A-O-A

With all this rain and cooler weather I thought now would be a good time to post the last of our holiday pictures. Plus I really just wasn't finding time to do it.
We started off in Abbotsford, visiting family, and Al spent a majority of his time going to all the Volkswagen car show activities spread out over 3 days. (drag races, breakfast, and finally car show and swap meet). Zoe and I met up with Al and our friend, Paul (who also loves the VW) in Port Coquitlam for the show, did our tour of the VW's, played in the water park nearby, bought a VW shirt for Zoe (needs new one every year), and headed back to Abbotsford to pack up and head to Osoyoos for some fun in the sun at the beach/pool!
Al didn't take any pictures at the show this year which is highly unusual, hmmm! The show was great for Al, as always, it's a highly anticipated event that he waits for all year.
NEXT...
Osoyoos was great, the sun was shining and it was warm. The first day was interesting, as there was fire in Washington state which is about 20 minutes from there, and ashes were raining down on us and everything else, the sky was a weird red colour. To top that off, a thunder storm rolled over above and then a light rain shower followed raining ashes mixed with rain, giving us black rain, and very dirty skin and clothes. It was gross. By nightfall, the wind had picked up, and blown the ashes back over the state's side, which was fine by us. We woke up to sunshine, and wind, but if it meant keeping the ashes away, we were all for it.
We had lots of time to sit by the pool, and on the beach, enjoy the sun, and relax.

Zoe sportin' the crossed legged style way to sit. Such a funny girl. She swings her leg too. In the next collage, note that it is also being done by her aunts, and her Opa. Her Daddy also sits like this sometimes.

Random shots Zoe swimming in the pool, the swing with cousins Austin & Aiden (thanks for the push Auntie Lori), Zoe at the beauty parlor getting a pedicure by Daddy, the beach, Al playing Sudoko with his eyes closed? or was he thinking really hard?! & playing in our motel room.
Al's family goes to Osoyoos every year, and have gone since Al was little. Both Al's parents are originally from Brazil, and we were treated to a Brazilian BBQue by Al's aunt and uncle who were visiting from Brazil. It was great, lots of steak, and yummy toasted bread. That's them in the pictures above by the Barby. Al and his brother's. Zoe and Austin.

Utter chaos!! Taking a family picture is always a challenge, especially when the one taking the pictures isn't aware that they are being taken. They make for a great laugh anyway, everyone is everywhere doing their own thing, but we finally pulled one off. It was also Opa's 60th birthday, so lots of cake was consumed. Zoe really liked the "purple" cake.

The windmill, Al and Zoe are standing in front. They have awesome ice cream, with lots of flavours to choose from, we took a vote, and the winner was Chocolate Peanutbutter! At this amusement park they had all sorts of things to do such as mini golfing, go-karts, water boats, and some other small rides for kids. Zoe and her cousins and us adults did race the go-karts. Zoe's memory is really amazing, she remembers the colours of all our cars, who rode with who, what colour my helmut was, what colour her helmut was, and oh yah, that we won too. She also remembers that "her ferris wheel" (from Seafair back in July ) seat was purple everytime she went on it. She did ask for the purple chair each time, she's just lucky the guy could carry out that wish.

Purple is "the" colour for just about anything these days. Last but not least....

Zoe wearing Al's shorts, & in the van she's ready to roll!

Our time in Osoyoos came to an end, and we headed to Armstrong to visit with my grandparents. We were so happy to spend some time with them, and show Zoe where they live. I spent many summers there.

That's it, no more holiday pictures!

We had a great time, and made it home in time to get ready to go to preschool and back to a routine (well we are still figuring that one out). My dad just came for a visit, and then my friend, Allison was here too. So it's been a busy household, but that's okay because it's back to same old same old already.