We got a new bike for Lincoln this weekend, with a Lightning McQueen helmet. I really hate stuff with movie characters on it, but how can you resist when they love it so much? Anyway, he is figuring it out. He's not quite used to the back pedal brake. Much different than his trike. Benny has started to try the trike out, but still doesn't really have a clue. He was very jealous of Lincoln's new helmet so we had to improvise with Matt's hard hat.
Calgary is WAY rainier than I had anticipated. It rained pretty much all of June... and I'm not really exaggerating too much when I say ALL of June. It's now the end of July, and we still get some pretty good rain storms.
This particular storm occurred a few days ago. I had spent the morning doing family history while the kids ran around and destroyed the house. We're all still in our PJs, and I was about ready to go throw the kids in the bath when it just started to downpour. The kids were so excited. It was really cute.
They didn't really dare to go out until it let up a bit.
We went to the world renowned Calgary Stampede this weekend. We thought we'd get in the spirit a little and go a little "cowboy". Matt put on his John Deere shirt, some tighter jeans and his Red Wings. I put on my (plastic) cowgirl boots. We started walking to C-train station and decided the heat wasn't worth it, turned around and changed into shorts and flip flops. The day turned out to be overcast, and no rain. A great day for the Stampede
Aside from the big rodeo, the Stampede is a glorified State Fair. The kids loved the animals. We particularly enjoyed watching this cow be milked. The whole process hit a little too close to home. My days as the "Dairy Queen" (as Matt likes to call me when a nursing mother) have not yet come to an end. Not really looking forward to that whole bit of child rearing again. This cow produces 45L a day. It was astonishing to watch the milk just gush into the reservoir. I would like to have some land someday and own a horse or two, a dairy cow and some chickens, but Matt said no. If we ever have any land, he wants his own baseball field. A waste of space, I say. That's what parks are for.
Our Stampede experience was crowned with the mini-doughnuts...
...and some cotton candy. Bennett at first said that he didn't like it when I handed it to him. I shoved a mouth-full in his mouth and then had him asking for more... and more... and more. Oh yeah, I buzzed Lincoln's head. The shortest his hair has been since birth. Matt says he looks like a Holocaust victim. I think he looks like a cute little boy. He does look much older with the new do. And it's much easier to get a good hair cut with the clippers rather than the scissors as I've always done in the past. Another plus is I won't have to cut it for another 2 to 3 months.
Lincoln got to ride on the Spider Man ride by himself at the Kids' Midway at the Stampede. At first he wasn't sure what to think. He had his lips pressed tightly together and his eyes darted around. Soon, though, his mouth formed a smile, and then he was cackling and giggling with all his might. So cute to watch. Bennett was very offended that he didn't get to go since he was less than 36" tall. We had fun on other rides with him. All in all, a very fun experience.
Here's a bonus shot of the "Princes" in their crowns. I've been trying to craft with them a few times a week. They LOVE it.
Benny always says, "Ookahmi" i.e. "Look at me". He's too funny. We celebrated his birthday a bit early this year so Grandpa and Grandma could celebrate with us. Here is his party:
Very excited about opening presents.
He was most excited about the box of rocks I wrapped up. Go figure.
All of Benny's wildest birthday wishes came true when it was time for cake. He requested that we sing "Happy Birthday" to him several times throughout the evening.
Candle Blowing
Fun with Balloons
Benny is such a bright little personality, so quick to smile, so quick to get mad when Lincoln sings his songs, so lovey. His favorite part of hitting Lincoln, or otherwise pestering him, is the hug he has to give him after he's done being on time out. He loves rocks and pinecones, he HATES having his diaper changed and screams, "Don't change my diaper!!" the whole time you are changing his diaper. He still loves his thumb and his "bankwie". Wonder how I'm going to put an end to that. His favorite song is the "Rainbow Song". He is very interested in what color things are lately, and will ask me all the time. His first guess is pink... every bright color is pink. We are so happy to have him as a part of our family. Love you, Ben-Ben!
Brace yourselves... this is gonna be a long one. Matt's parents came to visit us for a couple of weeks, and we had a fun-filled time. Here is the evidence:
July 27 - Walk Downtown
Walking down McHugh Bluff from our house
Feeding the geese at Prince's Island Park
July 28 - Calgary Zoo
Penguins
Bison
Bare Back riding a Bear
Raaarrr!!!
Hippos
Watching Elephants. They look THRILLED!!
June 29 and 30 - Banff
Lunch in Downtown Banff
New Hats!!
Big Horn Sheep near Lake Minnewanka
Bald Eagle near Lake Minnewanka
Skipping rocks at Lake Minnewanka
Gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain
Getting Pringles for the kids.
At the top.
Benny trying to grab the rocks under the boardwalk.
Chipmunk eating the granola bar Lincoln threw to him.
Marmot
Weather observatory that was built in 1903 at the top (before the gondola).
Adsero Men
More please!!
View of the top of the gondola from the weather observatory.
Enjoying the ride down.
Lake Louise
Adsero Men, again.
July 1 - Canada Day
Backyard Spaghetti
Watching the fireworks from the bluff. They started around 10:45 PM. It had just barely gotten completely dark.
