Holiday time! Hangin' in Alberta and coming up on our one year anniversary of leaving!

Lots to catch up on! Let's see - the first weekend in August, Brian's parents were around and on Sunday, Brian and his dad went to Seafair (big air and boat show). This left myself and Frances to do something with the kids, so we took them to Remlinger Farms! What a neat place! Lynsey got the most enjoyment out of it, although I think Nathan wins for enjoying one single ride the most (I think he could have ridden that little train around that oval track all day long!). Adam was a bit difficult, didn't want to do any rides, but he did find an old school bus and did not want to leave it - he just climbed in and out of that thing. Brian's parents were around until we left on Thursday, so they took Lynsey to the Science Center one day, and Brian and I got a date night to the Melting Pot which was kind of fun.

Thursday morning of that week, we were off on our trip to Alberta! We had made Adam this book about all the places we were visiting with pictures of the people and places so that, in theory, he could be more prepared for what was coming next. It didn't work out well for us. That first day, he just wanted to get to the hotel, no stops required for him! Stopping for lunch was not on his agenda! Luckily the first day we only drove to Kamloops and we hung out in the pool when we got there which was nice. Thank goodness Mark was good with taking Nathan down the waterslide, so not my thing! Supper was tricky, the food took long and Adam was stressed and he actually peed in the restaurant:(. In the end, Brian's parents got the food to go and we just ate in the room, which we really should have done in the first place in hindsight. The kids did not want to go to sleep that first night. It was awful - a nightmare that just wouldn't end! Brian's mom stepped in to help around 11 and once the kids got some separation, it wasn't long before they were all asleep. The next day traveling was a long one. The lunch stop again was so tough - Adam wanted nothing to do with getting out of the van. The best stretch was when Brian's dad drove from Golden to Calgary - there was a point in time where all three kids were asleep! Glorious! In Calgary, we moved the boys to Mark and Frances' car so they could go to Edmonton, and off Lynsey and I went to Three Hills for Sean's wedding. Right when we got there, we learned that my dad had his defibrillator go off, so he was in Emergency in the Three Hills hospital. He ended up being transferred to Red Deer the next morning so they could figure out what was going on, so unfortunately my parents ended up missing the wedding. As far as I know, the device malfunctioned and they sorted everything out in Edmonton this week, so hopefully this won't happen again! The wedding was really nice, it's so cool to see my nieces and nephews so grown up and getting married! And Lynsey was with a babysitter at my sister Mary's place for the reception, so I felt very relaxed and free:). It was really great to catch up with some family!

Sunday we made our way to Red Deer and stopped in to visit my dad for a bit, then off to Edmonton. The boys had done really well so that was good. We just hung out in Edmonton all week, very relaxing! I worked on a 2000 piece puzzle with Frances (which we unfortunately had to abandon half way through because Nathan had pulled it off the board for the third time, turkey!) and on a digital scrapbooking project, and I ran on the treadmill three times which was apparently very necessary because I did not do too well! Apparently not really exercising for a few weeks doesn't do wonders for your fitness. We also went to Westlock on Tuesday to visit with my friend Ruthy, but other than that, we didn't do too much! Thursday night, Steve and Andrea came, and Friday morning Mike and Annie came, and then I was off to the airport to pick up Brian! So great to have him back! Lynsey was especially happy to see him, she has had a bit of a rough last few days. Very easily ticked off and snappy, I almost feel like I have a teenager around! She is currently at the World Waterpark with Brian (and Mike and Annie and Steve and Andrea) so hopefully some Daddy time will soften her up a bit! Nathan was a bit funny last night, he wouldn't let Brian comfort him, only Mom. I guess he felt a bit abandoned, hopefully that passes soon.

All in all, we've had a great time back in Alberta so far! It's a bit strange to be back here as we approach our one year anniversary on leaving, all still a bit surreal. I like being back but I am at peace about going back to our life out there when this is all over (especially when I start scratching my many mosquito bites, grrr). Monday we head to Calgary for a few days, then to Canmore for a few days, then to Sylvan Lake for my family's campout. Still lots of adventures left! Hoping Adam copes well, the trip wasn't good but he has done pretty well here at Grandma and Grandpa's house. They rented a portable hot tub which the kids have loved and spent quite a bit of time in. Hoping that he doesn't crash next week with all the changes! Pray for us!