Our summer vacation started this year with cleaning up around the house in hopes that a showing would lead to a sale.
Ethan helped Dann with the recycling...
good thing he had his tighty-whities on or you may have seen a "plumber's crack".
While Dann & Ethan did the recycling Emma decided she wanted her ears pierced.
I made the appointment and she was very brave.
Of course she picked out pink gem studs as her earring choice.
Our first stop was a two day hotel adventure in Calgary. We skipped the Stampede but did go to the zoo.
The Calgary Zoo had a new attraction...
"Dinosaurs Alive"
It was fabulous!!
These creatures were life-sized and they moved & roared (I've posted a video at the end of this post.) For some reason I could not get it to move up the page.
(check it out)
Every year we seem to see & capture something new at the zoo.
The kids love the movie "Madagascar" and were thrilled to see this dude live.
(I like to move it, move it!)
Most of the animals were out enjoying the sun and this hippo was no exception.
Leo gave us a great "Kodak Moment."
All Emma wanted to see was the giraffes.
I loved this photo of the kids nestled in the kangaroo's pouch.
By early afternoon we could see a storm brewing so we started to head for the main gates. It started to down pour as we ran through the parking lot to the van.
I wish we could have gotten a photo of me. I will explain... just as Dann opened the hatch on the van to put the wagon in the back, it started to hail. He ran into the van with the kids and I was trying to collapse the stroller.
Well the damn thing was not folding and the pellets were belting down on me so I threw the stroller into the back (still up right - full size), slammed the hatch down and bolted into the van.
Each hail-stone was the size of a marble and we thought the van would have dents for sure but we all came out unscathed.
We headed for the only covered parking lot we knew...
Chinook Mall!! This meant some shopping was in order!
Ethan is already feeling out what he might like to be when he grows up. He thought he'd give "display model" a try in the front of Old Navy... it was cute.
He's an old pro and fit in nicely.
(notice he is wearing an Old Navy hoody)
The new Lego store was about to open in the mall and the store was promoting some of their amazing art statues.
Ethan had to pose with Woody.
Next Stop...
DRUMHELLER!
We took the kids to the Tyrrell Museum to see all the fabulous dinosaur bones & fossils.
An adult could spend a whole day touring the museum, reading all the history etc, but with two small kids, we hit the highlights, had a picnic and left it at that.
After Dinosaurs Alive at the Zoo, Ethan was a bit disappointed as he thought he was going to see more dinosaurs that appeared to be life-like. Instead he said, "Oh there are only bones here!"
Emma had fun taking lots of photos.
The kids seemed so tiny up next to this massive leg.
I still cannot believe how big some of these creatures were.
I could have posted many more photos but I did not want to bore anyone.
After the museum tour we had a picnic outside by the
"Hoo-Doos"
After lunch we checked out the world's largest dinosaur.
It was massive!!
You could climb up the dinosaur statue into it's mouth for a view of the whole town.
Next on our world-wind tour was Grandma & Papa's house.
We spent a couple days with my parents.
We went down to Indian Battle Park and played.
(took a few family photos too)
Grandma & her grand-babies!
(my dad declined our adventure invite that afternoon,
thus he missed out on the photos)
Emma is so grown-up.
On our way back north we stopped @ the Fort MacLeod Museum. It is really well laid out and really depicts a huge part of our Canadian history.
The museum has it's own mini-musical ride.
Most of the horse riders were around 16-18 years old and they did a really great job.
After the fort we made our way back to Calgary.
We spent an evening with our old neighbours who abandoned us last summer for Cow-Town.
Emma was thrilled to spend some "quality" time with her best buddy, Darby.
The following day we took the kids to Heritage Park.
Emma & Darby were inseparable.
Ethan just had fun chasing after them (much to Emma's dismay).
All the old cars, gas pumps, houses/buildings are awesome at this park.
Dann & Ethan road the old steam engine while I took the girls on a couple rides.
Here are the girls on the swing ride.
I made it black & white because I thought it looked cool with the chains hanging down.
We had to stop for ice cream and cotten candy.
We took a horse & buggy ride around the whole park while the kids finished their candy & treats.
At the end of our Heritage Park Adventure we toured Gasoline Alley.
Ethan & Dann loved the old trucks and I loved this old station wagon. I was ready to trade in my mini-van for this beauty (pink and all).
I would look fabulous driving this little lady around... don't you think?
The kids at the drive-in movies.
There was a mini raceway with tricycles...
Ethan was in his glory!
Ethan even stopped to refuel his ride (this gas tank was under the seat)
By mid-afternoon it was time to leave the park and that brought an end to Darby & Emma's visit.
It was like time stood still for the girls.
I am sure they are already planning their next visit together!
Next stop was my cousin Stacey's place for a barbeque.
Stacey's girls, Ashley & Allison had fun playing with Emma & Ethan. There was a lot of toys for them which gave us time to visit with Auntie Phyllis, Uncle Wayne & Stacey. Perry (Stacey's hubby) was in Vegas, so we missed him.
Leave it to my Auntie Phyllis to know what the kids like.
She brought bubbles & blowers...
and everyone had a ball.
After 8 days on the road the kids finally got the hang of sharing the same bed without fighting...
Just in time to sleep in their own beds at home...
LOL!
Mom met us in Edmonton for a visit.
We all hung out at the hotel pool, had dinner & ice cream for dessert.
That brings us to the end.
Make sure you check out the Dinosaurs Alive video.
Cheers!!
