I totally did NOT realize that I had not posted a blog entry last night until well after I had gone to bed. It has been quite the weekend. My birthday is on Monday so I did attempt some pre birthday fun (attempt as weather interacted negatively to either cancel or alter plans) but even more so… I am sure that most of my readers are aware that I am originally from Canada, Alberta in fact… this has been a rough weekend for Southern Alberta. My brother James and his family (Holly and Jimmie) live in Calgary as do many of my Reinsch family relatives. Thankfully all in the higher portions of the city. Likewise my friends Esther, Kathy, Bianca… all safe and relatively dry. Starting late Thursday a flash flood warning went out for Calgary and area… It was much more extreme than expected (rain on the mountains facilitating melt). The city of High River is basically underwater as is Black Diamond I am told. Other towns have also been affected. 

Calgary has been hit hard. Downtown (which is where my brother works) is shut down, underwater and without power… Stampede grounds (Stampede is in 2 weeks) are also underwater… the zoo is looking at 2 weeks closure to fix the mess they are faced with, though there have been no animal losses. There has been 3 confirmed losses of life, thankfully there was some signs so people were able to start evacuating in time. BUT there is always the chance of a surge of water or a dam giving up. Add to that Medicine Hat (where my Aunty Becky and Uncle Lyle live) going under flood warning and it has been a round time all round in southern Alberta. 

It is very surreal to see locations we had previously considered renting in (before the big move here) now underwater… to realize that that could have been us! Not only do I feel very grateful that my family are safe, friends sound but I am equally aware that we really are where we need to be here in Minnesota. Although we too were under a flash flood and storm warning Friday night… my brother in law Joe and his family have downed branches and their neighbourhood has seen worse. Power has been off for AGES! 

If you are able to help HERE is a list of drop offs and ways to financially donate to help all the different people (and animals) who are in need after the flooding… Thanks to Huffington Post. Life is not going to go back to normal in these areas any time soon… again I am just thankful that for the most part everyone is ok… and saying a prayer that this is the end of the flooding and wonky weather! 

Picture thanks to Roman Sotelo (HERE is his Facebook page)

July 15

What is the best way to have one last bash with good friends before everything changes? Well… if you have kids a trip to the best zoo in the province is definitely a way to go! And, on top of that, allowed us to use up our zoo bucks (a Christmas gift from Kathy and the only way we would have been able to make it to this particular zoo). We even convinced Esther to join us in the fun!

Waiting on the rest of our group

So after we made it into the zoo itself and the Bleau family caught up with us it was time to see the newest attraction at the zoo (and one you would remember from the LAST time I went to this zoo with just Kathy and the girls)… the penguins! This time the line up was short so we went INTO the exhibit where you get us really close to all the penguins they have. It was noisy and splashy and the kids LOVED IT! 

My big kids

Close up and personal

Out from behind the camera… it was not an overly warm day which was PERFECT for zoo visiting.

Don’t forget the peacock who was right at the front entrance… on the way back he was showing off ALL his tail feathers… so we got the best display ever!

Checking out his reflection

Purty

Even with 5 adults it was a bit like herding kittens but we managed quite nicely. With so many little and not so little boys we HAD TO run through the new dinosaur exhibit. So much excitement running here and there with Darryl at the front of the pack egging them on! 

What a group!

Echo with a favourite aunty

Strike a pose

The leader of the pack

That left Sharon, Esther, Echo and myself to bring up the rear. With the aunties more than willing to walk the baby. Note that miss Echo went through MULTIPLE costume changes during our 3 hours at the zoo… for some reason zoo and walking and all that means pee through ALL your clothes!

Miss Esther

After dinosaurs it was time to see more animals. And a variety of those there was to see!!!

Zebra

Emanuel was amazed that there were so many types of animals in the “same box”

Gorilla

Add in a bathroom break in the African exhibit.

VERY necessary

And a play break at the playground…

Birdies at the park and super close

With her god mommy

Baby and the Beasts

We managed to visit my favourite exhibit – the butterfly one. And with less kids in the zoo it was MUCH calmer which meant better pictures of butterflies at rest! I will share more of my favourites in a separate entry. 

A 5 day old moth

So many on one bush!

After the butterflies it was time for Emanuel’s most requested ELEPHANTS!

Emanuel and his super special pose

We took a photo together here our last trip to this zoo together… when Emanuel was less than a year old!!!

Riding the stone elephants

And then after a few wrong turns… the baby tiger was out for show! 

Baby tiger AWWW

With the tigers our crew was done in and it was time to head back home. Of course with a stop off half way to see Karyn, collect passports (yup EARLY) and have lunch at Quiznos. YUM!

We took up 3 tables!

Hungry and tired

Definitely a day to remember. And I have the souvenir penguin to add to all of that! I am so glad that I got the chance to take our kids there and with such good friends too boot!

Siblings of the heart

WARNING I AM WAY BEHIND ON MY UPDATES!!! HERE IS JUNE 22/23rd!!!!

Plans are always fluid with our family, have you noticed? Our original plan was to leave for what we currently consider homebase on Friday but in fine tradition of my visits that last at least overnight… EXTENSION! Instead of packing up to go home I sorted through all our stuff and repacked and then made plans to see Holly and Jimmie AGAIN! 

Cousin time

We made sure to go over after Jimmie was done his Friday half day at school so that Trinity and he could spend more cousin time bonding. Oh and so Aunty could do Trinity’s hair. We didn’t get a chance to see my brother this time as he was working during the day. So we girls had to make do! 

So cute

We had to make a 7-11 run which is only a block or two from their home and then onward to the park. Talk about a fun time, even Echo got in on the fun once Kathy convinced her to step onto the rocks. Slides and swings and cousins… oh my!

Fun...

Run...

Swing...

Slide...

AGAIN...

Walking back to the townhouse required hand holding and careful watching for cars… well for the most part! 

Awww

Let’t not forget our final special treat out with Kathy!! Boston Pizza!!!

Gotta colour

Cutely

Noms

And that brought us back to Kathy’s and a relaxing evening, laundry and finishing the planning for Saturday. Which was our second visit with Esther. She came and got us lock stock and barrel and took us back to her place for the day. The new plan… spend the day at Esther’s while Karyn returns from her trip to see the Orca… then head in Karyn’s car back to HER apartment for an overnighter… all VERY doable. 

Gotta get in some pj quiet time

We stayed until after supper (made by the amazing Echo) and then had to once again pack up another car. This time we were smart and bagged up a smaller bag of overnight stuff. That way we only had to bring up a smaller amount of necessities for our final overnight at Karyn’s. Thankfully I had left my playpen at her apartment so mom’s could stay in the car. 

So my last day in the city was full of relaxation…

Hehe

With Aunty

Girly time and special moments. It was hard to head back to one step closer to reality. But then again, can’t stay away forever… and I did have a birthday to celebrate… Hello Sunday! Welcome to 33! 

Say good bye to two BLACK cats...

Only to say hello to one WHITE one