Family Reunites III - {Part of our Summer 2017 Top 10}

This past month has been one for the books.  

Seriously.  No. Words.

We enjoyed a couple of weeks with John's brother Jordan and his family and then we had an absolutely awesome few days with John's brother Aaron and family.   Our kids were wishing Aaron and his group could have stayed longer as they were getting pretty used to this whole "Party Hardy all week long" routine.

Luckily, John's brother David and his family arrived just a few days later, which meant that fun could be had once more;)

We packed a lot into the few days that we had with these guys.  Here are some of the highlights:

1.  Walleys Beach and Sommerland

This has definitely been a spot we've taken family to every.single.time someone visits.   

It's close.  It's hot.  Kids can get wet.  

What else do you need?

This time around we brought out our Volleyball net.   These cousins have serious skills!

They spent a portion of the afternoon digging a pit and filling it with water and sand which resulted in a fairly deep pool in which one could enjoy a soothing mud bath.  Assuming you were brave enough?

Nature's Spa, no?

That evening (after everyone cleaned up;) we met up with John's former neighbors Dean and Brenda who took us out to their property that is lovingly called "Sommerland."   

Everyone crammed on to 6 ATVs and we were off racing through the fields, around Haybales and really anywhere they could go.  

The whole scene resembled a real live game of Mario Kart the way they buzzed in and out of fields, raced around barns and followed each other around various hay bales.  

They rode around until the sun started to go down.  

And then they rode a little bit longer;)

Such a fun evening!

2. Waterton

Of course a trip to Waterton was in the cards for this company.  How could it not be?   John and I were hoping to find something to do that would be a little out of the ordinary.   We were introduced this summer to paddle boarding and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to cash in a gift voucher that we had received and rent a few boards.  

It was a busy afternoon in the park but it was nice to snag a section of the shore and watch these kids float around for a bit.  

After wards we went for a short hike to Blakstion Falls (LOVE that stroll) and finished off with a walk through Red Rock Canyon to the natural water slide.  

3.  Virginia Falls

This hike has become a favorite for our family.  Only three weeks ago we did it with Jordan and Luci and their kids and here we were talking others into doing it with us again.  

What I like about this hike is that there are many waterfalls to stop and look at along the way, the scenery/landscape changes as you move along the trail and it culminates with a massive waterfall (Virginia Falls) which takes my breath away every time.   It wasn't roaring nearly has forcefully as it had been three weeks prior but still so so beautiful!

I loved listening to these kids visit and get to know each other better while they hiked!  

When we'd come with Jordan's family weeks back it had been a hot day with temps around 35 degrees Celsius and not a stitch of wind.  On this day, with Dave's family, temps hovered somewhere in the teens.  It was cool.  There was a bight in the wind which made it feel like Autumn and the fog was thick.  Although I was wishing I had my earmuffs with me -  I actually loved it!

We braved the cold long enough to enjoy an obligatory picnic at Lunch Creek! 

Other highlights from their visit include going for floats at A&W,  being introduced to the fun games of Tree Tag and Nazi Escape, sleepover/movie nights and lots of yummy food.   

They left on Friday and I can honestly say that after a month of visits and partying - this little house has never seemed so quiet.   

We have felt so very blessed for the chance we had these past few weeks to get to know these darling nieces/nephews of ours better and to create some fun memories with them.   

We can HARDY wait until the official reunion next summer!! ;)

July Highlights- {Part of our Summer 2017 Top 10}

And just like that (snap) July was gone!   

Seriously, if only January, February or March could fly by as quickly as July does.   

We were blessed with an amazing July.  A.MAZ.ING!   

Most of the month was sent with a few of John's siblings and their families.   All of those adventurous weeks have a journal entry of their very own;)   Listed below are a few of the July Highlights that happened in between fun with family:

1.  Teslas, Rodeos and Naamtok

There was one Monday in July where I needed to go to Calgary for an appointment.   John agreed to come with me and I was SO glad that he did.  I don't think him and I had ever planned a trip to the city together without our kids before.  Why the heck not??  It was fun!!!

We booked appointments to test drive a Tesla and I still find myself thinking about that fun car.

Of course John is obsessed with these so I have to curb my enthusiasm to counterbalance his "crazy" but it really really was a very cool vehicle.   

We both got to put it in Auto and drive around Calgary with little effort at all!

