Month: August 2018

Photos, Fire, and a Friend

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Thursday at Twenty Mile Bay was filled with a couple of long hikes and a few big meals. After breakfast, we ventured around the campsite along the water’s edge and capture some amazing pictures, and a little snake.

We did a ton of artsy pictures throughout the day. My daughters and I discussed photography (as I took it in High School, and they are as well). So we tried to out do one another.

The end of the day, we sat around the campfire and tossed in some Mystical Fire to add some colours to the flames.

It was a great way to end our last night of camping.

Rain? Only for Half a Day

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Wednesday started with a light rain. Between the short bursts of showers, we made scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast then went for a hike.

Periodically it rained throughout the morning and early afternoon. Just a few drops, but enough that we stayed at our shelter and played cards most of the day.

Just before dinner, we hit the beach again and played in the water. It was far warmer out that way than at our campsite in the forest.

My son built a small shelter from some drift wood throughout the day. He wanted to sleep in it, but we couldn’t allow that. The night ended with more card games and lots of laughs.

20 Miles of Fun

Posted on by Josef Havelka

First couple of days at Twenty Mile Bay were beautiful as expected. We set up camp and my wife came up with a genius layout. We used the back of the Rogue as a pantry while we were there.

Once we unloaded, we hit the water. And had a ton of fun. Harrison Lake was as beautiful as it has been every year. My wife and I enjoyed the tubing at Leavenworth so we bought a couple for this camping trip.

We ended with a calm night by the fire. Some toasted marshmallows for a quick sugar rush. Putting a marshmallow between two chocolate chip cookies FTW.

We did enjoy the wind on the second day as it pushed us down the lake into the bay on our inflatables. The kids got their kites out and did their best to sail them as well. Lots of laughs as the wind gusted heavily. We even spotted someone else’s lost kite in the trees.

So far the weather had cooperated. It was a great couple of days to get started.

Camping 2018

Posted on by Josef Havelka

I’m not sure what the weather will do this week. But we are heading out to do some camping at Twenty Mile Bay like we did last year and the year before. My wife has enjoyed our last two trips because the weather has been perfect.

The last time I checked was on Sunday, so it looks like the end of the week will be blah.

I’m not sure if we will stay the entire time we had planned. We may cut it short in the end. That’s the unfortunate reality of camping. Whatever time we get though, I’m sure we will make the most of it with the family.

I’m okay with a bit of rain while camping. Only a bit though. Downpours and we are outta there.

Back to Getting Ready for Back to School

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Last week we received an email about our daughters’ courses for the upcoming school year. As with every year, there are mistakes that need to be corrected before starting in September. No big deal really. In fact, the school is pretty good about fixing these things. Especially the academic courses.

This morning, my wife is heading out to the school office to make the appropriate changes. Being that our oldest is entering her last two years of high school, we deemed it important to get on the corrections immediately. Crazy to think that even as a teenager, our kids have to start planning for university well in advance.

I’m impressed at the goals our kids are setting for themselves. My wife and I will support them as much as possible throughout these crucial years. Hard to believe that another summer is drawing to an end though.

I’m starting to miss my children being kids already.

Dinner Train

Posted on by Josef Havelka

A coworker of mine found out about an upper class dinner train in Squamish. It was for one night only. They offered an 8 course meal and a short ride. I agreed to the idea, because hey- I’m a railroader. So she booked a table for the four of us in the open air car.

As you can see, it was a fancy dinner. So my wife and I dressed a bit more than just casual for this dinner date with our friends. I was nominated to be the designated driver which was a good thing in the end.

We left early in the afternoon to make our way up to Squamish. It was about an hour and a half drive and you never know how the Sea To Sky Highway will be. We arrived early enough that we found a local brew house called A Frame and the ladies each had a flight of beers. Then it was off to the Heritage Park Railway Museum.

We walked in and checked out the old steam engines and enjoyed some hors d’ouvres. Side note: I was one of the last conductors to take the 2860 Steam Train from Squamish to North Vancouver a few years back. Still a great memory.

We met up with some of our other friends and shared a few glasses of sparkling wine and appetizers. The weather had gotten a better, but was still a bit cooler than expected.

Once we boarded, we proceeded to have lots of fun at our table. We were in an open air car, so a nice breeze was coming through. It also gave us a bit more freedom to wander around. We were probably the loudest table because of all the laughs we were having.

