Guess what, she’s another talented Vanstone. Elizabeth may not be a Vanstone by birth but we got her fair and square in an off season trade a few years ago.In April of 2007 she officially became one of us. She has always been a talented dancer but lately she has been working hard learning the art of silks. Looks to me like she’s got it although everytime I watch the video my heart jumps when she does that roll down.
Not only is she a talented performer, she is also a wife to son Jason, a mother to grandson Aiden and a great friend. We’re proud to call her “family”. Actually, we’re proud of all our kids, and their significant others. They say that every family has a black sheep in it so if that’s true then in our family the black sheep must be me because it’s sure none of the rest of them. On second thought 20 years ago I could have been the black sheep, but now you would have to color me a dark grey sheep. Or maybe a salt and pepper sheep. There’s certainly nothing mutton about this converstaion.
Allan emailed me a Bob Hope story the other day. Bob Hope had some great lines on aging: like you know you’re getting old when the candles cost more than the cake or how about he still chases women but now only downhill. We can all relate to this one: You know you’re getting old when even your birthday suit needs to be ironed.
Does anybody remember what this post was originally about?
Well done Elizabeth!

We home base in southern Ontario Canada. Marilyn’s sister and hubby live on the other side of the continent in West Sacramento, California. We have seen Donna and Dave five times so far in 2011, in fact they have been to our house 5 times this year, but never in the same place twice.

Our first get together was in February in Mazatlan, Mexico. We were there for the winter, they were there on vacation.

Next, we saw them in Toronto in August for our daughter’s wedding. Instead of getting a hotel, we took our coach into the city and they stayed in a hotel nearby. The day after the wedding we had a bit of a get together at 50 Point (our home base) and they joined us there.

In October we were near Edmonton for Marilyn’s mom’s funeral. And another get together.

And now, here we are in West Sac for Thanksgiving, once again having a great time.

So, where to next? Come on Ladies, the year isn’t over yet.

We run into lots of friendly people where ever and when ever we travel but this time of year there is something special about you Americanos. For the last week or so here, everybody we meet, in a park, or a store, even people on the street wish us a “happy holidays”. They say that, because down here Thanksgving is the third Thursday in November and just four weeks later St Nick comes by. They truly do have a “holiday season”

So now I get to return the favor. First of all, a big THANKYOU for reading this drivel day in and day out. I don’t know how you do it. Like really, isn’t it time you did the dishes or changed the oil in your car or something. I’d understand.

Anyway, thanks a bunch.

And Happy Holidays

It’s been almost two weeks since we arrived in Edmonton and it’s been a completely great time! Yes, we had a service for Marilyn’s Mom in there as well, but we’ve had lots of time to connect with old friends and see a little more of the city then we have in the past few years.

We wrapped it up in grand style with our Festivus Western Edition on Saturday night and guess, oh come on, take a wild guess; Guess what Mike and Tracy got me for a gift?
I understand your confusion, I  was completely baffled myself. How could anybody know that I like tasting new and different beers?

Anyway, all confusion aside, we really had a great evening, and even added another panel (chosen by Cam & Abby) to our soon to be famous Festivus table cloth that we now move back and forth between Festivus East and West.

Sunday morning, after a sinfully good breakfast but before we said our goodbyes, we did a walk with them through a local park.

We need to figure out how we can spend a little more time with them all.

Anyway, thanks guys we had a blast!

As you read this, we are probably on our way west on the Yellowhead Highway, looking forward to, before this day is over, being back in the Rocky Mountains, on our way through them to Kamloops.

I gotta say that this is an amazing lifestyle we have chosen for ourselves

We are having a great time here in Edmonton, hanging with family, catching up with old friends. But we can feel that old itch coming back. It’s time to move on.
The days are warm, today it will be about 10 (50F) but every morning there is frost on the truck. I left our water hose out one night and it froze. We need to be pointed south.

Tomorrow is Festivus West with Tracy, Mike and the kids, Cameron and Abby. Sunday it’s goodbye’s all around, Monday morning we head out.

Last week here in Edmonton was all about Marilyn’s Mom’s service.

This week it’s all about connecting with people we haven’t seen for a while. Number one on that list is my daughter Tracy, her husband Mike and our grand kids, Cam & Abby.

Yesterday was us and the grand kids. After lunch at MacDonalds and a 2 or 3 hour visit to the playground with Abby we picked Cam up from school. We started with a stop for ice cream, then we were off to the Telus World of Science (aka Emonton Space Sciences Center).

20 years ago we used to take Jason and Pam there and always had a great time, but this time was different. Probably the biggest change over the last 20 years is that we weren’t there as parents. We are Grandparents now, with a whole new attitude. What ever they want to do, as long as it’s not dangerous, let’s get at it.

Yes, in the pictures above it looks like they are both underwater and yes, those are goldfish to the left of Cam but no, we were not trying to drown them.

We were having way too much fun to do that.

I apologize for this picture. I wanted one of the the three sisters together but we didn’t get to taking it until a few hours after the service. By now, as beautiful as they all are, they might be looking a little worn out. They all  had a stressful day, the offically said goodbye to their Mom, a great, great lady.

The good news is that the three of them are together and we got a picture. Now we need to make sure that in the years to come both the get-together and the picture become more regular occurences.

Ladies: Do you want to start working on that?

Yesterday morning it was 4 or 5 degrees  (low 40′s) with a nasty north wind blowing freezing cold air across Lake Ontario.
Who could possibly think of a better time to get together for a “Goodbye” coffee and donuts party.
Most normal people wouldn’t have bothered to even think about being out on such a day but we’re RVer’s and somebody did whisper “Free”, so you know we just had to go.

Today we are off to Toronto for our fourth annual Festivus celebration.
Then it’s just one more sleep, tomorrow we head out.

We lost a good friend on the afternoon of Sunday September 11. After a lengthly illness Marilyn’s 86 year old mother Evelyn Irene Ducarme died at  Marilyn’s sister Jan’s Spruce Grove, Alberta home, with friends and family close by.

To me she was a great friend and the perfect mother in law. I will think of her often.

In her day, that lady sure knew how to party!

The weather was perfect. The venue was perfect.  The whole evening was, you guessed it, perfect.

The newlyweds  are enjoying their honeymoon in Quebec City, we are back at 50 Point serious about catching up on sleep and getting our lives back to normal.

We were way too busy having fun to take many pictures ourselves.

I will continue to post pictures as I get them to this album (Click Here)  called Pam & James’ Wedding.

Enjoy.

That’s the weather forecast for the big day on Saturday. Sounds like a perfect day for a wedding.

Today we all went to the  chosen wedding location, a place called Fantasy Farms,  in the Don Valley right in the middle of Toronto. We had a quick rehearsal (“start with your left foot so you don’t step on her dress and walk slowly Larry”: I think I can do that), toured the gorgeous facilities and headed off for a quick lunch.

Here’s a good chance for you to meet some of the family: Starting on the left, Jason, Elizabeth with Aiden, you all know Mar, then James’ mom Cindy. that’s our soon to be son in law James, the lucky girl Pam and Sherry.

It’s going to be an exciting week.