Highlights of Summer!

 Well the summer has flown by without a single post from us!  Here are some highlights up until August when we took our big holiday - I'll post about that later.

Holding the Painted Lady butterflies we raised from caterpillars - released on the morning of Summer Solstice

Camping with cousins near Drumheller

 In July we went camping just outside of Drumheller - always a favorite campground for the kids although Rand and I found the close sites a bit too close this year.  Drumheller throws a great parade on Canada Day.  We went for a long hike one day and spotted several tracks in the mud.  Our nieces came out on the final night and the kids had a great time together.  There are lots of activities for the kids at this campground including an outdoor heated pool, playground, hoodoos to climb, and a river for fishing.

Watching fireworks for the first time on the final night of the Stampede

 We went to the Stampede on the final night.  The fireworks were spectacular although we did have to wait until quite late to see them.

Picked 7 lbs. of strawberries and made strawberry jam

In mid-July we went to Kayben Farms - a really fun place to visit with lots of activities - and picked our own berries for jam and pie.  Rowan picked half of the berries himself and both kids helped me make jam.  The farm also has animals to visit and feed, a huge play structure with slides and swings, a neat water play system with pumps and slides to put toys on, and a yummy cafe.

Rowan also played in his Music Finale in June with his Music class.  He was cool and calm on stage in front of a lot of people.  He later said he wasn't as nervous as he thought he would be!  Rowan took an art class at the 4Cats art studio and learned about Robert Bateman.  The kids painted an animal of their choosing - Rowan chose an octopus.  The studio was very professional but kid-friendly all at once.  He'll be taking a series of classes there in the Fall.

Next post will have highlights of our 12 day camping trip to Revelstoke and Kelowna - our longest holiday yet!