The Rodeo is Coming to Town

Bryan's parents, Mavis and Louis, came in for 2 weeks. We had a great time. They got here during Stampede, the big rodeo/carnival/show of the year. The one night we bought tickets for was the one and only night it rained. We wanted to get to the park early so we could play games and ride a few rides before the show. Mavis and Louis were going to wait for Brayn while the kids and I went to play games. Or first game was the water gun game. Were you hit the bulls eye to make the little man go up, first on to the top wins. Well, as soon as the game started to hail started flying. Those little pieces of ice can really hurt. There was no shelter and Sydney started to freak. So of course I became her shelter. We had to make a quick decision to run for it. As I have heard so many times here in Calgary, "if you don't like the weather, just wait 20 minutes." So we walked around one of the many exhibition halls waiting for it to stop raining. Once it stopped it was game on. We played every game available. Brock and Sydney aquired a lot of new stuffed animals. Like they needed more. Brock and Bryan rode a couple of rides. Sydeny did not want anything to do the rides, but my little man rode the mega drop and loved it.

Finally it was show time. We got to see the chuck wagon races. Talk about intense. Each race had 7 chuck wagons and each chuck wagon had 6 horses. Those poor drives where completely covered in mud. Yuk! Then after the races they put on this huge show. Singing, dancing, the works. They even had fire works at the end.

I have a lot more to share with you all but I am going to break it up. Here are some pics from stampede. I will tell you about our trip to Jasper in the next couple of days.

love you all

Alison

PS. yes that is us wearing jackets in July

Oops, sorry so long.

I know, it has been a long time. Summer has finally made it here. Brock and Sydney finished school last week. They did great and are ready for grade 4 and grade 2. That is how they say it here. Its not 4th grade. Just another one of those wierd things. But for the first week of summer vacation we have been taking it easy. Stampede starts next week and Mavis and Louis will be here in a week and a half. We have tickets to go to Stampede one night. We will get to see the chuckwagon races, a big musical show and fireworks afterward. They also have a fair and exhibitions going on. This is kind of like a 10 day western fling. The funny thing is that for the kick off just about every place in town has a Stempede pancake breakfast. Not just restraunts, but churches, businesses, and kind of organization you can think of. Everything goes western. It should be fun.

We will also be taking another trip into the mountains while Mavis & Louis are here. We are going up to the Ice Glaciers. I am really looking forward to that. The Ice Glaciers are fields of ice. It is suppose to be a beautiful ride up there. About a 3 or 4 hour ride???? I am just glad I am going to have some familiar faces around. I have to admit I have been a little home sick lately, but it will pass I am sure.

We went to Callaway park last weekend. It is alot like Dixie Landing (no Blue Bayou), but a little bigger. It was fun. It was a beautiful day, though I had to wear a sweatshirt. For all the people back in Louisiana, can you imagine going outside in a sweatshirt right now? You would problably pass out from heat exhaustion. It has become a bit warmer now. Yesterday was about 80, and when the wind blows you feel like you are in the desert..... hot and dry. Then it cools off again. Yesterday was wonderful, somewhere around 70- 73.

I do have some very depressing news. Well for us that is. Not only are there mosquitos here, but them come out with a vengence during the DAY. Brock even asked, "I thought mosiquitos were nocturnal!" Both Brock and Sydney have some pretty bad bites on there back from playing at the wading pool at the Tuscany Club. We have to keep bug spray closer than I ever have before. Daytime, who knew.

I have to cut it short today. We are going somewhere. I would tell you where, but I don't really know. Today is Canada Day. Bryan is off of work, so we are going to find something to do. I will be sure to bring the camera and let you all about it. I won't wait so long this time. I promise.

Thanks to all of you who write. I love you all.

talk to you real soon.
ali