Tofino pics

Tofino is a German Sheperd/Lab cross and is 6 months old!

2nd day with Tofino

Well it's been 2 days now with Tofino and I have to say that he is an amazing dog. When we brought him home the first thing I did was train him to respond to his new name. He's really smart and picks things up really quick. The big test for Tofino was how he would respond to the kids. He's such a gentle dog, only licks Sienna's toes and cheeks sending into laughter. He loves Sanora, her endless hugs and kisses seem to brighten Tofino's spirits every time. Sienna was crying just a moment ago and he immediately went to her as if he was guarding her. I couldn't be happier with him, but I do acknowledge that he is a pup and he still needs constant training and supervision, especially with the kids. My camera is out of batteries so I am charging them at the moment, as soon as I can I will post photos.

New Puppy

We where back for only a day when I thought it would be a good idea to check out the local humane society. I thought we'll just look! I have a specific breed in mind, German Shepperd/lab cross. We aren't going to take any dog that bats it's eyes. I walked straight into the back and asked if they had any dogs of that breed mix. He says to me ya actually we do, a puppy. When we saw this little puppy maybe 4-6 months old the family was instantly in love. He didn't bark at all. He was rescued from a woman that beat him and left him in the apartment after she fled it. What they call him at the shelter is Curby, but we'll be changing that pretty quick. When going over names, we talked about a name that mean something to all if us. That's when Sanora belted out Toffino! We are sold on the name, we all love it there. We pick him up Tuesday, I'll post pictures then!

28 day trip - conclusion

I was nervous going on this trip. I thought it could either be amazing or a total flop. Hope for the best and sometimes you get it. Unfortunately we didn't see everyone that we intended to see but got the bulk of them. Everything in life seems to be bring the family closer. It was so nice to have Bryan all day for that long. You know you married the right one when you never get sick of them,lol. Along the way Gena had given me the book "a girl from Schindler's list" It's the most amazing tale of Stella Muller. The book really made me think about, how lucky we are to not only be on this trip but in day to day life. I also want to thank everyone than made our trip so special and memorable....so that was everyone we saw!

Miles - 3754.84+ (I map quested the route, so there was more than that)

People we got to visit -49

Animals seen - 4 herds of buffalo (about 50 each)
- 8 goats
- 7 caribou
- more elk than I an count
- 2 black bear
- 2 moose
- 5 Deer


So would the marshall family dare to do the trip again? I know I would pack and leave tomorrow. It's not that I don't want to be home, I just like to travel. maybe in another 2 years or so!

Day 23- 28

Day 28- Liard to Whitehorse
We got up where we left off from the night before with Sanora. Nothing a good meal and a nap couldn't fix. We seemed to stop at allot of the exact stops from when we came down. We had Lunch in Teslin and as always the same waitress was there. I have been texting my dad every leg of the trip to let him know where we are, and I had my phone ready to text him when we reached the welcome to Whitehorse sign. The "Welcome home" message he sent back felt really good. We stopped for beer and some food and raced for home. We walked in the door and I still felt like I was on vacation. We had an amazing trip.

Day 27- Pink Mountain to Laird
Man where we ever glad to get to Laird hot springs. Bryan's saying on the way home was every town's a victory. He more was saying that about the truck than anything. Considering this was the last leg of the journey, we just tried the kick back and relax with a nice long soak in the hot springs. It wasn't as mystical as the first time we came, but fog tends to have that effect. Man was it ever a nightmare putting sanora to bed. She just kept screaming, our poor neighbors. we just figured that there where to many late nights and maybe a bit much on the road.

Day 26- PG - Pink Mountain

By this point we just wanted to get home. Of course in the middle of a thunder shower the windshield wipers stopped working. Bryan was hanging in the middle out the window trying to pull the wipers the start working. By night it was just getting ridicules, not to mention dangerous. We pulled into Pink Mountain and ended up in little campground behind the general store. It was poring so we decided to sleep in the truck. We pulled everything in the back to the front so Sanora sleep along the back and Bryan just leaned his seat back. Lets just say I woke up in allot of pain, not going to do that again if we can help it.


Day 25-Ashcroft - Prince George

We woke up very cold and wet. Sienna was bundled up hugging my body so she was toasty warm. We packed up as fast as we could and headed for the road. When we got to Prince George we decided to get a hotel. We where considering taking the truck to the shop. After ordering pizza the girls had a much needed bath. I tried to find a friend that lives in PG but I couldn't find him.


