New Looks

Preparing for September always means appointments in our house or at least ever since the kids started school. Hair appointments, eye appointments, dentist appointments all in preparation for a new school year, maybe I should throw in some new goals and call it Happy New Years!

I had my eyes and teeth checked a couple months ago (mine get done while the kids are in school, I'm sure you can figure out why). However, I did have a small mishap with my porcelain tooth that had me in the dentist chair the same time the kids had their teeth cleaned. Needless to say I can smile again without feeling very very self conscious (phew)! So the only new change for me was a new hairdo....really nothing major I just learned a couple new styles to use when I straighten it (now to actually do it daily...mmmmmm...I really do plan to try). I LOVE my sister and her talent with my hair!

Miss Adrianna was given the thumbs up at the dentist and maybe 1/2 a thumb up at the optometrist. In other words her eyes are good but could be a bit better so we'll be back in a few months to get them checked again. Last but not least was hair and it took me by surprise when she announced that she wanted to go short, if that's what makes her happy then why not (I've never been one of those moms that refuses to allow their daughter to cut their hair - hello its only hair). There is a funny story to all this though. A few months back Adrianna went for a new style, which was to have straight bangs but to do this it meant that the flat iron would have to come out each day to straighten and curl her bangs. After a couple showers I noticed her bangs weren't curling and thought maybe she wasn't washing them very good BUT she was doing an excellent job they just weren't curling. It seems that her bangs are now permanently straight. How strange is THAT?!!

Mister Eli too was given the thumbs up at the dentist but wasn't quite so successful at the optometrists. Seems he's a bit far sighted but hopefully with glasses for the next couple years it will correct itself. It was evident he was pretty excited because he had me phone the optometrist to check to see if his glasses were ready, apparently he just really really wanted them but nope he had to wait one more sleep. When we did finally go in to get them I think he had 1/2 the office in stitches because he was so genuinely excited, I have to admit it was pretty cute we'll see how long the excitement of glasses lasts for! As for a haircut he hasn't gotten tired of his faux mohawk so he's all trimmed up for that again.

So we're all ready for the new school year now!! Don't worry we haven't forgotten about Les, he's just not so excited about getting all geared up for September. Very soon he'll be getting his hair cut, getting his teeth cleaned and last but far from least getting his eyes checked to see if he has to yet again get new glasses.

Sweetness

One of the things I LOVE about Eli is his thoughtfulness. Today at Church he was given three cookies and was so excited, this is our conversation.

Mom: Those are my absolute favourite cookies!

Eli: You can have one.

Mom: Thanks but that's okay.

Eli: I gave one to dad. I have two left so you can have one and Adrianna and I will share the last one.

Mom: Thanks Eli but I don't want a whole one.

Eli: You don't!?

Mom: No.

Eli: Okay. You and I will share one and Adrianna can have the last one.

Mom: How about Adrianna and I share one and YOU have the last one?

Eli. Oh. Okay!

All Good Things Must Come To An End

Last but far from least was some shopping and then a visit to Sikome Lake , which as an adult who has spent the last 15 years in BC looks more like a pond. Nonetheless it was hot and the kids had fun playing in the water while the adults visited in the shade.

It's time to head back home.

Old Is New Again

Our next day trip was at Heritage Park. It was a fun full day touring around the Park, which included a horse and buggy ride, a ride on the SS Moyie, a steam engine train ride and carnival rides.

Adrianna and Eli helped make a sign at the Acme Lumber Co. building where they do have kids classes throughout the year and is still an active wood shop.

I think we have more train pictures then anything else...a passion of Les's!

Eli ended up in jail at the Northwest Mounted Police Station....actually he seemed more then willing to put himself there, for some reason Adrianna wasn't so keen!

The horses that pulled us on our horse and buggy ride. Named Splinter and Shredder after characters from TMNT's......I think that made Eli's day!

Of course the carnival rides couldn't be forgotten!

View from the balcony of the Hotel.

