November Adventures

Well, November has been an eventful month for the two of us. We have been very tied up with the opening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, as well as with the pre-Christmas festivities (which- for us- include movies, lights, crafts, and a big pile of Christmas clutter in the middle of our living room)... Is there ever enough room for the beloved Christmas paraphernalia (junk) that we love so dearly? As for adventures (even though even the plainest of days have the spirit of adventure) Brandon and I have not let the colder weather deter us from making the best of the outdoor opportunities that exist.
For example around the beginning of the month for Brandons birthday I decided to take him to a certain "dino" themed park in Aggasiz. We had both never been to this park as children and it just sort of called out... now that it is shut down.
One of the walls on the east side had been knocked down (we assumed for carrying away big themed objects on the property), and as there were no "Private Property" signs, we decided to make the best of it and take a walk around. While we were doing this (and figuring that it must have been a pretty lame park) I got the sudden feeling that we were being watched. Being the daring souls that we are, we decided to finish up in the park with our walk first and then left after taking some pictures with Brandons phone (the camera batteries died right before). As we were walking out Brandon got an urgency in his voice that, I don't think, I have ever heard before: "lets go quickly." I obeyed and walked briskly with him through the gravel parking lot as he pulled my arm. We got behind the first tree that we passed. I peered around the tree... what appeared to be a security gaurd with a dog were at the gate about 50 feet away from us and seemed to be coming for us. As I had suggested not parking in the actual parking lot for the theme park (it had to be womens intuition, or just experience being up to no good), we headed for the gas station down the street, and out of sight of the security gaurd.
That incident shook us up pretty good, and I think it will probably be at least two months before we go into another shut down theme park.
 Later on that day (as the weather was getting pretty stormy) we decided to go for a drive up to Hemlock mountain. It was snowy at the top. A beautiful snow that danced through the air as if it were something completely celestial. We had our first fight... snowball fight! It was a good time. But after a few snowballs we realized that we were hardly dressed for the snow and decided to heat up in the car.
Next on the list has been figuring out what we will do for Christmas gifts this year. We, obviously know that this is not the main idea of Christmas, but we still wanted to do something thoughtful for the people we love. So we came up with an idea involving... wait a minute! It is not Christmas yet, so I probably should not get into what gifts are going to be.
My brother and his wife had a beautiful baby girl this month and while we were over at their home playing hide-and-go-seek with our nephews, we saw a really cool home made nativity scene. Brandon and I decided to steal this idea (isn't that the only way to get an idea?) and make our own nativity scene! So we got a scrap of wood from Rona (the base) and cut down some sticks from the river (the manger), and bought nuts  (the people), and we went for it. It is probably turning out to be the best thing I have ever made with my own hands before. Probably something to do with the fact that Brandon is a part of it. I think projects that I start with him will be better than the ones I have done). I usually end up making things with construction paper and cardboard. Those creations (the construction paper ones), surprisingly, do not last. 
From exploring unchartered territory with our new gumboots, to preparing for Christmas, November has been plenty festive enough and plenty dangerous enough for us to plow faithfully into (what promises to be) a wonderful December

Adventure Pack

Brandon and I have something very dear to us- we like to call it Adventure Pack. It also goes by the name of Turbo Pack 2000. It has old buttons that we find at various junk shops and a picture of some weird clown man. Turbo Pack comes with us on our adventures. The contents of Turbo Pack include; a slingshot (for obvious self-defense purposes), duct tape (I would never be lost in the wilderness without duct tape), a frisbee (if we are to get lost- at least we can have fun instead of being terrified), firestarter and waterproof matches (we love to have fires), a hatchet (for self-defense/ getting firewood), a bear horn (to scare away dangerous bunny rabbits), bear spray (for creeps hiding behind trees) and some food and water.
We acquired Adventure Pack in the back (and dusty) corner of an old camping supplies store. For an unknown reason the storeowner gave us two free wagon wheels with it. My guess is that the Turbo Pack brings luck.
So far Turbo Pack has been with us on hikes around the lower mainland, as well as in the rocky mountains. Our goal is to take Turbo Pack on as many adventures as we can for as long as possible.
As the weather is now getting wetter and colder we are a little limited to certain hikes and trails. We do not have a ton of experience on trails and off trails but we plan to visit both avenues. Stay tuned for the details of our adventures through the Autumn months, as well as our plan to get through my fear of heights.

