Story Time!

Caleb and I are at the library in my parents town right now. They are having a story & craft hour for the kids so I am taking advantage to grab a little computer time. We just got back from a McDonalds lunch with Nana and Papa Jack. We left both Papa Jack and Elton taking naps!! Elton conned Nana into getting him the new Baby Einstein movie which he took with him for his nap.

We had some thunder showers last night and it really has seemed to help today with the wicked humidity they have going on up here. Yesterday I made a wonderful sushi meal and egg flower soup at my parents' house. My grandma (who will be turning 90 in November) came over for dinner. She was a good sport and tried the sushi, but I don't think it was her thing. She was really polite about it and said she liked it, but she ate very little. I also got to enjoy a massage from my cousin Barb yesterday who has her own massage business out of her home. Last evening Papa Jack took Elton tractor riding while my mom and I took Caleb to the new community pool that has water slides. The weather was clouding over and windy, but we managed to get 90 minutes before the weather hit. Caleb loved it even though he kept his eyes closed on the "Twister" slide, but we must have gone on it at least 20 times. I think we will try to make it back one more time before we leave.

On Monday my friend Karmen and I took the boys down to our friend Karen's in Devil's Lake, North Dakota. We had a little difficulty with US Customs because I was a US citizen trying to drive a Canadian vehicle. They check out everything and finally even called the Canadian Customs officer over. Fortunately he knew Karmen and she told him there would be no more soft icecream from Siggi's (there business). We had to promise Karmen was travelling back with me and that we would be coming back through the same port of entry. Karen's son Sean is sick with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and there is a link to his Caringbridge page on the right side of this blog. He is doing really well, but has a minimum of just over 2 more years of chemo left. She also has twins:Erin and Blair who just turned 4 in the spring. The kids had a great time playing and us girls had a great time catching up with each other. We also got to check out Karen's jewelery she is selling now: Lia Sophia.

On Tuesday, my friend Krista and I (we have known each other since grade one), were able to have a girls day. We took a leisurely drive into Winnipeg, had lunch, and then spent a few hours shopping.

Tonight I think Papa Jack is going to take us down to Siggi's for some of the forementioned soft icecream!! I may be able to make another update on Saturday. Bye for now!

We Made It!

The boys and I made it to my parent's place about 1:30 am on Thursday night (Friday morning). Our flights went well and my boys are wonderful little travelers!! Elton was up by 4:30am on Thursday and I had to tell him to go back to bed - he did until 6:30am!! When we went through our securty checkpoint I set the machine off so the boys had to wait on the other side while I went back through. Elton figured he would help airport security out (or me?) and got up to the control panel on the x-ray machine and started pushing buttons which set an alarm off. Then as we were getting ready to take-off and he heard the plane make a sound he went "Uh Oh!". The next time the plane did it he went "Oh No!". Luckily the other passengers found it humorous too! When we were in the air he said "Wee!". As we were getting off a passenger said that the kids were so good that this must have just been like a boring carnival ride to them.

When we got into Winnipeg airport, Caleb quickly stepped up to the role of my helper by taking Elton in the stroller so I could get luggage and car seats to go through customs. We had our passports and daddy's permission letter for me to go to another country with the boys and all went smoothly. Nana and Papa Jack were right there waiting for us and I don't think Caleb stopped talking for at least 90 minutes about everything he had to tell them.

Last night I went to the "Passion Play" in the valley with my brother and a friend. I took pictures and will post later. The boys were anxious for tractor rides with Papa Jack, so this morning they loaded up in the big Case tractor and were gone for an hour. Elton is napping now and Caleb is with Papa Jack riding the Kubota tractor. I just got done making crab pasta salad, and homemade salsa 7 quacamole as we are having a BBQ at my parents tomorrow for friends and family. The next day I will be able to come into the library may be next Thursday.

Closing The Generation Gap

Yesterday Dan mentioned he thought he might go to the new "Transformers" movie as he was into transformers when he was a kid. I suggested that maybe Caleb would have fun going with him, so off they went. Both enjoyed themselves thoroughly and while I was teaching class last night, they had to venture out and find a transformer for Caleb (uhm or is that daddy?). I have posted in the last couple of months how Dan saved his lego and how much Caleb is into that now too. It was a great way for them to spend the afternoon yesterday as the boys and I are getting ready to head to my parents tomorrow for 12 days. Caleb is planning on taking his transformer with him and this should keep him occupied. I tried "transforming" it this morning and haven't got the slightest clue how to do it right.

