Movie Monday-Summer 2009

Road Trip

We left Thursday and returned Sunday. Just a quick getaway with some friends, without the kids. The plan was loose: relax, take it easy, enjoy ourselves.

We are on our way!

Top up to start, cuz I'm a wimp.

First stop, Lake Louise.
It is impossible to take a bad picture here.

Tunnels, my favourite!

We could see this guy coming from a mile away.

Enjoying the fresh air.

Me taking a picture of me taking a picture of my high school in Vernon.

Spent many lunch hours sitting right there.

Arrive in Kelowna, and this is the view from our room.
Time for a dip in the pool!

Lightning storm after dinner our first night.
(We are standing out on the dock, wondering why no one else is out there.)

Okanagan Lake on our way to Naramata (Penticton).

This is the life!

We arrive at Naramata Bench Wine Country.

Time to start tasting. Spiller Estate is our first stop. Very Cherry, very good!

Patio tasting at Elephant Island. Mmmmm, Black Current was yummy.

We liked the wine a Hillside Estate. Especially the Riesling and Merlot.

The grapes are ready at Soaring Eagle.
Viognier and Pinot Meunier. Can't pronounce them but they taste good!

Red Rooster, our last stop for the day. Chardonnay, please.

Paul taking a picture of himself taking a picture.

This is one of my best friends from high school, who met us for dinner.
We haven't seen each other in 11 years!

While the boys go golfing, we do some shopping in this cute little area.

Lunch on the patio, soaking up the rays.

We decided to take in one more winery on our anniversary.

Summerhill and the famous pyramid cellar.

We celebrated 11 years of wedded bliss by buying sparkling wine.

Then a sunset dinner at a restaurant on the water.

We had an amazing time with our traveling companions.

Time to head back, with a few stops along the way.

Back in Vernon, the lookout over Kalamalka Lake.
Much of my youth was wasted on that beach in the distance.

Hmmm, do you think we could live here???

A stop at the beach in Sicamous.
This is where Mara Lake and Shuswap Lake connect.

Enjoying the sand on my feet.

Do we have to go home already?

The weather was perfect, the company was awesome and the wine will be enjoyed for months to come.
(I must thank all those who made this weekend possible for us. Without the wonderful, loving family members who took such good care of our children, we would not have been able to relax and enjoy the trip. Many, many thanks.)
Let's do it again next year???

5 In 5

Here are five words The Little One says, and we are reasonably sure he knows what they mean.

1. "Yes" while nodding his head, it is the answer to every question.
2. "Kick" most commonly used while I am trying to change his diaper.
3. "Beep" said while pushing on my nose.
4. "Tickle Tickle" muttered regularly while playing or wandering around the house.
5. "Yay!" with clapping, on the way outside, or while waiting for his cup of milk to be poured.

Plus one million other sounds, words and sentences which we do not understand. If only we could read his mind! Then maybe we could learn his language.

Movie Monday

Here it is, finally! Enjoy!

(For comparison purposes, here's the link to the winter version. Northern Winter )




It was another fun adventure, thanks to the wonderful people of Norman Wells. (Especially the wonderful people who are related to me!)

Foto Friday & Sylvan Lake Recap

We spent the last 5 days in Sylvan Lake, somewhat technology free. No video games, computers or TV. (We did watch DVDs and check email on Blackberry.)

Let's do the vacation math...

3 afternoons at the beach (Sylvan and Aspen Beach)
1 afternoon at the bowling alley (5 pin)
1 afternoon at the indoor pool (in lieu of the waterslide, it was only 14 degrees!)
3 trips to Walmart (and 2 new toys!)
3 trips to the ice cream store
2 trips to the playground
2 camp fires (plus one cut short by a hail storm)
3 fire cooked meals (hot dogs, pork chops, hamburgers)
2 marshmallow roasts (mmmmm, s'mores)
1 dinner at Boston Pizza
2 playdates with a friend from school (whose cabin was half a block from ours!)
1 afternoon with uncle and cousins
3 days with Granny
4 movies to watch (Duplicity, The Soloist, Sunshine Cleaning, Pink Panther 2)
4 movies to watch (Pokemon, Magic School Bus, Jetsons, Baby Neptune)
plus books to read, games to play and crafts to make...

Equals one great time at the lake.

I mostly took video, but here are a few photos.

First time having his own cone.

Prefers sitting on the blanket to going in the cold lake.

LOVE going in the cold lake.

A warm-up and a snack.

Gotta go, I have one more trip to pack for this summer!!!

Foto Friday

I know. I should have the Norman Wells video done. But I don't, okay!?! I have no good excuse, just didn't get it done. Loaded all the video and photos. Picked the music. Didn't edit. Too bad.

Here are a few more photos in the meantime.

The Little One on the Plane

Recruiting Poster???

Wildflowers Outside the Museum

Scooby Watches for Bears

Five in Five

1. I would like to know why I had to go through 4 bags of clothes today, from the back of our storage room, that should have been donated when we moved into this house, 7 years ago!?! Bonus, a few of the items are back in style!
2. I would like to know why there are loud, ear-piercing shrieks coming from my basement. Wait a minute, a medium size person just came up to tell me, and it turns out, I didn't really want to know.
3. I would like to know when all the Little One's perfect little sounds will become perfect little words. Or even imperfect, barely decipherable words.
4. I would like to know if the sun will come out tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun.
5. I would like to know how I got so lucky, to have found a husband who will fix my stupid mistakes without making me feel stupid at all. Don't know, but I'm sure glad I did.

For Hire!!!

It's summer. Backyard pools, bike riding, kite flying, vacations and trips to the lake. I love summer.

But...summer and a slow economy mean a lack of business. I NEED some work!

There are two main reasons I need work. Boredom and money. Let's be honest, I could get over the boredom if I had the money. The boredom is really more of an uneasy feeling that I should be doing something. I should be contributing financially to my family's future. I should be shouldering some of the bread-winning load. I have had this feeling since I got my first job as a teenager, and it is this feeling that sent me looking for a new job only 4 months after my first babies were born. I have been wrestling with this feeling for the past 3 years, since I quit my full time job.

I edit video, as you all know. I can also provide small business public relations and marketing, including writing business plans, press releases and web content. But, I am willing to do almost any work (copy editing, typing, transcribing etc., virtual assisting), as long as I can do it from home. If any of you know anyone who is looking for some help, please keep me in mind.

101 Video Scrapbooks

This time let's talk about more business related uses for Video Scrapbooks. There are so many ways to use your video and digital still camera to enhance your small business.

• Website Video-Produced video on websites is fast becoming the most common and powerful tool for selling your product or service. There is nothing like actually seeing something in action to convince consumers to buy.
• Business Plan Video-Including video of your proposed or current location, product or service samples and your personal explanation of your proposal could help investors see the value in backing you.
• Training Video-Many, many large corporations use video training to cut down on costs and standardize training information. Use it to train new employees, provide overall company info or for franchising.

And the list can go on and on. Events, investor relations, expansion. Small Wonder provides you with an affordable way to enhance your small business using video production. And we'll have fun doing it!