by Heather Plett | Aug 13, 2005 | Uncategorized
Yup, it was a good day. A very good day. We headed to Banff with Mom and her hubby. On the way, it rained a bit and threatened to be a miserable day, but when we got to the mountains, the sun broke through the clouds and stuck around until we left. It was a little cool, but the perfect day for wandering around.
Here are some of the highlights…
– a picnic lunch of ham sandwiches and Mom’s potato salad (oh, and the cheetos and pepsi we “stole” from bbb and h8s2cln. Oops – I guess I just confessed! Thanks for that- we owe you one.)
– hiking in Johnson canyon, climbing on the rocks, going through the tunnel to see the waterfall, watching the kids get close to the very friendly ground squirrels
– swimming (or more like lounging lazily) in the Sulpher Hot Springs
– shopping with the girls – candy store for Julie & Maddie, and, of course, clothing store for Nikki
– finding the most AWESOME gift for a certain baby who will arrive in October (nope, can’t tell you what it is, ’cause the parents of said baby read this blog! nya-nya!)
– supper at Athena Pizza. No, not amazing food, but it was easy, reasonably priced, and close to where our vehicle was parked.
– wandering around Bow Falls
– showing everyone where I spent a summer as a chambermaid (worst job in the WORLD – do you KNOW how bad I am at cleaning?) at Douglas Fir Resort
– just having a comfortable day with Mom and her hubby, no tensions, easy conversation, and pleasant moods
– watching the sun set over the mountains as we drove back to Calgary. It was rather breathtaking, with grey clouds moving in over bright sparks of orange sun. Perfect end to a great day.
This morning, the kids are at the wrap-up/family day for vbs. Marcel, bbb, and Mom are there with them. h8s2cln is muttering about patterns and fabric as she begins to sew her kids “first day of school”outfits. I’m doing “end of vacation” laundry. All is right with the world.
Tomorrow we leave for home. It’s been a happy vacation. We are refreshed.
by Heather Plett | Aug 11, 2005 | Uncategorized
I don’t mind admitting when I’m wrong, especially when being wrong brings about a better set of circumstances than being right.
At the moment, Mom is in h8s2cln’s kitchen with her hands in the bun dough, and Maddie is next to her “helping” her make buns. There are very happy sounds coming out of the kitchen. Grandma’s explaining her every move and Maddie’s hoping to add water to the dough. Maddie to Grandpa Paul “I’m gonna make my OWN bun and then I’ll make YOU one.”
It’s all good – REAL good! Yesterday, despite my dire predictions, Mom and her hubby showed up with their camper. They’re hanging out here with us, and we’re going to the mountains tomorrow! AND it’s nice and sunny out despite the weatherman’s prediction for more rain. Yay! The vacation is back on track, with just a few minor modifications.
Whew!
by Heather Plett | Aug 10, 2005 | Uncategorized
We were supposed to go to the mountains today to camp with my Mom and her husband, but it’s rainy, miserable weather, so the camping trip’s been cancelled. I’m feeling all conflicted today. I don’t mind staying longer with h8s2cln and bbb, but I’m sorry we won’t get to hang out with Mom, and I REALLY don’t want to leave Alberta without seeing the mountains. The girls will be happy they don’t have to miss vbs, though.
Mom wants us to come visit them at her husband’s place – the place he’s supposed to be selling so that he can move to Manitoba with Mom – but I know we won’t easily be able to drag the kids away from here, so I tried to get her to come here instead. Don’t think they will though. She sounded so sad on the phone.
Life is complicated sometimes. As much as I want to see Mom, I also want to make my kids happy, and staying here with their cousins is what they want. So I’m torn.
I know this is not much of a blog, but I felt like writing it anyway. The stuff that I won’t write much about though, is the stuff that’s bubbling beneath the surface – the stuff that gets so complicated when your Mom marries again.
by Heather Plett | Aug 10, 2005 | Uncategorized
I just have a few minutes on a computer before I go out for a movie or coffee with h8s2cln. Thought I’d drop by to give a short trip report – it’s been great so far! It started off a little rough – everyone was fighting the morning we left, and the pessimistic side of my brain thought “oh great! We’ll be snarking at each other all the way to Alberta!” And then Maddie threw up on the carpet when I was trying to pack. Yeah, a great morning all in all! But once we got on the road, everyone relaxed, and before long we were having lots of fun. Here are a few brief highlights…
1. Stopping in Souris, wandering across a long suspension bridge – I think it’s either the longest in Manitoba or in Canada. After that, we picniced in the park and the kids played in the playground.
