Hard to believe she is 8 already! August 13 th marked our Echo turning 8. We had to split up her birthday celebration to include Aunty Karyn who drove down from Canada for her visit the week before.

Saying goodbye on the 11th

So on the Friday (a day before Karyn had to drive back) we had an Echo day. We took her to the Como zoo (a zoo run on donations only) and she got a $30.00 limit in the main gift shop.

Butterfly!

She HUGELY lucked out. They were having a sale on a series of large stuffed animals that had her buying 2 for pretty much exactly $30.00. After much agonizing we purchased a red panda (my favourite animal) and an elephant. Talk about a happy little girl!

With her new Stitch teddy from Aunty Karyn

After the zoo we had to drive back home and clean up for Echo’s first dance recital at the YMCA! There was 2 recitals planned due to summer scheduling conflicts with parents. For this recital not only was  Aunty Karyn and Trinity there with Mom and Dad but she was the only one in her class that made it!

Dancing solo with Miss Grace

She did an amazing job dancing with her teacher Grace, and looked absolutely adorable in her little pink outfit. We were so proud.

After recital it was home for a cupcake cake! Since she is currently obsessed with Stitch I went on Amazon and found some little Lilo and Stitch statues to put on top of the cake. Success!

Monday marked her actual birth date so we had presents from us and Aunty Holly, Uncle James and Cousin Jimmie. I went all out with the Stitch stuff and Aunty Holly totally hit the mark with her Lego set.

Thank you Aunty Holly, Uncle James and Cousin Jimmie!

We also spent time at our favourite park.

A day or two later Echo got a parcel from Gammie. A brand new instant camera with film. Included was a lovely card from Aunty Heather and Hudson.

Add in birthday phone calls from Grandma and Nana and Baba and dinner out solo at McDonalds.

The topper on the day was swimming with Daddy while Mom worked out in her class upstairs.

Echo told me it was the best birthday ever. High praise indeed! Happy Birthday Echo!!!

Kitty school

Day 2 – September 4 

We had a few hiccups with our internet at the B&B but had an absolute blast sitting up late sewing and chatting. We both got our chance in the absolutely AMAZING bathtub jets and all. I love the attention to detail and comfort they took with this place.

We had a continental breakfast to enjoy in the morning (full breakfasts are weekends) and a wonderful conversation with our host. The poppy seed muffins were yummy. We made our plans… first to find cheese curds (as fresh as possible), then to head out for shopping and an art gallery and of course one more stop off at 7-11 before heading home.

The cheese factory we found had a wonderful window into the factory where we could see them making their cheese. The cheese curds I purchased (and put in the cooler we brought for this very reason) were fresh that day. Karyn splurged and got some swiss cheese as well. With the new regulations if food is properly labelled and sealed you CAN take it across the border!!

The art gallery was a free one found on the state university campus. Definitely a novel experience, being among the college students again and so close to the beginning of the term. It was a lovely building.

And an amazing art gallery that covered tons of different themes and eras. I must warn you… we took more than a few pictures! No flash and the phone loved it! So enjoy.

After the art gallery it was shopping in the gift shop.

And then down the street where all the students shopped to look for some amazing deals and have a light lunch. With Italian soda.

And then realize that all good things must come to an end. Our drive home was uneventful and bittersweet but amazing! A roadtrip to remember… and now for the rest of the pictures! 

July 18

Ok ok I taunt and taunt and… you have to wait ONE MORE ENTRY to read our biggest adventure… I be evil! Anyway Wednesday… well it is a very SPECIAL Wednesday… this is the day we celebrate my nephew Jimmie’s 7th birthday!

Waiting for Daddy so we could all leave for the museum

But first Karyn, Veronika, Ken and myself with kids in tow had some before party plans. We started off at the Little Church. I think Veronika, Karyn and I all remember times we had visited this place in our childhoods. I was definite… we HAD TO take the kids there. It actually is meant to seat 6 adults but our little ones fit in quite nicely. Emanuel was quick to  take the pulpit and Echo LOVED the small scale seating. 

Gotta love the rebuild story AND the amateur attempt at making it read dirty

Little Church

Future minister?

Just her size

I absolutely love the landscape in Drumheller and valley. There is something very timeless about it. 

The Badlands

Me

Gavin and Emanuel

After the church it was time for lunch at A&W where we took up half the seating in the restaurant. 

We do fill a restaurant

After lunch we split the kids between all 3 cars for novelty sake and then headed down the road for the main attraction – Tyrell Museum and Jimmie’s birthday. I remember many trips to this particular museum, my brother was a total dinosaur encyclopedia growing up! We met right up with the birthday boy, my brother, sister in law and Gammie. With the hurried phone calls confirming that Grandma and Grandpa Mike were running late and the boys running wild we opted to head into the museum and let them catch up (thank you Ted for the free pass in by the way!!).

Outside the museum

We saw dinosaurs, dinosaurs and… well other stuff… all on fast forward and with the same chaotic feel as herding kittens. BUT everyone had a blast!

ROAR

Fishy

Echo spent the majority of her time with Aunty Holly as Trinity monopolized Aunty Karyn.

Aunty Holly and Echo

We measured kids against a giant dinosaur leg…

All 6 kids

And of course had a family photo taken…

Extended family

Just the Reinsch-Johnsons

And then it was onto the gift shop where each of the kids got free reign (within reason) to pick a present… There was quite the variety… a plush dinosaur (pink), a geology set… etc etc and yours truly got herself a monogrammed blanket with a carrying strap (with Canada on it) since there was no plushy critters with the museum’s info emblazoned on it.

Shopping

After that it was back into the cars (or in the birthday boy’s case the cab they rented for the day) and onto the giant dinosaur statue that overlooks the splash park (slippery) and the fountain (safer). So that we could… SPLASH… seriously any town we can we splash!

Dinosaur themed of course

Miss Echo (who also biffed it and bit her lip!)

Fountain

Splashy

Don’t forget present time! There were some special gifts to the boys and girls from their cousin as well…

Gift time

Echo with her special Strawberry Shortcake set

And then… ICE CREAM! Just across the street and everything!

In the parlor

The partakers

With ice cream and heat and a long day with an early start it was time to say good bye… tearful and huggy but it was done and off we started on our next big adventure… check back for our next entry where I will finally divulge it!!! 

Sleepy