Even better - we got out of the car at the end and watched it "auto park" in this tight space all by itself.   For $140k I could never have to struggle to park my car again!!!   Easy Peasy;)

Our visit to Calgary also coincided with the annual (and famous) Calgary Stampede. 

We paid an entrance fee with intentions of just walking around and exploring a bit, however, within minutes we found a couple that was trying to sell off their tickets for a grandstand show starting right away.  The price was good and the timing was perfect - so we allowed ourselves to get caught up in the Rodeo Fun.  

I could have sat in that stand all day, what with the smell of manure and hot dogs and popcorn  (... and maybe beer?) floating all around me.   haha.   So so much fun!    

Despite the fun we were having, we made sure we left in time to get out to my Brother's house for a quick visit.   He'd texted us and told us that Heather would make Naamtok (my all time favorite Thai cuisine) for us if we stopped by and that pretty much settled things.   

Naamtok.....   Hmmmmm....

The food was delicious and the company was delightful.  

This day had undoubtedly been one of my favorites in all of July from start to yummy finish!!

2.  Country Crooner

Perhaps motivated by our recent visit to the Stampede, I dusted off my old 6 string Fender and asked John to give me a lesson.   Years ago, my brother had sold his trumpet at a pawn shop and purchased this guitar for me.   It seemed only right that I not give up on my dream of being a country singer;)  haha

 I learned some of the scale and 3 chords.   

Haven't touched it again since, but I look at it every day and love it.  

3.  Garden Fun

For the first year ever we have not had a garden.  Boo.  (and Wahhhh!!!)  

Oh how I miss planting and weeding and digging.   

Luckily my Father in Law has brought some produce by occasionally and I've even managed to snag some goods from the Hutterites and local farmers as well. These delicious beet greens were picked up at the Farmers market last week.   

Hmmm....nothing says summer like beet greens and chard!

4.  Playtime

It has been a fun summer for the local Theatre.   They are showing three plays (Music Man, Into the Woods and Sherlock) and we've been able to see them all!   My personal favorite was definitely Sherlock;)  I took Jessica with me to watch Music Man because many of her classmates were in it.   

Here she is with her darling friend (and budding actress;) Sophie!

Sophie and Jess got together this past week and set up a Lemonade stand. 

Only I didn't have Lemonade on hand so they sold Fruit Punch instead!   haha

I absolutely LOVE how they decorated the punch bowl!

It's been a hot hot summer (30+ degrees for days and days) and I can't think of a better way to pass the time then with a friend and cup of lemonade fruit punch.

Family Reunites II - {Part of our Summer 2017 Top Ten}

Last week the most enjoyable week.  I tell ya, we're really getting spoiled with one party reunion after another!    This time it was Aaron and Gina's family (minus Kaden who is serving a mission in Japan) and we were thrilled, as it had been a year since we'd seen them!   

Of course they showed up with water balloons in tow, ready for launching, because well...why not? 

That little act alone secured in my kid's eyes that this was one of the funnest families that they know - and the rest of the week pretty much solidified that.  

On Wednesday we all dined at our small towns newest fast food restaurant A&W (or as I like to call it - Allen and Wright), played at Walleys Beach (though Abby and I stole Ethan and went into Lethbridge for an ortho appointment  and introduced Ethan to Salt and Vinegar Chicken Wings, and us adults went to see "Into the Woods" at the Theatre.  

Thursday we drove up to Calgary so that the kids could play with the Calgary Crew.

It is here that my family (myself included) had our first experience eating Sushi - and the verdict is in - we LOVE it!   Of course food would be a highlight for me;)

Then the kids all played at Injination while I slipped away for an appointment and to meander my way along deerfoot during rush hour.   Good times.   (But not really.  I've decided I've definitely lost my ability to drive in the city.   tsk tsk.  And I used to be so proud of that!)  

We were able to gather at John's brother Ben's house after for dinner and more visiting.   

The cousins sure play well together.  

Friday was Waterton day.  

Woot Woot!!

Waterton makes me happy.  

So so happy.

Watching my kids connect with their cousins makes me happy too. 

So...SO happy.

John took kids out fishing in the boat and pretty much stayed out there the entire afternoon.  (Shocker;)

Aaron did what John and I told the kids we'd never do and rented one of those fun looking paddle boats.   Our poor kids have longed to ride on those for years. 

 Clearly Aaron is in the running for Uncle of the year for that one;) 

The water was the only place one could feel remotely cool.  

