Wilson, Attena and I drove around helping Grandpa with a few things our first night there. (Really Tena and I were taking pictures while Grandpa worked.)
Ha, I like this one because I'm trying to make it across the dirt piles in the back.
These next few pictures totally sum up our Wilson. He is such a happy boy and is always laughing at himself.
Tena and Wilson on the hay bales.
I love everything about this picture. And I wish I had my mom's camera all the time. :)
Love this place + my favorite Alberta Sky
Mmm, Grandma's Raspberry patch was full of berries which we picked and then she made us delicious jam and is sending it to us. Yippee!
Of course we had to swim at the weir. I grew up with this as my swimming hole. So many good memories of a hot days work at the farm and then all the cousins would come jump in the weir to cool off. I think Charlotte and I picked up the majority of our summer tan right here too.
And, yes - it's probably illegal, but old habits die hard.
Pretty cute it you ask me!
Mark
Attena
Adam.
I think Attena wins with form, and Adam wins with creativity. Sorry Mark
We also had to help Grandpa move the cows. I've spent a lot of time in these alleys moving cows around. It felt good to be back. :)
I was trying to get her to holler, "Whoa, Hey, Psshhhht." Cuz that's what you do.
The walk back to Grandma's house.
And the cousins arrive from Vancouver! It had been a whole year since we'd seen them and we were so excited!
Attena, Johnny, and Adam are the best Aunty and Uncles ever!
Camden and Wilson just knew they were supposed to be best buds. They were so cute together.
Uncle Todd the pack horse.
Grandpa brought up Joe for the grandkids to ride.
They thought that was pretty special.
Some random pictures of Wilson making faces that I love.
Wilson and Camden teasing Vlad, the kitty, mercilessly.
We had a competative game of water kickball.
I think that's Johnny trying to slide home and Todd....trying to get him out?
Mark playing with the grandkids
One hot Grandma!
One of the days we headed up to Kimball river. Grandma, Jacob, Liam, and Zina are trying to make it across.
Sunbathing on the rocks?
Praying for the courage to dive into chilly water on a chilly day. (he did)
Wilson getting snuggles from Grandma
Pose 1
Pose 2
Pose 3.
I think Attena wins. :)
Wilson and Camden playing ball.
Tired.
We found a little playground that was old because it had teeter totters. Has anyone noticed that they don't put teeter totters in playgrounds anymore? Maybe they were to dangerous. Either way these boys sure had fun.
Of course the boys got in a little soccer.
The Birthday Boy!
We had Wilson's 2nd Birthday at the Magrath Stake Campground with bubbles, watersliding, campfire, volleyball, Great Grandparents, Mudcakes, and more.
All the kids warming up with Great Grandma after watersliding. You can tell it wasn't the warmest day for getting wet, but boy was it fun!
In case you haven't noticed, Zina has BIG muscles!
Train!
It was funny and yet painful at the same time.
Amazing how much speed you could actually pick up on this thing.
Don't mess with me.
Singing happy birthday to Wilson.
That is one tired two year old. He didn't even eat his mud cake with worms.
More bubbles.
Camden and Wilson being silly's.
Jumping with the cousins was definatly a highlight of the week.
Jacob
Liam
Quad rides.
Then we helped Grandpa move the cow/calf herd up to the dry land strips. Wilson and I got to drive Grandpa's truck and make sure the cows didn't get into Uncle Doug's cornfield. Zina and Mark stood along the canal to make sure they didn't head that way. After I asked Zina what she thought about moving the cows. She said, "Well," (with her nose scrunched all up) "it was just a little bit boring." Ha, I thought that was funny. I loved being outside and moving the cows. It always makes me sentimental about my prairies, farm and how there was a time when I really wanted to take over the feedlot someday.... :)
The cows up on the range - they were happy for the food.
My favorite things about Alberta. Wide open spaces and a BIG blue sky. There is just so much space around that one little boy.
Showing off their tough "cow poke" muscles. I like Zina's pose in this one. :)
Home Sweet Home
After moving the cows we piled in and headed up to Waterton. If you ever go to Alberta, you must go here. We had our picnic lunch by the Waterton lake and then hiked up to Lower Rowe It was a perfect day for hiking and it was a good thing there were so many adults because we did a lot of packing of 2 little kids.
Searching for cool rocks for Zina's rock collection.
I remember doing this exact thing in this exact spot when I was little.
Uncle Adam got a wet shoe.
Cheese!
The view always takes my breath away no matter how many times I've been there.
Lower Rowe Lake
They thought Grandpa tasted good.
Attena and Zina called this the "bum tree"
Make shift sling? Didn't really work. We needed our backpack that was in the garage in Phoenix!!
I think Tena got tired.
Trying to make mean or mad or yucky faces? I think this was after some stinky horses passed us.
The easy life - for some!
A view of British Columbia, Alberta, and the U.S!
Even though we were so tired after our hike we had promised Zina we would go swimming at the new pool so we picked up some delicious ice cream from the Glenwood Cheese Museum and then cruised back home for a 1/2 hour of frigid swimming! We ate dinner at 9pm and woke up the next morning and flew home. Phew. Thanks for the great vacation everyone. We love you and miss you! How about Christmas in Arizona.....
