Let me preface this post with a big WARNING. I got a little trigger-happy the past few days. With my camera (I am in Canada. Not Texas (Not knocking Texans at all; y’all are just known for loving guns.)) I have not shot a gun in about fifteen years, unless you count Honey’s paintball gun. I shot that gun last summer at a few cows that wandered into our yard. I am not even kidding. I cannot find the post, but TRUST ME. We have had stray cows in our yard. We live in the sticks, yo.
Anyway.
We spent two mornings in a row down at one of the many parks that are on Okanagan Lake.
The sun was shining, the kids were happy, and I had my camera in hand.
THURSDAY
We met Christy and her kidlets down at the lake. Amanda and Avelyn came too, but they arrived a bit later after the wind had picked up. We then jetted to Tim Hortons for donuts and coffee Diet Coke.
Christy and I first met when she and her husband moved to our little town four years ago. They had only one child at the time (Ben), who was four months older than Graham. Christy was eight months pregnant with Megan, and I was (A mere!) nine weeks pregnant with Nathan.
We became fast friends, as did our children. Ben and Graham are now in Kindergarten together and Megan and Nathan are six months apart, but the same school year. Their youngest is the beautiful Olivia, and she is exactly four weeks younger than Emily. She and Emily are part of The Fantastic Four (See this post as well.)
We have dreamed dreams of betrothing Nathan and Megan to each other.
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(Emily joined the rock throwing party as well.)
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(Olivia was at home napping while her Daddy puttered around the house.)
We have also dreamed dreams of Graham and Ben being BFF’s forever. Going through the crazy school years. Maybe even including college.
We have dreamed of them standing up for each other on the day that they each take a beautiful woman to be their other half.
These four have known each other as long as they can remember.
Their lives are completely interwoven.
This will change drastically before we know it. Dustin and Christy are moving their family to the wastelands of Alberta. Graham and Ben will no longer go to school together. Nathan and Megan will not be in preschool together next year. Emily and Olivia will no longer pull each other to the ground and bite each other.
(OK. It is Emily doing all of the biting, but I’M WORKING ON IT.)
I understand their reasons for moving, but that does not mean I cannot be sad. It has been my first lesson in the fact that the dreams we dream for our children? May not become a reality.
*Pout*
FRIDAY
Matthew’s brother and his wife (and their two sweet boys) are up for Easter with her parents, and met us at the (same) beach. On the way there, a coyote crossed our path.
Like I said, we live in the sticks.
It was a sunnier, even warmer day than Thursday.
Cousin Caleb was all about the throwing of the rocks.
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Nathan joined in.
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Some ducks joined the party.
Nathan hit one. Good Aim! It was an accident.
Miss Emily joined us at the water’s edge.
I love her in jeans.
Especially the jean bum.
I never tire of it.
She likes the lake.
Here is the only shot I got of my three in the same (general) location.
Who needs toys? Rocks and water (And sticks!) can entertain children for hours.
Matthew and I have been daydreaming about (Read: looking online at real estate) moving someplace that does not have winter. We both hate winter with the power of a thousand burning suns (Kind of an ironic term, wouldn’t you say?). He has been looking in Mexico and Texas. I have been looking in Southern California. I have dreamed of living there since I was but a wee lass…
The idea of no winter is pretty (VERY!) enticing and the the thought of enduring another forty or so winters is downright depressing. Sigh.
It will likely remain a dream, and only a dream. The reality of picking up and moving so far away is pretty daunting.
For now I will console myself with the fact that summer will be here before I know it. Then I will be complaining about how HOT it is, and laying on the floor in the basement to keep cool. Winter becomes a distant memory, and in hindsight it really is not that bad.
At least that is what I keep telling myself. Plus, we live in one of the most beautiful locations in all of Canada. Hands down.
I can still dream, though. A life without dreams would be pretty dull and boring.
Happy Easter everyone! May both the Easter Bunny and God spoil you rotten this weekend.
24 Comments
Oh wow! I’m loving your pictures. As usual.
I hope you have a great weekend with your family! Those other two little D boys are just so SWEET!
Mrs. Wilson’s last blog post..A couple links = a lot of sleep
Comment by Mrs. Wilson on March 22nd, 2008 @ 8:34 amSo sad that your good friends are moving. I’ve been realizing my boys don’t yet have that kind of friends, where you know they’ll be tight for life. Waiting to make those friends, I guess.
You know, you could just move somewhere that has *less* winter, so you still get to appreciate the joy of impending spring and summer. There are lots of places that have just a little less winter. (I guess that means more rain … drat!)
Comment by Rachel Joy on March 22nd, 2008 @ 8:40 amI’m sad that D and C are moving, too….
Love the pictures and I’m sad that you aren’t a winter fan. Happy Easter Blessings.
Elizabeth’s last blog post..Sibs
Comment by Elizabeth on March 22nd, 2008 @ 9:15 amWhat a great bunch of pictures of all the kids in action. 
And yes sticks rocks and water are far better then any toy!
I hope you and your family have a great Easter weekend too!
Comment by Krisitn on March 22nd, 2008 @ 9:26 amBEAUTIFUL pictures as always!
chelsey’s last blog post..Happy Spring
Comment by chelsey on March 22nd, 2008 @ 9:38 amI’m so sad for you that your friends are moving away. 
I guess you will just need to go on a few more road trips to visit them!
MOVE HERE!! We have a *VERY* mild winter. No snow. Pleasant temperatures. And our summer is pretty nice. We’d make you feel real welcome!! :-)
Seriously though, I hope that if you really are supposed to move, that God will put in place the things that need to happen for that. And if you’re meant to stay in (Beautiful!) Summerland, you will have the ability to endure the coldness of winter … with a few Mexico trips thrown in to tide you over, perhaps?