Once we stopped for the main courses, a chilly breeze swept over us. You could see the darkness in the sky of a possible storm on the way. Some blankets were supplied to give us some warmth. We enjoyed the views and continued through our eight course meal.

Because we worked at the railway, we knew the conductors and a few other people on the train. Our table ended up being pretty popular- with many people stopping by. A couple of young ladies in their early twenties seated next to us joined us for some more laughs. They kept telling us that we were “cute couples” and could tell that we loved each other very much.

The train arrived back a bit later than planned, but we were still laughing and talking with our new friends. Once we disembarked, the rowdiness of our group began to subside. Since most of the energy was burned off during our dinner train ride- the drive home was fairly peaceful. For probably the last hour or so of the drive, my passengers slept.

It was a great evening and we will probably do it again next year.

Regroup

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We came home Friday afternoon from our cabin trip. Immediately unpacked and did laundry. We each took some down time as well to just chill out.

A late evening family dinner and called it a day. A quick recovery and recharge before hitting the weekend in full force.

On to more adventures and experiences! Time to regroup has passed.

Cabin Adventures: Day 4

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The smoke from the forest fires has unfortunately settled down over the lake we are at.

Before:

After:

This has made it more difficult to enjoy the outdoors. Even with the warmth of the day, the haze is killer on the eyes and breathing.

We were lucky that our first days on the lake were clear. The kids did a great job playing every where around the site. We noticed the smoke on Wednesday filling the air while out horseback riding.

We figured we’d spend most of the day indoors on Thursday playing games and watching movies. To break it up a bit, we headed out to Bridge Lake Ice Caves for a quick hike.

The caves were more like crevices. Fairly untouched in their beauty. Last year some bridges were built over top of the crevices. We still ventured down to see these caves more in depth. Afterwards we wandered towards a pathway that was still being built.

Then trails were only marked with some tags on the trees labeled “SKID TRAIL“. The kids enjoyed roughing through the woods alongside the lake. It was a bit strenuous going back up the hill to return to our cars. But well worth the adventure.

We headed back to the cabin and watched a couple of old cartoons from mine and my friend’s youth. Both were old cartoons. First was GI Joe The Movie second was Transformers.

Lots of cheesy fun.

We played a few more more rounds of FLUXX afterwards. There were lots of laughs and a ton of fun had by all of us.

And lots of farts.

Ya. Dads and farts go hand in hand. It’s not the best combo when stuck in a cabin. But still humorous all the same.

Not sure which is worse for my breathing- the smoke in the air or the farts. Either way, my inhaler has been used in full force. Hope you enjoy your time off!

Cabin Adventures: Day 3

Posted on by Josef Havelka

We are making the most of our time here. It’s super peaceful. The water is so clear in the lake that it seems fake. In fact everything we are doing feels surreal.

Lots of lounging around, swimming, and walking. On Tuesday we did canoeing while at the lake. It was a two hour adventure. We headed out through a small canal and off towards a tiny island. The kids paddled their arms off as we raced down the lake.

On Wednesday we took the kids horseback riding. None of them have rode on horses before- so this was a great opportunity for them. The boys went for a trail ride while the girls did a few loops around the Montana Hill Guest Ranch. The hosts at the ranch were extremely friendly and helpful. They took the fear out of riding.

We’ve kept the kids active as well as giving them these experiences. It’s been a blast so far. My buddy and I are doing a fairly decent job at being fathers with these four kiddos. Our cabin neighbors, these two older ladies, are equally impressed at how well behaved the kids have been. They even bought popsicles for our kids as a treat.

If this keeps up for the last couple days we may try and do another vacation next year.

I have a feeling “Dad of the Year Award” is coming my way… just sayin’.

Cabin Adventures: Day 2

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Let’s talk about food shall we? A very important aspect of any trip. Especially at a cabin or when camping.

Tuesday- waking up at the crack of dawn, the kids were calmly playing together. I was half awake/half asleep laying in bed until 8:30am. Mostly because the kids were getting hungry and started bugging me to make breakfast. They knew what I was making and their hunger was growing.

Before coming to the cabin, I had laid out a meal plan. This helps keep the guesswork out of the day. This morning was French toast and bacon. The smell of breakfast filled our little cabin and constant questions from the kids of “when is breakfast?” loomed in the air. I think the anticipation helps to make the food taste better.

The kids have been extremely helpful so far. They work together to set the table, clearing the table and doing dishes. The 12 year old boys wanted to make Mac ‘n Cheese for lunch in hopes of getting out of dish duty for that meal. But when it came time to make lunch, they chose to continue playing in the lake. So they wanted to help with dinner.

