I was out the other day with both kids in the back seat of the van. Out of the blue...

Will: Mommy, you're a really good driver!
Me: Aww, thanks honey!

Mia: Except for all the speeding tickets she gets.

Huh???

Me: Excuse me? What are you talking about?
Mia: You know. You've had like a hundred speeding tickets.

Me: I have not had a hundred speeding tickets.
Mia: Yes, you have. You get them all the time.

Where does she get this from???

Me: No. I don't get speeding tickets all the time.
Will (always the brown-noser): Yeah, mommy doesn't get speeding tickets because she's a really good driver!

Mia: Well, you have gotten a speeding ticket before.
Me: Yes, but NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO A HUNDRED!

The little man has had a stomach flu hit him. Aside from the odd cold, it's really the first time he's ever been sick. Today he stayed home from his dayhome and pretty much spent a quiet day on the couch, with Grandma watching him while I was at a meeting, and then lazing around on his own when I was back and working.

At 3:15 each day, I pop out for a quick walk to the bus stop to pick up Mia. Although the vomitting and diarrhea seemed to have stopped, I really didn't want to drag him along for the 5 minutes I'd be out. And he isn't the kind of kid that gets into things or gets himself into dangerous situations. So I thought maybe I could just leave him for a couple of minutes.

Me: Will, I gotta pop out for just a couple of minutes to pick Mia up at the bus stop. I thought maybe you'd be ok here by yourself watching tv. I'll be back in a flash. Do you think you'd be ok for just a couple minutes?
Will: Yeah.

Me: Ok, but listen...you don't go outside while I'm gone, right? Not even in the backyard. Ok? You just stay on the couch unless you have to go to the bathroom. Understand?
Will: Ok. I'll just stay here and watch tv.

Me: And also, if anyone comes to the door, you don't open it. OK? Do you understand?
Will: I can open the door if the doorbell rings!

Me: What? No. You don't open the door. Not if the doorbell rings and not if someone knocks. You just don't answer the door. Got it?
Will: Why not?

Me: Well, what if it's a bad guy? You wouldn't want to let them in, would you? So just don't open the door.
Will: Yeah, I don't want to let a bad guy in our house.

Me: Exactly.
Will: Yeah. I'll only open the door if a good guy rings the bell.

Did you know that if you prick a banana peel with a pin, that spot will oxidize and turn brown? Both kids took bananas to school today. I pricked "I [heart] U" onto both sides of Mia's banana; Will's had happy faces on both sides.

Will: Mommy, when I opened my snack at school today, there was a happy face on the wrapper [peel]. And I said "What the what?!"

Me [failing to supress a snort of laughter]: Oh yeah? Did you like that?
Will: Yeah. Did you do that?

Me: Yep.
Will: Why did you?

Me: I know you like happy faces, so I made one on your banana because I thought you'd like it.
Will: Sanks mom!

On the way to preschool today...

Will: Mommy, last night I had a dream that I put my finger on the ground and I was spinning around on it. Then all the garage doors opened up and all the people came out to watch me!

Love these insights into this mind!

Kelowna Camping Trip 2012

This post is going to be a biggy so I broke it up into sections.  We were invited to attend my Cousin Seans wedding Kelowna so we decided to make a trip out of it.  We left on Aug 24th and returned on Sept 2nd.  We hit several different campgrounds along the way, and had a wonderful trip.  To see all the posts check the menu on the left.  Not everything will load on front page.

Some wild weather at the start of our trip was short lived and made for some great scenery. 

Moyie Lake Provincial Park

The first stop on our journey.  We were here last year but did not get to enjoy the stay as it was on the tail end of our Yellowstone trip and I was super sick.  With high hopes this year would be better we set up shop for a one night pitstop.

With little time to waste the first priority was to set up camp and get a fire going.

Then it was time for Will to stretch his legs.

The next morning Will and I were up super early and headed down to the beach to see what we could see.

Dad's coffee it great for warming your hands on.

The early bird really does catch the worm, or at least a great picture.

Will took this shot.  I think he may have a knack for this.

Taking time to reflect during a peaceful moment of quite serenity.

 

Had time to cast few, did I catch anything?

Nope, just a picture opportunity.

The kids didn't have much better luck, but that could have something to do with the fact there is a washer on the end of their line and not a hook.

Kettle River BC

This campsite was chosen completely on a whim and what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be.  Located just North of Rock Creek it was right on the banks of the lazy Kettle River and it may have been the nicest campground we went to this summer.

Stopping for lunch at Bridal Lake after leaving Moyie Lake on the mountain pass between Creston and Salmo.

It was super pretty up there.

Campsite at Kettle River.

Popped into Rock Creek in the morning and found this quaint little antique shop.

This kid's loved the crooked houses that were for sale.

Decided to partake in the local past time and go for a float down the lazy river.

Mia and Dad went first.

Mia was a very good paddler.

1st person view from my seat.  The bridge was were we would be getting off.

Yes I know or raft was big and very pink.  Suitable for a princess no?

Taking a dip, it was quite chilly but refreshing.

 

Say cheese!

View up on the bridge.

The boy sure loves to play in the sand.

About to get squirted.

After playing for a while, it was Mom and Mia's turn to go down the river.

Uh oh, it looks like someone is up the creek without a paddle :-)

Turns out it was ours.  Mia fell off the raft and in the confusion the paddle was lost.  We did get it back though and not to be beaten Erin went back in to finish her trip down the river.

Erin floating underneath the bridge.

This speed bump offered no end of amusement for the kids.

Getting warm after being given a wipedown to clean out the toe jam and stuff.

Taking a opportunity to fish a little on the morning before leaving.  Still have not caught anything, but this time I was at least re-assured there are fish in the water as I could see more brown trout that I could count in the water.  I think my fishing was annoying them as they would just swim away whenever my lure got close.

Mia trying to shock and awe them out of the water.

North Okanagan Lake Provincal Campground

This campground was just outside of Summerland.  Pretty much smack in the middle between Penticton and Kelowna.

Entering the Okanagan at Osoyoos.  You sure get one heck of a view of the valley before dropping down into it.

Obligatory picture of the campsite.

We were very excited to find a vineyard named after Bonita, Mia's little pink dog. 
However not excited enough to buy the $100 bottle of wine on their menu.

Taking time to visit a nice park in Summerland, right down by the lake.  Mia really caught on to the zip line quickly.

I'm getting to old for this sort of thing.

Look out I am coming down!

Stopped at a U-pick peach orchard.

Will carrying out our haul.

Mmmmmm, juicy peaches.

Such a little lady.

It's a peach!

One of the vineyards we stopped at had grapes growing all around the parking lot.  We had to taste and they were yummy.

Stopped at Funland in Penticton for a round of mini golf.

But first Mia had to try the anti-gravity ride.

This girl is too brave for me.

Working on jumping higher and higher.

No fear.

Family picture after mini golf.

When we arrived at this campsite there was a fire ban.  It looks like this might take care of that.

Dad and his kids.

Not afraid of a little rain.

So what do you do once the fire ban is over?  Have a fire of course and make chocolate marshmallow cones.