GO-KARTING

Karter's Korner is only about 10 minutes from my parents house and is the longest paved Go-karting track in Eastern Ontario. Steve and I (and my parents - the official photographers) took Abbey and Michael there this summer. What a super fun time!

Here's the gang leaving the starting gates (in the pic above Steve and Michael are on their way and Abbey and I are just about to take off) Michael was raring to go...Abbey was a little more reluctant. Abbey and I did three laps, by then she had had enough. Michael and Steve were more then happy to take our extra lap tickets and zoomed around a few more times.

Boys will be boys...they loved every minute of it!

Karter's Korner also has a mini-track for battery operated four wheelers. This was a HUGE hit too because they got to drive them on their own. Abbey and Michael had the whole track to themselves. They are awesome drivers because of the golf cart grand-papa and grand-maman bought for them a few years back so they were totally comfortable doing this (and Mommy wasn't nervous at all!)

I remember going to Karter's Korners often as a child and now I get to experience it through my children's eyes. What could be better then that?!? Needless to say...this was not are only visit to K.K. this past summer!

Girls Cottage Getaway!

This summer MaryAnn hosted our 6th (or is it 7th?!?) Annual Girls Cottage Getaway! I always look so forward to this awesome time together...so many laughs!

This is the view from the top of MaryAnn's cottage. Absolutely pristine! Now there aren't many "inside" pictures I can show you...they've all been censored! (and hopefully deleted by now! lol!) but here's one of the Summer 2008 Richardson Lake crew. Sadly Laura and Shannon are missing. :-(

Thank you MA for always planning around my trip home. I appreciate it so much! Cheers to next year...and more bum boxer pics! ha!ha!

Shopping Extravaganza!!!!

This summer, my Mom, Aunt Germaine, cousins Claire, Diane and Carol and yours truly embarked on a 48 hour shopping extravaganza!!! With overnight bags packed, comfy footwear on and plastic (as in credit cards cha-ching!) in our pockets we were ready to rock! Montreal didn't stand a chance!!! This shopping trip was not for the faint of heart! We went hard core, non-stop from opening Saturday morning to closing Sunday afternoon.

This is the view we had of our fearless driver Claire...able to weave through traffic, back into very small parking spots with a HUGE truck, listen to 5 opinions on which way to go and drive back home without being able to see out the back window (too many bags!!!) Please note her hands at 10 and 2 for safety! ha!ha!

Here's the gang re-fueling at Reuben's, a famous smoke meat restaurant in downtown Mtl. Can you believe that not one of us had a smoked meat sandwich?!? none of us like them!?!? It was a fantastic lunch though. To the left...the Thelma's, to the right...the Louise's ha!ha!

Will the real Imelda Marcos please stand up hee!hee! Aunt Germaine to the left gives Imelda a run for her money in the shoe dept.

Tight quarters on the way home but so worth it!!! Everyone was successful...some more then others eh Di?!? ha!ha!

And finally a picture of my Mom and I in Old Montreal. What a fabulous getaway! Our first but definitely not LAST! I'm already excited about next year! Woohoo! I'm so lucky to have such wonderful family! Love you all!

disclaimer: thank you to our sponsors: Paquin & Assoc., Shell Canada, Canada Post, Scotiabank and Northern College.

Museum of Civilisation

This summer the Museum of Civilisation had a Bob the Builder exhibit. Bob is a big deal in our house (more for Michael but Abbey likes it too) so a couple of my girlfriends, their children and me and my little munchkins decided to go. It was so much fun! Although with all the excitement we (the Moms) didn't get to chat much but we stole a few minutes of catching up between activities.

The view from the museum is breathtaking. Steve and I had our wedding pictures taken there and they turned out amazing. In the picture below, Michael and Abbey are to the right with the Parliament buildings on the left across the river. It makes me happy just seeing this picture. What a beautiful place!

Here are my babes at the entrance of the Children's Museum literally shaking with excitement because the Bob exhibit was just around the corner! ha!ha!

The people who design these exhibits are geniuses...all the activities are so hands-on.

