We had a fabulous month of July in Canada. It was so good to hang out with cousins and do things that we only do in the north country. We always have a list of activities (Writing on Stone, Waterton, climbing wall, etc. but just as important, and maybe even more so, is our list of food. Chinese, KFC, slurpees and chocolate bars top the list as all are better in Canada. It was nice to be there for the whole month as we didn't feel so rushed and we could just enjoy our time there.
Here are some of the girl cousins after I took them all to get their toes painted.
We went to a farm to pick strawberries. They were small but sweet. After we picked them we went back to grandma's and dipped some in chocolate.
One of the Canadian traditions is to have a family talent show organized and put on by the children. Because we were there for a month, we had two talent shows this time. The highlight of the show is always grandpa whether he sings, whistles, plays the harmonica or leads us all in the Hawaiian war chant with his ukulele.
Here Emma is playing a duet with Binny for the talent show. We had a range of talent including dancing, singing, playing the piano, magic shows, juggling, jumping on one foot, plays and art work.
The university of Lethbridge has a climbing wall and Matthew and Joshua took a course to be belayers so that we could go climbing. This is the first of two times we went to the wall.
Auntie Sammy took Ellie and Emma camping for a couple of days and to a wonderful firework show called Thunder in the Valley. They had a fabulous time. Thanks Sammy.
Because we were in Canada for the whole month we put the big girls in some lessons to keep them busy. They took tennis and golf lessons and had a great time.
Writing on Stone is Ellie's favorite place on earth. It has Hoodoos which are rock formations that have been carved by the wind. You are allowed to climb all over them and explore.
We spent some time with the Lamberts in Vulcan. The every tinkering Grandpa made this rickshaw for the kiddies.
We went to a train museum in Nanton where we rode on a little train and looked at the model train village.
Grandma snuggling with the grandbabies in the morning
Brookie has been asking for months to ride a real horse so on our way up to Waterton we stopped and rode some. She was all smiles from the beginning and we could not get her off.
In Waterton we hiked bear's hump. All the kids did great. Even the three year olds.
This is the view of the lake and the town from the top of Bear's hump.
The morning we left Canada Kyle, Ellie, Emma and I participated in the Milk River Bonanza Days 5k run. Kyle got second and I got third. Ellie and Emma did great. I was so proud of how hard they worked.
Before we went to the church we presented her with a few gifts: scriptures and case from Gr and Gr Sherwood, baptism bracelet from aunt Binny, necklace and baptism book from Gr and Gr Lambert and jewelry box and baptism necklace from mom and dad.
None of the Sherwood side was able to come but they sent us some videos of them singing songs. One was from the cousins and one was from Grandpa.
We had a ward baptism so there were two other children from Emma's baptism class getting baptized at the same time; Anna and Caeden.
Grandma and Grandpa Lambert were able to come be with us for this special day which was wonderful. Because we didn't have much family there we didn't have a big dinner afterwards. Instead we went to Chili's. Emma was just as happy with her cheese quesadilla and chocolate molten lava cake and mom didn't have any dishes to do.
