ALBERTA BOUND... Yipee! July 12-26,2014

Went to bed much to late to be able to feel rested for the first part of the journey, 3 kiddos and me step on the plane and it shortly unravels just a bit. Daniela was a rockstar! She wiggled and moved but was content to sit beside a stranger after I handed her backpack with treats and toys she hadn't seen before. As soon as the stranger who shortly became known as "Mrs. Janet" opened her mouth I was sure she was a teacher, she was, a retired kindergarten teacher. Thank goodness for tender mercy #1.  Mason did great for the first 3 hours of the trip and then he had to use the washroom, but when we went he took one look at the toilet and refused to go, which lent itself for a miserable rest of the trip. I finally just had to sneak a diaper on him while we were seated...just in case. Abbie was another story, Abbie, Abbie, Abbie she was exhausted and wanted to sleep but since this milk factory has shut down it has been super hard to get her to fall asleep. I cradled, I rocked, I gave her treats but she was in full mode breakdown. The stuff movies are made of when they show that one mom who looks frazzled and has screaming kids, and who passengers retell of a horrendous experience flying. The arch your back, straight arm kind of meltdown...after she was exhausted from that she fell asleep, for not nearly long enough. This is the first time while travelling alone that is was super hard, usually it's easy and they are pleasant and passengers will come up to me after and say "your kids travel so well" and then I would walk away as proud as a peacock. Today I wanted to slither away like a snake before anyone could say anything. Alas they found me at the luggage carousel to say "we felt so bad for you travelling with 3 young ones on your own"   

~ A calm sister moment, that made my heart happy~

Tender mercy #2 My amazing mom flew into Calgary from Regina to meet me in the airport and help me with the kids, luggage and rental. Can I tell you how amazingly happy, relieved and excited I was to see her there, when we walked up the ramp and into the airport. Honestly I think I even heard a few angels singing. Gathered our belongings...3 car seats, 2 suitcases, 1 carry on, 3 kids and a stroller and headed to the rental car

We then headed out to go to Enchant for some R and R camping. Uncle Brent had pulled the trailer up and Auntie Trina and the girls were camping. We pulled up got our swimsuits on and headed to the little pond for some fun in the sun. And it was fun, they built sand lumps, rode in belly boats, visited 

UNTIL there was a little water fight and my mom fell in the water. You could tell by her face that it didn't feel great at all. When we went back to the campsite she laid down in the trailer but later on was in so much pain and it was quite swollen. So Trina took mom into the hospital and I stayed at the trailer with all the kids and replayed the event over and over in my mind. Feeling worried, concerned about her and trying not to feel guilty that if she hadn't come to help me she wouldn't have gotten hurt... It was a rough night, Lexi was missing Trina and Abbie was up every hour screaming for me, one of those nights that you couldn't wait for daylight. 

Sunday morning plans changed but we are going to make the best out of a rotten situation. Mom is staying in at Renee's, Trina's coming back out to the campground and we are going to look for silver linings. When Trina came back out, we had breakfast and then went for a float in their island (another amazing costco find) it was super relaxing and the kids had a ball. 

Of course the day wouldn't be complete without a bit of ice cream

I love camping, campfires, s'mores, family fun, water, cool crisp mornings, showers that you pay for by the minute, smokies, dirty little fingers and toes from playing in the dirt, cousin dog piles, lawn chairs, campers, tents, snuggles, sleeping bags, starry nights and no tv:)

On Sunday we headed into Taber to have dinner at Renee's and see all the other cousins and siblings. I got to finally meet Miss Olivia (super cute and chubby, with red hair and blue eyes) and Miss Brinley (super cute long and lean with the "white" stamp on her and these striking blue eyes). If felt so good to snuggle and smooch these newest additions to our family. This is when I miss my family the most. I love being around all the busyness, kids everywhere and lots of laughs. I am so blessed to know all these wonderful people and even luckier I get to call them mine. I know Mason and Daniela are going to miss them so much. Then out to Enchant to sleep one more night at the campground. 

Monday we headed back into Taber.