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Thursday, September 09, 2010

Oh CANADA

Our trip to Canada was much anticipated for months and months, for reasons of financial to getting passports for everyone (which is a cost in and of itself), to where will we all stay, to travel arrangments, etc, etc. But dispite all the challenges we may have faced to get there, it was sooo worth it!! We had an incredible time. Uncle Jim was a terrific host and we got to do soo many fun things in the short time we were there. We felt like the LUCKY ones, because we got
to stay with Jim and Great Grandma
(as well as my parents). They have an
amazing home and the yard is NEVERending,
perfect for our little explorers.
They spent hours and hours just enjoying the outdoors!
We LOVED just sitting around with various members
of the family, talking and listening to stories.
We had great adventures each day.
Friday we got to go see where my dad grew up
and he said it was like the TWILIGHT zone,
because it was just soo different.
We also got to visit a farm, that had some amazing
corn mazes. B4 we set loose in the mazes the kids enjoyed some playtime.
It was quite funny TRYING to
keep us all somewhat together and NOT losing
the kids (who would have LOVED to run off on their
own, we just may not have seen them again).




Nalu was a trooper, sitting it that darn stroller soo much.


One of the mazes was a trivia one with clues.
Good thing we didn't rely on the kids for directions.
We would have NEVER made it out!
This was the site around just about every other corner...

they told us as we were getting our BRIEFING before
entering the maze that there was a watch tower
if we got lost, thank goodness we didn't need help
cuz NO one was watching?!
there were LOTS of animals to get fed too


another of our adventures and I think one of the favorites
of most, was visiting my uncle Mark's ranch.
Kaipo fell in love with all their kittens and chased
them around for hours.
Ame definitely discovered a NEW love.
If we had the $$ I know she would be in
Heaven to have her own horse and to take some
lessons. You should have seen this girl...
if she wasn't riding she was helping the younger cousins
enjoy a ride on the pony.
Kaipo broke away from the kittens for a bit
to a take a few rides himself.

it took quite a bit of convincing (or forcing) to get
Ash anywhere near one of the animals.
He did ride with dad and helped brush the horses,
but that was about it. Anytime one of the kittens or dogs
looked at him or got near him he was NOT happy.
Mom even took a turn on the ol' horse

One last ride for the horse lover!

The BIG day was on Saturday.
The party was held at a place with all
kinds of restored buildings. It had an old
jail...


an old school, horse drawn school bus, trains, tractors.
Soo many neat, fun things to check out and explore.
We had to drag the kids away at then end of the day.
They had a BLAST!
even some old dressups
oh these cousins are cute!
the main reason for our visit was to honor
the amazing woman of all these siblings
(missing just a few). It was soo fun to see
them all again, and their families. Don't ask me
to name them all (I CAN keep most of them straight).
I am soo glad we could be there to celebrate and honor
Great Grandma Asplund. She is such a fun, loving woman
still at age 90! She is a true beauty!! I just can't begin to
imagine birthing, let alone raising all those children.
WOW. WOW. WOW.
Thanks mom and dad for making it possible for us to be there.
It was truly a trip we will always remember and cherish!
And we are already planning on taking Great Grandma up on her
offer to join her again in 10 more year!!































2 comments:

Allan and Diane said...

It was sooooo fun and you got some great pictures.

Jamie and Family said...

What an amazing thing to pull off! How awesome! Those are definitely special memories for the kids!