Its Cake Time

The cake we had we so good and the icing was not that sweet stuff. There was only 2 pieces of cake left and they did not stay very long. Austin and I had cake everywhere, good thing we were camping and it was easy to clean up! I even had cake up my nose!

The night finished off with fireworks and a fire. It was a great weekend and the weather was pretty good. This is the last time that we will be camping this year and next time it will hopefully be with a little one.

Refreshing

My Nephew Austin decided that he wanted to come on the boat, so he just jumped from the Seadoo into the lake and swam to the boat. Eventually all of us got into the lake which was helpful in transferring the little kids from the Seadoo to the boat. Austin and I just stayed in the lake the whole time and had fun playing tag and other games. I was nervous at first but I thought if my 12 year old Nephew isn't scared then I shouldn't be! In this picture my Sister is holding her daughter Belle and Austin and I are in the back. Shayne is on the Seadoo and he was going really REALLY fast. I was scared that he was going to crash!

A Fun Day

My Dad's birthday is in late July and my Mom's is in early August. We usually celebrate their birthdays together, but Shayne and I were in Calgary for alot of August. So on September long weekend we headed out to North Battleford to celebrate. On Saturday September 5 we started the day with some go cart riding. It is a pretty good track and even has a bridge. Then we went on the boat and Seadoo in the afternoon. It was a beautiful day and I really enjoyed the ride. In the picture is Captain Dad, my Niece Izabella, Lukas my Nephew and Shayne. My Mom and I are in the back of the boat. My sister Angie and my other Nephew Austin were on the Seadoo.

The Fight is on!

On Saturday everyone came out and started the fun with a great big water fight! The little kids and the dogs ( Presley -Angie's dog and Tucker)would either cry or run away! However, the older kids, Shayne, Angie and myself had quite the war! Then we went to the lake for a swim. Shayne and I love the water and could have stayed there for a very long time. Later on we went for ice cream and finished off the night with some games, a fire and smores. What a great day.

Father's Day

On Father's Day my Mom and Dad were on vacation in California. When they got back we asked my Dad what he wanted to do for Father's Day. Of course he wanted us all to go camping in Saskatchewan, so on July 3 that is what we did. It was recomended to Shayne to take a different way to Jack Fish Lake through a town called Turttleford. It was just as beautiful as taking the ferry. The drive was exciting because we saw a cariboo farm (or so Shayne says they were) and a buffalo farm. I have never seen these animals so close so it was a real treat for me. The first night it was just Shayne and I so we just unpacked, and had a fire with smokies.

Frying Pan

This is our BBQ and on Saturday Shayne spent 2 hours putting it together, so it had to be tested out ( and it was our turn to cook). Shayne cooked hamburgers with all of the fixings and potatoes. My Mom gave us one of her cast iron frying pans to use and I will tell you that I have forgotten how good food tastes when it is cooked in those pans! Great job Shayne, everything turned out great!

Soap as Air Freshener

Papa's trailer is full of storage and I am still finding cupboards that I didn't realize that they open. I think that I found the last hidden cupboard this weekend. It was under the fridge! Who would think that there is usable storage there? Among of few other things were these bars of soap again. I found these throughout the trailer so I asked my Mom why Papa had soap everywhere and she said that it was like that in his house too and that it was used as an air freshener. I thought that was a little weird, but this time I decided to go back and smell the cupboard since it probably has not be opened in 2 years. To my surprise it smelled very fresh. I guess that it did work!

Timid Deer

We went camping in Saskatchewan this past weekend again. The weather was not to bad there. It was sunny and I think that it hit around 17 on Saturday. I am always amazed at wildlife. We saw these Deer on the way there and I was surprised how sensitive they are. One little movement closer to them and they are gone.

The Rising Engine

For Mothers Day my Dad put some sort of special exhaust system in my Mom's mustang. Well, my sister could not resist and sort of tricked my Mom into taking it to Cochin. Anige then picked Shayne and I up from the beach and we went for a cruise. I got to drive on the way home and I tell you, I want this car. I am the biggest chicken but I decided to go for it. I floored this mustang and the engine just lifted right up. It was very exhilerating and man this car has power! The first thing I said was, " Shayne that was so fun, we need one of these"!!

The Set Up

This is us sitting around the fire having a few adult beverages. Tucker of course is a freak about his bed so we had to bring it in front of the fire so that he could relax too. The trailer behind us is my Mom and Dads.

This is the trailer that Shayne and I sleep in. My Mom inherited it from my Papa who passed away just over a year ago. Papa loved camping and I am sure that he is very happy that his trailer is being enjoyed.

This trailer has one bedroom in the back and I have to say that it is one of the most comfortable beds that I have ever slept in ( aside from my bed at home). We feel completely relaxed and happy when we stay in this trailer.

My sister Angie's trailer is in between Papa's and my Parents trailer. My Mom says that it is a great set up because if she gets tired of us she can just kick us out into our "own homes"!

Cochin Hill

This is Cochin Hill. When my Dad was a kid he used to come to Cochin to visit his Grandma and Grandpa and to go to Jack Fish Lake. They were a very poor family so this was a very big treat to them. Back then there was no stairs and the kids would climb it 3-4 times a day.
Every time I go to North Battleford I have to climb this hill. This year I thought that it would be easier because I have quit smoking for over a year. NOT! My lungs were just as tired. Maybe a little less wheezing, but that is about it.

Just behind that house across the street is where my Great Grandma and Great Grandpa used to live. My Great Uncle Ken took my Dad to see the foundation last year but I guess that you have to be really careful of cellars.

This is the light house at the top of Cochin Hill. I keep saying that I want to come at night to see it lit up, but we never make it.

The Spoiled Dog Tucker

My sister did not have her kids this weekend so Tucker got spoiled. He ate like a king, whatever he wanted. He had steak, hot dogs, smokies and I am sure alot of other food that Shayne and I did not see. I think one day he had some dog food, but that is about it. All of us played non stop with him and we eventually tired him out! YES WE TIRED TUCKER OUT! He was the center of attention all weekend long.

The Old Jackfish Store

Even though all of the town buildings remain, they are all abandoned except for the post office across the street from this store. My Dad told us that the Gagne homestead was just a little down the road from this store. I wish that I had known at the time because I would have taken a picture of the property even though the house is not there anymore.

The Ferry

On the way to Jack Fish Lake you can either go through North Battleford or take the ferry across the river. Shayne and I always take the ferry because views are outstanding. It always reminds me of something from Dances With Wolves. To my surprise the countryside in Sask. is full of hills and valleys. I took this picture right before got onto the ferry.

Odd Clouds

For the long weekend we went to Jack Fish Lake just outside of North Battleford. The view without glasses is unbelievably clear and crisp. This cloud seemed to follow us the entire way there. It was HUGE.