National Holidays - Ours and Theirs

Living where we do, we took the opportunity today to enjoy some Fourth of July spirit. Our Canada Day was depressingly un-summer-like and meant we missed our usual trip to the Ladner Canada Day Pancake Breakfast. I think we were all bummed out by this more than we thought we'd be. The weather this year has been HORRIBLE! We'll get one nice day and you sigh, and think "ah, finally summer has arrived!" and then the next day is cold and rainy. YUCK!! So when Greg read about a parade happening today in Point Roberts which is a 15 minute drive away (on the South side of Tsawwassen) we decided to check it out. We'd never been to Point Roberts before so it was an adventure for us all!

But before I get into that, let me share some pictures from our OWN national holiday - Canada Day ...

Like I said, the breakfast was a wash out this year. Cold + rain = no fun sitting outside with 3 small children eating pancakes and sausages. Not even the memories of past Birthday cakes topped with fresh local strawberries in the design of the Canada Flag could entice us out into the damp! The day did dry out enough by the afternoon to make sitting outside at our friends the Symons tolerable. They were gracious enough to host the old Apocolypse Cows crew for a BBQ. (FYI - Apocolypse Cows is our old Ultimate Frisbee team!) As seems to happen at Cow get togethers now, it turns into a Kid Fest. We've all (mostly - Greg and Steve are desperately hanging on to their glory days) given up playing ultimate in favour of chasing after our many kids. It's a whole lot of fun, noise and brightly coloured toys!!

I didn't get pictures of them all but here are a few of the gang ...

The set up ...

... bouncing Sophie ...

... shy Charlie with Dad Dave and stiffly smiling Richard ...

... Sadie and her tongue (love it!) ...

... goofy Andrew and long suffering Jonina ...

... ah, THAT'S better!

... bike riding LC and bouncy toy chewing Sadie ...

... and what's a Canada Day party without a little street hockey?!

Last but most certainly not least, BBQer Steve!

So that was our Canada Day. Also, coincidentally it was Heather's 40th birthday but the sneaky gal didn't tell a soul!! Steve and the boys got her a nice birthday cake though which we all got to enjoy.

Now for today ...

Waiting for the parade to start.

Greg and LC.

The theme was The Oscars which for some reason meant there were a lot of hot dog related entries!

Not too sure what the casual shirts and Jamaica hats with dreds thing was all about but their bagpipes said Delta Police Band so I'm thinking ... pipers on holiday?

Did I mention there were a lot of hot dogs in this parade?

Now who or what could Fearless Marley and Fraidy Cat Paige be hiding from?

Him ...

... and him.

No really. They are (for reasons totally unknown and extremely frustrating) terrified of Chinese Dragons and Lions. Guess we're not going to any Chinatown Chinese New Year Parade any time soon!!

LC on the other hand was not afraid. Good girl! Have a lollipop! Or two!

Apparantly we should have brought their Easter Baskets to carry home the candy haul!

Marley has gotten very agressive when it comes to scrambling for candy now. I think she even took some from in front of the two kids next to us! Sheesh!! Where does she learn this stuff from?!

Paige's haul was more modest - mostly because she was too afraid to leave her seat much!

Well, that was it. We went for a little wander after the parade ended then had lunch at a local place and headed home. Point Roberts is a really pretty seaside town that I look forward to returning to. Maybe we can make this parade an annual outing. The girls would love that!