The trip before the 2nd trip: Alberta

If I have my dates right, we were in Alberta from July 3-10.  John only gets 6 days off at a time, so we make the most of them!  We left on the Wednesday, right after he was done work.  I had the camping trailer hooked up and ready to go.  The trucker in JOhn decided to do a pre-trip inspection on the trailer, and saw that one of the leaf springs were snapped off.  This part has to do with suspension of the axles!  So, before we left town, we stopped to get that fixed, and purchasded another leaf spring, just in case another one decided to snap! (Our trailer is from 1981, I think).  We stayed in the Walmart parking lot in Red Deer that night.  We got there around 12:30, so all was quiet with the rest of the trailers parked there. 

 

The next morning, we met friends in Okotoks.  Because of the flooding that had been going on in that area, the park we were originally going to meet at, was closed.  So we met at a cool school playground.  It was GREAT to see these guys again.  They are from Aldergrove and were our closest friends when we lived in Chilliwack.  We sure miss them.  Their little girl was 3 when we left and always called me Enta!

 

 

 

We got to Mom and Dad's around 4:00.  It was great to see everyone.  It's very special to see the relationship between Jake and Brent and the girls.  There are only 3 years I think between Brent and McKenna, and they are both at the age where they can tolerate each other and play together.

 

We visited with Raelene one afternoon, and she took us to the treasured waterpark that is behind the house that they lived in.

 

Underneath Emmy is a flower.  If you stood on the inside, while the water was coming out, it would sing a line from a nursery rhyme!

 

Mr. Sammy.. one of the adorable twins!

 

So, we have our special place to go when in Chilliwack, but also a special place when in Lethbridge.  Waterton!  It is a beautiful little town with a big beautiful lake.

 

Because it was Emmy's birthday 2 weeks earlier, we surprised her with a mini celebration.  Aunty Melinda brought cookies (before we left she emailed me with the question of "what are the girls' favorite cookies?" She wouldn't tell us why she wanted to know.  I had a suspicion, but didn't let the girls know.)  Sure enough, she brought the girls' favorite cookies to our picnic: peanut butter, and white  double chocolate chip!

 

Emmy's birthday cake

 

 

Emmy's piece of cake

Thanks Grandpa and Gramma for the presents!

 

 

My girls both have a fascination for different kinds of rocks.  This is Kenna's collection of the day.

 

Can't go anywhere without having at least one of the girls pose for me :)

 

Our picnic area

 

swimming...COLD!!

and boating.  Thanks Andrew for the rides and the use of your boat

 

A special bond with a special uncle

 

My mom and Ali

 

 

John, Allen(foster child), and Andrew

Little Miss Sophia

 

 

Us.. compliments of my mom (thanks for getting down on the ground even though it hurt your shoulders!)

the twins together

 

 

We were able to see everyone, some of them more than once.  It was great to see the twins again.  I was privileged to be in Alberta shortly, like a week, after they were born.  They are 4 months here.  I hope I get to see them again before their 1st birthday but...

 

 

We left Alberta on Monday morning, after breakfast and spent the night at the Wabamun Provincial Post.  That is my next post.