Cal and I had a great time in Canmore and Banff! We dropped the kids off at my parents house Friday afternoon and headed South. Our GPS was stolen out of our truck a few weeks ago, so we stopped at Costco in Red Deer to buy a new one. The drive was nice, we didn't go through Calgary, but around Calgary and by Cochrane, which provided some nice mountain and lake scenery!! We enjoyed our time, walking around Canmore and Banff, taking a ride up the Banff Gondola, renting a movie, going to a movie in the movie theatre and taking a drive through Kananaskis. On the way home we stopped at the Cross Iron Mills Mall for lunch and a little shopping. The weather was gorgeous and we got some much needed R&R! A huge thanks to my Mom and Dad for babysitting - I think they were a wee bit tired on Sunday afternoon when they dropped the kids off, understandably so! But they all had a fun weekend, playing in the backyard pool, visiting numerous parks and friends and farmers markets and having fun!!
This week seems to have passed slowly for some reason?! Maybe it's the heat wearing us down ... we're not hot weather people!! Pregnant or not, I really don't enjoy temps above 25!!! And of course neither does my fair-haired, fair-skinned hubby and it seems Blake is taking after his parents too! We are definitely getting AC in our next house!! I feel like a farmer, always complaining about the weather ... too hot ... too cold ... too rainy ... too dry!!! LOL!!!!
I worked Monday, Cal was home with the kids. They packed a picnic lunch and went to the park. The kids always love playing at the park and a picnic lunch makes it extra fun!! After working these past 2 casual shifts I can tell you that I do not miss working outside of the home!!! I much prefer being home with my kids! And I can also tell you that (in my opinion!) while working outside of the home is difficult, due to organising good, quality childcare, feeling like you're never home, etc, I feel that staying home with your kids is more "difficult", but in a different way of course!! Regardless, the only thing I miss about working outside of the home is the pay cheque!!! I still have my much needed adult time with Cal in the evenings, Blake and Em are in bed so early we have tons of time together, and I usually get out with friends or family 1 or 2 evenings a week. So far so good ... although I'm beginning to wonder how I'll handle 3!? 2 is a lot of work ...
Tuesday morning the kids and I went to the zoo. We had such a great time. Last time we were at the zoo, Emerson wasn't walking, but this time she was running around right along side Blake! We all had a blast, seeing the animals, riding the train and having lunch! I think we'll look into an annual pass next year. I find it's a great place to visit and it's nice because it's not too far from home and we're able to get there and get back in time for Em's afternoon nap!
Wednesday we stuck close to home and Thursday morning we attended Sing, Sign, Laugh and Learn at the Woodcroft library with our friends Christa and Berlyn. The kids were quiet for the first half and then turned it up a notch!! lol! Blake was super hyper and dancing around and singing, I had to remind him to watch out for the little ones! Em was also having fun clapping and dancing! I love these library programs! There are 2 left in this session and then I believe another begins in September. Thursday afternoon I took the kids to a new park/spray park. They had a blast and Blake really loved the spray park!!! And we were all excited to see Cal show up with ice cream ;)
Thursday night, Jeremy and Lindsay stayed over and we spent Friday with them. Jeremy has a knack for photography and combined with his nice camera and equipment, takes great photos!! So I asked him if he could take some pics of the kids! We drove to Beaumaris Lake and took a little stroll so we could get some nice outdoor shots. I think there are quite a few great ones amongst the 100's Jer took!! I sure couldn't imagine being a children's photographer ... so hard to get them to do what you want!! Afterwards, we had lunch at Wendy's and played outside for a little while. It was nice to spend the day with them :)
Hopefully everyone is having a great August long weekend!! Enjoy the sun, don't forget your sunscreen and drink lots of water! Oh and don't forget your bug spray ... darn mosquito's are brutal right now!
xoxo
Cal, Tracy, Blake, Emerson and Baby
