Laura's Adventures: January 2010

Bonfire and Fireworks

Garron taking a photo of him and Amy with the bonfire in the background. A family affair (their children Journey in pink and Solomon in the blue hat) - Three Hills annually as a bonfire where you can bring your real Christmas trees to have them "go up in smoke". Garron and Amy made their donation this year. The Firefighters ensure the firepit remains a controlled fire as they pile on the Christmas trees.

Of course what is a bonfire without hot dogs!!! They supplied free hot dogs and hot chocolate for everyone. Here is Solomon enjoying his hot dog.

The roaring fires and the burning ambers of the Three Hills Christmas trees.

After enjoying the bonfire and our hot dogs with hot chocolate - the light show began. To end the evening, the city put on a spectular light show of fireworks. They were pretty good - great big booms!!! Around I hear the sounds of young children crying as the noise scared them. Perfect air quality - the booms were quite loud (heart thumping at times) - I must admit I am not one for fireworks (I was like one of those kids and my parents think that is one of my reasons for my fear of thunderstorms - the light show with the thundering clap). I am not the best outside night photographer - but I did try to take some of the fireworks.

The Olympic Torch Run

The Olympics begin in Vancouver, BC on Feb 12 - on Sat Jan 16th - the Olympic Torch Run passed through Three Hills - there was a great crowd greeting the runners. It was a beautiful morning too. The kids were given tamborines and plastic tubs you inflate with the RBC logo as they are one of the sponsors of the Torch Run - the other being Coca-Cola. Just as the two torches touched we tried our best to sing "O Canada" - though in a big group it actually sounded more like a round than an anthem.

The runner coming into Three Hills

The runners meet at the Public Library to continue the torch run - lighting the new runner's torch. If I remember correctly - this flame has originated in Athens, Greece - where the Olympia began all those years ago.

The new runner waving to the crowd as he carries the torch running towards the runner awaiting their turn.

The Patersons waiting patiently for the runner to enter Three Hills with his lit torch.

Happy Birthday Ethan!!

Ethan's Spiderman Birthday Cake

The Rishes have the ice cream - they are waiting for the cake to go with it.

Amy with the international student, Ren that stayed with her family last year.

Solomon

Sara trying on the Spidy glasses - great look Sara!!

Ethan's choice for birthday meal was Kraft dinner - here is John P finished up his plate while Amy's internation student Edgar (from Mexico) await for the gift opening part of the birthday party

Garron with daughter Journey await for dinner - next weekend it will be Journey's turn to have her birthday party - just like her cousins Ethan and Josiah she will be turning 6 years old too.

Casendra getting some cuddle time with her Auntie Amanda

Who is that Masked Man??

Who is that Masked Man?? Well it is Ethan in his new Spiderman's outfit (if you go to the Privyet blog link - David and Erin - you will see that Ethan's cousin Josiah (who turned 6 this week) also has a Spiderman outfit too!! They could have been Spiderman twins if Josiah still lived in 3 Hills)

Spiderman has special glasses with lights too!!

Sara helping Ethan put together his Spiderman outfit.

Oh Ethan received a non-Spiderman related gift - a new pair of pants for school.

Snowed in 3 Hills

These photos were taken from Ethan during the snowstorm we were having that first weekend of December. I had the day off work and was going up to have a lunch date with Amy - I made it 20 mins out of Calgary - at the moment I decided to turn back my cellphone went off and it was Amy saying we should cancel due to the weather. So I arrive home and there was John P finished up some projects at my house. A couple of hours later in the van we took the back roads and we eventually made it back to their house where I stayed until Sunday night where Jon J and Char drove me safely to my house. That weekend was John P's Christmas Concert and of course Ethan's birthday - so it was nice that I was able to be a part of those events.

One of the things we did while the snow and wind blew outside - watch the old TV series - The Young Riders (based on the movie - Young guns that starred Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen). It has the action for Ethan and of course there are the horses so perfect for Sierra.

Sierra - the photographer

Here is Sierra with my old camera that I gave her. She has a good eye for capturing a moment. Candid photos are so great to have as they seem the most natural. I don't think photography would be as interesting for them if they had to wait until the roll of film was developed - seeing the photo the instant you take it is so exciting.

Make a face

The first weekend of December, I was snowbound with the Paterson family - it was also Ethan's 6th birthday celebrations. On the Friday night, they had found my camera and tried out their photography skills again. These photos are the one when either Sierra or Ethan said "Make a face for the camera" - so here you go...