Joy and Sadness

I posted earlier this summer about Art's stepmom passing away.  As you all know, when there is a sad occasion, usually family gets together, which is (hopefully) a joyful occasion.  When we drove back to BC, we took Art's sister on her first road trip with us, which was a lot of fun!  The Girls LOVED having Auntie Frieda in the van, and she had brought along an "auntie bag" filled with special treats and activities for them, so they thought that was pretty cool!  It was a long drive, but we made good time and had a lot of fun together.

 Not to mention, the scenery is fairly spectacular!

 We stopped in Hope to drop Frieda off at  their Aunt Irene's house, and got a little visit in there.  After driving all day, the girls needed to get some beans out, so we took them over to a local park.  The Girls couldn't get over the size of the leaves, and they so kindly decorated me with them.  It was our intention to bring them home, but unfortunately, we forgot them at Aunt Irene's....so, if you're reading this Irene, next time you come, bring the leaves....please!!

 Since we had just been at the coast, it was the Girls second time seeing Aunt Irene very close together, so there was no "warming up" period....

 After we left, we made a quick stop at Bridal Falls, just outside of Chilliwack, and took a little hike.  It's a place that Art and I have been many, many times, but we'd never taken our Girls, so that was very fun to experience it through their eyes.  And, crazy enough, on our hike, we ran into some people that we know....from Spruce Grove!! 

 The Girls all had lots of fun climbing on trees....

and hanging over bridges....

 and I had forgotten just how big those trees get!

 Molly was our official photographer!

And, we had a great little family time there! 

Once again, the great thing about deaths is that we get to have some extended family time, and the next few days were full of laughter and tears!