Read Down Below

I posted Days 9 and 1o, down below - just above 8. There are two entries for Day 9 - two different events.

Please scroll down the page to where you left off reading to catch up with some of the newest days. I am finally able to post pictures again!

Day 12 - Calgary Heritage Park

Today was our last full day in Calgary. We woke up early and were ready to go by 8:30. Corrie told me that there would be thundershowers, so I was dressed for it. Good thing I decided after seeing the blue skies that the kids didn't need their coats.

It turned out to be 20+ degrees and very hot! And there I was wearing dark long pants, plus a long sleeved knit shirt! Hot! Thankfully I had bought the kids all sunglasses for the icefields, so they were set for the sunshine.

We found the park and boy was it a big one! We took the trainride around and then the kids spent much time on all the fair rides. I was determined that we had come to the Heritage Park and not the Fair, and therefore we were going to see it all. I had to drag them away, but we did return later, so they could continue their rides.



We went to one of the fancy houses and they had a little play while we were there. It was about the housekeeper teaching etiquette to a cowgirl. It was really quite funny. While she was teaching the housekeeper asked if anyone else wanted to try out the lessons. No volunteers came forth. A little later, while another part of the play was going on, Tsega (age 2) began walking very 'properly', with her hands slightly out at the sides. It was very cute, and just like the lessons.

Well! One of the characters that had just entered the play noticed this right away and zeroed in on her. She immediately headed back off the edge of the play area to the safety of mum. It was very adorable.

Cassidy was encouraged to take part in the play and he helped them with the ice experiment. We went to the little schoolhouse and the boys all had fun doing the lessons in their age bracket.






I took Briton on the Ferris Wheel and while we were going around for the *twentieth* time (thereabouts, seriously!) I asked him, "Is this fun?" "No," he replied. "Is this scary?" "Yes," he nodded.

At the same time as finding it scary, he didn't show it and wanted to go on again. I think it was the length of the ride. It made my stomach feel gross!

Dane found a convenient way to pack Briton around on his back - on top of his backpack.

Briton was very quick to bring his slate up for the teacher to see. He drew circles. *smile* As usual the big kids were great helpers with the little ones.

The Kids Enjoying an Ice Cream

Goofy Austin

After we came home from the park, we had leftovers for dinner, and then we all headed to the waterslides for one last swim. I had promised the kids that I would go on the waterslide tonight. I was not impressed with getting cold. As anyone knows my favourite spot is the hot tub! Well, I couldn't renage on my promise, so at the end of the time I hit the slide.

Without using my noggin I decided to take Briton since I am an adult, afterall, and all the kids had been taking the little ones. So why couldn't I? I sat down in the slide and put Briton on my lap and off we went. It was great fun. I was never disputing that! It was the cold I loathe!

So as I spin around the three loops, I am thinking of the cold entry at the bottom. A four foot drop into shocking cold water. Sure enough, I come around the corner holding Briton on my lap and I enter the pool. Now, the last time I was in a water slide (and all other times) the exit of the slide was into a shallow 6".

Not so this time....

I shot into the pool with toddler in arms. My feet shot out from under me and we both went down. We headed right for the bottom of the pool. I could feel Briton slipping in my arms and I knew we were both under water. I couldn't get him up until I got my feet back under me. I scrambled around trying to lift him up into the air. We both surfaced at the same time. He was just fine. All those times I have been splashing him and playing in the water, deliberately getting him very wet, has paid off. He was not impressed apparently, according to observers, but he was not yelling or crying.

When we turned around and headed for shore, I could see everyone of our group standing all around the pool. Corrie told me they were just about to dive in and rescue us, as we were down for a long time. I think it was about 10 seconds.

The irony here is that I wouldn't use the waterslide, because I feel this need to have an eye on each of my children *all the time*. Then it turns out to be me that has the problem!

Well, after that, I said I would not take little ones again! LOL!! The children enjoyed sliding and giving me ideas on how to go faster or this way or that, and it was great fun. But my times of sliding with littles was over! I would leave that to the pros!

After our swim time we headed back to the room, packed up our stuff, and then had Corrie's kids over for one last movie: Alvin and the Chipmunks. Then off to bed because tomorrow we are heading to Banff for the day, and then on to Corrie's for a few more days of fun.

Day 11 - Calgary Zoo

It has been fun staying in this hotel with our two families. It is hard to believe that our children have never met before; they get along so well and have so much fun together. Our rooms are across the hall from each other and everyone liberally pops back and forth.

This morning, after breakfast, we headed out to the Calgary Zoo. As soon as we got in the doors Dane got us a wagon to pull the little guys and Corrie had her double stroller. The little ones had a ball seeing all the different animals.

Cassidy has a special spot for Tsega. I was talking to him and Tsega was way ahead of us with her mum. He said to me, "I have to go. I need to look after Tsega." They are very sweet together.

Cool Dude Austin

Does the boy *ever* not pose?

I loved this because it is one of our little Gadisae's middle names. She is named for the African Savannah - and this is what this sign is for at the zoo.

