CANADA MORE!

These photos are in no order at all. I was going to go through the work to fix that, but then I realized we were in Canada for exactly three days and so I don't think posterity cares exactly which day is which. Haha.

Pretzel is my favorite dog ever. (Don't tell Dolly, because honestly no one can beat Dolly ever, but she might get her feelings hurt in heaven.) I've been allergic to cats since Megan got one (and we hadn't had one in awhile) when I was in high school. And I've always had mild dog allergies when they are in the house. But not to pretzel! And when I was exhausted and trying to calm down my babies, she'd just sit her head in my lap and it was incredibly therapeutic to sit there and rub her soft, soft head. I told Sterling when we got back to Utah that we needed her. Immediately. But, I don't want an inside dog, and I don't want a dog in our tiny Florida apartment. But it was weird. I've never wanted a dog before. She was incredibly, incredibly patient with Russ. She did bite him a little bit, but he deserved it, and I had hoped it would teach him to be softer...it didn't.

Lindsay Ann slaying it getting every little girls hair done for the wedding.

Ethan and baby Sierra.

One of the days we went to a parade (I'm pretty sure Saturday after the wedding Friday night) in Raymond. Dad was on a float with a bunch of his cousins. I forgot how AWESOME Canadian parades are. SO MUCH candy and NO HEAT! 

Jack, Devaney, Natalie, Ruthie, Avaya.

COUSINS

After the parade we went to a reunion/luncheon where the cousins from the float came. So basically a whole bunch of extended family that I have no clue who they are. It was long, and I lost Russ for a full ten minutes (we found him two houses down sitting in a toy car) and it was awful and so that whole luncheon kind of has a bad taste in my mouth. Also, it wasn't the greatest place for kids to play and a lot of people had dogs so I was pretty stressed out the entire time. I did see quite of few of my own cousins though, and that was awesome (mostly Aunt Melodie's fam)

After the luncheon we went to Aunt LaVerle's house in Stirling, which was EXACTLY how I remember it from eight years ago (and ALL of my childhood) and that was very, very reassuring somehow. Also, she has a fabulous house for kids to play and so many, many grandkids for my kids to play with. I also went and bought penny candy and Canadian candy at their tiny little corner store just like every summer of my childhood. It was definitely a highlight night. Even if everyone I saw said it was crazy I was only supposed to be 12 and how did I have five kids? haha.

Uncle Ed, Uncle Larry, Aunt Judy, dad

Different day at Uncle Montey's house. So many boys all of the time. Aunt Melodie is super amazing champion woman who is always hosting 20 plus people and manages to make everyone feel special. Thanks!!! In the photo are my cousins Tad, Trent, Travis, and my little brother Ethan.

Photo of my Grandpa John's farm and view of Old Chief from the highway on our way driving into Waterton National Park.

Don't mind how terrible we look. After getting up at 430am and driving 12 hours straight (Megan is amazing and we only stopped twice.) we drove straight to the temple and the teenagers got together and did baptisms. I am so, so hopeful that all the grandkids are still doing stuff like that when my kids get old enough to join.

Random story, every single vacation of my life has been to Cardston and usually my parents make it to the temple. My parents were married there, my brother Derek, and somehow I've never gone. The few times I've gone as a teenager, it was usually for the July 1st celebration and the temple was closed for cleaning, and the even fewer times I've gone as an adult, I haven't had a sitter or anything to be able to go. I hope I get to go inside before they renovate it--because it is as old as the Salt Lake and Logan and they are doing those ones!

Megan's family. Thanks for taking us in!!!!!

Kami's family--they pulled in at the exact same time as us.

 I really, really love how they have that bench there. So sweet!

One night we got together with my mom's side of the family. On that night Russ was a horrible monster (theme of the trip) so I spent most of my time watching him. But the food, the food was INCREDIBLE (which reminds me I need that ramen salad recipe) and my uncles are both psycho and hysterical. 

Aunt Marla tripped up that step. Cancer has been brutal. And it was excruciating to watch. But she is such a warrior and I love her so much! It was great to see them all!

All the kids playing outside during the Walburger dinner.

my cousin's kid who is my age, Aunt Judy, Aunt LaVerle, my mom, my cousins wife

Is it weird that this road kinda feels like home even though I've never lived in Mountain View? Gorgeous!

Megan, Aunt Marla, Danica, Lynne

Ummm...back to the parade

See dad on that float?

This is the first night after the temple at Aunt Melodie's. Devaney, Jack, Natalie, Ruth. I love this so so much because it is all the cousins playing outside until way too late in the freezing cold summer in the exact same place I did! 

Tyson's Wedding!

It was totally and completely unplanned, but I jumped into my sisters van (with all five of my kids...filling her big van to the absolute brim) and went to Canada. At the time, I wasn't sure it was worth it. Russ was an absolute nightmare, never got a nap, screamed an entire two hours in Derek and Brooke's vehicle driving to their home, I spent a night tent camping solo with all my kids and it was cold and I was doing all the packing and hauling myself, it was a lot of work and not a lot of sleep. But as most things with parenting, now that I'm looking back I'm really glad I went. It was really, really hard. But my kids got to see their cousins, all the places I love that I grew up visiting, and built a lot of memories. Plus, I am so very grateful I got to be there to support Tyson. They had a beautiful, beautiful wedding and it was lovely to be there!

I got to see all that in real life. Tyson and Makina. And it's a memory I will treasure. And maybe in a year or so I'll forget what a terror Russ was on that trip. Haha.

Cousins at the wedding. I forget Clay's youngest boys' names--I haven't been in Utah for too long!--but also Molly, Hailey, Cassidy, crazy Nicolas, and Anders.

I really thought it looked breath-taking. If I had done an outdoor wedding, this is pretty much how I would have created it. I love love love the green!!!! OH AND ALSO, the food was fantastic. Seriously, best wedding food ever. I ate so much. So, so much.

This was definitely the biggest, and greatest, most wonderful highlight of the trip for me. Spending time with these oldie nieces of mine that are growing up so dang fast. DANICA HOW ARE YOU MARRIED?!?!! I got to tease that engaged (now married) girl a whole heck of a lot during that long van ride to and from Canada and I loved every minute of it. Also, showing Anders that I really do know every. single. word. of the entire movie Newsies. He was impressed. HAHA. I could not have managed this trip at all had it not been for Kiersten, Danica, and Lynnaea constantly grabbing and taking care of my baby for me. Cute little mamas in the making. And being in Canada just made me wish Maloree was around more to be my nanny---she is amazing! Photo-Kiersten, Kourtney, Maloree, Danica, Lynne

See what I mean? Best nieces ever.

Being around sisters is the best.

Ruthie and her awesome cousins. Sebas, Devaney, Jack, Ruth, Karlee

I did not go bridge jumping, because after hours of screaming when I left the reception early, Russ was finally asleep. But the kids did and had such a grand time. FRIGID CANADA

My parents are gorgeous and amazing and wonderful. 

Awww I love brother pictures. Ethan, Derek, Wyatt.