The Engagement Day

I know this happened almost 6 months ago, however, I still feel the need to share this because it is such a good memory of mine. And it is also the only time (I vowed this to him) that Brandon will ever pull one past me. So in order to give Brandon a congratulations for catching an unsuspecting (suspicious) little Katie, I thought I would write a quick note about our engagement day.
It was a stormy April morning and I had just gotten off of a night shift where I worked and Brandon was there to pick me up. As he drove me home, so that I could shower and then watch movies with him at his house, we noticed how crazy-cool the sky looked. Clouds as black as the night sky and wind that sent shivers told us that we could not pass the opportunity up to have an adventure.
So, after I showered, we headed out. On the way out it began to snow! I was so so excited. As I watched the April snow from the car window I couldn't believe how lucky we are to live where we do.  The stormy weather was now blowing East. After a quick stop for breakfast at tim hortons, we decided to follow the storm. The dark clouds lead us to Hope.
At this point I had been three days with a little over 9 hours of sleep, and I couldn't even feel it. I was really excited about the weather (and the company :)).
After walking around Lake of the Woods and climbing some pretty big (and scary) rocks, I had the idea to go walking at Othello tunnels. It had been forever since I had been to them and I thought it was fitting for the weather.
When we got there I had a sudden and terrifying moment of realization: it had been a long time since I was there because... I was horribly afraid of them. They are dark and long... they cuddle up beside a river with some pretty wicked rapids... and it was stormy out.
When we began to walk up the trail Brandon was a little quieter than usual (now that I think about it), but at the time I was probably talking his ear off and watching the sky in my over-tired haze.
It was a good walk, but I suppose you are now thinking, get to the good stuff, well here it comes.
We were at one of the bridges on the way back and it was both sunny and snowing at the same time. I could swear now that it was some sort of dream with the way everything looked in that moment, but I know that it wasn't. I was walking along the bridge and probably still talking when I noticed that my boyfriend was no longer at my side. I looked back. I saw my future husband on one knee in the center of the bridge reaching into his pocket. I think I walked back to him. I guess I could have floated back to him because I really do not remember taking steps.
He was reaching into his pocket. At first I thought this may have been a gag. What's that you say? You think Brandon would never fake propose? Well, I could prove you wrong about twelve times previous to this day. When he pulled out the blue box though, I knew. This was real. And as he was calling me by name and asking me to marry him all that was going on in my head was a little version of Katie with a party hat and confetti rolling around on a floor laughing her head off in delight and yelling, "yes! Yes!". Until the day of our wedding this moment was the best moment of my life. Looking into the eyes of my future husband was so comforting and everything felt so good and warm and right.
That is a good story and everything but now for the real question that I still ask myself... how the heck did he get away with it? I was getting so good at asking him when he was going to propose to me, and trying to trick him into telling me if he had been out looking at rings. So how in the world did he do it? Well just another reason why he is perfect for me... he can keep secrets from me- wait...

The Perfect Wedding... Day... For us. Part II

Here's some more information about our wedding day...
I spent the previous night at my best man's house and Katie spent the night at my sisters house (that's Danielle/the make up artist). Sean and I, on our way into Langley, stopped in Abbotsford to pick up the cupcakes because katie and I chose to have other desserts other than the regular ol' wedding cake thing. Then we went to the chapel in Langley, the new temple veiw chapel, and got ready. The other groomsmen were supposed to meet us and get ready there. Mostly everyone did well with this task, except Chad, who decided it would be fun to miss his bus. But, it all worked out fine because first of all, Katie and I both love Chad, and also, the bride (that's still Katie, by the way) ended up showing up to the church a little bit after the official start time, but we all know the official start time is whenever the bride is there and ready to go, so really, she was right on time.

Then the ceremony started. My groomsmen did everything they could to calm my nerves, and they did well in this task, but it was still an uneasily exciting time. And then next thing I knew I was standing up front with my pals at my side and then the music started. One by one the bridesmaids walked down the aisle and they seemed to be moving in super slow motion and then it happened, Katie walked in.

Time. Stopped.

There stood the most beautifully magnificent and precious woman I had ever seen, and then she was by my side, we had listen to some  talking, we said "I do", we kissed, we signed some papers, and the ceremony was over and we were married and life continued. Sort of. It was all such a wonderful blur after that. We took photo's, we ate food, heard some great, funny and heart warming speeches and danced and it's as if none of it actually happened. In fact, without the photo's I would almost be compelled to think it was just some wonderous dream.

So, having said all of that, please join me for the reminiscence of my dream day: the next installment of photo's.

Family Photo's

The Grandparents (left-right): Peter, Alma, Katie, Brandon, Ted, Penny, and Reva


The Sallenbach Family (left-right): Chantelle (Thebault), Glen, Katie, Brandon, Tami and Danielle


The Sapinsky Family (left-right): Trent, Matt, Laureen, Katie, Brandon, Rob, Robyn, Alma and Peter


Happy mother and daughter time, scary father and son in law time.

Wedding Party

The temple and a pyramid


Risque business


Some clever title


Group hug


Serious time


Everybody's a model!

The Head Table

Kelley Walker

Chad Murray (in the center)

Anthony Thebault

Sean Dalin

The Happy Couple

Cindy Chiang

Chantelle Thebault

Nichole Mcgregor (center) and Danielle Sallenbach (left)

Speeches, Dances, Traditions and Randoms

Grandpa Sallenbach was the MC

The Maid of Honour

The Best Man (he said "sex")

Papa Sallenbach

Daddy Sapinsky

The Groom (tried not to cry, but it was difficult)

The Bride being beautiful

The First Dance

Mommy and Daddy Dance

Groom and Mother in law Laureen

Bride and Father in law Glen

The Second Dance

Bouquet Toss

She was... um... not impressed (it didn't stop me though).

Derek Thebault watching his son Ben steal the spotlight

Duck Cake featuring Cupcakes below

Silly groom, why did you trust your bride?

Cake Mess

Bride and Nichole

Us with The undressed best man

Bride and Maid of honour

The Happy Couple




















So that was a lot of photo's. I really do hope you enjoyed looking at them as much as we enjoyed having them taken. Again, thank you to everyone that participated and helped us make this the perfect day.

-Katie and Brandon (The Adventure Squad)