Summer Camp!

On the weekend, Dan set up the boys little tent in their room and told them they could sleep in it if they wanted to. The first night Elton went back to his bed, but Caleb spent the night in the tent and thought it was the coolest thing. The next day Elton took his nap in it and they have been sleeping in it together the last couple of nights. It is so cute!!

Water Fun!

The heat here over the past week has been high 90's to low 100's on any given day. Thus, on Friday, Dan and the boys went shopping and came home with a pool and slip 'n slide. Caleb had actually been wanting one since his water day at school.

On the weekend I took yogurt and fresh sliced strawberries and put them in our ice cream maker (a tip from a friend at Weight Watchers). The boys love it and the "pink" ice cream has become a favorite that Caleb thinks I should make every day. We may try blueberries next. How simple (and healthy) is that?

Our 4th Of July!!

So today was my first 4th of July as an American citizen! Dan had to work, so the boys and I spent the day on our own. We started out by going to a parade where they boys managed to score some candy. We were pretty hot by the time the parade was over, so we took grandma up on her offer and stopped by her place for a dip in the pool. We then came home for naps in which I had told the boys if they took good naps they could stay up for the fireworks tonight.

Dan got home from work about 45 minutes early which was night. After dinner we enjoyed a cappucino and then got ready for fireworks. We enjoyed some sparklers and small fireworks in our back yard before venturing out for the "big" ones. We took our blankets and headed out to the local college campus to find our spot. The fireworks were great and the boys were very tired by the end.

Thank's Kate!

When we were in Edmonton, my friend Kate taught us the right way to make espresso and cappucino's. She even made the kids "choclate coffee" (steamed, frothy, choclate milk with whip cream)! The morning we were getting ready to leave, Caleb asked me "Mommy, can you make us choclate coffee when we get home?". With our new barista info in hand we decided to get an espresso machine when we got home to complete "Shelley's cafe".

Then we took a day trip with the kids up to Sun Valley for the day, where I found the antique dutch coffee grinder at a second hand store "The Gold Mine" where I got a steal of a deal! It was also up here that we found our cappucino cups. On the way home we took the boys to the ice caves. There weren't any pictures from the day so that is why I am mentioning it here.

After practicing our barista skills for the past week, we had our first guests tonight! Dan's parents came over for cappuccino's. Dan's mom brought her decaf beans with her so we decided to try out the antique grinder and it worked perfectly. We had a great evening sitting in the gazebo in our back yard with the adults enjoying cappuccino's and the boys with their "choclate coffees". Elton was so cute sitting up at the table with his cappucino cup. You could tell he felt special and so mature (for a 2 1/2 yr old that is)!

Negligent!

Yes, perhaps I have been a little negligent in keeping up with my posts on here lately, but this picture (taken by my friend Krista in Red Deer) is why. Our family has been busy having a fun summer hanging out together having the most fun we have had to date!! That means my posts may be late, but gradually we will catch up and share our fun with you!

Fort Edmonton Park and Street Car

As we were driving into Edmonton on our trip, we pulled off at the visitors center for a map. While I was in there I asked if they had anything to do with trains since the boys love trains so much. This is how we found the streetcar with real conductor at the top of this post. You can not believe how in awe Caleb was when he met the conductor and then when he got to have a real train ticket punched for the ride just like on "The Polar Express" (and yes I saved the tickets for scrapbooking!).

We then went to Fort Edmonton Park where we got to ride a real steam locomotive and walk around the park that was set up authentic early 1900's. Their was a log fort, and streets with restored builldings from the 1915's and 1920's. It was here that we saw a dramatic transition in Elton from a little boy who kind of liked trains from seeing Caleb's interest to a little boy fascinated by the realness of it all. It was so cute to here him toot tooting away on the train and extremely upset to get off. The cheapest and best purchase on the trip was here where they had old train magazines for sale for 5/$1.00. Both boys have studied these intently and continue to go back to them. Although the day was dreary, cool, and drizzly, it didn't slow us down at all!