Dinner was made by myself with the help of the kids. The boys made the salad and my daughter made the fries. She used the bacon grease from breakfast and it made the fries that much more delicious. It was a good effort by all.

Planning the meals in advance also helps to make sure the perishables get used first. Vegetables, breads, thawed meat, etc are prepared in the first couple of days. By the end of a trip we end up eating the canned and boxed goods.

I’m happy that everyone is pitching in. I’m equally impressed with all the help and the fact that the kids want to learn how to prepare the meals.

So far on this trip, Day 2 has been successful.

Day 1 Bridge Lake

Posted on by Josef Havelka

We arrived at Bridge Lake at around 4pm. It is an awesome place. The kids settled in and my buddy and I enjoyed a beer.

We got drunk.

Yup.

Drunk.

So we made rules. Rules that my oldest enforced. Hahaha. She loved it. She enforced the rules quite well with the other kids. She is giving out strikes for every infraction.

My buddy and I went back to talking about life over beers. We threw some steaks on the bbq and roasted some potatoes. We ended the day by sitting around the gas fire pit with the kids.

It was a good night.

Don’t Misbehave

Posted on by Josef Havelka

One of my favorite Antonio Banderas lines from a film is “Don’t Misbehave” from the film Four Rooms.

As I prepare to leave for five days with my two youngest to a cabin, I am reminded of this phrase. We will be on the side of a lake in close quarters with my friend and his two kids. There will be lots of fun and I’m sure some agitation as well. It’s only natural when you cram four kids and two adult men into a cabin for a few days.

Pretty sure the kids will get themselves into a bit of trouble. Nothing major mind you. Just enough that these dads will shake their heads at the stupidity.

Honestly, I was young once. In fact my friend and I grew up together and have known each other since kindergarten back in 1981. I mentioned him last year in Grilled. Our sons are the same age as each other and are good friends as well.

My buddy and I did some stupid stuff growing up. I’m almost certain our sons will as well. In the end it’ll all be fun.

Now we are off to adventure!

I Made a Painting

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Our daughters are really into painting and making art. My wife and I always encourage them to express themselves. And they express themselves quite often:

No matter what their skill level, if they like what they are doing- I encourage it fully. We also enjoy showcasing their pieces. More often than not, they keep their beloved work to themselves in their bedrooms.

Sometimes they allow my wife and I to showcase their work. Those are the times that I really cherish. When a piece of their soul is put out for the world to admire. As parents, it’s hard to tell them if it’s not good…

Ya. I said it. Not all of their art is good. But that’s okay. We’ve also taught our children to adapt and take criticism seriously. Not insults. But actual criticism- where they could improve and what they could try next time. And they do.

Personally, I haven’t really painted in years. This Saturday was me getting my feet wet again, so to speak. I’m not good by any means. I’ve learned some techniques over the years that I wanted to try. Most of the techniques are from artists I admire, especially those who work hard at conventions. Some of these artists blow me away.

Here’s my piece during the process (minus the first step, I forgot to photograph that). What you see first is lots of glossy black:

When I first started, our oldest daughter gave me a 5×5 inch canvas to play with. So I used some of their acrylic paints and smeared some colours around. Then I marked off some spots and spray painted a black acrylic gloss over it. Here’s the removal:

I tidied up the piece with some more colours and some other spray paints that I had. I wanted it to pop.

I added some minor details and kept wanting to add more. At one point, I had to stop and say it was complete.

I threw my usual signature on it and the date. All that’s left is to get back into painting again and make more art that I love. There’s an entire universe out there for me to paint.

May you be inspired by whatever brings you joy. For me- it was seeing my children work hard at creating art. They are my universe, my everything. I can’t even begin to create something as wonderful as they are.

Feel free to share your paintings with me. I need to get back into it. Like Bob Ross said:

Pondering

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After getting our septic tank pumped yesterday, I decided not to fill in the rock garden again. I figured that we may need to pump it out one day sometime in the nearer future… not twenty years later like this time. So we came up with a new plan.

Let’s build a pond.

Now, when we first moved in there was a pond in this location. But since our youngest was a year old at the time, we decided to fill it in to be safe. We just never bothered to dig it out until this summer.

