) we have stuck to the cabin for the past several years as it is just perfect for our needs.  This year we went back to the Shuswap and had a great little place right on the beach in Annis Bay.  The weather was hot and sunny for the most part...except the storm on the last day...which was refreshing.

This year Char and John came along and thanks to them, I did no cooking...they are fabulous cooks and everyone is missing John's famous cheesy potatoes!  Thanks to you both for all your help and making the trip so much fun.

We picked up Meg on our way we could spend time with her as we never get to see her!  It was nice to have her around for the week and she takes the prize for the worst tubing wipe-out!  Way to go Meg!!!  

Also, Brent and the boys came up from 

Langley for a couple nights and tried tubing and Sam even braved knee-boarding for the first time.  It was great to see everyone.

Jason came along with us (Taylor's best friend) and that is just 'normal' for us as we are his 2nd home...and he's just another member of the fam really...but I'm most grateful that he was there when we lost Reggie for about 20 minutes...because he was the one who found him!!!  Yes, I never thought it could be possible to lose a 3 year old when there are 15 other people around...but I put him in the bedroom and went into the bathroom for exactly 2 minutes...to come out and find him gone!  Everyone started searching EVERYWHERE and I literally was on the verge of passing out from fear and shock and thoughts of the worst-case scenario when Jason yelled from upstairs...he was hiding under the futon and when he pulled him out he was smiling...he thought he won the game of hide and seek that no one else was playing!  He soon figured out how scared we all were and when no one else congratulated him on winning the 'game' he started to cry...he sensed our fear and relief all at once.  I was just so grateful.  So grateful.

Shannon's family were house boating the same week so her dad brought her over to the cabin via sea doo and she stayed for a night and all day the next day to 'play' on the water...she and Jen had some great moments on the tubes...especially the one where Shannon tried to hijack Jen's tube...and failed!  Splash!   Good one.  We love having Shannon around as she is such an awesome person and friend!

Jimmy entrusted Jen to accompany him on the tube for the first time!