Hannah’s last blog post..Good Friday
Comment by Hannah on March 22nd, 2008 @ 12:31 pmyour photos always have a feeling of calmness…
I HATE winter with a passion…. AND I’m jealous of your snow-free pics. We are still buried under snow over here in Ontario…. I’d move to BC in a flash!
Holly’s last blog post..Movie Meme
PS. Your friends may be moving physically, but I have a feeling they will always be close mentally and emotionally….
Holly’s last blog post..Movie Meme
Comment by Holly on March 22nd, 2008 @ 2:08 pmThat’s sad that your friends are moving! But visits will be on the agenda for sure, you have got to keep those kids in touch, that is so neat that they are all so close in age.
When you pick a spot to move to, let us know. We are in the market to get out of the Arctic. 
May God spoil you rotten, you deserve it!
Kami’s last blog post..My jumbled thoughts
Comment by Kami on March 22nd, 2008 @ 2:26 pmThat picture of Graham and Ben gives me goosebumps. Is that not the perfect picture of friendship? It amazes me that the two boys sat still long enough for you to take a picture!!! I love the picture of “the four” as well. It’s sad to think that those kids are going to have to move away from each other…You’ll have to make lots of road trips to each other! Hope you and your family have an awesome weekend!
Comment by Michele on March 22nd, 2008 @ 3:20 pmHow would you like to make a trade?! I live in a state with no descernable winter (we had flurries twice this year & it was a freakin record. I’m not kidding - snow hasn’t stuck here in over 5 years.)
I would KILL for a real winter - snow, fire wood & freezing temperatures for more than one hour. (Again, not kidding)
The pics are gorgeous ~ and I’m so jealous that you got to play with Amanda!!
Bellamomma’s last blog post..That’s it Dr. Laura, blame the woman
Comment by Bellamomma on March 22nd, 2008 @ 6:45 pmHey now….we live in Alberta, and its not all that bad (I tell myself that a lot). I have however lived in Ktown….and thats sweet living. Just not practical for families that want to get ahead in life. Or at least it wasn’t good for us at the time. Great shots Angella. miss sitting at the lake and hearing the water. Its a lovely sound.
Be blessed on this wonderful weekend!!
I know your disappointment, I really do. Being a Navy family is great in some ways, and it sucks in other ways. Constantly being separated from friends (either because they move or you move) is one of the sucky things.
Thank God for the internet and email, eh?
bethany actually’s last blog post..Flower scarf, take two
Those photos are great - looks like you had an awesome time. Happy Easter!
Don Mills DIva’s last blog post..I will fly
Comment by Don Mills DIva on March 22nd, 2008 @ 7:22 pmHappy Easter, great pictures as always!
Ashley’s last blog post..Two Years ago today…
Comment by Ashley on March 22nd, 2008 @ 8:15 pmAngella - thanks for stopping by and leaving a lovely happy anniversary comment. Appreciate it. I used to love Johnny Depp too, although I never had a poster on my wall. Don’t know why. (Who am I kidding? I still love him).
As for your post above - I don’t know what planet I’ve been living on, but I had the impression you lived somewhere in the prairies. Where did I get that from? The mention of Lake Okanagan tells me you’re just up the road in Kelowna. Anyway… beautiful photos, as usual. Love the jeans bum the best.
Winter will be over soon. Hang in there.
Carolyn’s last blog post..happy tenth wedding anniversary to us.
Comment by Carolyn on March 22nd, 2008 @ 9:12 pmI love all of the from behind shots!
slynnro’s last blog post..Oh, husbands….just so cute.
Comment by slynnro on March 23rd, 2008 @ 7:52 amI love photos of kids near beach water throwing rocks. I have a few (thousand) myself.
I hear ya about the winter. As a former Texan (born and raised then gottheeffout) there’s something horrible about year-round summer, too. I missed sweaters. Maybe compromise and come to Seattle where it’s a little more mild. :: cough ::
Mrs. Flinger’s last blog post..Flashback Friday: Where were you when?
That photo of Emily and walking ith her daddy is really sweet.
180/360’s last blog post..The Changeling
Comment by 180/360 on March 23rd, 2008 @ 10:57 amOh Ange….don’t do this to my poor heart. I was starting to feel more excited about moving. And now….our collective dreams for future marriage of our kids is less forseeable. But, we are by no means going to be out of your lives. As we visit over the years the possiblilty of romance is still there.
These photos are really really great.
But not half as as great as you are.
And that’s pretty great.
How many times can I say great in one paragraph?
Great.
christy’s last blog post..Stunning family.
Comment by christy on March 23rd, 2008 @ 1:28 pmI am loving my time here in the beautiful Okanagan! Hudson loves being outside, playing in the park, picnics by the lake…he’s going to be soooo confused when we head back to Montreal and back to the snow!
joyce’s last blog post..never ass-u-me…
Comment by joyce on March 23rd, 2008 @ 1:38 pmAww, so sad! I feel sad for you, but yet I am SO excited that Christy is moving here…
I love your pictures, Angella!
Alexandria’s last blog post..Alex is….
Comment by Alexandria on March 24th, 2008 @ 9:09 amsimple pleasures — water, stones, sticks. Here’s to the hope that you’ll remain close friends, even over the distance.
Daisy’s last blog post..On my reading list
Comment by Daisy on March 24th, 2008 @ 5:47 pm
How sad for you all that your friends are moving. Even if you are happy for them, it’s hard to see friends move away.
I hope you have a great weekend with your relatives!
sizzle’s last blog post..Thanks Easter Bunny- Bock! Bock!
Comment by sizzle on March 22nd, 2008 @ 7:46 am