Bennett did NOT like the fireworks even though we were at least a mile or two away. He just left his "bankwie" over his face, and then he was fine. You can't see much in the video, but you can hear Bennett say that he wanted to go home and that he was "scary".
July 2 - Heritage Park
Benny really liked the ferris wheel at first but then when it started going fast, he told me that he was all done and that he was ready to go home. Then he told me his tummy hurt, so I made him close his eyes for the remainder of the ride. He just rested on me quietly while enduring the ride. It's so cute how he communicates with me. Such a sweetie little boy.
Downtown in Heritage Park
Wagon Ride
Piggies
Train Ride
July 4 - Butterfield Acres Petting Farm
Lincoln looks a little serious!
At the end of the lap, Benny decided riding the pony was pretty fun.
Bennett got his head stuck in the hole!
The goats will chomp the food right out of your hand if you're not careful.
Lincoln LOVED the goats!!
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I think it's funny that Lincoln has one of the goats in a headlock.
Look at this beast!!
One of the piglets bit my toe while I was busy taking pictures. Closed-toed shoes for next time!!
The goats are escape artists!!
July 5 - Art Walk Downtown
Throwing rocks off the pedestrian bridge into the Bow River
Pretty flowers, big mama.
Stephen Avenue
The old Hudson's Bay Company store. Hudson's Bay Company was incorporated in 1670.
Calgary Tower
The bustle. Bennett has no patience for it.
Atrium in the Core Mall downtown.
Koi
Atrium
July 6 - Calgary Stampede Parade
July 6 to 8 - Waterton Lakes National Park
When Matt told me he wanted to go on a boat on Lake Cameron in the park, I thought he said we were going on a motor boat. Turns out, he meant a row boat. We had two men, two women, one of which was pregnant, two little boys and a dog, all in one row boat. Trying to make sure that the two little boys and dog didn't jump overboard while the men rowed and fished turned out to be a little stressful, but we made some family memories. The people at the boat rentals were trying to hide their smiles as we all boarded the boat.
When Bennett wasn't dipping his hands in the water and licking them, he was singing "Row, row, row your Boat". Too funny. No signs of Giardia yet!!
Grandpa caught a fish. Lincoln was VERY excited and nervous as it flapped around. That night in his prayer he said, "Grateful we go fishing. Grateful Grandpa caught a fish. Grateful fish come in (the boat)...". The fishing experience obviously made an impact on him.
Throwing "racks" in the water. A favorite of the boys.
Lucy going for a swim off the dock. Not to be unleashed after the last experience.
The boys hoping for a more successful fishing experience sans women, children and dog.
Had fun on these things.
Doe and nursing fawn. There was wildlife all over town. There were four collies with orange vests on whose job it was to herd the deer and mountain goats out of town.
Two young bucks.
Splash pad fun.
Someone's excited.
Laila was nice enough to watch to boys while I went fishing with the guys.
We got really quite close to another deer... perhaps 15 feet away.
Fishing again at Cameron Lake. Cameron Lake is in the very southwest corner of Alberta.
We rowed our canoe all the way across the lake. I wonder if we actually crossed the US border cause on Google Maps, a portion of it is in the US. We had two near fish catches, but other than that, we just saw beautiful scenery.
As we were leaving the parking lot at the lake, we saw a young bear, not sure if it is a grizzly or brown bear. Was glad to be safely in the car without the kids.
He walked right in front of our car!
Pretty nuts to be this close to a wild bear.
Benny Bear on the slide at our "cabin".
View of the Prince of Wales Hotel from the dock.
Prince of Wales Hotel
We ate dinner at the Prince of Wales Hotel. It was built in 1926 during the American Prohibition Era to lure Americans to Canada. Apparently named Prince of Wales to try to get the Prince of Wales to stay there in 1927, but he didn't. Dinner was nothing to talk about, other than the price, but the view was amazing.
The view from atop the Prince of Wales hill. Laila saved the children from sure and sudden death off the cliffside. Benny and I saw a fox down the hill while we were waiting for dinner, but didn't have my camera with.
Lincoln and Matt frolicking in the fields.
Should not have worn my Pepto Pants. NOT a good look.
The pregnant Princess of Whales and family in front of the Prince of Wales Hotel.
The Parentals
Pretty, huh?
Scenic drive up Red Rock Canyon.
Another bear sighting.
Sunday stroll by the lake.
Richard and Laila at the Cardston Temple 38 years after they were married there, and still going strong.
Papa supervising water play in the backyard when we got home.
July 9 - Stampede Breakfast and Splash Pad Downtown
We headed downtown for a free Stampede Breakfast, but it turns out, all they give you is a dry pancake and a single slice of bacon, and there was a LONG line for that so we opted for the Stephan Avenue McDonald's. I'll pay for my pancakes just to have syrup!!
Richard and Cowboy on Stephen Avenue
The atrium again, this time Richard was with us.
The metal horse by the Saltlik (where Matt and I ate for my birthday when Bennett had his seizure in November).
The kids loved the downtown splash pad. Less splashy than some... just their style.
In summary, I think a good time was had by all. When Lincoln woke up this morning, he asked where Grandpa and Grandma were, and I told him they went home on the airplane, he burst into tears. Good thing they'll be back in two months!!
