Party, Party, Party......! Oh,....and Some Visitors Too.

The slug line above is descriptive of the past seven days of activities around us.   

First and foremost, I celebrated a birthday, last Monday, June 15th and Jeanette had organized a nice little gathering of local friends to come by and help me to celebrate  another year on this side of the grass (so to speak).

Early Monday afternoon gathering at our home

Our friends arrived by early afternoon and we bared the heat of day outdoors till the sun and heat got the best of us and we moved indoors.   It was one hot, hot day this past June 15th.

L-R  Mariette, Jeanette, Brie with mom Ginette, Gwen, Leila and Ione

It was a nice gathering of friends we have known and have socialized with for several decades.  Good fun.

L-R  Steve, Leila, me and Easton

Our friends, Steve and Leila also celebrated birthdays within a few days of my own celebration so Jeanette prepared a nice cake with individual candles for us to collectively blow out.

Grandkids:  Brie and Easton wanted to help blow out the candles.  How nice!

By late afternoon our friends had left back for their respective homes and we hung out with Ginette and our grand kids for a bit before they too headed back for their home.

Wednesday at the Abbotsford Airport to collect Jeanette's two sisters.

Deb (from Calgary) and Darlene (who flew from Edmonton); Alberta based sisters arrived at the airport near our home and Jeanette was there to greet them.  They were visiting with us till today (Monday). 

Ginette met up with Deb and Darlene at our home within an hour of their arrival. Along with Jeanette, they all scooted off to a local farm market and restaurant for a girls' only lunch.

Thursday morning departure for a three sisters overnight at Harrison Hot Springs Resort.

Colourful..........

Planned well in advance, Jeanette had organized a fun overnight at Harrison Hot Springs Resort.  So off they drove, early on Thursday morning.  From the photos and texts that I received while they were away, it was evident they were not lacking for activities.

The three amigas:  Darlene, Deb and Jeanette  (and Jeanette is the older sister) 

Deb and Darlene standing at Rowena's Inn, Harrison Mills, BC.  The Harrison River can be seen in the distance behind them.

A lunch stop at Rowena's Inn on the River on the way to the resort at Harrison Hot Springs.

Jeanette on the hike.  It sure looks like a jungle trail, doesn't it?

Darlene leads Deb along the arduous lakeside hike.

Hiking, dining, eating, socializing, catching up and enjoying all that the spa facility offered up was a testament to their smiles when they got back to our home, late afternoon the very next day.

A lakeside break during their hike.

Deb and Darlene hold up a fallen cedar tree.

Readying to head for the spa facilities

Sharing in their bracelet exchange.....

Ready for dinner at the resort restaurant.

Meeting the Sasquatch at Harrison Hot Springs

Another party took place last Saturday afternoon.  Our long time friends were gathering family and friends to celebrate the arrival of baby Loic - a healthy 8+ lbs baby boy.  It was a wonderful opportunity to meet the new baby and to spend some precious time catching up with friends.

A perfectly calm and sunny day for an outdoor, baby oriented barbecue.

Brie and Easton were there with their folks too.  The mom (Nicole) who delivered the beautiful baby boy is one of Ginette's best friends.  

Here I am holding Brie while chatting with Lioc's maternal grand mother, Aline.  Aline and her late husband Garry were our very, very close friends in White Rock for well over 30 years.  We have always kept in close contact since their retirement move to their Okanagan Valley home of Peachland.  Garry recently passed away from Lou Gehrig's Disease.

What a fun time we had meeting up with folks we have known for a long time.

L-R  Baby Loic with family friend, Leila and his maternal grandmother, Aline.

.....and the very proud parents, Nicole and Trevor.

Nicole and our daughter Ginette, as mentioned earlier, are long time best friends.  Nicole's husband, Trevor is a long time friend of our son in law, Trevor.  Quite the connection. The brand new parents seemed completely at ease with the seven day old baby.

We took leave once the group photo was taken.

Back at our home, Darlene and Deb filled us in on their three hour jaunt around our neighbourhood.  Walking around gave them a better appreciation of our location.  We found them sunning and enjoying refreshments on our back yard deck.

A Sunday morning ride to our planned breakfast spot in Fort Langley

Darlene had not been on a motorcycle for many years and was keen to ride to Fort Langley while Jeanette and Deb drove our Nissan there.  I had planned to ride the motorcycle because, once our breakfast was over with, the sisters had planned to spend some time shopping and walking the streets of Fort Langley.  Darlene loved the motorcycle ride.

Breakfast at Beatniks - the restaurant.

Traispsing around the museum in Fort Langley.

Hanging out.....

By mid-afternoon, the sisters were back home and minutes later, Trevor, Ginette, Easton and Brie arrived for yet another party celebration; this one focused on Father's Day.  Trevor is a dad - as am I - so we fired up the barbecue and enjoyed a lovely afternoon and early evening outdoors.

Brie knows where to find the ripe strawberries in our garden.

Easton is showing aunt Deb some nice flowers.

The sun room was a popular place where the little grand kids like to hang out and play.

By 7:00 pm, our dinner was over with and, before long, Ginette, Trevor and the grand kids were ready to head back for home.

One cannot beat the benefits of routine for little ones and shortly after 7:00 pm, Ginette and Trevor were ready to get their kids back home and put to bed at their regular time.

L-R  Deb, Darlene and Jeanette - The three sisters.......having loads of fun.

Taken while at Harrison Hot Springs Resort, this photo is a pretty fair description of the fun these sisters have when they get together.

With the sisters heading back to their respective Alberta homes today (Monday), routine returns to our home for only one day before we enjoy a Tuesday evening dinner with a very good friend and again on Thursday when we look forward to receiving some great friends for a couple of days.  More on that in seven days.

Thanks for dropping in.