Day 24- Vancouver - Ashcroft

I wasn't ready to leave so I was stalling like crazy. We made arrangements to meet Chris, Callie, Lara and Jay at Crags Cafe. Before doing so we stopped by Larry and Gloria's and got the see Gena one last time before shipping off. Gloria is looking smoken by the way....yes you too Larry. We had a nice lunch at Craigs, Fin is getting so big. We finally jumped into our trusty steed and swiftly road into the sunset. If we would have stayed any longer it would be sunset. When we got to Chilliwack to check the truck he noticed that there was oil in the coolant tank again. We decided to chance it and keep watching it. We finally arrived into Ashcroft, the town looked creepy at night. We put up the tent and found a Chinese restaurant that was still open,and the food wasn't that bad. Of course that night, pretty much the only night we didn't put up a tarp, it pored that night.


Day 23- Vancouver

For the life of me I can't remember what we did during the day but in the afternoon I picked up a gift for a friend in whitehorse and got something for myself. We had dinner at Wazubees with Brenda, Yuko, Eduardo, Chris, Callie, and our little family. Sanora and Bryan stayed with Chris and callie. It gave me good time to catch up with yuko and get to know Avi a little better. While I hung out with them Bryan and Chris got the full spa treatment. Callie and sanora had done them up in full make-up....even....dun dun dun...nose Shadow. I wasn't sure what Sanora was talking about until Callie sent me photos.

Day 19-22

Day 22-Vancouver
From the staff of when I worked at Bojangles there are 3 of us that had babies around the same time and one to have hers any time. The three moms and babies met up at Bojangles for coffee. It was really nice to see my old boss, I care very much for him. Phillip was kinda like an uncle like figure to me when I worked there. There was Erica with baby Aliana and Elizabeth with baby Crystal. We got pictures with the girls lying on the couch. It was so funny, they where grabbing at each other...hair, ears, what ever they could get in their hands. We later went to Dress Sew, my favorite fabric store, and picked out some fabric for our window dressings. We went out for dinner with John, Barb, auntie Lynn, Bill and Mya that night in Coquitlam. Right before we met up with them we stopped at London Drugs and school supplies for Sanora. I always loved that part with my mom. We had chinese food which was really good. It was nice to have our Sanora back. Sanora then had a really hard time leaving Grandpa. They have become great friends, I'm so happy she has been able to have great relationships with both her grandfathers as well as Barb.



Day 21- Vancouver
We went and took the truck for servicing at Fountain Tire and we got a free loan car. We took off to down town to Slickety Jims for breakfast. Quite the funky cafe with very amusing menu names. After Breakfast we went across the street (the real destination) to Puncture Haus to get my nose pierced. If I ever get anything done again it will be there, that's for sure. Walking down the street ironically enough we ran into a friend from Whitehorse. They where great and he did an amazing job. That night we had dinner with Chris and Callie at Havana. If was so nice to see them, Chris is definitely Bryan's right hand man.


Day 20- Vancouver
We woke up early and walked around Commercial Drive. Although I missed Sanora tremendously is was quite easy with just one to get around very quickly. There lamp that we had our eyes on, really funky. We had lunch at Havana then back to the apartment. We then left to go for dinner with Jay and Lara, but first stopping at Lynn's house for a visit. At Lara and Jay's we had delicious lettuce wraps went for a walk to rocky point. The night was beautiful with music in the back ground. Lara and Jay or people that I love very much. They are people that I really feel get me,lol.


Day 19-Parksville - Vancouver
John, Barb, Roger and our family all took the same ferry. We packed Sanora up for she was leaving with Grandma and Grandpa for a couple of days! We got off the ferry and went straight for sushi. The power was out so we went up for coffee until it came back on. When we got to Roma Arianna, Eduardo, Judy and Avi (yuko's boyfriend full name sounds like avi-hi) where there. Ariana and Eduardo are 2 weeks from their due date to bring their little boy into the world. They rented an apartment out for 2 1/2 months for family. We where there during a time in which family wasn't, so we where grateful not to crash in someone elses space. That night they all held a barbecue for us. We got to see Tito and Beatriz's 2 children for the first time. Dyan was born a week before we moved to Whitehorse, and Makya who is 2 weeks old. Sanora would have fallen in love with Dylan, what a dancing sweetheart.