Not Everything in Alberta is Extinct

Our next adventures landed us in Calgary. We stayed in the neighbourhood that I grew up in with some family friends. I still can't believe how much my neighbourhood has changed but hasn't changed, it's still the quiet, well maintained neighbourhood it has always been just with HUGE trees WOW how they've grown. I was able to show Les and the kids the home I grew up in (although they've added to it, changed the color and added a whole lot of vegetation in the front yard), the school I went to, the parks I played in, etc. Kind of fun to take a walk down memory lane with them. Anyway, children only take so much reminiscing before its time to move on and that's just what we did! Our first day trip was to the Calgary Zoo.

Eli's absolute favourite animals. The sloth and tiger!

Above Eli and I hanging out with the elephant. Adrianna didn't want to have her picture taken with us nor did she have any absolute favourite animals BUT we all fell in love with the tiny little monkey pictured below (unfortunately we can't remember what kind of monkey it is).

There was definitely some noticeable changes from the last time I went to the zoo, which was probably about 15 years ago but the one thing that hasn't changed is the spider monkeys demeanor (NOT pictured above). If you've witnessed them yourself you know EXACTLY what I mean!!

The Bony Bits

It was hard to leave the fun adventures of Rocky Mountain House but we knew that the next destination was going to be just as adventurous so off we went to Drumheller and area for two days of exploring.

The kids height vs. the leg of a T-Rex!

I think the Royal Tyrell Museum more then met the kids expectations, especially Eli who was SO excited to see all the HUGE dinosaur bones but was even more ecstatic to stand where these creatures stood!

We drove for miles and miles through farmland to suddenly find ourselves in a whole other world or so it felt. The badlands! You can't go to Drumheller without seeing just how amazing this land is or how rich in history it is until your standing amongst it.

Of course as a holidayer we couldn't help but get sucked in by tourism! This HUGE T-Rex at the Info Center was a must. However, I still can't believe we spent money to willingly climb the hundreds of stairs from foot to mouth. Mind you the view was pretty cool!

Rocky Mountain House - Where We Got Hooked On Quads

My aunt and uncle were the best hostesses keeping us busy with visiting, touring and new adventures! Thanks guys we had a blast and can't wait until next time!!

There are waterfalls in RMH......whoever thought!?!! Barb and Garth have lived in RMH for about 11 years and only found out VERY recently that there are waterfalls right in town (sorry guys I had to spill the beans) so.......off to the waterfalls we went. Pretty cool actually and well hidden so you never would have guessed they were only a stone throw away from the river.

left to right: Barb, Eli, Jen & Adrianna (Mutley the dog is in front of me)

left to right: Mutley, Garth, Les, Eli, Jen & Adrianna

Our family now has a NEW hobby all thanks to Barb and Garth and we can't wait to try it out at home!

Left to Right: Les, Eli, Adrianna, Garth & Mutley

Barb

Me!

Our little day camp

Of course you can't have late nights without roasting wieners and marshmallows!!

Life Is A Highway

Our family had been anticipating summer holidays FOREVER it seemed. Hard to believe that not only did it arrive but its finished and we had a BLAST.

The first part of our journey had us on the road headed to Rocky Mountain House to visit my Aunt Barb and Uncle Garth. Here are some pictures of our scenic drive!

Just past Field, BC. We were stopped for about 15 minutes due to construction, apparently there was a slide not long after we went through.

Roy Thompson /Hwy 11 between Jasper and Rocky Mountain House.

Abraham Lake (Big Horn Dam) about an hour before Rocky Mountain House. Hard to tell by the picture but this lake was turquoise blue meaning glacier water and it was COLD.

Mov'n On Up!

Eli & Mrs. Mackinnon

Adrianna & Mrs. Russell

Both the kids accomplished a lot throughout the year and a great deal of it was their own hard work but the credit also goes to their teachers for being so dedicated to them. Thank you Mrs. Mackinnon & Mrs. Russell, we'll miss you next year but at least we'll see you around the school!

Hard to believe another school year has come and gone and I can hardly believe grades 2 & 4 are just around the corner!

CONGRATULATIONS Adrianna & Eli
What a FANTASTIC school year