Catch Up #2 - McGinns!

 The McGinns arrived and we met them at the airport with signs that the kids decorated for them.

 The next day we all went to Drumheller for a day of dinosaurs.

After a picnic the girls scurried on the badlands - Riley caught Gwen before she got too far!

 At the top of a big hill with the Red Deer River below.

 We went to the HooDoos and the cousins posed for a group shot.

 Riley and Mark climbed all the way to the top of the valley!

 Group shot!

 Then we climbed the largest T Rex in the world (Cara's favourite thing in Drumheller).

 Then the Royal Tyrrell Museum with all of the dinosaurs a person could want to see.

 Charlotte and Cara T Rexes!

(Gwen was so tired from the day that she napped for most of the museum)

Before we left Drumheller we stopped by the fountain and spray park and cooled off.

Then a nice drive back to Calgary and Riley got to watch Frozen with the girls :)

 The next day was Canada Day!

So we all got on our best Canada garb and wandered around downtown Calgary.

 After some ice cream Cara was happy.

 Riley and Gwen take a break.

 Group shot!

We didn't find the usual entertainment going on but we got a good walking tour of downtown and walked about 10 km!

 Kids were happy to be with their cousins and Aunt and Uncle - and a playground helps too :)

We stayed up playing Rat-a-tat Cat until it was time to go see the fireworks from the hill near our house.  A fun Canada Day!

 The next day we went to Calaway Park.

Gwen started Riley off on an easy ride.

 Cara took Charlotte on the kid roller coaster.

 Then we stepped it up a bit on a fast ride.

 Everyone played a game and won Cara and Gwen each a stuffy - they still treasure them :)

 Riley, Adam, Charlotte and Mark played a water gun game that ended with Riley getting wet!

 Adam, Jill, Cara and Gwen went on Gwen's favourite - the Strawberry ride.

 Riley started to reach his ride limit after this one....

 So he sat out this one - Gwen's first time being tall enough to ride the Dropping Ride!

She looks big enough, right?

 Grown up bumper cars - Charlotte is a good driver :)

 Last ride was Cara's favourite - the Swings!  And she loved riding with Uncle Mark!

 The next day was the last day - and we took it easy.

We showed the Californians what people in a land locked province call a beach  - a man made sand water aquatic facility actually ;)

Who is it that they are burying?

 It's Uncle Mark!

 Lots of fun in the water!

A great way to end a great visit.

We had so much with Jill, Mark, Charlotte and Riley.  Thank you for coming to visit us!

Catch Up #3 will cover our camping trip with Nana and Howie and Stampede Week! Check back soon :)

Catch Up Time #1

 We left off at Father's Day last update so here is how June finished up.

Gwen had her end of year concert at preschool.

She sang and danced for us!

 She is a great performer.

Gwen and her teacher - Gwen can't wait to go back in September!

 Cara graduated from Kindergarten!

Her teacher organized a great end to a great year at Stanley Jones School.

 There was a great slide show that brought the parents to tears (who ever recorded "Oh the Places You Will Go" as a song did so just to make parents cry) and the kids all did a dance to One Direction.

Our little Cara is so ready for grade 1 at her new school.

 We celebrated Summer with a day at the beach - Sikome Lake!

 Sandcastles!

and the return of the sand mermaids!!!

In Catch Up #2 - we'll revisit our fantastic visit with the McGinns!

July! McGinns! New House!

 We got our new house today!

Cara did some yoga in the empty dining room.

 While Gwen ran laps in the living room!

Before the house we had an awesome visit with the McGinns!  We love you! A proper post of your trip is coming.

 But first we have to move in to the new place.

Gwen loves her room.

And so does Cara!

Lots of fun to come.

Once we're settled some real posts will be up with lots of pics of our summer so far!

June Field Trips & Father's Day

 We've been busy since May!

We got our house ready to list, listed it, sold it, went house hunting, found a new house, made an offer then cleared conditions.  Now we are waiting for closing on July 14!

Until then we are keeping busy - we took the girls and their bikes to Baker Park for a ride on a very nice day.

 In one week of house hunting we saw 20 houses - on the night that we went to see the house we eventually made an offer on - Cara lost her first tooth!  More on that coming up.

 Gwen loves her balance bike - she's really starting to go fast on it.

So, here is Cara with her her little tooth in a bag for the tooth fairy.

It was quite exciting - her tooth was very loose and while eating supper that night she took a bite of a cucumber slice.  The tooth fell out without her noticing and we all thought she swallowed it!  Luckily Daddy found it on the floor and saved the day!

 Gwen went on a field trip to a pet store with her preschool.

She got to touch many different creatures and had a great time.

 Petting a frog!

Hello Guinea Pig!

She also touched a snake, lizard, parrot, tortoise and rabbit - she was brave!

 A week later Cara went on a field trip to a Corn Maze (without the corn maze).  They had lots of fun things for the kids to do - first was painting!  She got messy!

 She rolled around in a giant hamster ball!

 Jumped high on a trampoline!

 Learned Archery! (foam arrows!!)

She had a great time!

Big news for Gwen is she's moved on out of her toddler bed!

Now in a twin (mattress of the floor since she tends to roll out)

She loves her big bed and she picked out her sheets and comforter in her fav colour!

 Father's Day was a lot of fun.

First we took Daddy breakfast in bed but couldn't let him sleep in since we were going to Roam the Runway at the Calgary Airport.

There is a new runway that is opening soon but before the planes land on it the airport opened it up for a fun day with air planes on display and stuff.  It was a bit rainy and cool but we went anyway.

Gwen got to sit in a police car.

 Cara and Gwen locked in the back of a police car!

The one and only time they will be in one I hope!

 We got up close to the new 787 that Air Canada has.

 Really close!

 Daddy and his girls :)

 We met some Olympians!

 Chalk drawing on the biggest runway in Canada!

 Gwen found the walk a bit long and the rain a bit boring.

 The kid zone saved it for Gwen.

 Cara had a lot of fun too.

 They got balloon airplanes.

 Face painting!

Gwen requested: Rainbow Kitty Cat

 Cara requested: Cat

They were so cute :)

After a very long walk and some rain we got one last pose with the big runway and called it a day!

It was a fun Father's Day.

We will be busy packing and with the upcoming McGinn visit!!  Then Stampede then we move!

Lots happening and we are taking pictures of it all and they'll get posted when we get a chance to update.  This coming week has Gwen's end of year preschool concert and Cara's last day of Kindergarten!  The school year has flown by!

Yay for Summer!