Canada Trip

The picture above sums up our trip to Canada and that was being able to spend time with Grandma Rawsthorne. What an amazing Great-Grandma and Grandma she is to us. She had us stay at her home while we visited Calgary and the kids loved staying at her home. Her home has to be at least 70 years old but, it's in perfect condition. When you walk in her home it's like stepping back in time but, it's so comfortable and fun to stay at. Grandma is fun to talk to and she is up on the latest from politics to what's the latest on the Bachelorette. We love her so much and are so grateful for the days we got to spend with her in beautiful Calgary.

We brought up the kids scooters and they loved riding them around her street and yard. The kids rode them around Prince's Island Park also and they had a blast.

This is the view of the city of Calgary just down the street from Grandma Rawsthorne's house. This is called the brow (sp?) and people run and walk along here and enjoy the awesome view. Calgary is a big city yet, very clean and nice

The kids feeding the ducks down at Prince's Island Park. There was a huge party going on at the park and the bridge going across the Bow River is packed with people.

These are the stairs that take you down to the park and we definitely got a work out walking back up to the top.

We had a family party at Auntie Barbara's home and it was so much fun to see Mike's cousins and catch up. The last time I had seen a lot of them was at Bear Lake 2 years ago. We had a really good Cafe Rio dinner and then we just talked and hung out. The picture above are all the ladies that are pregnant and the progress of pregnancy. I represent 15 weeks, Kate is 6 months, Nena is 8 months, and sweet Laura is over due. She ended up having a baby boy the last day we were in Calgary!

A group hanging out at the park across the street from Barbara's. Our kids loved playing with the Canada Cousins and they played Soccer and had a water balloon fight. Auntie Barb ( or Auntie Barber to Jason) was so nice and took us all over Calgary and helped us find fun places to find Canada gear.

They had a pinata for the kids and even Grandma Rawsthrone got in on the fun.

All the cousins waiting for their turn to swing.

Anne taking her turn.

Jason, posing of course, in the famous Auntie Barbara tree. Everyone had to strike a pose in front of that tree.

Laura, Auntie Marilyn, Dave, and Grandma Rawthrone. Is it just me or is there something fuzzy around Grandma?

Thelma Sophia Rawsthrone at 94 years old. Isn't she pretty?

On Monday we headed over to Banff which is in the Canadian Rockies. I have never seen anything more beautiful than Banff. The mountains are so big and the rivers and scenery are breath taking. Here are the kids hanging out in Banff.

Bow River Falls was so much fun to see and we hiked up a little trail along the river. This river runs all the way into Calgary.

The famous Banff Springs Hotel behind Mike and the kids. It looks just like a castle and Eliza was wondering if Cinderella was inside!

About 45 min higher is Lake Louise but, worth every minute to get there. This is such a beautiful lake and when the sun shines on it it's a bright blue. This the prettiest mountain lake I have ever seen.

The glacier above the lake.

Another view of Lake Louise with the pretty mountains behind it. Our pictures really do this place no justice. It is breath taking!

We spent a evening at Auntie Care's house and, as much as we love the Thomas family, I think their animals stole our kids hearts. Eliza loved the cat Tom! She would chase it around the house and grab his face and love him. She is so happy in this picture holding Tom.

They have two huge dogs Lincoln and Barkley and they are the biggest dogs I have ever seen. They are the sweetest most gentle dogs and the kids loved them. The pic above is Lincoln.

These pictures do not show how big these dogs are but, Eliza would call them bears. She thinks that bears just roam around their home. Jason loved how Auntie Care would shake a whipping cream bottle and spray whipping cream in their mouths. We had a fun evening and one our kids have not forgotten about.

One afternoon we went to an indoor wave pool. This place was so much fun and they had a fun play area with slides and little pools for the kids. Jason loved the wave pool but, the girls did not like it as much.

We went and saw Grandpa Rawsthrone grave. It was raining pretty hard that day so we stayed just a while but, Mike's Grandpa was a Canadian Montie and he is buried in a special place just for them. It is a real honor to be buried in this area of the cemetery.

We had to get a picture of the famous "nook". This is where we would eat breakfast and dinner and I have heard stories about the "nook" for years.

We had such a great trip and we are glad you finally made it up to Canada. It had been about 8 years since Mike had been back to Canada and so much has changed around Grandma R. home. Her house, though, has stayed the same through all the years and it brings some comfort to Mike. He had good memories as a kid seeing his Grand-parents in Canada and It was fun for him to give his kids the same memories.