Day 15 to 18

Day 18- Parksville
When we woke up the ocean (Don and jan's house over looks the ocean) was calm so we decided to go Kyaking. I was a little nervious about going on the open ocean, but as soon as I got in the water I loved it. There is someing about being over the ocean that is exilerating. Bryan was going to take me to Cortney to see my aunt and Grandma but with him being sick John was nice enough to take me with some of the others. While I was there my cousin Elizabeth phoned so I got to talk to her to. Gradma was just amazed with both the girls, Sanora was playing shy for some reason. For Dinner we went to Roger and Michelles place accross the street (Bryan's other aunt and uncle) after dinner they where playing music so Sanora kept dragging people in to dance, it was awsome. There was a bunch of us dancing in circles in the living room, with Sanora being the lead dancer. She was definantly in her elements. Tomorrow we leave for Vancouver to expand our adventures.

Day 17- Parksville

In the morning we went to cums where we got lunch. Some stayed in line while I took Sanora and around the market. We used some of the money that Mara sent with us for the girls there. I got some noise makers for Sanora and Blocks for counting. We got Mya a little game that she seemed to be obsessed with while we where there. Sanora got to go on a horse ride which she absolutely loved, she was grinning from ear to ear. We had a great night with more amazing food. Yummy sammon and the natorious bird on a beer can. Bryan was really sick so he had his dad John take him to the doctor, it ended up he had strep throat.

Day 16- Vancouver to Parksville

We got up at 5 am, not fun but we did it. Sienna woke up with the biggest smile on her face like it was the best sleep of her life. In 15 minutes we where out the door...us can you believe it. We got on the feiry at about 6, with beautiful fog everywhere. When we where getting off the feiry we where on the second deck and the car at the front couldn't find his keys. After about an 30 min wait they had us back up off the ramp. Sanora thought it was fun. We went to a cute resuraunt for breakfast and with amazing eggs benidect. We then drove to Parksville and hung out on the beach for neither Don or Jan where at the house yet. After don arrived we brought our bags in and especially with Sanora's crankyness we took a good nap. Sanora was so happy to see Grandpa and Grandma. After dinner Mya and Bill arrived. I put Sanora in the bath and Mya wanted to go in too. They where so cute together.

Day 15- Vancouver

Bryan had stayed the night before at friends house (chris and Callie's) but was home first thing in the morning. I woke up when Larry and Gloria was going to work, so Larry got coffee all ready for me. We went for lunch with Bryan's aunt Lynn, and had the best salad I had ever had. Bryan's dad and stepmom wants to take Sanora to the states so right after lunch we had a letter all ready and went to the Notary to get the letter notarized. We finally made it back into North Van and got groceries because Bryan wanted to make dinner for Larry and Gloria. Bryan made an amazing dish (can't remember what it was called) with strips of beef with sea food in the middle with corn on the side. It was the same corn that my dad had sent with us so we where considering having them fill out comment cards to send to my dad,lol. We talked for a bit before hitting the rack for an early morning.

Day9- 14

Day 14 - Kelowna - Vancouver

We where gone by 9 and was sent off with a box of beautiful organic fruit, thank you Lisa. We went my my mom`s tree and thought it might be eisier not to go. I started bawling and Bryan wipped the car around and we went to go see it. The tree was wilting but as soon as we entered the parking lot I knew exactly which tree it was. I miss my mom so much, she would have had a blast at the Reunion. We made our way into Penticton and my eyes instantly darted around for people I knew. We my old friends house Aimee and Josh , getting to see there new baby Aleigha. We left at about 12 and made it into Vancouver about 7 with tones of traffic to remind us why we left. We went to Commercial drive to see Loe and get yummy donairs. We got to Gloria and Larry`s house at 20:30. I`ve gotten quite close to them through the years, it was so great to see them.

Day 13 - Kelowna

We woke up very lethargically....yes beds again! We finally packed up and went for coffee. I phoned family friends Mara and John, so we headed over there after we finished our coffee. Mara gave directions, but to my suprise I remembered exactly how to get there. We had a great visit, it was so nice to see them. They very plesantly have not changed a bit. Before heading back to Lisa`s we went shopping at Orchard park mall. We got some new needed clothes. Bryan got some really nice Rugby shirts. We went out for Sushi near Lisa and David`s house, I love Sushi. We then rented a movie and watched it at there house.

Day 12- Lost Lemon - Kelowna
We woke up thinking that we were going to be off early...but it didn`t end up that way. Dad left first saying a quick good-bye. I eyes wherèn`t raining yet, thankfully. It wasn`t untill Sanora stared clinging to Gena crying that I started to bawl. Sanora had such a great time, I am so happy for her. We where already running late so we decided that it would be best not to go to Jan`s B&B. We said good-bye the night before so we decided that would have to do, we needed to go. As it was we didn`t get to Kelowna till 20:30. It was a long drive and getting closer to Kelowna memories fludded me. We had to let Sienna cry it out in the end, poor girl. You do what you gotta do in the end. When we got to Lisa`s house she made amazing tofu dish. She definantly cooks it better than I do.

