Hi Everyone! Thanks for excusing me my lack of a post last week. I didn't have my computer because I was on holidays and I was unplugging. I borrowed hubby's laptop but couldn't get to my buttons or anything. Oh well. It still looked like a great number of you carried it for me and played along. Thanks for that!
Like I said, last week we were on vacation. In the beautiful, sunny, wine country of Okanagon. So beautiful. I've got my heart thinking I'd love to retire there. Better start saving my shekels. But anyway, in that vein my faves are going to be about the vacation.
1. Family Time all wrapped up in a getaway. I'm so thankful to still go on a holiday with this great bunch of people who have my heart.
I'm under no illusions that this is a great blessing. The chance to get away as a whole family is something I greatly appreciate. I know many "kids" 21 and 19, and sometimes even 16, don't want to go with Mom and Dad on a holiday. My kids still want to be with us and for that, I am so thankful.
2. Guts. Yes, the guts to knock this little activity off my bucket list.
It was worth the wait. And I'd do it again in a minute. So smooth and peaceful and not scary at all.
3. Fruit in Abundance. One thing that makes the Okanagan valley so amazing is all the fruit orchards. Miles and miles of them. Fruit stands everywhere. And what we really enjoy doing together is picking our own fruit. This time we picked peaches. There is nothing like fruit that you picked yourself. Fun and yummy.
4. Mountains and being in the midst of them. Though the drive home was an 11 hour affair done in one stint, it took us through the amazing Canadian Rocky Mountains. There are breathtaking. They are big, and rocky and majestic. I just can't stop taking pictures of them. Even though I'm doing in a car that's whipping on down the highway.
5. Relax Time. Plenty of down time. Swimming in the motel pool. Reading in the pool chairs. Sitting on several of the many beaches in the Okanagan Valley. Reading on my towel. Swimming in the lakes. Reading in the car. Eating more cherries than any sane person would do at any time except on vacation in the orchards. Trying new restaurants. Taking walks. Exploring streams. Sitting in the hot springs. Sigh. One week was not near enough. But I'm so thankful for that one week!
Our family doesn't go on a big getaway every year but I'm so thankful this was one year that we did. What were your favorites from this last week? Share in a post and don't forget to link on up so we can visit. If you're new, please read the guidelines first and then jump right in and join us!
22 comments:
Sigh. Just reading about your vacation was like a mini vacation. So glad you got to unplug and enjoy and breathe deeply -- and welcome back :-)
That's wonderful to go on holidays with the whole family and doing what was for such a long time on your wishlist.
I could never glide in such a thing so high I would get sick !
Sounds like a perfect family vacation - well except for the gliding through the air activity. If it were me, I would've been screaming the entire time. So glad you enjoyed it though.
Funny enough I posted about my Summer bucket list. :)
What a wonderful week you had, vacationing with the whole family must be wonderful! I saw that photo of you with that parachute a few days ago and did not believe it was you! How brave you are, I don't think I would dare!
This sounds like a wonderful getaway--and the pictures are just lovely! What a blessing, to be able to spend that time with the whole family. Just sounds great.
We carried on last week, Susanne, but it wasn't the same without you! Glad you got a break.
Your holiday sounds absolutely lovely!! And how sweet to have all the fam with you. I'd love to go gliding with you sometime - that would be FUN! I envy the mountains - it's something we don't see here on the Island. Although we do have the beaches so I can't complain. :)
Glad you had such a nice break Susanne!
oh man, susanne, i am coveting your time thru the canadian rockies...my husband has been out there when he was a little boy and he was just telling me that he wants us to go at some point...maybe when the girls are done with all their schooling! How wonderful to have that family vacation....the pics are stunning....and good for you for crossing off something from your bucket list....you brave soul!!
A wonderful vacation Susanne! Beautiful scenery. Have a great weekend recuperating :0)
This sounds just lovely -- exciting things but restful time as well. I know what you mean about it being so neat that older kids still like to come on family excursions. Sometimes even when they want to, work or school obligations are hard to coordinate. I'm glad you all had such a great time!
I had guts this week too and shot a gun and crossed that off my bucket list! Great job to you! Looks fun!!!
Glad you could enjoy time with your family, and with children who wanted to be together! That definitely is a blessing! My sisters and I really enjoy our family time, and it's disappointing with the cousins our age don't show up at the extended family gatherings.
Great pictures!
Have a good weekend!
Family time is the greatest thing about vacations, huh? So glad you had a wonderful trip!
And you are a MUCH braver woman than me to go parasailing!!! Wow! Super impressed. :-)
BTW Susanne...you were vacationing close to where our son Dan lives in Colville, Washington.
What a GREAT vacation! It truly is a blessing when your kids still want to go with you--and it helps when you tempt them with such fantastic places and activities ;)
Sounds like a wonderful holiday! You are right - it is a blessing (and rather unusual) for grown children to want to go on vacation with mom and dad. Obviously, you've done a great job at being parents!!
wow! Look at you parasailing! How fun! I hope it was a thrill. I'm glad you had a nice vacation. I love to relax with my family. That's the best part of the vacation. It doesn't even matter where we are!
Welcome back, and thank you!
-Catherine
oh wow looks and sounds like you had a really wonderful time. I hope my kids will want to still vacation together when they grow up.
What a great family vacation, Susanne! Gliding or at least something like that is on my wish list. Your faves are such a delightful read. Getting back online after being away for awhile, I made sure FFF is what I do first. So happy this is what I am back into.
Oh, Susanne, I am SO impressed that you went hang gliding! I get butterflies in my stomach just looking at those pictures. I could never bring myself to do that, but I envy those who can! How magnificent.
Your mountains are just gorgeous. And I love the picture of everyone on the rocks. What a great week you had!
That looks like a wonderful place for a vacation! The pictures are beautiful.
I like absolutely everything on your list!
Picking fruit is awesome. We discovered that we have cherry trees in our yard this year! I don't know if they just hadn't produced before or we were blind or what but this was a very exciting discovery! Yesterday I went out and tended to our blackberry bushes and this coming year I'm planting raspberry bushes because I looooove picking and providing fruit for my family! So fun.
Hope you've been enjoying a great weekend!
You had a very adventurous vacation!!! Did you really do that sail thing?!!
We used to go to Eastern WA to pick fruit too. (I live at Western WA) I sure used to do a lot of canning back then with a large family to feed. Not so much canning these days since I am alone but I am canning the first green beans from my garden today.
How funny is it that we were both taking pictures of the same mountains through a moving vehicle. They are definitely gorgeous aren't they. Did you see many animals? We didn't at all...kids were very disappointed. Your holiday sounds awesome. Do you stay in a hotel while there?
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