Rest of Alberta Trip

On Sunday the 3rd we went to Coralee and Eds and had dinner and spent the  afternoon and evening with them. Every time we are with them, I am overwhelmed all over again with how strong our bonds are. This family had every right to stop being in my life and to walk away and they chose not to, and the result of that is a beautiful relationship. I am so grateful. And I love these boys like crazy!!! 

Oh my goodness, everything about this picture is hilarious!!! Quinny, Lucas and Gabriel all look crazy! I love it. It was very hard to get them all to sit still long enough to take it! Love them.

At my moms house, Q liked to lay in Chesters bed, which totally stresses him out haha! But he is so sweet and gentle with her so I never worry about him

"Daddy sing me Cowboy Song" (sweet baby james) and he does and she sings along quietly. She loves that song when her dad sing it

Jenna came over Monday morning and fixed my hair! I didn't love it after I got it done, the blonde wasn't great looking at the top. Thankfully I have a best cousin friend who manages a hair salon and is incredible at what she does! She brought some supplies and came over and fixed it. Yay Jenna.

Oops... Out of order. This was from the Sunday night :) Love this pic

This is the best - back in the summer Q saw this picture when it was just her and I without Jon in the airport in Medicine Hat and she was certain it was Jon. My mom and I had a really good laugh about it and how set she was that it was Jon. Then, now months later, we are back there all together because Jon needed to fly home, and she saw the mural again and immediately said "Hey Daddy! It's you! It's you!" I laughed SO hard I was crying. Jon was saying "no Quinnybesr, it's not me" and she was exclaiming "it is! It is you! It is!" So we just let her think it was. So funny!!'

New Patagonia sweater and shoes, both more than 50% off :) Christmas money well spent on a guy who deserves it! He was wearing runners that had holes in them.

We saw Jon off who had to get back home for work, and we stayed for another five days. We miss him when we are apart!!! But it's nice to be able to have the freedom to stay. I needed more time with my mom and Q needs time to be with family. My mom has always been so funny at making up little "games". I remember her always coming up with something silly for us to do/play. And she's the same with Q. Here they are making "soup" and the blender explodes all over Q. They were both giggling. So cute. 

Since it was during the week, everyone had to get back to work, so we spent a lot of time in the days with my grandparents. They adore Q and I love that. As always, seeing them together makes my heart ache and wish we were closer!!! Here is Q teaching Grandma the art of "Water Wow" painting. Use a special brush with water in it, picture appears. Let it dry, picture disappears. Repeat 5000 times

Tuesday evening we went to Lauren's for dinner and I got to catch up with her and Q played with Rayne and Jace. It was my first time seeing Lauren's new house - I love it! She's in such a good place and it's so good to see after the few rough years they had. I think it's so cool that I Come home and my Auntie wants to see me and we can talk openly. So much love that exists in our family.

This popped up while I was home in my past memories on Time Hop. 8 years ago! Love my Grandma!

Notice her drool haha!! Sleeping sweetly.

Coralee texted and asked us to meet her for lunch one afternoon, saying she had things to talk to me about. I was instantly nervous! We got there first and saved a table

Quinny was very happy to see her when she showed up! Big hugs! She jumped right in, and started this big conversation that I did not expect. Her and Ed are re-doing their wills and need to name a guardian for them if they die... the big thing that every parents avoids but is so important to talk about. She told me that they would like us to take the boys, if need be. She didn't want an answer right away, because obviously I needed to talk it out with Jon, and she wanted us to take time to really think about it, since it is such a big deal. But she also said that in watching us, they like how we parent, and we agree about so many things when it comes to kids. She also said that our faith plays a big role, since they are raising the boys in the church and they would like to see that continue even if they were gone. She also said that she views me as a daughter, and that it makes sense in her mind to leave her boys with the person she considers a daughter. I was speechless. Completely speechless, because what a huge responsibility, and what a huge honor, to have someone ask you this. For her to praise the way I parent my daughter and to give me affirmation when typically I am just filled with doubt, was amazing. Everything she said just stuck with me, and when Jon and I talked it over, we said that of course we would take the boys, if ever that situation horrifically happened. It would mean a lot of changes in our life, clearly, taking in two boys who are both older than Quinny. But financially, Ed and Cor have set the boys up for life, and we wouldn't have to worry about that. We are family. This is what family does. We love each other, and we take care of one another, no matter what.

Quinny had a really good week with these two as well - they would come home from school and she would start following them around, calling their names and asking them to play. 

This is the problem when it comes to sharing a bed with this goofball. For someone so small, she takes up ALL THE ROOM! haha

Quinny was crazy for Grandma's cucku clock - the bird comes out and squaks however many times for the hour, and then the people do a dance and she just loves it. Grandma would run her over to the clock a minute or so before the hour so that they would be ready when it struck. They were SO cute doing this! Since we've been home, we have FaceTimed Grandma a few times right before the hour because Q is asking to see the cucku clock. I thought it was super funny, but Grandma loved it. She loves that clock (it drives the rest of us nuts), so I think she was happy to share her joy with someone. My Grandpa says to her "Oh great, you're going to be known as the Cucku Grandma!" haha!!

