Canada Trip--Day 4, Thursday July 10th, 2008

We woke around 9ish-and fended for ourselves for breakfast, although there were plenty of good things for our pirate crew to choose from. There has been plenty of fruit around so we have no worries about scurvy....and while we have been in the Port of Ponoka at the Houcher's famous Bed & Breakfast, we have been treated more like kings than pirates!

We visited around the table this morning, and then the kids played while Tracey & I swabbed the ship out. Overall....we were very proud of our pirates, as they did a great job keeping things pretty neat within the hull of the ship.

Papa set up the rocket for the boys. It's air, water and a two liter bottle....it kept the kids entertained for an hour, and the boys for a good portion of the day. We sat on the deck and enjoyed the sunshine--until Captain Tracey put her tank top & shorts on, and then the clouds rolled in, the skies opened and the rain fell. (If this happens each time she gets cooler clothes on....I'm going to make her wear a parka!) We decided it was a good day to go to the movies, as Walle was showing at the local theater. Tracey & Nana packed up the kids, while Papa, Alyona & I stayed home. Alyona didn't want to spend her $$ at the theater, Papa wanted a nap, and I intended to work. What really happened was that Papa & I chatted for awhile, and it wasn't long before Tracey was back saying the movie was not running for a matinee and that she had dropped everyone at the dollar store. I went along, and had fun checking out the two dollar stores in Ponoka....it's a town the size of Sweet Home, and it has TWO dollar stores...Kristin was amazed, and had a great time..although she only spent one dollar, and it was a gift. Ryan is almost broke...but he & Declan bought air soft guns today.

We headed home, and had a cup of tea while the boys played out side with their new guns and then we all had a short nap, then fixed supper. Spaghetti & fresh biscuits that Tracey made...it was yummy....then we topped our biscuits off with "golden syrup"--a syrup made of refined pure cane....very good--I need to bring some home to enjoy. It was a cross between maple syrup, honey & kayro syrup.

All day was a fun day of playing, visiting, and just hanging out. The girls went rock hunting. Nana & Alyona sang & danced together, Papa & Ryan played croakano, several hands of cribbage were played, and the girls all watched a movie together. After a full day, lots of fun, and cleaning up the galley yet one more time today...we headed to bed. Check out tomorrow...Plans for swimming, and a big family reunion on Saturday with Tracey's family. When the pirates are in port...the ships roll in!