Graduation

We got home from Canada on the 7th of July. My parents stayed Sunday and drove back on Monday. That next week was spent slowly packing things for the drive down to Douglas for Jason's graduation from the police academy. We left Thursday morning at 9am. I had a few errands to run before so it was good we left early. 10 was my goal and I made it. I had to stop in Cody and Thermopolis to feed Megan, but other than that it was a straight shot to Douglas with a couple pee breaks. I had a bag packed with activities from our Canada trip, so that came again. It was a good thing I had it since the dvd player decided to be difficult. So no movies for Katelyn. She didn't really miss it either. The ride was pretty quiet most of the way with the occasional fussing from Megan. We made it in 6 hrs.

Jason got us a pretty nice hotel room for cheaper than what it was, thanks to his gov't discount :)

We picked him up from the school and drove back to Casper for supper to meet his parents, sister and friends, John and Theresa, who all drove down. We went back for some pool time with Katelyn.

It was nice once it cleared out and we had the place to ourselves. Megan could sleep on the lounge chair while we all jumped in the water. Katelyn is a very brave girl and thought she could swim by herself. She found out that she couldn't and needed some help from mom or dad.

Friday morning was a wave of busyness. Brought breakfast up from downstairs while we got ready and waited for my in-laws to come to watch Katelyn for a while. Jason and I went to a presentation they were giving for families. I had to rush back and get Katelyn to go back for the graduation while Jason had a last minute meeting. Graduation was good and the girls, more importantly were quiet and well behaved. Jason was awarded the Top Shot for his class. He shot the best during firearms week. We got a tour of the facilities after and left to get to Casper for a late lunch with all our friends. Jason had to take the city car they drove down every weekend, back to Powell. So his sister hoped in with him and helped keep him awake while I drove back with the girls. We made it back Saturday around 9 pm. It would have been nice not to have to rush back but to have taken our time and stayed another night. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. So Jason is back on the job and the stresses of the first year are now behind us. I survived the 3 months he was gone and am so glad that we don't have to do that again.

The Budding Photographer

Katelyn took these on our way to Canada

Breakfast through the eyes of a 3 yr old

Canada Week 3

July 1st was Canada Day. Canada day celebrates the signing (July 1st, 1867) of the British North American Act which united 3 colonies into a single new country called Canada. We went to my parents church that morning. Since it was a long weekend, there were a lot of people missing, but still some familiar faces I had not seen in a long time. The pastor gave all the kids little Canadian flags. For supper we planned a wiener roast again. Even though it was extremely hot and humid, we had a wiener roast.

We love having fires. My little pyro girl!

Even though there really were no mosquitoes (which was extremely rare for Manitoba) we still kept Megan under the net as long as she was happy

We completed the meal with homemade fudgesicles. We did not even crack out the "knock zote" (pronouced k-nock) aka: mennonite marijuana aka: Sunflower Seeds! It is a staple food for around the fire

Even mommy found one of her favorites!

Ketchup Chips! Sweet and tangy goodness! One of my take home staples to be conserved as long as possible.

We had some more rain on monday with a good thunderstorm in the afternoon. Since Nana and Papa live in the country, going outside in our pajamas and boots is acceptable.

Katelyn spent some alone time with Grandma when I ran to town or went to Winnipeg with a friend.

Megan spent a lot of time on this blanket

We spent some time during the week revisiting the sprinkler park one last time, going to Great Grandpa's again to play with Sephira and making a last run to the store for treats to take home and for the long drive back.

Katelyn made a tent and Grandpa joined her under there. It was quite comical to see a blanket and hear them singing the ABC's.Auntie had to get under there too.

Canada Week 2

We stayed busy the last week in June. We had my grandpa Peters (my mom's dad) over for a steak barbecue on the 22nd.

MMMM! Beef, it's what's for dinner! He got to meet his 4th great grandchild.These are my sisters: Janesa on the left and Gina on the right.

Four generations on my mom's side.

Sunday, the 24th, we had kind of a late Father's day wiener roast with my mom's side of the family. She has two sisters and their kids and grandkids came down to my parents.This is my cousin's daughter, Sephira. She and Katelyn are 3 months apart and play really well with each other. This was their second meeting and they remembered each other. It helps when both parties are helping the kids remember by showing them pictures. This is my other cousin's son, Brody. Brody and Sephira are 1st cousins. My girls and these two are 2nd cousins. Walking back down the drivewayafter checking out the cows.

My Grandpa surrounded by all of his girls and one Great grandson. I only have 3 cousins on this side and all of them being girls. Girls run pretty thick in this family. My grandma has 3 girls, my mom and auntie Marilyn each had 3 girls. Now Candace (sitting) had Sephira, I had Katelyn. Stephanie snuck Brody in there and then I had Megan. These are the cousins that my girls will know, because there doesn't seem to be any cousins coming on either side of mine or Jason's family anytime soon.

Monday, my friends Lisa and Sarah met us at the Plum Coulee Beach. It's a man made little beach in town and yes, Plum Coulee is the name. I went to elementary school here. Which was kind of ironic we were there, because when we were packing up to leave. the whole elementary school came out to the little lake to watch the 8th graders row their cardboard box boats across it. It was quite comical to watch and nostalgic because we saw 3 teachers we all had when we were in elementary school.

The kids had fun and got some sun. Gina was nice enough to come with us and help me with Megan or taking Katelyn in the water too. I did venture into the chilly water as well, so I wasn't a total beach bum.

Me, Sarah, and Lisa. Our kids, Orrin(2), Katelyn(3), Claire (3 1/2) and Gracie (4). The girls are all little mini me's of their mothers.

My parents have an expansive lawn to mow and they mowed it a few times while we were there. My dad cleaned up what was mowed by raking it to the cows and his little shadow was right beside him helping.

And after some hard work in the sun, a bath and a Dairy Queen Dilly bar were in order. I was shocked to seeshe ate the WHOLE thing!

We spent the afternoon with some new friends in Thornhill. I had not seen my friend Renee Kreiser in a few years, so it was high time we caught up. Her girls and Katelyn got along quite well once everyone warmed up to each other.

The 28th was my 31st birthday and the first time in a long time that I got to celebrate with friends. I met a lot of my girlfriends from elementary and high school for supper. Some of these friends I've known since kindergarten and others since high school. They have gotten together once a month since we graduated. That's 13 yrs ago! Sadly, I didn't take any pictures of us, but someone did. After dinner, we went to Sarah's house for dessert and talked till 11:30pm! And it's a mommy only night, but I did have to take Megan. It was great to see a lot of them again.

The 29th, we went out for breakfast with my family before Gina flew back to Edmonton. I met Sarah, Nettie, Theresa and Charmaine at the Splash park in Morden after breakfast. It took Katelyn a while to get used to the sprinklers but she did eventually get a little bit wet. I love these parks because they are safer than the pool and easier for me with an infant and a preschooler. Sarah was champ and took Gracie and Katelyn through the rainbow since they didn't really want to go in by themselves.

Out of 5 mamas, we had 11 kids there! When we weren't getting wet, we were swinging and climbing on the playground.