Cuddles with her grandma one afternoon. Mom took Friday off of work, telling the school that she needed a "personal" day and she spent the whole day with us. I was SO touched by that because I know what a big deal it is for her to take a day off. Also, with quality time being (one of) my love language, this just filled me! She held on tight to Q all day that day. I can always see the dread of my mom's face when leaving time is getting closer.

Brooke came over that night again with LeeAnne to spend a bit more time with us before we had to leave. Man I love this girl. I was sad that I didn't get to see much of Alexis while home (I picked her up from school one day so I did see her, but not much), but she was just super busy. So spending the time with Brooke was just so great! And the bond her and Q have is just so awesome. Here they are dancing around and singing to Let It Go and Shake It Off haha! Hard to say goodbye that night, not knowing yet when we would be back, but it feels good to leave with a full heart.

Then started yet another travel nightmare. WHY do these things happen to me when I travel without Jon?!! Q and I have had some epic adventures together on the road trying to fly!!! This time, they sent me an iterinary late Friday night telling me that my flight has been changed and I wasn't going to get into Nanaimo until after midnight (I was supposed to get in around 6pm). I couldn't call right away, because of course everything was closed. So the next morning (day we were flying out) I called at 8am right when they opened (my flight was scheduled to leave Med Hat at 4pm). They told me that I had no other options because the flight I was on was cancelled and the other one was full. I tried to explain my situation (umm I'm travelling with a two year old!!!) and the lady was sympathetic but not all the helpful. Finally she said that there was a flight leaving Calgary at 12:50pm that afternoon, but I would have to get there, because there was no flight there (it's a 3 hour drive). I quickly talked to my mom who was not that helpful (haha sorry mom, but its true) and so I quickly called Neil who said he would drive us up there for sure, but we had to be on the road by 9 at the latest.... it was currently 820, we were in our pjs, had not eaten breakfast and our suitcase was not packed. I said okay and called the lady back and booked it and then FLEW around the house to grab everything! I was certain we would forget something, but I got it all!! I got myself dressed, mom dressed Q, we made toast to go, and out the door we went. It hard because we had plans for that morning and for lunch, but it was also okay... sometimes a quick goodbye is easier. Neither mom or I cried this time... she called me later and was crying then haha. And how amazing is Neil??!! He gave up his entire day to drive us up there... six hours in the car!! We are so grateful!!

We made it JUST in time and got to our gate had a few minutes so I grabbed us some sandwiches and fed her some lunch... she was starving and the whole trip to Calgary she kept saying how hungry she was... I had some snacks packed, but no water... I was so rushed when we were packing!! Poor girl!! So she was happy to have some lunch and a smoothie and water. THEN they tell us our flight is delayed, for reasons that I can't remember. We get on the flight an hour late, but that's okay because this little trooper is AMAZING! I cannot stress that enough. Sometimes she drives me totally crazy, but every single time we travel, she is such a dream. She was happy and giggly, and listened well, and calm. She is such an excellent travel buddy. She fell asleep about 20 minutes before we were supposed to land in Nanaimo, but I figured that was fine because we were just heading straight home anyways.... well we descend and theres a LOT of fog and clouds, but we keep going and I can SEE the airport... and suddenly the airplane starts going back up! NOOOOO! They tell us theres too much fog and its unsafe to land so they are taking us back to Calgary. The plane ERUPTS with angry people yelling, while I keep rubbing my sleeping toddlers back, trying to cover her ears. Then they say oh just kidding, we are just going to take you back to Vancouver. 

We get to Vancouver, and find out that every flight to the island for the rest of the day has been cancelled! (thank GOODNESS I wasn't on the midnight flight, we would have had to sleep over!!). So then the dilemna in what to do now. I have a huge suitcase,  a small princess suitcase, a backpack and a toddler. There's no way I can go on public transit to get to the ferry. So I text Jon, who immediately texts back and reminds me that his parents are in Vancouver for a hockey game! He calls them, and arranges for them to come get us! YAY!!! AND they just happen to have Madi's carseat in their car... yay for Grandparents who babysit often!!!!! They had driven over (usually they just walk on the ferry and sky train around) because Lois is still sore and that is a big trip for her. I was SO relieved! It worked out great. So they came and got us and took us right to the ferry... best in laws!!! Q was happy to see them and told stories on the whole drive about her time at Grandma's.

 

We got onto the 5 ferry down to Victoria (the budget cuts with BC Ferries means that the last ferry to Duke Point on Saturdays is at 345 unfortunately!), and I decided right away that we were going to treat ourselves to the buffet. We deserved it after such a long day!! We were already going on 8 hours of travelling, and still had the ferry ride and hour and a half drive home! We ate tons of raviolli (both of our favorites!) and dessert

She even got a hot chocolate when I got my tea. She loved the buffet. So cute. She was just so good all day long!!

Finally she got off and Jon met us, and she greeted her dad and then says "where the car Daddy?" haha! She carried her own suitcase and off to the car we went, so happy to be on the last leg!

She fell asleep right away in the car, the tired girl!!! But it was a great trip, and awesome time spent with my family. I love them so much and my heart aches already missing them!!! Cannot wait until our next trip, whenever that may be!