Calgary 2013

It was a dark and stormy night (when I started writing about these most recent adventures). It was just after 2:30 am and Aslynn had just thrown up for the first time. I say this because I was up at the same time last night with Judah hoping this time he could make it to the toilet in the campground. That and she had been threatening for days that she would. It turned out that I would be washing many a pair of shorts due to the dreaded 'runs'. Sick.

Last year this too was Judah's plight for the first days of vacation. He survived - but it wasn't on the night before a Calaway Park adventure. This time Judah has had bowel issues for a week and only really bad for the past three days. Of course, three days ago he was also up chucking. We were hoping that it wouldn't outlast the vacation. The crazy life continues, as usual.

Vacations. Sometimes I wonder if its worth the stress and preparations and overpacking? We were camping at a campground on the east side of Calgary and had brought everything for our tent. Well, Faith's parents had just purchased a tent trailer and lent it to us over the weekend for a test run. The kids were so excited! I borrowed their pick-up and clutched and shifted my way to the campground. Mom and Dad borrowed our van in the meantime since their car was unreliable. Everything seemed to be working out - minus our sick child. Then Aslynn got ill. Blah.

The place we stayed was the same one we have driven past so many times on our travels in Southern Alberta. It was a good campground - but their mini-golf was not free, so that was unfortunate. I figured we were paying enough as it was without shelling out $5 per person for a run-down course that nobody was using. Anyway, it was nice to be away and camp. Everything we needed was right there, and we were within a quick drive of the city.

Here are a few of the photos from our adventures...

The weather was pretty great most of the time. We came to Prairie Winds Park by our old house twice.

And no, there were no 'accidents' at the pool except for that moment that I lost both Micah's and my water bottles.

Tell me if that isn't a happy face :)

We were able to figure out the awning and played games outdoors and went for walks with Tippy.

Take a close look at Judah's face - that wasn't a sunburn or sunstroke... poor kid!

Aslynn 'measuring up'!

I'm not sure if you remember these photos from a few years back, but this is Judah attempting to be tall enough to ride the rollercoaster. He is now 48" tall (Aslynn is still slightly taller).

This was the before picture of Judah and Mommy on the rollercoaster. This ride goes around twice. Judah only went around once. We SO should have bought the photo. It was a wild memory.

We booked an extra site for Jordan and Diana's family who came to join us for the Stampede. Abby was on the War Amps float in the parade this year, so they had plenty of reason to be there. The day of the parade we were a bit of a spectacle. All of the oriental tourists kept asking to borrow from our big bin of chalk that we generously applied to the street in front of us. We let them. Then they wanted me to take their pictures. So I did. It was pretty spectacular, as usual. And only two days before Family Day on the Stampede grounds that had been flooded this year just before everything went down.

After the parade, we walked the 6 blocks back to the vehicle and drove back to the campsite.