Summer 2014

 It's been a busy summer for the Augustine crew. Here is a quick run down of the delayed photos of our adventures!













Where Rory goes....Cameron goes. The boys exploring the Hoodoos.





We were lucky to have Grandma and Grandpa Werkman visiting for a couple of weeks and we kept them busy with day trips, walks, stories, outside projects and so much more.
 Our favourite day was taking them to Drumheller and the Royal Tyrrell Museum for the day. A long day, but an awesome time. The boys loved it!

A summer isn't complete without some camping in the mountains. We managed two trips this summer and had a blast both times. The weather wasn't the best but it didn't seem to bother anyone - especially the boys who just loved playing - 'digging' around the campsite.

Our favourite rock throwing spot! 

The boys were all for exploring during the evenings and we all loved the walks to the lake.

Yes those are huge rain clouds....at least it wasn't snow!

On a cool and misty morning we all ventured to the Mount Everest Hike. Rory hiked the whole route and Cam managed about half way up before retiring to the backpack carrier with daddy.  They did awesome and the views were amazing!

The Augustine Crew at the summit!

After some refueling with trailmix we started our descent.

Always just a few more rocks to throw. Rory found lots of big ones for the biggest splash.

Our cheesy little monster having a rare break for a photo op.

The campfire and snack time!

BUBBLES!!! The bubber blower was a huge hit this summer.  We could get the fun of bubble blowing without have to actually blow any bubbles ourselves! What an invention this is!!! The boys dip the blower into the mix and press a button and presto!!! BUBBLE fun for everyone!!!

We also got out on our bike for many rides - this one is the 'big' one. We biked as a family (Cam and Rory in tow behind Linds) from Canmore to Banff!! About a 32km roundtrip.  An absolutely beautiful ride (with more hills then we remember last year!)

We stopped at our wedding photo spot for a picnic lunch and a run around for the boys. 

And of course more rock throwing!!

Still one of my favourite spots to visit as a family.  

We've had a wonderful summer full many fun times, crazy weather, and amazing adventures. Hoping yours was filled with sunshine and good times!  Bring on Fall!!! We hoped you enjoyed a little peek into the Augustine summer. I promise to be a little more prompt with the blog updating!!

Summer Snow!

An early morning view of an overnight snow fall - looks beautiful from the front of our house - but what you don't see is the devastation this summer snow fall left behind. We were awoken early Wednesday morning with a massive crack and thump from our roof. Our very favourite (and huge) popular tree could not withstand the heavy weight of the snow and leaves from the overnight snowfall. 













This was the unfortunate view we had of the back of our house after the sun rose. Two massive branches now lay atop of our roof.
We were extremely lucky that the branches never broke through the roof and that no one was hurt.  We however had to watch our tree slowly break apart before our eyes for the rest of the day.  Hoping that the heavy snow would ease and take the pressure of the branches off our roof.

As the snow continued to fall so did more of our tree - this one here blocking our back laneway.

Finally the snow stopped and began to melt and that made everything else look a little more scary! This is the view of the back our house from the lane way. Our house is under the massive branch. Limbs blocked our neighbours entrance to their backyard and the entire lane behind our house.

The clean has begun. Linds and I spent 3 hours clearing the lane and getting the branches from our neighbours yard. But we had to call the professionals for the removal of the tree from our house. Luckily they came just yesterday and cleared the majority of the tree from our house. More pics to follow.

We did have a wonderful summer and I will update with photos of some more of happier memories of the summer soon!!

Sunshine days...

Beautiful sunny and warm days equals days of playing outside, digging in the dirt, muddy hands, dirt under the finger nails, walks, rocking throwing and zoo visits.  Just to mention a few of the things we've been up to.  I don't want to mention how wonderful the weather has been too much because things may change again for our weekend. (yes that's right, there is more snow in the forecast - did I mention today was 20 degrees!!?)

All hands on deck!! We had a great visit the Snider crew one afternoon and all enjoyed digging holes, building fairy houses and playing on the tire swing!

We are loving the extra sunlit evenings and have begun venturing out to Fish Creek after dinner to begin to teach Cameron the greater techniques of the Augustine rock throwing academy.

Master and chief rock thrower Rory was bursting with excitement that the snow and ice had finally melted and that all 'his' rocks had returned!

The Augustine boys!

Taking a rest and smiling for mom.

"Hey watch me mum!!"  Cam was totally into the rock throwing - loved every minute!

Another visit to the zoo to see our friends again! Rory just chatting with Mr Silverback! 

Enjoy some videos of our recent antics! 

Cam is quite the entertainer.  We can often hear him giggling away to himself after doing something silly.

Happy Birthday Rory!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RORY!!

This smiling birthday boy turned 4 years old today. I cannot comprehend where those four years have gone. We've spent a full day celebrating Rory, beginning with a cinnamon bun at Ikea, mac n cheese for lunch, a trip to the mall in the afternoon to meet daddy, a visit to the Lego store, a ride on the carousal, dinner out as a family, back for prezzies and birthday cupcakes and a birthday skype visit with grandpa and grammie! 

Rory making a wish...

Yum yum yum yummmmmyyy!!!

How cool are grammie and grandpa - celebrating Rory's birthday with some cupcakes of their own during our skype visit!!!

What an awesome package of craft goodies to create with!! 

(Mum can't wait to dive into those goodies with Rory!!) 

Wishing our ever growing, smiling, curious, inquisitive, wonderful son Rory a fantastic 4th Birthday!! Looking forward to another year full of firsts and new adventures. Thanks for keeping us smiling and always on our toes!! 

Happy Birthday Rory!!

Zoo visit..

Finally a beautiful, sunny mild morning...time for a trip for the zoo to say hello to some of our furry friends.  Rory, Cam and I packed a lunch and headed out for an adventure at the zoo!

While many of the animals were awake and very playful, the lions couldn't help but to snooze in the warm morning sun.

The tigers were up and prowling around - Rory and Cam making their best tiger roars to say hello.

Saying hello and good-bye to one of our favourite friends - the elephants are moving soon to another zoo. It has always been one my favourite animals to visit each time, we will miss these big guys! 

LOOK OUT!!! This one of the most dangerous and unpredictable wild animals I have ever seen!!! Doesn't he look dangerous!!!  (Rory definitely did border on dangerous after having  only a short nap after a morning at the zoo!!)

We had a 'howl' of time at the zoo this morning!! Looking forward to the warmer days ahead for more adventures!

Spring??

Hello again - we've been enjoying some spring-like weather with the boys. We even started to 'tidy' up the yard with our little helpers collecting pine cones and sticks. 

A great day for a swing ride....and then.....

We were housebound again with a couple spring snow storms!

Out came the toques, mitts and winter gear and back to shoveling the white stuff once again.

A few days inside to enjoy some stories..

With the crazy warm up and freezing we had some spectacular icicles form on our house as well as on our neighbours.

We also had an early birthday celebration for Rory. We rented out a local gym for an hour and invited some of his friends to join in some running wild time! There was soccer, hockey, giant frisbees, balloons, basketballs and lots of lots of squeals of delight. Not too mention many tired little legs afterwards! It was back to ours for some pizza and birthday brownie sundaes! 

And of course a post isn't complete without some dancing videos...enjoy!