Day 11-Lost Lemon

Cutch and Lois left today. It was sad to see them go. We all packed up and went to the Frank Slide Interpreter Centre. Bryan, Gena and I arrived late because we hadn`t realized we where all meeting together, so we ended up at a grave yard. The grave yard was a memorial for the mine that collapsed and the frank slide. It was sad and beautiful at the same time, we took lots of pictures. When we actually made it to the Interpeter Centre we thought what a waste of money we should have taken everyone to the cemetary, it would have been more informative. It kept ringing in my head that this day is the last day before we go our seprate ways.....and how long then till we see eachother next. There where bussles of heart felt conversations accompanied with tears serounding the campsite. That night was awsome. Everyone was laughing and talking. Bryan packed up the truck and lots serounded him, with not one being left out of the fun. We sat around the tables after guests had left talking, I got to talk to Lawson more. I probebly talked more to Lawson more than Glenny the whole weekend. I loved being together just us 4 girls, it`s been such a long time. Then Gerri spotted a forest fire in the mountains (there was lots of lightening in the mountains) so I pipe up...oh we should call it in! Bryan phones it in and we`re sitting there in amazement as we saw flams thinking oh god how much forest is going to go this time. Suddenly Gena realizes that hey the fire is now suspended above the mountain......wait a minute thats the moon! So bryan got the brunt of the bugging and soon we hear Bryan`s phone go off with the forest service phoning him back.

Day 10- Lost Lemon

Cutch and Lois came today. Sienna loved Lois would fall asleep in a second for her. We had planed to go to a lake with the kids but we ended up staying around the camp site and playing cards. Tim (Jan and shawn`s friend) took the boys up a mine. Aparently the roads Tim built himself. While Bryan was gone he locked up the truck, and with us not leaving the campsite we needed a few things from there. I just kept making jokes about it. The guys came back around 5. That night gena andI stayed up and played crib. We ended up in a cicking, and chocolate fight. I almost peed myself many times I was laughing so hard. Glenny came storming out because we where keeping her up. She sat out on gaurd till we went to bed. We where the cause of her not so great sleep, poor glenny.



Day 9-Lost Lemon

Glenny's fam came today. Jazzy is such a sweet heart, and Cadi is so big. I was the last to meet Lawson, it was nice to finally meet him. Everyone catched up with eachother and Soon Gerri arrived with her friend Vern. When night time came Most of the camp site went to friends of Jan's Tim and Karren's house. Dad, Gerri, Vern, Bryan and I stayed Behind, I was tired but we stayed up and played cards.

Day 6 - 8

Day 8-Fri-Lost Lemon

The next morning we Bryan and Gena got coffees and went to the Bargain store. Gena was so funny she kept coming back with all kinds of stuff, and one being a hola hoop that entertained us all the whole time I was there.That evening came My dad, Aunty Jan, Shawn, Stacy and Justis. Sanora was playing with a friend the whole time they where having a blast. They all went swimming that night and I had a good time playing with Justis, Sanora aqnd her friend. We took Sanora on the Bogey board and Justis took her around the pool. The night the kids where fooling around pushing eachyother and such. I look over and there's Sanora winding up and punched Justise square in the face.Bryan and I yelled at her but was giggling about it all night after she went to bed.

Day7-Thur-Calgary to Crowsnest Pass
We Picked up Gena at Cutch's Place, saw Chass and hightailed it out of there after getting lost. At one point Gena and I chased each other around the truck. When we got to lost lemon we got greeted by the camp notzi aka the Warden. She was sweetish and a nice person but not to friendly. Unfortunately there where fires close by so there was a fire ban. It was so bad that they closed down every campground in the area except for Lost Lemon.

Day 6- Jasper to Calgary
The driving to Calgary is awful, both Bryan and I wanted to hi tail it out of there. We stayed at Bryan's aunts house and his cousin Andrea came over with hubby Ryan for a barbecue. It was really nice, we had a great time. There was a doll house for Sanora to play with and she was set.

Day 5

Day-5-July 30th-Wistlers Campground, Jasper National park

We went into town and got our loundry done, got icecream and toured aroiund the town. It's the first time I had ever seen a white guy with an afro wearing foresent yellow tight pants! Every night at the park they havbe little plays in the park, they where cute. We went both nights, one was about the history of Jasper and the other about bears. That night we played crib and I got my but kicked both games.