Summer Days

The summer is speeding by and I can’t believe that it is already the August long weekend. Chris and I have been keeping busy, mostly working on our backyard. We have been building a fence which has been quite the project, but has been fun to work on. We are also finishing up the topsoil to get ready to seed. Any tips from Taylor would be greatly appreciated! We also really enjoy our Monday night soccer games. This week we won 4-2. Chris plays goalie and had many good saves. I am having fun learning the rules and techniques and we may even play for the indoor season. It is a fun league to be in. As for summer reading, Chris is now reading the Bourne Trilogy and has just finished the first, which he liked. I have just finished “Austenland” by Shannon Hale, and am headed to the library to pick up a few books I have on hold. I am trying to read as many as I can before school starts. Sorry no pictures for this post, but soon I will post some of the finished fence!!

Taste of Edmonton

On Friday night we headed downtown for the annual Taste of Edmonton. This year Chris got food tickets from his company so we were able to get more tickets for less money. We definitely had enough tickets and both were very full by the end of the night. I tasted a Chow Mein noodle dish that was good, bacon-wrapped scallops (not the best, mostly bacon taste, very little scallop taste), and lemon chicken. Chris tasted Kung Pao chicken with rice and chicken enchiladas – both very good. For dessert Chris got Triple Layer Chocolate Explosion (good, but you could tell the cake was previously frozen) and we shared a New York cheesecake with strawberry topping. The cheesecake was amazing. We had two tickets left so we got two chocolate dipped strawberries on our way out. It was a great time and we both look forward to keeping up our tradition and going next year.

Half Blood Prince

Last night Chris and I went to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince for cheap Tuesday night. We got there very early (after getting Costco dinner of a hot dog and poutine) and got good seats. It was still really busy because it was the first cheap night showing. I thought the movie was pretty good. I was a little disappointed in the ending, but everything else was good. I would have liked Hogwarts and the good guys to fight back a little more, and to have a little more with Fenrir Greyback, but I enjoyed Professor Slughorn and Lavander did a great job. I'm curious as to how the last two movies be....

Quarter of a Century

I had a great birthday weekend. Saturday I spent the day with my good friend Natasha and we just enjoyed the sun and heat. We made snow cones with our snow cone maker, and also made grape and sprite popsicles that turned our delicious! On Sunday Chris made me breakfast in bed - bagels and cream cheese with organge juice and strawberries. I was sung to in sharing time and got a lolly pop. Chris then made BBQ chicken and steak fajitas that were so good. We love our BBQ. Some friends came over later for birthday cake. Chris outdid himself with his Angel Food cake. It was great to chat with most of the family. Thanks for the birthday wishes and fabulous renditions of Happy Birthday! The best gift...cheaper car insurance for turning 25!

America's Favorite Pastime

Last Saturday, Chris and I went with some friends to an Edmonton Capitals Baseball game (don't ask me what league they play in, cause I don't know..google it if you are interested). It was a great time. The theme was Christmas in July. They had fake snow coming from a machine (which really just looked like pollen), two live reindeer, and Santa making the opening pitch. Our team lost pretty badly, but it was still fun to watch. We had great seats behind the batters. Chris caught the first ball that went into the stands. It was a great catch and the only catch made by anyone for the whole game. There were quite a few other balls that went into the stands, and if you got one you had to give it to a little kid, else you were booed. Chris didn't have to give his away because he caught it, and everyone cheered for him.

After the game we got to go down to the field with our lawn chairs and blankets and they showed 'The Sandlot' movie on a big blow-up screen. It was great, but a little cold.

Chris and the reindeer. They were very fiesty, and there favorite food is dandilion leaves.

Me and the mascot..I think he is a crow.


Santa making the opening pitch. He was pretty good!


Chris after catching his ball. It even flashed "Great Catch" on the big screen. He also caught a T-shirt just before, but gave it to the boy in front of us, since Chris' long arms gave the boy absolutely no chance.


Standing on the field, they also gave us free popcorn.

Me and Chris' ball. It was a great evening, and only $12.50 per ticket. If anyone comes and visits us, it would definitly be something fun to go to.

Soccer Stars

Chris and I have joined a summer soccer mixed league. We had our first game tonight and it was a lot of fun. Soccer is probably my worst sport, but any sport is better than just running for exercise. Plus it is a very lax league and the skills on both the teams weren't anything extrordinary, which makes is all the more fun. We play every Monday night until the end of August.

I also just finished reading Anne's House of Dreams, I think it is my favorite so far of all the Green Gables books.

Edmonton International Street Performers Festival

On Friday we checked out the Street Performers Festival on its opening night. It is held downtown and we saw everything from sword swallowers, balloon makers and jugglers, and karate masters. The above picture isn't mine, but we saw this guy. He was by far our favorite. He did quite a few acts including juggling ping pong balls in his mouth. He also rode the 'seven foot unicycle of death' while juggling a machede, battle axe, and stinky shoe. It's free admission with a 'pass the hat' kind of payment. He was the only guy we felt bad for not paying anything.

Delicious Snack

My new favorite snack is this brand of yogurt. It's Astro Original All Natural Yogourt. It has 4% milk fat (pretty high I know), and is Balkan yogourt which apparently means that is is prepared in individual cups instead of a large single vat. It makes it thicker, smoother, and a little higher in fat. It is also made with honey. It is so delicious!

Canada Day Celebrations

We started the day with a free pancake breakfast at the Legislature building that was very tasty, but then again anything that is free is tasty! It was a surprisingly nice day. The forecast said 90% chance of rain, but it was blue skies and sunny. Chris had to leave then for work and I spent the morning with my friend hunting down a Canada Day shirt. The afternoon was relaxing and in the evening we went to a friends for a BBQ and Canada Day quiz. It reminded me of a Robison News Years Party quiz, but I did alright. We walked from their place to the Legislature again to watch the fireworks show which was very impressive. Overall, it was a great day. Now its back to work, but at least for only 2 days, and then it’s the weekend again.

Picture was taken from the Edmonton Journal.