Playing at the Park (May 9, 2026)

 Freya was feeling much better this morning when we got up but now Zepplyn wasn't feeling well.

Jason went out for run and was sending back pictures of things he saw.

Chalk drawings.

Critters.

A Pur & Simple - Great breakfast spot.

A Paris Baguette - I've never tried one but would like to.

When he got back we decided to go to Pur & Simple for breakfast.

Eden and Freya sans smile.

With a smile is so much better.

Eden was getting restless while we were waiting for the bill so Jason took her for a walk.

We paid and were on our way to the car and Zepplyn got sick.

We got her cleaned up then went back to the house.

She was pretty much out of commission for the rest of the day and Crystal had to stay with her.

So Jason took the girls to the park.

He picked up a little Paw Patrol backpack for Eden and she wanted to wear it right away. 

They found a hopscotch along the way.

The park had this cool swing, Eden really liked it.

Twirling.

I walked over and met them and the kids played for a bit.

Then we went and did a bit of shopping.

Eden came with us but Freya stayed at the house with Crystal.

Eden picked out a little princess set with this tuille skirt.

She liked it and wore it all night.

There was what we thought was a bakery across the street from our vrbo so we walked over to check it out.

It was Indian food and they had more than just sweets so we tried a few things.

We had a mango lassi and it was fantastic.

We tried battered peppers - waaay to spicy for me.

We tried some different sweets.

I forget the names but the coconut one was my favorite.

They had a noodle burger that we didn't try but we would like to go back sometime and try it.

Jason took the girls back to the park again in the evening.

They saw this great chalk drawing that someone did.

Amazing.

Freya is so good with her (most of the time) and Eden just loves it.

Freya is her favorite person.

She;s the first person she looks for when she wakes up, when she is sad, when she is hurt and when she is happy and having fun.

Still wearing her skirt.

Just hanging around.

Testing out someone's bike.

Freya loves to be outside playing.

They had a turn on the swing together.

Awww - doesn't this just melt the heart?

I would have liked to have a turn on it myself - it looked very relaxing.

Swinging with sissy.

Pretty soon Jason was pushig all the kids at the park on the swing.

Freya whipped up a desert for us.

We went to the Italian Market and got sandwiches for supper and ate them back at the house.

We just hung out and watched some tv for the rest of the evening.

I didn't end up getting all of my steps in but I made a good dent!

That's all for today, until next time, be happy!

City Trip, Sick Girl. (May 8, 2026)

Friday is here, YAY!!! 

Hazel feels the same way, she is just over here living her best life.

After work, we picked up the girls and Zepplyn and headed to the city.

We stopped in Barrhead to meet up with Crystal.

We are all going to the city together.

Jason booked a brunch reservation for us for Mother's Day and we may take the kiddos to the Telus Science center for something to do.

Zepplyn wanted to drive in with us - Freya wasn't feeling well so she wanted me to sit in the back with her.

She slept a lot of the way and then right before we got to our vrbo, she ended up getting sick.

Poor thing.

She said she felt better afterwards but we still didn't do much, just chilled in the house for the evening.

There is a nice park just down the road from where we are staying.

We didn't get to take them tonight but I'm sure they will get to use it at some point this weekend.

We all ordered pizza for supper then we watched Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix.

I had read the book before and really liked it.

I thought they did an ok job with the movie.

It kind of felt like it started in the middle and they skipped right over the back story for the male lead but I still enjoyed it.

The place we were in had 3 bedrooms with double beds.

It would have been way too tight for Jason and I and the girls to all sleep in one double bed so he and Eden took one of the rooms, Freya and I had the second then Crystal and Zepplyn had the third.

Got all of my steps in for the day.

That's all for today, until next time, be happy!

Sunshine, Picnic in the Park and Ice Cream (May 7, 2026)

Back to the office today.

It's always so busy when I've been away for a few days. 

Jason went down and picked up Eden and took her to the park for a bit after work.

There is a little girl in town that she really likes and she happened to be at the park so Eden was pretty happy.

Soaking up the sunshine.

She's such a big girl now.

Look what she can do.

Her little friend had brought snacks and she shared with Eden.

Picnic in the park

Having snacks.

Then Eden and Papa went for ice cream.

There's a bone in my ice cream.

I got a couple of Freya's drawings framed.

These have always been a couple of my favorites - it boggles my mind that she did these two years ago when she was only 5.

I don't even think I could do it now.

I managed to get all of my steps in and then some.

That's all for today, until next time, be happy!

Day Two of WCSS Exercise (May 6, 2026)

 I had another spill exercise to go to today only this time it was in Whitecourt at the casino.

There were two sessions, a morning one and an afternoon one.

Then each session started off with an indoor presentation then outside for a dryland deployment of the equipment.

It was an awareness training on cleaning up a spill in a wetland.

Sherri is a biologist that has worked on a lot of spills all over North America - from Texas up to the Arctic.

Pretty cool job!

She showed all these wildlife deterrents, how to use them, pros and cons.

I find it very interesting.

Some of our team, Shannon, Fabrizio, Neale, Amy, Rick and Sherri.

We finished up just after 3 pm and I headed back home.

I finished up Life, Death and Giants on the drive home.

It had me crying.

I thought it was a great story, I loved the characters.

I would give it 5 out of 5 stars.

When 1 got home, I painted a couple mats so I could frame a few more of Freya's drawings then I went for a walk.

I started listening to a new book that I bought, I Who Have Never known Men.

I didn't really like it, I don't think it's for me.

I should give it more of a go and maybe down the road I will, we'll see.

When the mats I painted finished drying, I got those put together.

The girls both came over for a visit and we had a thunder and lightning storm which took out the power.

It took awhile for it to come back on, the girls had gone home and we were getting ready to go to bed.

I saw this on Pinterest and thought it would look so cute in the girls room.

Got all my steps in.

That's all for today, until next time, be happy.

WCSS Spill Exercise (May 5, 2026)

Our WCSS exercise was today in Slave Lake, actually in Wide Water which is just a few minutes outside of Slave Lake.

We had two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

The first half was classroom training inside then the second half was outdoors which was great because it was quite nice out.

I enjoyed the drive, I got to get lots of listening in on my book.

I got home around 4 then I went for a nice long walk for about an hour.

After the walk, I framed some of Freya's artwork.

I can't decide if I want to paint the frame on this one or not?

I painted the mats for these two last night and put them together today.

This is one of my favorites of hers!

This one I got hung up already.

While I was doing that, Jason made a tiny book for Freya "from Ivy".

Dear Freya.....

Love Ivy!

Got all of my steps in.

That's all for today, until next time, be happy.