Today my oldest helped me design the pond. She drove us to Home Depot and we picked up a pond liner, a fountain and some accent lights. We laid out the liner and began to fill the pond with water. As it filled up, we straightened out the liner and turned on the fountain. She’s really happy about the fountain feature- it looks neat.

As the afternoon went on, my two other kids decided they wanted to help out. We washed the rocks off from the previous rock garden that was here. My daughters set them up around the outskirts of the pond. Throughout the process, we all enjoyed wading around in the cool water. We set up a spitting fish fountain (that was from the original pond) and put our old gargoyle bird bath on the corner.

I did pick up a new piece that reminded me of our trip to Tokyo last Spring Break. As the evening settled in, we played with the lighting. We each have a favorite color, but it seems the pink is winning out at the moment.

Now to enjoy the zen like moments of the pond as we tinker and play with it over the next few years. Next spring we will put some plants out along the edges.

Maybe I could expand the pond to become a moat, after all we do live in Castle Havelka.

Shitty Day

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Today is the shittiest day of my vacation.

Literal shit.

After having the kids dig in our garden for the past few weeks in search of buried treasure, they found it. We just needed an extrusion afterwards to get it out.

This was not like the adventures that The Goonies had. My kids were digging to find our septic tank opening.

They did. In fact they found both lids. What to do next…

Today was the day to pump it out. This is the first time in 11 years since we moved in. And at nearly 20 years since it was last done. The tank is apparently twice to three times the size needed for our home.

That’s a lot of poop.

We needed a big truck.

Bright and early this morning it arrived. The fellow vacuuming out the waste was super awesome and we talked about shit. Apparently we should be pumping out every couple of years.

Oops.

The smell was bad. Butt not as bad as I thought it would be. A bit less than steaming manure on a hot day. Not quite campsite outhouse.

Now that it’s empty, I’m happy that this is done. Onto the rest of my day.

It really can’t be as shitty as the start.

Camperizing our Honda Element

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We have loved our Honda Element since we bought it back in 2003. Since we are planning on a camping trip at the end of the month, we wanted to bring our Element with us. Today I decided to bring some new life into it.

I went online to see what people have done to make their Hondas more outdoorsy and versatile than they already are. To my surprise, they all did exactly as I would.

So I got started.

Taking out the back seats opens up a huge cargo area. Approximately 4 feet high by 5 feet wide and 5 feet long. Shaped almost like a box as well. Not a lot of wasted space either.

Putting our camping gear in filled the lower half of our Element. I didn’t really like the idea of stacking our stuff though. So out came the wood, saw and screws.

I already had an 8 foot 2×4 sitting around and a piece of plywood. I measured out the plywood for when the driver and passenger seats are leaning back. Then I folded those seats forward, cut another piece of the plywood at about 1.5 feet long. Screwed this board to the five foot board with an old piano hinge so I could fold it over when driving.

It also just so happened that I had five solid wood slats from an old double bed futon frame. Those fit perfectly across as a brace without any cutting.

We had an old 2 inch cheer mat gathering cobwebs. So I cut it to fit on top of the plywood. It looks as if it was made for the car- with the blue matching our interior. I cut another piece of foam for the fold out part. Once laid out, my 6’8″ body fit from end to end comfortably.

All of it is easy to remove as well. Which makes it a great option to camperize only when we need it.

I’m excited about the future camping trip. Our car is ready! My next couple of goals include getting some solar panels to charge our stuff. I’m also planning on building a slide out shelf to be able to use as a work station/counter.

If you have any tips or ideas for our Element, let me know. I’d love to try them out.

Auto Pilot Driving

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This morning I made it home on autopilot. I’ve done this numerous times. Just like an ant- I know the route home off by heart.

I caught myself twice that I had zoned out. Once was driving past a police car with someone pulled over. Next, I was suddenly at my exit off the freeway without realizing it.

It still worries me though. I don’t like the sensation of losing the time. Once in a while I’ll take a different route home from the freeway just to change it up. I usually do that if I’m really tired. But it’s that long stretch driving for twenty minutes that has my mind wandering.

I can’t think of a good way to keep myself focused. I’ve tried a variety of music, podcasts, talk radio, even hands free calling.

Who knows. Hopefully one day I don’t have to drive anymore. Then I can zone out all the time.

Is Pizza a Breakfast Food?

Posted on by Josef Havelka

After a shift at work, it’s nice to come home and relax. Grab a bite to eat and settle down. Today, when I came home, I decided to grab a cold beer and heat up some leftover pizza.

Thing is, it’s 7am and I came home from a night shift.

