Oh Canada! Part 2

The rest of our time in Canada was spent exploring BC. We drove from Chase (where the wedding was) through Whistler (where the 2010 winter Olympics were) and down and over to Vancouver where we boarded a ferry. The drive was beautiful as you can see!

I  loved the farms tucked into the valleys!

 Waterfall

 There are a lot more lakes in Canada than here in CO. And, its a lot more green there too.

 On the ferry to go to Vancouver Island

 Docking

 After a night in Nanaimo, we headed up the island to Tofino.

 On the route we stopped and thoroughly enjoyed the "Cathedral Grove"...a grove of massive cedar trees!

 Ferns were everywhere too...the whole place had an enchanted feel to it! Plus, it was a little bit rainy/misty. Mmmmm.....

 In Uclulet a town near Tofino where we enjoyed some delicious fish and chips!

 Tofino...where we spent two nights at a lovely Bed & Breakfast Dan found!

 Sunset on the wharf....beautiful!

 Lots of sea planes around!

 While most things to do were quite expensive, we found that surfing was really quite cheap. Dan decided to give it another try (his first time was in CA a few years back) 

Yep, that's our rented ride with a surf board on top!!! Its a Prius...loved the gas mileage, but not the backache it gave me! Might be related to being preggo...

 Taking a break! This is where I sat and read my book and took a nap. It was a cool day and I was bundled up, but it was a gorgeous sunny day!

 He rode this one on his knees for a long time! Unfortunately, I was sleeping when he had a good standing run.

 Lookin' good babe!

 The view from our bed at the B&B. Breathtaking. It overlooked a little inlet that changed tide drastically everyday!

 After our two days in Tofino we drove to the largest city on the island, Victoria.

 While walking along the sidewalks along the shore we spotted several of these, Jellyfish!

 We really enjoyed the wharfs and docks!

 Some really cool bushes

 The Empress Hotel

 Then, we took a ferry back to Seattle! I believe this mountain is Mt. Baker....it was stunning! Seems it arises from nowhere!

 No pictures because it happened so fast, but I was able to see some seals from the ferry!

 Such a wonderful trip planner! Thanks for all your effort into making our "babymoon" a wonderful one babe! I love you!

 We spent the night in Seattle and before flying out the next morning we stopped at the Pike Place Market...it was very interesting!

It was so good to get away - just the two of us and and spend some quality time together before this baby comes. Dan did such a great job planning this trip. He really made it special! God's creation is so gorgeous...I'm so thankful for its awe-inspiring grandeur! Ah....

Oh Canada! Part 1

On September the 7th my dear friend Christie Wray was wed to her charming man, Daniel Folkman. The setting was lovely: a lake house on Little Shuswap Lake in BC, Canada. The people were lovely too. Chris and I spent some of our growing up years together in Haiti. She was just the friend I needed. Obviously, it was wonderful to be able to be there for her special day. A huge plus was getting to see her family too!

The wedding party pics with fantastic photography by ms. Jamie Delaine herself

Here comes Tim! (Christie's brother) and Katie (sister) the little beauty on his left arm. 

My brother Derek and Katie will always be buds!

And the bride! With parents Rod and Debbie

 Mr. & Mrs. Daniel & Christie Folkman!

 Loved being with you Chris!

 Wedding Decor

 Reception

 Married 2 years and 9 months!

 First dance

 Thanks for making room for us and making us feel so special Wray family! 

Dan, Kara, me, Katie, Debbie and Tim

Dan and Christie, our prayers with you as you start this new life together! We love you so much and enjoyed being able to see you again! You are a beautiful couple inside and out and I'm really excited to see how God uses you together!

Gutwein Ladies

 In the middle of August we were very blessed to have some of my favorite ladies visit us! My mom, sister Alisha, Grandma Gutwein and Aunt Joan! We spent a lovely long weekend with them. They arrived late Wednesday night and left late Monday morning. We packed a lot in those days! Dan was only scheduled to work Saturday which was the shower so it worked out great to have him along almost everyday! :)

FYI: I didn't  take a single one of these photos...so you have my Grandma, Aunt and Mom to thank! I'm terrible at taking photos!