2. When we got to Weyburn, we found out there were fireworks that night across from the hotel. We scouted out a great spot and watched the show.
3. My presentation at the Wheat Fest ecumenical service went really well. I quite enjoy public speaking. It was just a short presentation, and too close to the end of a long service (the crowd was getting a bit restless), but it was fun none-the-less.
4. Another picnic in a road-side park somewhere in Saskatchewan. Maddie peed in the bush and then spent most of the time dancing around in the grass with a naked butt. Oh the joy of being three.
5. We spent a night at our friends Julie and Bruce’s near Brooks, Alberta. Julie is my oldest friend – well, not the OLDEST, but she’s been my friend since I was about a year old – longer than anyone. We spent a good part of Monday hanging out with them at Dinosaur Park, wandering around the canyon which is like a smaller version of the grand canyon. Hiking, checking out the archaeology exhibits (dinosaur bones), ice cream, playground – what a great day! Their three boys are very close to the ages of our three girls. Maddie developed a huge crush on 9 year old Kyle. Last night, when I tucked her in bed she said “I liked the older boy. I think I have a crush on him.” And then she giggled. 🙂
6. I think there are only one or two people who’d stay up late with me and get all obsessive about sewing costumes for the kids. Thanks h8s2cln – it was a hoot! Our kids and their cousins were going to a day camp/vbs Tuesday morning, and the theme was 50s, so guess who decided to sew 4 circle skirts! And because sewing ONLY skirts would not be nearly enough for our obsessive costume-making brains, we sewed appliques to t-shirts (5, since B got one too), and made matching bandanas. Look for pictures on a blog near you. Tomorrow they’re clowns, but thankfully h8s2cln already has enough of those costumes. If I’m up until 1:00 tonight, I DON’T want it to be because I’m sewing!
7. Since all 5 kids went to vbs, and h8s2cln and bbb were at work, Marcel and I had a morning alone to finally celebrate our anniversary. Breakfast at Ricky’s and then a few hours alone in the house. One word – JACUZZI! And no, you DON’T need any more details than THAT! Let’s just say, 12 years and we’ve STILL GOT IT, BABY!
8. Oh, and one other thing I forgot to mention – the girls were great in the car! We weren’t sure how it would go, since this was the first road trip with the car, and hence less room than the van. But they really impressed us with their patience. Don’t ask me why, but their favourite game was playing ping-pong with Maddie’s head. The strangest thing is it was MADDIE’s favourite too!
9. Oh, and miles and miles of prairies. A particularly beautiful view given the amount of moisture that’s fallen this year, and the fact that many crops are ready for harvest. Breathtaking. Especially the sunflowers stretching toward the sun.
More to come – the mountains tomorrow, camping with Mom and her hubby. See ya!
by Heather Plett | Aug 6, 2005 | Uncategorized
Well, after whining about everyone going on trips except me, it’s finally our turn to pack up the car and head off on the road. I LOVE road trips. I like miles and miles of prairie. I like picnics at the little road-side picnic areas. I hope the girls are little troupers and don’t get too bored in the back of the car, ’cause I DON’T love the sound of fighting children.
Our first stop is Weyburn, Saskatchewan. I’ll be making a presentation there tomorrow morning at an ecumenical service for their Wheat Fest. From there we’re heading to Alberta to visit family and hopefully some friends. There’s a good chance we’ll also end up camping in the mountains. Yay!
I may or may not be on a computer at some point, but in the meantime, if you’re bored and looking for more distractions to help you kill time while you should be doing something else (eg. laundry, work, packing, washing the floor – you know what I mean), feel free to read some of my favourite posts – most of them are from the days when the only person reading this blog was my sister…
The God of my Understanding
Truth
100 things about me
Savour
It’s good to know
And if you’re REALLY bored, I put my whole journal from my trip to Africa online – it starts around February 8.
Bye for now!
Yup, it was a good day. A very good day. We headed to Banff with Mom and her hubby. On the way, it rained a bit and threatened to be a miserable day, but when we got to the mountains, the sun broke through the clouds and stuck around until we left. It was a little cool, but the perfect day for wandering around.