So am I eating breakfast or dinner?

Beer and pizza for dinner sounds not unusual. But enjoy it for breakfast, and that’s far from a healthy lifestyle.

I’m torn at which I am enjoying right now.

Is pizza a breakfast food?

Is drinking a beer with breakfast frowned upon?

When does one day end and the next begin?

Is there a heaven and hell? Do we reincarnate? Is mankind evolving? Or is it too late?

Obviously I’m tired. Gotta stop quoting Monty Python and go to bed.

Drinking Theme Song

Posted on by Josef Havelka

I turned legal drinking age March 1995. This meant I could go to the clubs and bars without much hassle. This gave me a chance to rock out my killer dance moves… Of which I had none.

A few beers into me, and I’d bust a move. Poorly. I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s MTV generation- where songs came with dances. People did their best to mimic and copy them. I more enjoyed memorizing song lyrics. This has come in handy on long road trips when we listened to Sirius XM 90’s On 9…

The one song that has stuck with me is “Cotton Eye Joe” by Rednex. It came out the year I was 19. It kinda became my theme song as I started to hit the bar scene. A catchy song that everyone can sing along to. Even my kids sing along to it these days.

As for dance moves- easy. Just dance like a Hillbilly. Do some square dancing or swing your legs and arms wildly. With my long legs and arms, I could look like this:

Everyone looked at drunken me as such a clown anyways. Lately, I’ve been tempted to go for dance lessons with my wife. We don’t go to nightclubs, but perhaps some ballroom dancing. I think it could be fun. Who knows, maybe one day we will.

What’s your go-to dance or song?

Back To Basics

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Yesterday I got to do something at work I haven’t done in ages. I was able to be the conductor on a train from North Vancouver to Squamish and back again. I don’t usually get asked to help out, so it was a refreshing break from my usual office work.

I was also lucky enough to be with an engineer that was a pleasure to work with. That made the ride more relaxing and enjoyable. Years ago I would work as a conductor taking this train up and down along the west coast. Not every experience was a good one. Especially in the winter.

This route is one of the most scenic routes I know of in North America to take by rail. During the summer months, The Rocky Mountaineer passenger train also takes this trip. For those of you who like trains- the Rocky Mountaineer is like taking a cruise by rail. It also costs about the same. Seeing the beautiful landscape along British Columbia is worth it in my opinion.

My job is pretty amazing at times, that’s for sure. I’m really lucky to be able to have the experiences I do. In the end, it’s all about how you perceive the workload that makes a job worthwhile.

Last Minute Date Night

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I was about to leave work when my wife sent me a text:

My suggestions of fast food didn’t seem to sway her decision from still meeting me.

So instead of me driving home, after a long day at work, to vegetate before bed; I met up with my wife for a couple beers and a pub style dinner at a place called Mission Springs Brewery.

We were seated out on the patio at a deck couch. A flight of beers and some crazy delicious burgers were enjoyed. We felt youthful again as we giggled and flirted like we did when we had just begun dating. No one else was sitting on the patio, so we felt like we were being treated like celebrities- Off in a comfortable corner, but with people still able to see us from inside.

The evening had cooled off nicely. Our meal was enjoyed as we watched the sunset in peace. This was the evening my wife had wanted. –NOT KFC–

I’m glad I was able to accommodate. I enjoyed our spontaneous date.

Barefoot

Posted on by Josef Havelka

What is wrong with me these days? I’m choosing to not wear shoes more often. That is not me at all.

At home- I am loving the feel of the moss underfoot. Or the sense of the wood floor and carpet inside my home.

The other evening I walked around the block on the warm pavement barefooted as well. I had simply forgotten that I should put on shoes when I left my house. I only noticed when I stepped on a pebble. But by then, I was too far gone from the house to turn around. And our dog was happily trotting beside me- I couldn’t force him to stop his walk.

On Wednesday, I dipped my feet into the Hayward Lake. It was so warm and refreshing. The sensation I experienced as I sat on the dock watching the sun go down was tranquil and mesmerizing.

The one thing I’ve noticed about being barefoot, is that every step taken is giving me a unique feel of the earth. With each barefoot step, the contrasts underfoot brings me a sense of well being and calmness as well as a connection to the world.

Is this what it was like to be a hippie back in the 60’s?

You know, they may have been onto something. I’m feeling youthful and fun again.

