Trip to Calgary

What a wonderful trip to Calgary. It is amazing that we can be 5 years since our last visit (there was life before the kids, this blog and everything else?) and still feel like it was just yesterday that we were there last. It is too bad you all look so olde, and Matt and I have maintained our youth these five years!

Our wonderful hosts, Craig and Erin, Aiden and Ethan were "so good at sharing" every last thing in their home, and even let us control their schedule while we were there. Auntie Pat and Uncle Bill kept us well fed and entertained. After seeing pictures of baby Kurt these few months, the kids were so excited to see him in person. We got a chance to make new friends with Lindsay and Evelyn too!

Honestly, we had such a good time, I think this is an accurate time line, but it must be the sign of a good vacation when I can't keep track of all the details.

Wednesday - Day 1:
Arrive in Calgary
-Dinner with Auntie Pat and Uncle Bill

Thursday - Day 2:
Visit with the Elies people
Meet Baby Kurt
Break Ice with Auntie Pat
Eat with Auntie Pat and Uncle Bill

Friday - Day 3:
Visit with the Elies people
See Baby Kurt and meet Sarah, baby Evelyn and Lindsay at the Calgary Zoo
Break Ice with Auntie Pat
Eat with Auntie Pat and Uncle Bill

Saturday - Day 4:
Adine Runs 10 miles across the Elbow River to Heritage Park
Visit with the Elies people
Visit the Hannington folks, Elies Folks, Brocklesby Folks
***Pictures can be found on my Facebook Profile page - Thanks Cate for taking photos!

Sunday - Day 5:
Visit with the Elies people
Baby Kurt comes for a visit

Monday - Day 6:
We leave
Go for breakfast at the White Spot with the Calgary Social Work alum kids
:(

Pictures:



Videos:





At the beginning you can see Aidan making his fort at the wise architectural direction of Erin (who later on destroyed the fort! BUT, then fixed it!)
Script at the end:
Carter: "A campfire! ________"
Nolen: "OH! A Campfire!" Run off and away.

...and we're back

I don't know how long, but it seems that things, cute stories are slipping away from me. I am feeling the need to write them down, so I will. Picture sharing is a toughie right now, as I am having all sorts of soft ware issues (why won't Picasa work properly anymore?)

So, today's story is about Nolen. The boy is cute. That is all there is to say. I am often left wondering if he knows it (kidding, he milks it!) My baby is such a creative boy, filled with enthusiasm and passion for everything, and sometimes everyone, he encounters.

It used to be that Nolen was only happy with Mom, and wanted only Mom. Age has taught him, and he is wise. It is much better to adore plenty, therefore your loving audience and fans only expands. What has he added to his artillery of cute? ____________ hugs. That's right. Give Nolen a hug at his request, but it has to be a hug of his fashoning and choosing. Some examples are:

Coffee Grinder Hugs
Pick up small/heavy child and wiggle them ferociously back and forth making a coffee grinder hug. Who doesn't love fresh, ground coffee?

Rain Hugs
Pick up small/heavy child and wiggle them back and forth, while slowly letting them drop to the ground. The rain sound must be made most accurately with this hug. He is a Heinrichs, and precision is key people.

Wind Hugs
See Rain Hug. The only difference is a wind noise that also happens to blow wind in his face (Carter would have HATED this hug at this age. He HATES the wind, and hates having his face blown like that)

Christmas Hugs
I am not sure what is so amazing about these, except that they must be very special. Note, these were not invented at Christmas time.