Luke impressed us all and caught ALL three of the fish caught this day.   

I don't know, I'm pretty sure John and his nieces/nephews may very well fish this lake clean by the time the summer is through.   

Friday evening we played Badminton in the backyard, had s'mores and talked until the sun went down. 

  We tried to talk them into staying one more week but apparently our argument wasn't too compelling as they left the next morning.  

Before they left though, as one final gesture of "Ultimate Fun-ness" (I may or may not have made up that word;) Aaron and Gina announced to our kids that they had ordered two inflatable paddle boards and that they'd be delivered to our family within a few weeks.   

FUN!!!!!

The jist behind this gift is that we would share them with all the family whenever they visit home in the summers.   (I think our afternoon spent watching John fish while having nothing else to do may have perhaps inspired this?;)   Whatever the reason- we looked forward to the arrival of these things with particular anticipation!   Oh the fun that will be had!!!

Their visit was a short one that definitely left us wishing for more time with them.  

We're looking forward to next summers reunion even more now!

  (We'll bring the paddle boards;)

Family Photos

There is a darling young woman that we know (now a student at BYU-I) who has recently decided to dapple a little in photography.   I'd made lots and lots of attempts to schedule a family shoot with her but had to cancel on her every time!   (Family was coming, Abby ended up having to be gone, more family was coming, this here, that there...)    Anyways- finally we managed to hold firm to a committed day and I'm so glad we did.  

 It had been a few years since we'd last had some photos done.  

It was fun to be on the other end of a camera lens and to watch Hannah do her thing.  

She seemed like a natural. 

I love these kids!!

The kids did great.

All I had to do was play the "now Mommy doesn't ask for much" card and threaten them warning that "if they did not smile and look at the camera every time Hannah says to...."

That's how all family photo sessions begin, no?

John keeps saying he looked concerned in this photo because the sun was in his eyes.   (Uh...yeah...the sun that was behind us!;)   I should have pulled the "if you don't look at the camera and smile every time Hannah tells you to..." card on him! 

   He sure can pull of that whole smoulder look though, can't he? ;)

Take me out to the Ball Game

Sam has been asking (for weeks and weeks) to go to a real baseball game.  

Of course he is talking like a "Major League Blue Jays game" but who are we kidding?  

The best we could do for him was a Bulls Game at the Spitz Stadium a mere forty minutes away.   

It was plenty of fun to watch Baseball at this level.   What a fun sport it is!

I love the entertainment in between innings, the smell of hot dogs, and popcorn, the peanuts and the Spitz!  I think I could attend a baseball game every day and not get bored.  

(But I won't, because I can appreciate the importance of "everything in moderation";)

There happened to be a double header on this particular night, so we could have watched baseball clear on till midnight if we'd wanted to - but we left just around 9:30, shortly after the lights came on.  (That's another thing I love about Baseball - watching the game under the big lights!)

On the way out of town we passed by the airport and noticed that the annual Air Show was still going on.   We pulled over to the side of the road and watched for a bit.  Luckily, the bit we watched happened to include a Pyro show led by an F-18.   John was pretty much in Heaven.  

As interesting as the F-18 was, it didn't thrill me near as much as this field of Alfalfa that we happened to be standing in did.   

FYI - standing in a field of Alfalfa while the sun sinks below the horizon is a dreamy experience. 

The whole evening was pretty much Tops!

Family Reunites - {Part of our Summer 2017 Top 10}

Immediately following the last day of school, we loaded up the van (to the roof!) and headed off on our first camping adventure of the summer.   John's brother Jordan and her family had already been in Canada for a week and we had plans to meet up with them in Waterton for a few days.   I was a little surprised at how much stuff we needed to take with us.   I mean, we didn't even have room for Nate, Sam and John!   (They travelled behind us in our equally loaded down truck)  I'm pretty sure we are going to have to streamline things for future trips.  

I loved being able to camp over Canada Day.   Though my kids may have missed the Canada Day fireworks, we did enjoy a Waterton style Bicycle Parade, a hike to Bertha Falls, Red and White Donuts up at Cameron Lake and time fishing with family.  

John was more than happy to take kids out in the boat.   I was shocked that some of these young nieces and nephews actually ended up being the most successful fishers of all!

Uncle Jordan introduced us to a fun tradition that I think I will implement as well.   It consisted of a evening stop at a nearby hotel (Bayshore Inn) for desserts on the patio.   Though I LOVED the idea (and the experience) I could see myself scrapping the whole "take the kids with you" part and just making this my own secret "sneak away and go when the kids aren't looking" kind of tradition.   