Froggy Frog

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My son caught a frog the other day. We named it Froggy Frog. It’s not the first time we’ve caught a frog in our yard. We’ve even caught a salamander and a couple of garter snakes (or garden snake if you prefer).

We tend to just look at them for a day or so, then set them free again. There’s no reason to keep them in captivity or kill them. The little ecosystem in our backyard is as if living in a Disney movie. I even described the sounds we hear daily in The Early Bird as well as the time I had to set a hummingbird free. I’ve even discussed my dislike of Rats a few times. But country living is accepting that all of these critters live here as well.

Mr. Froggy Frog has been set free already. Maybe his journey will be an incredible challenge with a set of crazy memories of us. Or maybe he’ll just go about his business eating bugs and staying cool.

That’s about it for my frog blog post. Time to hop along.

08/08/80

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Today is my sister’s birthday.

We don’t see each other much. In fact- only about once a year when I go over to her place. Which is pretty good honestly. We’ve kind of grown apart over the years. Which is also okay. Life just does things like that.

I’m about four and half years older than her. When we were kids, we were pretty good friends. We would put on puppet shows together, walk home from school together, swim together, watch the same cartoons together. (I kinda like My Little Pony I wouldn’t tell my friends that at the time.) At Christmas, I’d assemble the Barbie toys that she’d get. I was a good big brother.

Pretty sure she’s going to kill me for sharing these lovely photos…

As we grew up into our teenage years, we were still friends-ish. I still looked out for her to an extent. Except once….

On my 17th birthday, we headed out on the bus towards the mall. She hopped off at a stop to visit a friend as I went on my way.

I came home later that evening around dinner. No one was home but the phone was ringing. It was my father. As we spoke, my heart sank. My sister had been hit by a truck. She was airlifted to the hospital.

My 17th birthday was spent in the hospital waiting room, hoping for good news. Seeing her beat up and broken, I had never wanted someone to live as much as I did for her that day. That was one of the hardest things I have ever faced.

Luckily, she survived.

Our family did not.

My father blamed me for the accident. He told me so. That’s hard for a 17 year old to deal with. But I’ve moved past that now. My sister and I have had our differences over the years, but we never talk about her accident. We keep that tucked away behind a hardship we endured.

My sister has a great personality. Even if I do think she’s crazy. One Christmas she gave me a t-shirt that said “Nikki’s Brother” because she was tired of being called Joe’s Sister. I wore that shirt for over twenty years until it finally crumbled.

My sister is one of the kindest individuals you will ever meet. She always has a smile and a laugh ready at a moment’s notice. She’s a wonderful mother who works hard to give her children the best life possible. She’s active in her community and I swear- she knows everyone in Powell River.

I want to wish my sister a great big “Happy Birthday!” You’ve made it this far- may you celebrate 38 more years of insanity if not more!

…

…

…

And ALWAYS look both ways before crossing the street.

Game On!

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Monday was a stat holiday which also meant “Game Day” at our home. Ok, not because it was a holiday- our kids are off for summer as it is, but we had a “Game Day” just because.

My wife and I often start our day by playing an old N64 game- Pokémon Puzzle League on the Wii in our bedroom. She loses pretty regularly at it. I’m not sure why she keeps wanting to play, but it’s kind of our thing. So I keep playing.

Since the weather is nice, I’m trying to get the kids not to play so many video games or be on their iPhones and iPads. A difficult task when they see mom and dad lazing in bed playing video games…

So I offered to hang with the kids throughout the day. We have a large collection of board games and tabletop games hidden away in an ottoman. Yesterday we decided to play a couple of these games outside.

First choice was Monopoly. Our oldest prides herself in kicking butt every time. This was no exception. I think she only won because we use the center of the board for the taxes incurred throughout the game and “Free Parking” as the winning spot to get those dolla bills- yo! (As the hip kids say…)

Just before dinner we played Settlers of Catan. I am viciously good at this game. I have an almost Rain Man ability to watch the cards being issued and played by each opponent. I’m also good at figuring out people’s strategies on the board. Needless to say- I killed it last night!

We ended our evening by watching “Ready Player One” as a family. Recently, a few people I know online have been mentioning the novel, so it was fresh in my mind. (Check out Cole Campfire Blog sometime for some outdoor inspiration.) Since four of the five of us in the family had read the novel, and my two youngest had already seen the film- it was an easy choice for family movie night. Clearly, the movie is not like the novel- a bit disappointing- but fun to watch nonetheless.

Our impromptu game day was a ton of fun and a good way to connect as a family.