Catch Up #3 - Camping & Stampede Week

 The day after the McGinns headed home we headed south to meet Nana & Howie at the Little Bow Campground.

There is a beach there so the girls had to play in the sand.

 Even Pepper was there for our one night of camping.

 Cooling off in the lake.

 Hanging around the campsite.

 Gwen learned how to relax!

 So did Daddy and Cara.

 After supper we went for some ice cream and got a group pic.

 Then it was time for a campfire!

 And out came the marshmallows!!

 Roasting marshmallows!

(not our camper in the background)

 Here we are with Howie & Nana's camper!

 Fun fact: Gwen doesn't like roasted marshmallows...or anything cooked over a fire.

We got the girls bug catchers for the camp out and they had lots of fun catching and releasing.  Here Cara has a little butterfly!

Cara mastered blowing bubbles. A very important milestone for a 5 year old!

Then it was Stampede time!

We went to the annual Stampede lunch at Daddy's work.

This year it was the classic Stampede Breakfast.

mmmm bacon!

Lots of Army stuff to look at.

In a vehicle.

Daddy got thrown in jail!

We could have left him there but we didn't - after paying bail he got out.

This year there was a petting farm for the kids.

Sheeps and goats!

Lots of fun!

We had a fun packed day on the Stampede grounds too.

First off the girls met Sponge Bob Squarepants!

They got to sing and dance with Dora and Boots.

Enjoyed a lunch from the midway.

Corn Dog - wouldn't be Stampede without a Corn Dog!

Gwen went with fries.

Then on to the rides!

We almost couldn't get out of the Fun House!

We all took a ride on the Ferris wheel and got a fantastic view!

Cara and Daddy!

We got to see the guy who plays the Earth Harp - he was on America's Got Talent a year or two ago.

So much fun on the rides - it was also really nice that Gwen and Cara could go on so many rides together!

We had a look through the agriculture exhibits.

They posed like real cowboys.

And just before we left we got to see a great performance by the Stampede Marching Band.  They had the girls dancing!

Stampede was fun then it was time to seriously get packing - the movers were coming in a few short days to take our stuff to the new house!

Check back soon for the next update!

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!