November 2008

Our first weekend of real winter up north.  

Autumn 2008

This was such a spectacular fall that I just had to share it with everyone.  Many weekends were spent up north at the cottage where the colours were stunning.  Gabrielle and I did a day road trip to the French River Trading Post which was even farther north of the cottage by about 1 1/2.  We got lost a bit which added more time onto the trip but it was a beautiful day so no worries.  Rob stayed at the cottage torturing the fish in the lake one last time.

Autumn 2008

Tyrell Museum, Drumheller (Badlands)

Dominique's 1st meal on campus - A&W!

Off to University of Calgary

Dominique's 18th Birthday/Gabrielle's 15th

Just realized that I never put an entry in for Dom or Gab's birthdays but we did in fact celebrate them.

Emmmanuelle's 19th Birthday

Dominique's Prom-2008

Chai and Scary Madison

Chai is actually yawning but Gabrielle caught her on film at the exact moment and it looks like she's freaked out about Madison who probably spit at her soon after. This is as close as Madison will tolerate.

Weekend at Cottage

Great weekend at the cottage again. The wildlife was easier to see this time. Saw a fox on our way in, lots of deer and a weasel but I didn't get a good photo of him. Tons of snow up there (much like Toronto!)

Belize Trip-February 22-March 2nd, 2008

Rob and I had a brilliant vacation with Island Adventures on Half-Moon Caye - Lighthouse Reef off the coast of Belize. We started in Belize City which is not worth seeing then were picked up by the tour and taken to Crooked Tree which is a village surrounded by a lagoon. We stayed at Bird's Eye Sanctuary for one night. We were taken on a late night crocodile hunt and a bird tour the next morning before heading back to Belize City to catch our boat out to Lighthouse Reef. The boat ride was 1 1/2 hours way out to sea. We stayed in tents right by the sea. Sleeping with waves roaring close by is not easy; we were up by 6 every morning and I got an hour of yoga which was pretty cool. Everyday we snorkelled and kayaked either around the island, or out at sea. We had to practise wet exits from the kayaks which were a little scary but no problem. We went and snorkelled in the Blue Hole which is exactly that - a very deep blue hole in the sea with reef around it. The snorkelling was amazing-barracudas, lobsters, loads of interesting and very colourful fish, flounder, sharks, rays and octopus. It was a great trip. We also had a bird sanctuary on the island and got to see frigate birds, red-footed boobies and pelicans. It is such a beautiful place; hard to leave and we'll definitely go back!

Rob breaking open a coconut with his bare hands!

Portuguese Man of War
Jelly Fish