Thursday was "Mountain Day". We went up Mt. Evans (don't worry, Grandma and didn't hike!)

 We then enjoyed a picnic lunch by a lake! The weather was beautiful!

 We then explored Idaho Springs...and some of the thrift/gift shops there...

 And the train!

 Sweet Corn! They hadn't had any yet this year.

Friday was "Tour Day". It all started with where we'll be living soon: Dad and Mom Lemans! It was nice to be able to show there where we'll be living.

 Then off to Celestial Seasonings! Totally gonna be the new style...I mean, come on!

 Before getting hatted up

 Lunch at Qdoba...and some lemons and limes...

 Next stop: Hammond's Candy!

 A big day, but we still had energy for a game of Pictionary! (And maybe a paper airplane flying contest. We're Gutwein's remember? How could you ever spend time together without a contest!?!?!)

 Looking at a new sewing book with Grandma. She also fixed a pair of maternity pants for me...I am always awed at her sewing skills!

 Saturday was "Baby Shower Day". Thanks to all the wonderful ladies who made it possible! This cute fruit salad was made by Boni Stoller. She's got talent! (Sorry, couldn't get the pic flipped right)

 So glad some of my family could be there for it!

 Going home outfits from Aunt Alisha! Boy? or Girl?

 After the shower we went to "Capital T" a tea shop off of Broadway for lunch and tea. Yummy!

 Sunday before church picture. Dan graciously gave up being in the picture to take this for us...much to his dismay I'm sure! haha....

Thanks so much for making the trip out here! We loved showing you CO and just being together like old times...love you all so much!

PS. Alisha stayed for a whole another week! If I can find photo's I'll add some... But just in case, an overview of our time together: Monday, after dropping off the others at the airport, Dan, Lish and I went to Waterworld! It was a cold and rather rainy day but that made for short lines! I didn't do a lot of the rides, only the smooth ones...but Alisha and Dan did most of them! We might have fit in a game of "Ticket to Ride" that evening. :)  I had to nanny Tues, Wed, and Thurs, so Alisha came along. It was great having another set of hands with the kiddos! They both loved her! Going back to work without her was definitely kind of sad. Friday we three went on a doughnut run (cause this preggo lady was craving them!) and then garage saling with Dan's mom. Then, we set to work. Alisha made 5 cakes for the Western Church Invite which was in Denver that weekend (thanks so much!) while Dan and I cleaned the apartment for guests. Friday night-Sunday was the invite. (a lovely weekend) Alisha then left us for California Sunday evening. She drove with some of the YGers who were at the invite. Such a traveler! :) As always Lish, come anytime! We love having you! You're quite the gal...I love seeing how God is growing you into an even more beautiful woman! Love you!

Leman Vacation

 The Leman family vacation is something very looked forward to in my book...and it was no different this year! We had a wonderful few days in the Dillon area appreciating our time together as well as the fabulous views from the cabin's windows! It was sunny and rainy while we were there and we enjoyed both: taking advantage of the sun to get out and fish and take walks, and enjoying the "shut in" feeling of the rain. (I just can't be too unhappy with a gorgeous rainy drizzly day!) As always, it was so good to be all together again...this year adding a sweet little niece, Soraya, and a lovely sister-in-law, Tif.

Dan finished his bachelors degree the day before we left for vacation. After quite the busy and at times stressful summer between school, internship, and work, (and a little time with me too!) he was looking forward to vacation VERY much!

 Of course there was a jam session! With three lovely sisters sittin' and singing in a row...

 I got lots of good advice on babies from Kristi!

 Kevin, Kerry, and Harper joined us for the day on Sunday...he and Soraya got along...pretty well.

 The other round belly, Erin! It was fun talking pregnancy with her!

 The little Princess

 Joel and Caleb exploring Cataract Lake...

 Dad, Jake, Tif, and Dan went on a hike...this is all who was left!

I'm so thankful to have married into such a wonderful family! See you all next time!