Nothing better than desserts on the patio!

Well, okay - s'mores on the shore of a lake can be nice too. 

I suppose I'm willing to be a little bit flexible about where I eat my desserts;) 

On our last day in Waterton, we hiked to Lower Rowe.  It was a beautiful hike, but HOT as heck!   I spent most of the time feeling bad that I'd spent so much time convincing everyone that they'd love this one.   Still a favorite of mine, I just may no longer claim that it is an easy, level stroll;)

(I may have lost a bit of credibility with that;)

Despite the heat and the uphill climb - these 8 kids hiked like champs!  Even my youngest nephew Jaden walked most of the way and with an insanely small amount of complaint. 

  I was beyond impressed!

We spent one afternoon out at Walley's Beach.  

It was a little too relaxing.  While the kids played - I fell asleep sitting up!  haha

The water was high and the amount of beach was very limited.  Trust these kids to find enough sand to bury themselves in though;)

We spent one day in Glacier too!  We picnicked at Lunch Creek and hiked 2 or 3 hikes, but mostly we drove up and down the "Going to the Sun Road" in search of parking stalls and bathroom stalls.   

Seriously - when did Glacier get SO busy!!

John and his siblings often stopped and ate lunch at Lunch Creek.   Seems appropriate to still do so every now and then;) 

While in Glacier NP, John and I had both insisted that we take the relatives on a "stroll" (another one of those;) to Virginia Falls.  The trail takes you through a forest that had been ravaged by wildfire only two years ago.  It's a stunning hike, though when the weather is a balmy 37 degrees out - it is a hike that leaves you wishing for a bit of foliage overhead.  Some shade would have made all the difference.   A slight breeze would have been nice.  A passing rain shower would have been a complete God send.   

Luckily though- we were with the worlds best hikers.  

Seriously- I'd hike with this family anytime. Did I say that already?

Luckily, Virginia Falls did not disappoint.   In fact, she was roaring more fiercely than I had ever seen and you could hardly stand near the base of the falls without getting soaked completely.   

Mother Nature (or really GOD) is absolutely divine.  I'm never more certain of this than when I've spent a few hours outdoors.   

The day before Jordan and Luci left for home, we went in to Lethbridge to connect with John's sister Rachel and her hubby Brent.   They introduced us to the fun activity of a "Lock out Room" where you are essentially locked in a room and must solve a series of puzzles in order to advance to the end.   It was much more enjoyable than I expected.  (Despite the look on John's face - I think he really enjoyed it too!  haha)

It was a fun filled week and a bit with this family.
Though that usually is the case when they come to visit.  

End of June celebration

The end of June brought a lot of celebration, wrap up, and tears.  

One of the teachers at the Elementary School has been diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer.   It has been devastating to Jessica who Adores this woman with a capital A.  She's been a remarkable music teacher and everyone is very hopeful that she will be able to finish her treatments and be back some time in the fall.  Her doctors have told her that she has every reason to think that is possible.   I pray often that that will be the case because any woman who will wrap my daughter in her arms like this is a woman I need in my child's corner for life!   

Another special woman in my life is my Aunt Karen.   Ever since we moved to town 10 years ago (how can it already have been 10 years?!) this dear Aunt has looked after my kids.  As a grade 2 teacher, she had a front row seat to all that my kids were experiencing there.  She would make extra sure they each landed in her class when it was their grade 2 year; she always had a bucket of candy for them to draw from whenever they stopped by her room; she hugged them and loved them and encouraged them to dance as often as possible-even in class!  

She single handedly has made my kid's elementary school experience something truly special.   

She retired this year, just shy of getting Nate in her class, and we could not have felt more grateful for her years of influence.  We had all the kids surprise her with a 12 day countdown to retirement.  (A celebratory gift for her every day for her last 12 days of work.  Peanuts compared to what she has done for all of us.)

 Love love LOVE her!

Here is a fun celebration - 

On the last day of school John and I attended grad.  It was so fun to see these students finish off their High School Career.  Some of these youth are ones that I personally got to work with.  I was filled with pride to see them walk across that stage.   I couldn't help but imagine how proud I will feel to watch my own kids cross the stage.  Pretty exciting life moment here - 

- and the perfect start to a much anticipated summer vacation!!