The Corn Was As High As An Elephant's Eye

Can you spot Mary's little lamb with her farm animal friends?
We went to the Calgary Corn Maze on Friday! There was so much to do and we all had a fun time. We didn't get into their large (10 hectare) maze but they have so many other activities we didn't miss out by not doing the big maze.

We met goats, sheep, donkeys, chickens, a turkey, bunnies and miniature horses....

...we even watched pig races! Gwen was shocked to hear that they race little piggies!

We did the smaller corn maze and Mummy was lost.

So we relied on Daddy's great sense of direction and we found 2 of 5 goals - each goal was a different colour and there was a pot of coloured wax to mark a finger to prove you'd made it - we made it to red and purple then left the maze to go back to other fun stuff to do.

Cara had been here once before and was measured against this sign - flashback to 2009!

Cara helped Daddy measure Gwen too.

The Byrnes at the Calgary Corn Maze 2011.

We jumped on giant pillows of air (sort of like trampolines)! It was so much fun! Cara couldn't stay standing up long but we were all laughing.

Too much fun!
Gwen was too little for this one but she was laughing watching everyone bouncing around!

Here is Mummy and Cara sitting in an old oil drum that is hitched to a bunch of other old oil drums and we are all about to be pulled around a very bumpy field by a ride on mower at a fairly fast rate of speed...we rode on the Cow Train!
Not everyone who goes on this rides makes it back but we did!

What's for dinner?!?!?

So to make up for getting rained out of Calaway Park last week we went again this weekend! We met our neighbours there (Cassidy and her parents). The girls had a great time going on rides together and it was much nicer being there in the sunshine.

They rode the trucks together.

And the kiddie train together.

Gwen went on a few rides too but mostly she hung out in the stroller enjoying the warm summer temperatures and people watching.

This trip ended with ice cream instead of downpours. The girls had a blast!

On Sunday we went to a different spray park/wading pool called Prairie Winds Park. It was nice to cool off. Gwen was clapping for joy!

She is applauding a lot these days.

Cara had fun splashing around too. She got to wear her newest swim suit - she's had about 2 growth spurts this summer and wears a 4-5 in most things...this suit is a 6!

Cara and her most favourite summer treat. A Slurpee trumps an ice cream cone on most days. We can't drive by a 7-11 without hearing "I want a sluw-pee!" from the back seat.

GD Family Picnic

On Monday, Daddy took the day off and we went to Calaway Park (again). Cara was very excited even though the weather forecast was not good. We got there when the park opened at 10 and since it was supposed to start raining by noon the park was very empty. We didn't have to wait in any lines! First up, Cara had to go on the Egg Ride!

Gwen went on too!

Then Cara went on her first ride all by herself! It was a kid only ride so no parents and there were no other kids! She loved it!

Gwen's first ride on a horse on the carousel!

Then Cara went on her second ride without a parent - the Trucks! Just after this we thought "those clouds are getting close" so we made it under a tent just in time for a major downpour and storm! We had to hang out until the rain let up a bit so we could get to a building then waited to run to the car...only Mummy and Daddy got soaked though!

Cara and her latest batch of homemade play-dough!

Tuesday brought Nana back from NB and with her came Pepper! Cara was very excited to meet Nana & Howie's new puppy!

Our happy Gwen - she loves the camera and always smiles!

Cara and Gwen having some sister reading time.

Gwen is finally helping out around here!

On Saturday we went to the GD Canada Family Picnic. This year it was at the zoo! Cara was so excited to see the animals.

She loves watching.

And she couldn't wait to see the kangaroo...and jump in the pouch with Gwen!

Sister time with the bear on a bench (another of Cara's must-see zoo attractions).

The company picnic was a BBQ in a tent on a nice lawn that Gwen enjoyed crawling on and eating.

Gwen under the picnic table!

They had a zoo guy there talking about some animals and Cara got to touch a lion's claw (in picture), pet leopard and zebra hides, lion and hyena skulls and a giraffe foot! She loves lions so she thought it was pretty neat!

Gwen is 9 months old!

Little Gwenny passed the 9 month mark this week. She is growing up so fast! Cara and Mummy took her to the doctor for her check up and Gwen weighs in at 22lbs and is 27.5" tall. She is so happy all the time and is enjoying moving around and exploring. We love her!

We went to Taste of Calgary this weekend. It is a street festival where different restaurants do taste sized samples of their food so people get to try lots of things. We tried: Polish sausage, Curried Chickpeas, Coconut Curry Chicken, Greek potatoes, fried plantain, Vietnamese iced coffee, Watermelon slush with mango bubbles, veg chow mein, chocolate covered strawberries and Saffron ice cream. Cara also got a yummy veggie sandwich from Hellman's Mayo people.

The best thing was the Coconut Curry Chicken...it was awesome. The Saffron ice cream was...interesting...like perfume ice cream. We had a great time - Gwen napped and Cara tried a few things.

Before going home we stopped at a playground. Gwen and Daddy shared a swing.

On Saturday we had a beach party with our Baby Group. We didn't take many pictures but Cara had a great time! The babies are all little kids now and there are lots of new babies.

Sunday was hot! Cara and Gwen cooled down with the sprinkler.

Gwen was very brave and would crawl right to the water and enjoyed getting wet!

Cara loved it too (as usual)!

Gwen tried lasagna. She loved it.

We continued out faucet replacement with a new bathroom faucet. This one is great because Cara can reach it from her step!

Let's Go Fly A Kite!

Cara has gotten eaten by mosquitoes this year. Even with bug spray, she'll get a bite. We cover them with band aids so she doesn't pick at them too much. She loves band aids!

Gwen's a super crawler now. Preferring to pull up and starting to cruise! She loves being mobile! She also got her 4th tooth cut this week. Maybe we'll get some full nights if sleep now....maybe.

Had to set up the playpen to contain her at times. She loves getting into things like wires, the tv cabinet (even with a kid lock on it) and of course Cara's puzzles.

We had a big storm here on Friday. It thundered, it hailed, it hailed and hailed. Then it rained. It left the yard white like winter. It was a fun storm but the reminder of winter was not pleasant.

Sunday was Cara's good friend Freya's 2nd Birthday party! Their community has a big lake/beach and all sorts of fun things to do so her parents had her party there. Cara loves a beach!

The girls took a break from the water for lunch.

Gwen had a good time too. She likes to eat sand so not too much sand time for her yet.

Cara and Freya in the sand.

Cara spent almost the whole party in her bathing suit. In fact, she drove home in her suit. She is loving summer!

It was a great windy day so after we got home from the party we went to fly a kite at the dog park near our house. It was a perfect day for it.

Daddy and Cara flying the kite.

Mummy flying the kite.

Gwen watching the kite fly.

Mummy flying the kite. Cara and Gwen (in stroller) watching. Flying a kite was so much fun. Cara would look at it and say "Hi Sponge Bob, Hi Patrick!" (since they are pictured on it). It was cute. We might get into competitive kite flying.