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Published: October 16th 2014
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Back for Saydi's Birthday
It was so wonderful seeing all the grandchildren again, we missed them so much! It was now officially summer and we were completing our week of R&R in Hawaii.
It was our plan to leave Hawaii at 10PM, fly overnight to Denver, then after an hour layover, fly directly into Saskatoon, arriving at 6PM, rested and ready to hit the ground running in Canada.
United Airlines had different plans for us! The flight leaving Honolulu was 4 hours late, therefore there was no way we could connect in Denver. So, after 3 hours at the United counter in the airport, they finally had us on a flight to San Francisco. We only managed to get a few hours sleep on this flight and then in SF, we had a very difficult time finding our departure gate with Air Canada. We were told to exit the terminal, then told to re-enter said terminal, then again told to leave this terminal and make our way to another. Good thing we had a three hour layover, it took us that long to get to Air Canada. After much frustration, we were on a flight to Vancouver and connected there to Saskatoon. We finally arrived at 11PM, exhausted!
We were greeted at the airport by Kristen,
Birthdday Girl!
Saydi turned 5, already, where does the time go? Vicki, Tai, Kody, and Aaron then driven home. Fortunately at least, our plan of readjusting our body clocks in Hawaii worked, and we were able to get a good night's rest.
Sunday morning, we headed out of town by noon. Luckily, we had renewed the plates on the truck and reactivated the cell phone from Hawaii via internet, so we were good to go. We stopped in Langham to have lunch with Linda's parents; it was so nice to see them again. We then proceeded to Marc and Holly's in Turtleford to celebrate Saydi's 5th birthday. It was wonderful seeing Marc's bunch, Leslie and her 3, as well as Pam and Ken, and other friends of Marc's. Marc rented a huge blow-up castle and slide. We spent the afternoon climbing, sliding and playing with the grandchildren. After birthday cake, a slice or two with ice cream. We headed back towards Saskatoon. We made a stop in North Battleford to see Jerald and Lorna. After a drink and visit we were on our way back to Saskatoon. We were glad to be home by1AM and finally hit the hay.
Jesse, our new house sitter, had never cared for a
Happy Birthday to You
Saydi loves to get dressed up, and she looked very pretty in her fancy new princess dress. home before and was eager to learn all there is to keeping a place fresh and clean. Jesse had done some yard work. We were able to have our yard the way we like it with the grass was cut, watered , the garden weeded, and Lulubelle's yard neat as well quickly. We were so pleased that Joanne, Linda's cousin, had taken the time and made the effort to plant some vegetables in our garden.
We visited Maurice's mother who has now moved to St. Ann's nursing home in Saskatoon. We got back in touch with what was going on in Kristen, Cory and Kody's lives. We kept Tai for a few days, got him sleeping through the night in his own bed, and encouraged more use of his right hand and foot. We prepared the camper for the lake.
We went to Cochin to visit Maurice's siblings. It was such a treat for the 7 of us to be together. We had a lovely time around the campfire getting caught up on all our families and friends. On Tuesday, July 1st, we met Brian in Glaslyn, transferred Gracie, Sawyer and Easton's rolling suitcases to the car, and
Pinata for the Kids
The children played games, the adults joined in and we all had fun. took them back with us to Saskatoon.
We spent the next few days in Saskatoon with 4 grandchildren, Tai included. It was touching to see how Tai responded to the older children and especially Gracie. She became his personal little trainer, constantly reminding him and demonstrating how to use his weaker side. We spent a few warm afternoons at Riversdale Pool, only a few blocks from our home. It was glorious at the pool. We hooked up to the trailer, and left for the Battleford's Provincial Park.
We arrived at the Park in time to park the trailer in South campground and then catch the Roughrider's football game at Jerald and Lorna's campsite. Linda was thrilled to be able to spend time with Byron. Next day we moved to Center campground and set up again. Aaron and Delphine pulled in with their camper, as did Marc and Holly. We were able to add Saydi to our troupe of three little ones. We spent a busy week with the kids boating, playing on the beach, building campfires, playing ball, playing with the dogs, and much much more. Check out the pictures! This has become a very special time for
Packing up the Castle
We played with the children on the huge blow up castle, and then helped pack it up. us, for Aaron and Delphine, and for Marc and Holly as well. As Easton said to his mother when they returned home, "We were so busy we never even had time to suntan!"
Once camping was done, we left the Park, met Leslie in North Battleford, dropped off the grandchildren (they were sick of us anyway after 10 days) and headed back to Saskatoon. There we enjoyed our yard and kept Saydi for a few more days. She ended up being wonderful company for Tai. We spent time with Linda's parents in Langham, kept Tai, enjoyed Linda's daughter Kristen and Brett and visited with our good friends Francis and Shelley at Riversdale Pool. We had nice warm summer weather, and spent more than a few afternoons there. They have a kiddies pool, intermediate pool, a deep area and a huge water slide. They have about 8 lifeguards on duty at a time, and there are hundreds of people there. It's a wonderful way to cool off and have fun with the kids.
On Tuesday July 15th, we finally managed to go on our hot air balloon ride! We rose before sunrise, 5AM, in a city park, watched as
Mom in St. Anne's
In Mom's room at the St. Anne's Nursing home in Saskatoon. It is nice to have her close now that Dad is gone. they filled the balloon, lifted off and were carried away by a light breeze. We climbed to about 500 feet above the ground, and drifted North East. The city below was incredibly pretty with all the green trees, the river and the golf courses. Once we were cleared the city, we watched coyotes and deer frolicking in the farmers fields and ducks and cranes swimming in the river. As we crossed the Saskatchewan River, our pilot released air from the balloon and we drifted down below the riverbank, skimming just above the water. It was very impressive, and as we climbed again, it was fascinating to watch our shadow making its' way across the yellow canola fields. We landed just outside Warman, packed up the balloon, and then celebrated our successful flight with the traditional glass of champagne. We were back home by 8:30AM.
Tyler and Kim had to bring a couple of horses to the vet clinic here in the city, so we were excited to have Bennett and Briar for the day. We had thought we'd be going to the pool, however, between Lulubelle's garden hose and our garden hose, we had much more fun at home
Gracie, Sawyer and Easton
They were impressed with the gifts we brought for them from Taiwan. We try and find "not available in Canada" things. The kids wore those glasses a lot the next week. than we would have had at the pool. Watching 18 month old Briar holding her own, Tai the mischievous 2 and a half year old, and Bennett, the mile a minute 31/2 year old all vying for the hoses kept us entertained all afternoon.
Friday the 25th, we held our annual garage party, and were delighted to serve supper to over 40 of our family and friends. The party gave us a chance to reconnect with friends that we would otherwise not have had a chance to visit with. Our time in Saskatoon seemed to fly by so quickly.
We spent the final week tying loose ends, visiting as much as possible with our families and getting those last minute chores done before leaving once again for Taiwan.
Sunday morning, August 3rd, we were awake at 4:15AM and off to the airport to catch our flight to Chicago, then Tokyo and finally into Taipei. We arrived in Kaohsiung after a 1 1/2 ride on the High Speed Rail and were pleasantly surprised at how fresh and clean our apartment was. We were exhausted, but safe, and ready for bed. It was 11PM local time, and Linda was
Brushing Teeth Before Bed
Morning and evening, we had a ritual. All together now! due in school at 8AM next morning.
Summer over, again!
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