Our Three Little Ones

I Wear My Sunglasses At Night...

Aren't They Cute!

I was beat from all these days on the road, so when we were done at the Zoo we headed back to the hotel and I put my little ones to bed, and the big ones went over to Corrie's room to watch a movie. I vegged on my computer and the littles had their nap.

After this we headed down to the smaller pool which is just below our room. It is a great kidney shaped pool with a hottub. Cooper and I worked on his swimming and he did fantastic with his swimming lessons. He is now able to float on his back, semi-float on his tummy, jump into the pool and get completely wet. Not bad for a few days swimming!

Briton and I played lots and I dunked him and pulled him back and forth through the water, and he got very comfortable with all the water splashing on his face. It won't be long before he is swimming!

Austin is happily swimming like a fish. He has been rather klutzy with his 'swimming', so today Caity taught him how to cup his hands when he takes strokes - much less splashing now. He is also learning to turn his head to the side to breathe.

I think we will work on taking private lessons when we get home, since they have learned so much in such a short time.

After swimming we headed back upstairs and ordered pizza. Pizza party in our room! That was followed by me taking the older 7 kids to the waterslide for an hour of sliding, while Corrie put the babies to bed. Again, the little ones had a ball while the older ones gave them sliding rides.

We finished our night with coming back to our room and everyone (but Corrie and babies) got comfortable on the beds with pillows and popcorn, while we watched National Treasure 2.

We are having a wonderful time visiting. I am ready for a 'holiday' - LOL! These kids have so much energy!

Day 10 - Hanging Around

I should just mention that we have a room that is over the atrium. It has a little balcony on it that overlooks the interior pool. Very cool! But of course, having boys, the first thing the little ones did while out there was to pull up the chairs and stool and stand on them and nearly give me a heart attack!!

So new rules - no one goes out the front door; no one goes out the back door (without permission) and noone goes wild in the room (ie: jumping on beds and bouncing off walls).

Night Time From Our Room

This morning I was up first trying again to upload photos to my blog. For some strange reason I am having a problem bringing up photos to the blog. Very annoying considering I am doing a detailed journal!

Dane ran down to the car once we realized we had forgotten the spoons. We bought chocolate milk yesterday, instead of regular milk, so the kids willingly had chocolate milk in their cereal. They also had their little yoghurts and nutrigrain bars. Breakfast in the room.

After breakfast, we headed to the mall to do some shopping. Here you see our helpful big brothers and sister holding the hands and carrying the little ones.

Well, we went shopping instead of the the Zoo or Heritage Park. It was chilly today, and the next few days are supposed to warm up. Corrie found a vendor that did t-shirt prints in 15 minutes! So I got two tshirts for the girls. One for each of them.

They say: Welcome to Canada, Gadisae (or Mesai) and then below that is our family picture holding their photos, and below that it says, Your Family Loves You.

We also got a tshirt made for the girls' mum. It has pictures of the girls, our house (their new home) and the family shot of our family.

Cooper Making Sure Tsega Doesn't Get Lost

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting for the T-Shirts to be Ready

We came home from the mall and fed the children, and then put the little five to bed (and they all fell asleep) and then the older four went down to the Big Gusher Waterslide on their own. They are having a ball.

It is so wonderful because we are now at our fifth family of visiting and in each situation the children just got along like wildfire, right from the get-go. It has been a blessed journey for sure.

8:00 pm

While the little ones were sleeping, the big ones came back because while Dane was going down the waterslide he cut his two middle fingers in a very nasty way. It wasn't deep; it was long (about 1 1/2 inches long) and shallow (about 1/2 cm wide and 1 mm deep). Nasty! Then he had more cuts on the other side and on another finger.

I had to not study the finger too much, while I was trying to decide how to handle it. I knew it didn't need stitches. There was no skin to stitch! It had taken a strip off about 1/2cm wide! While swallowing many times to keep my stomach settled *grin*, I wrapped him up in bandaging and then sent him on his way. We later bought him waterproof bandaging and he was good to go.

Later, we headed to Superstore to buy 'stuff' to make for dinner. We headed back to our rooms and had dinner in our room. Roast chickens ripped apart with sharp knife and plastic forks, caesar salad, and then a semi frozen Grand Marnier cake. Corrie and I had a laugh at that one. The kids picked the cake and we didn't know what they picked til we got home. It was good, but we had to microwave it slightly to remove the frozen middle.

After this Corrie put her little ones to bed, I put my little ones to tv, and the big ones all headed down to the waterslide for another couple hours of sliding. After the kids went to the pool I chatted with Ray on the phone. Briton wanted to talk, but by then Ray had hung up. So I handed him the phone and he commenced to talking to Ray for about 5 minutes - laughing and giggling the whole way through. Obviously, he has seen my handle my phone conversations in a similar manner! LOL!! He had no idea Ray was not at the other end. It was too cute.

Tomorrow we are heading to Calgary Zoo.