Summer's Big Finish

We took a trip to the zoo with our friends this week.

We got to see the March of the Penguins!

Apparently these penguins march around the exhibit just like they march in the wild!

This penguin had a fun time with the girls at the glass.

Gwen pretended to be a baby pen-gwen.

Cara and Leah rode a bear that was eating Gwen!

The BFFs acting afraid in the dinosaur park.

Gwen snuggling with a cuddly dino!

Cara, Gwen and Leah got to pet an albino corn snake named Pat!

Sunday Mommy had another 5k race!

Cara took this pic :)

This was the Rock the House Run for Ronald McDonald House - there were lots of fun things for the kids to do with Daddy while Mommy ran.

Big bouncy house slides!

Wheeeee!

A petting zoo.

Free Ice Cream!

Cara made this little owl at a craft table.

It was a lot of fun for them and Mommy did pretty good in her race too!

The day was so nice that after lunch we headed out to Calaway Park.

Always lots of fun there.

They are getting ready for Halloween - Gwen made friends with this dude.

Cara's not ready for skeleton hugs but was pretty brave and petted a giant spider!

Lots of Fall Fun ahead!

After the Flood

In May 2011 we went to Elbow Falls - about an hour from Calgary in Kananaskis Country.

This is a picture of the falls and river before the floods of 2013.  

Sunday we took a drive back to see how things have changed.

The river has made a whole new path to the falls.

All the gray rock on the right side used to be a forest with picnic tables and trails.

Picnic in the rubble.

 The girls at the trail head.

 We explored the rocks.

You can see the drop off from the trees in the background.  It is a big drop over our heads!

 The trail around the falls is still there so we walked up and explored there too.

 Sisters!

 Cara used a fallen tree as a xylophone.

 (off topic: Gwen is doing awesome with potty training!  The end of diapers is near!)

A view toward the falls - a broken pathway on the left shows how destructive the river was.

In September 2011 - while Grampy was visiting we went for a drive to Elbow Falls for a picnic but it was closed due to bears in the area.

We drove up the road and found this place Allen Bill Pond.  It was a lovely spot and we enjoyed our picnic.

This is Allen Bill Pond after the flood of 2013.

The pond is gone!

 We threw rocks in the river and Daddy tried to cross the water on this log.

He didn't make it.

But he didn't fall in either!

A fun Sunday trip being flood-damage hunters!

Cara's First Day of Kindergarten!

 Cara started kindergarten!

She was so excited and we had practiced walking to school, went clothes shopping, got a custom backpack - she was ready!

Bagel and peaches gave her a good start.

 Did I mention she was excited?!

 Cara and Mommy walked down to the school.

Her school is turning 100 with this school year.

 She got a name tag from her teacher.

And then the bell rang and all the little ones went inside, away from their mothers.

Sob sob sob.

2 hours and 45 minutes went by slowly.

 Then the doors opened and the class dismissed.

Cara was the happiest of kindergarteners!

 She had a great first day.

Gwen pulled her all the way home!

 On the weekend we went for a special brunch to Fort Calgary.

The girls got to make "cookie pizza" - Hello Icing!

 Then Gwen joined the RCMP but the uniform was too big.

 The hat fit Cara just right.

 Getting chased by a locomotive!

 Gwen liked the old Calgary radio station display.

Gwen has some growing to do before driving!

We had a great time at the museum and we even got to see a magician do a show!

End of Summer Break Fun Fun Fun!

 We enjoyed our last week of Summer!

We went to Calaway Park with our friends Freya and Verity!

 The girls had lots of fun on the rides.

 Gwen got to go on her first ride on this airplane!

 Lots of smiles having fun with friends :)

 Gwen screaming on the spinning balloons!

A new ride for all of us - the Log Ride!

Moms and kids went for it and didn't get too wet in the splashes!

 A spin on the swings helped dry out their hair.

 Another fun trip to Calaway Park!

So fun that we just had to take Daddy back on Friday so he could ride the Log Ride with us!

 We got really wet this time!

Daddy and Gwen especially - a wave came up and over them!  Daddy's hair was wet!

 So, back to the swings to dry out again!

 Gwen enjoyed the train ride while Mommy and Cara tried a new ride again (a dropping thing that we loved!)

 Saturday we went to the Calgary Highland Games.

Caber tossing!

 Ice Cream!

 Yummy

 Piping Bands

 Great music

 Gwen loved the bands!

 Who can bust a move to bagpipes?

Gwen can.

 Finished the day off with some more caber tossing.

 On the way out the girls got a lesson in spinning wool!

It was a very nice day and very cool to see the Highland Games events.

 Sunday we went to the Bowden SunMaze!

Leah, Sidney and Rebecca met us there and it was a fun day.

 Children of the Sunflowers.

 This happy and creepy guy greeted everyone entering the sunflowers.

 Gwen and Sidney totally lost.

 Daddy and Cara in the silo.

 Daddy leads the girls through the labyrinth.

 Love!

 Post maze snacks!

 Gwen loved this pony.

 It was really hot so the girls all needed popsicles before heading back to Calgary.

 Gwen is a short sunflower.

 Cara is a medium sunflower.

 Monday was Labour Day and that means the end of the city spray parks.

So we went to enjoy them one more time.

 Gwen and the spray.

 Gwen and Cara running to and from the water.

 Cara would like the water to be warmer.

 Gwen showing Cara how to get wet!

 Happy Gwen!

 Gwen after exploring and learning that hornets don't want to be picked up....her first sting!

Right on tip of her finger.

She yelled for a while but wasn't that upset.

She is super tough!

 Cara tried all summer to get under the "mushroom" of water.  She just hates getting really wet...this is the best she did and it was a big step for her!

 Cara did get through the "tunnel" of water and managed to keep her face dry!

 After the spray park we walked through the park.

The sprinklers were on.

  They couldn't resist more water!

Dry clothes - soaked!

Super fun long weekend and next update will have Cara's first day of Kindergarten!