Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Settling in our home

Two weeks of unpacking are behind us. Now we can relax in our livingroom...
























or bake a cake in this large kitchen!















or relax with a wonderful library book...
















or enjoy our spacious recreation room to play Lego or Playmobil in the play area or a game of chess in the sitting area....














.......update the family blog or plan homeschooling for the next year at the computer area! The room is huge and functioning as a multi-purpose room. It's wonderful.














After a fun day of work and play, we settle again....














and our guests(see next post) have already used the guest bedroom! I'll have the bed made up again before then next guests arrive.....who will they be?

Unloading Day (July 2nd)

On Friday, July 2nd the moving truck arrived with our household belongings. As the boxes came in through the back door, I was able to direct the fellas to the right area of the house. That sure saved us lots of slugging! While they unloaded, I began unpacking kitchen boxes. What a blessing to unpack the first box!

Baking pans, pizza platters!!




So we had pizza for lunch after living 9 months without a stove and oven. The slow cooker is packed away in the storage room until wintery weather arrives.



Hooray! Hooray!








The movers had everything off the truck in 4 hours!

Friday, July 9, 2010

Canada Day Celebrations!

....being in the "Wild, Wild West" our celebrations were "whooped-up"....



















































explosive.....



















and hatchet into.....















a stick up by the "Big Man" at the Fort,



















...however, all ended well with a colourful display of culture!














It was fun to be where the North West Mounted Police operated and to experience what we had learned this year in our studies.

"On the Road Again" -to Lethbridge, Alberta

Friday, June 25th - Great Falls, Montana to Lethbridge, Alberta









Alberta Welcome and Interpretative Centre



T-Rex welcomes Peter and Gideon

















Storm from the West in Lethbridge County!









Home in Lethhbridge!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

"On the Road Again" Part 2 June 23-25

June 23 - from North Sioux City to Spearfish, South Dakota - 6 1/2 hrs driving plus stops...a long, long day...but a great swim at the end



The Black Hills









June 24 -nearing the continental divide in Montana...







...the palate is getting wet :)










Windturbines in valleys






late 50s Studebaker Golden Hawk passing Albert











We spent our last night, June 24th, in Great Falls, Montana. We met a wonderful family from Australia, of Dutch nationality, with four boys, Niels, Bram, Frank, Paul. Peter and Gideon are very close in age to their two oldest and had a blast together. Jan and Els and their children are having an 8wk vacation through the US (including Hawaii) before returning home...and then yes, they are on the move again after two years they will be returning to the Netherlands for work. We all really enjoyed each other and many things in common (heritage, faith, and rambuncious boys!)






Enjoying a campfire and Smores!









Waterpark at the KOA campground -we all enjoyed this upon arrival and again in the morning before heading our separate ways.....




Ready......GO!













Niels, Gideon and Frank sliding...




Niels and Peter













even Albert enjoyed it :)












We hope to meet up for a BBQ at our place upon their return from touring the USA. Until then...."Go Netherlands Go!"



"On The Road Again" June 21&22

Experiences along the way (June 21) "Ambassador Bridge to the USA" -


Taking a break in Michigan...
June 22
Illinois and Iowa "heat wave".










Gideon reading "The Shining Sword" to pass the time


Albert passing an Airstream that was being pulled by a huge Chevy Blazer!! It's all about the custom made hitch (see CanAm Airstream in Lambeth for details:))









View near Laura Ingalls Homestead, DeSmet, South Dakota









Lewis and Clark Interpretative Centre in South Dakota (Missouri River lookout)














Nature journalling in late 19th century US!



Overlooking the Missouri River valley from a replica of Lewis and Clark's boat.









Wednesday, July 7, 2010

June 18 Loading Day



After 9 months in Ontario, we are "On The Road Again".....
Despite road construction the tractor trailer was able to access the house to load up our belongings.

Peter helped the movers with the loading...

Amazing to see the team work between driver and helper as they stacked many 5 cu ft boxes and furniture wrapped in blankets.....

and it arrived 2 weeks later here....

Our travel trailer fits nicely beside the house and we were able to slept in it until our beds arrived. Also, I'm adjusting to not cooking with a slow cooker but having 4 burners and an oven to work with! Hooray! The street is a court and is very quiet with elderly neighbours on one side and quiet neighbours around.

Once our BC house sells we hope to search for a rural property (without rattlesnakes) and settle for a good long while....those packing boxes will be sent packing!!