i'm back!

it's been sooo busy around here that i haven't had the chance to sit behind this computer for an update! i'm up @ 7am this sat morning, just to do this post.....dedication ~hmmmm.no.
crazy. yes.

this past weekend my sister & i flew by the seat of our pants.
literally.
we flew out to vancouver this past thursday, and stayed only till monday.

i know what your thinking....all the way to vancouver for only 4 days?!?
well, you see, this was all we could swing!
we'd been planning this trip for a while....told NO ONE!!
the reason being, our dear aunt & uncle who live in vancouver, are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this summer...aug 20 to be exact.
my father's brother~peter, married my mother's sister~jeanette....double family!

along with our 3 cousins~tim, lynn & michelle(& their families) we planned on surprising peter & jeanette with a first time visit to vancouver.
these people were (& still are!!) a huge support for deb & me when my mother passed away 3 yrs ago, that we wanted to return the love shown, by a surprise visit & gift for their anniversary.

and surprise them we did!!
michelle & bro tim picked deb & me up from our hotel fri morning & had a coffee @ kitsilano beach....vancouver coast~just beautiful!!


deb,tim,michelle & me

it was GOR~GEE~US weather ;)
michelle & tim had made lunch reservations for their parents, deb & me @ a restaurant right there on the beach.
however, peter & jeanette thought they were meeting tim & michelle for lunch, but deb & i would be there instead!!



not knowing what to get them for their 50th, my sister had a brilliant idea.
"let's give them the blanket that mom had started making years ago".(by years i mean, she started crocheting a bedspread for deb's wedding...20 years ago.mom sat for hours creating little circles that would need to be sewn together later to complete the spread).
after mom died, deb took them home with her, not knowing what she would end up doing with them. she asked a lady in her church to attach these pieces together & finish the edge with the remaining soft, light weight cotton that my mom originally used.
it turned out beautifully .

my aunt immediately recognized it,& deb told them the story of how & why it came to be finished...for them!
we all enjoyed a fab lunch....fresh sea food~thanks dad!(he picked up the bill with some cash he gave us to spend;) )

our dessert that we all shared after an amazing lunch!


uncle peter was rubbing his cheeks b/c they hurt from smiling so much!



b/c of the big camera always pointing @ something, i was called the 'paparazzi' for the weekend!


in the span of 3 days we:
~shopped 'gas town'...the oldest part of vancouver city with it's original gas street lights & cobble stone streets
~went to the beach & did some hiking, beach combing,crab catching & seal watching
~had a picnic with the whole family
~saw the sights of vancouver city
~enjoyed amazing family dinners with the cousins
~laughed a LOT!!
~cried some too
~relished the families, their gorgeous children, their amazing love shown & hospitality!!
~made some amazing memories that will last forever!
~were awed by the beautiful handiwork of God in the mountains & views!

the view from lynn & marc's front window & patio


the old steam clock in gastown


seals on the rocks just off the beach


crab catching


the once bright olympic torch


we surprised each of the families with a bag full of dutch store goodies....huge hit!


Tim & Rita & kids:emma, darren & adrian


lynn & marc & kids: evan & simone


michelle & tim & son, nathan


michelle,deb,tim,me & lynn


our 3 cousins who lead busy lives as well,helped in planning this weekend with us/for us.....with out all their work, this weekend would not have happened~thanks you guys ;)!


oh, by the way..... .tim can do the lips!!!