A daily tune.

I searched YouTube for a wicked song. This is what I picked. =) ...now, don't just dismiss it the moment you hear it b/c you know you've heard it in every friggin coffee shop on earth. Have you seen Jimi play? I haven't. I didn't know he played left handed on a right handed guitar (lefties weren't made yet); also didn't know he was self conscious about his voice and had intense stage fright! HA! So please... let's watch, appreciate, and listen to my favorite Hendrix song! Red House

Surveyors Lake Camping Trip

The TeePee made it's first Israelson appearance at Surveyors Lake this weekend (Kikomun Creek). We had to reserve two(+) months in advance to get our site and we had a few other families camping there from our church... it was great to get away just as a family, yet have friends to spend time with as well! 1st Breakfast (to cure the immediate hunger pain/whining) 2nd Breakfast (the real one) Elevensies ...ok I know this is getting a little "Lord of the rings" but it really does take us a long time to get through the morning with getting everyone fed! It's usually about 10:30 by the time I or Kevin eat =) This pancake alone fed myself, Atalie and Aiden... lol! Our campsite (#37) had shade all day in all the right places!! The Queen on her throne:) Looking for Painted Turtles in Hidden Lake. Mamma and baby turtle (Attie loved these but sort of scared the other two family members away with her excitement)! A little family vacation time I'd imagine... A curious little rattler, wondering why I'm taking a picture of him. Nap time went exactly as seen above. Goofin around... ...entertained by the dog... ...who was entertained by the bugs (she was snapping at the fly which is whizzing by her head to the left). Roasting lunch. Want some???

Re-Introducing The 1967 Tee Pee!

Da da da daaaaaaaaa!!! Yes, our single camping trip this year has done us in folks... we have "upgraded" to a (ok sorry, I am actually laughing here - i can't believe i'm saying this)... upgraded to a 1967 Tee Pee Camping Trailer. Purchased for the very affordable (very yet barely) price of 700 bucks! And she's ours. All ours!!! Mwaahahahahahaaaaa! Ok that last laugh was a little too cartoon-villian. None the less, I am humbled and excited all in one. Far too funny. It appears that everything is original and in very good condition, if you can believe it, after 42 years. The delux master bed, with somewhat dodgy upper bed... ...transforms into a delux couch. Can't ask for more than an icebox when camping now can you? A good solid invention:) Also, the oven is spotless - "new" we're told, but in what year it was purchased "new" is a whole other question:) Check out the wallpaper:) A few original detials... Now who doesn't need a Dixie Cup when camping?? Come on, who??! And as if I don't need at least 3 of these (oh wait, there are three, I think!) handy little decorative shelves! And a rod to hang up all my fancy camping clothes. Now. All we need to get this baby on the road are some proper lights! Apparently the previous owner had to screw around with the already-working wiring b/c his truck had screwy wiring. Niiiice.... thanks:/

1st Down

One camping trip successfully completed with many to come:) Here are some pics from our weekend at Premier Lake with our friends Justin & Natalie (and son Carver, 14 months). Atalie is aiding Daddy in making a fire. The camp trailers above aren't ours however... we tented with two tents, thanks to Aiden's need for a confined sleeping space. His playpen took up alot of room in our 3-4 person tent so we had to bring along my small backpacking tent as well. Turns out he didn't want to sleep in his playpen anyways and ended up tossing and turning in my bag all night long. At least we know we can avoid the extra tent next time:) There was a creek running past our campsite, about 20 feet away. Everybody loved this, even the dog who tried to play with the pour trout who were spawning at the time! There was a constant sound of fish jumping and water running.. so nice! Getting read to head out in Justin and Natalie's canoe. This was the kids' first time in a boat of any kind, I do believe! Our faithful pup, who doesn't swim voluntarily even though she enjoys it, actually followed us right out into the lake!! It was hilarious as we paddled away trying to escape her (she tried to paw her way into the canoe, causing a bit of chaos aboard!). We had to turn around to tie her up on shore... poor pup;) Carver shows us his stylish side:) Aiden and Daddy out for a stroll. Atalie doing the 20 miniute hike to Yankee/Canuck Lake. She was a super trooper!!! Where to begin... Atalie is actually putting her hand to her ear and dramatically saying (loudly), "what's that noise?? do you hear it???", although she looks like she's doing a big glamour pose... haha! Hmm... maybe the message here is that big strong men don't get cold in very cold lakes, so we should all try to look like one...? We'll find out in just a moment. The only lesson learned here was to swim fast when there's a loyal dog swimming after you! Hahaha!! Aiden wanted to go in so badly when he saw Daddy swimming! He LOVES the water... that is, until we stripped him down and Kev dipped his feet in. Suddenly, not so much. He sure is cute though! :)

Corn, corn and more corn!

Aiden had his first taste of corn ON the cob this week... funny how he's more willing to eat it off of the cob, than if it's in individual kernels all ready to go on his plate (it just gets rotated around his plate and passed onto the floor in the latter case)! I contemplated putting captions under each photo but figured that his expression really does say it all;)

Out and about!

A good friend of ours was playing in Creston this weekend. He's one of those individuals who is unmistakeably musically gifted and has been in a couple of very talented bands over the last number of years. Well he's decided to launch his own album and is currently ending a tour which took him and his sister around BC and parts of Alberta. He plays guitar, violin (fiddle, more appropriately for this album), harmonica and of course sings. His main genre (for lack of a better word) has been rock until now.. but he takes on a much different sound now that he's found his way back into his own. Truely honest, very unique, extremely talented and always a pleasure to listen to:) You can check out a few demo's he has on his website, and if you're ever in the area you must go see a concert! I guess when a close friend finds his way to his heart through a powerful gifting, you can't help but to be proud of him and want to share it with the world:) Well done Dan. Check out my photography blog to see a few more pics of the concert! The way home consisted of a peaceful play in Premier Lake, just 20 minutes South of our home town of Canal Flats. We might just camp here for a night this weekend... first night camping with Aiden = a little nervousousness! ;) Definately one of the (if not thee) most beautiful lakes I've seen yet (although that's a toughy b/c there are so many around here!!!). The dock looks pretty small in this photo but it's quite big! Swimming is allowed just below the doc here, whereas boating is restricted to the above section. Above, the beach where you can swim... the water is perfect swimming temperature!! Not too cold, but definately not warm:) ...oh Aiden. I don't remember a time when he's come home dry with even a small puddle in his path. Atalie made me take a picture of the "bish". Path to the beach. A fun (apparently) log. Playing in the water... still:) A park! Yay for easy entertainment!!!