Here's my friend Angie's youngest son, Joel, having a blast on Scoop from Bob the Builder! Love the huge smile on his face...priceless!

To the left; Michael and Luke working away and to the right; Abbey sitting on Bob's cat! :-)

And finally a picture of me and my buddies, Angie and Caroline (you can see Caro's little princess Yasmine in this pic too!). We met my first year teaching at Holy Spirit in Stittsville, before husbands, mortgages, children...my how times have changed! What a great afternoon!

Eric and Amanda's Wedding!

On July 26th, Steve and I were honoured to stand beside our very close friends, Eric and Amanda, as they started a new chapter in their life as Mr & Mrs. Although there were grey clouds in the morning, the sun came out just in time and it was a glorious day!

Eric was in our wedding party...7 years ago now. He's a great guy who (finally ha!ha!) found a great girl! I met Eric in University, even before Steve, so the wedding was a huge fun reunion. It was a blast! Lots of laughs, drinks (more drinks) and dancing!!! From the rehearsal party the night before, to the morning of (mani/pedi, catered breakfast, hair/makeup), to the ceremony and the party...Amanda planned every minute amazingly! She's one organized bride...and had such awesome ideas! Her theme of black and red could be seen throughout!

Here's Julie, Alicia and I a few drinks in! ha!ha!

To the left, (some of) the Delt Brothers and to the right...Julie and I with Brandon (who we are still trying to set up with a great girl, he's so damn picky!!!)

...and here are the new MR & MRS LAPIERRE!!!

Congratulations Eric and Amanda!

Playing Catch-Up!

I'm behind in my blogging...you know how busy holidays can be ha!ha! but now that I'm back to work I'll have plenty of time to blog and keep everyone up to date. (funny how that is eh?!?) I just have a few "catch-up" blog entries about the summer that I will fill you in on and then I'll be back to "real time".

New Liskeard - Part 3

So part three takes place at my cousin Claire's house. It's a spectacular piece of land where they (Claire and her husband Darren) have built a house, garage, barn and another bigger garage to hold trucks and buggies for their horses....it's a plantation really!!! I told her all she needs to build is a church on her property and she could start her own commune. ha!ha! The house is a work of art. It's a post and beam home and it's so cool...totally open concept. There are no nails in the construction of it either. The contractor used full beams flattened at the end and then grooved together. (hope that's right?!)

We all had a great visit with Claire and Daren and they put on a huge spaghetti supper for us. After our bellies were full we went to visit the barn. They have two HUGE (and I mean monstrous!) Percheron horses names Duke and Doc. Now I feel pretty comfortable around horses but these scared the hell out of me...even though they assured me they were gentle giants. Here's Uncle Bill and Claire hooking Duke up. It was the first time he had been hooked up alone. Usually both pull the sled/buggy or whatever.

To the left, Darren holding Doc while Steve and Michael pet him. To the right, Uncle Bill taking Abbey and I for a ride!

Steve was brave enough to take the reigns...or should I say Uncle Bill was brave enough to LET Steve take the reigns! ha!ha!

Here's Michael and I ready for our spin around the property. In the background you see Claire's house (still under construction) and the beautiful view she has of the water. Amazing!

My cousin Claire is one of the sweetest, more kind-hearted people you could ever meet...she especially has a weakness for animals. The kind that have been abandoned, abused or neglected. She has saved many!!! Here's Abbey with one of Claire's adopted pets named One Eyed Jack...yes he only has one eye. You know how they sometimes say "He's so ugly that he's cute!" well this saying does not work for Jack...he is so ugly and not at all cute but Claire loves him just the same! He is very friendly and effective at catching mice though!

Here's Michael with their newest pet addition, Sable. Sable is gorgeous and so mild mannered. She was fantastic with the kids. Michael just loved her.

Here's what Michael is STILL talking about. The tractor ride. Darren let Steve and Michael take his John Deer for a spin. Michael was in HEAVEN!

Thanks for a fun visit Claire and Darren! Hope to see you soon! xo