Ahhh the Trip Home.....seriously!?

I will never be the type of woman to say that family vacations are boring or perfect.  Not true, never true, never can be true.  If you say it is I'll go out on a limb and call you a liar.  With so many dynamics and personalities the individuals that make up families create what looks like on occasion conformed chaos lol.  But we all know, no.  

Was a tearful goodbye for all of us.  I really miss my home, the smells, the sights, my family and friends.  My children are still very much attached to Alberta and wish that they could stay.  My parents who now live so far away from us value, as do we, our time together as a family.  That feeling you get when everyone is together, everyone is happy and healthy, it's a great feeling of peace and joy.  Who wouldn't want to feel that as often as possible?  All our gear packed up, was a chilly morning due to the wind.  There's always an ere or excitement and sadness when you go back home, the party's over.

It was an enjoyable drive to the border staring at the mountains in the background with canola fields in front. So beautiful.  At the border (Coutts)we finally get to go through the East Germany looking building which I still can't help but giggle at when I see it I'm sorry but it's funny to me our paranoid societies have reasons and I get that but I guess I figure it's gonna happen anyways so this building makes me giggle.  The border guard we met with was awesome a great and wonderful example of the US.  He was direct but very kind and practical.  Unlike this other woman at the other border nearby (Del Bonita) who is anything but normal I'd ask if that was a pickle or a stick but I'm sure she'd detain me all day long just for spite sooooooo, we'll stick with this guy.

Once in the States a feeling of relief and missing take hold of me.  Glad to be back in the States but sad to leave my home.  We stopped in Great Falls at the local market for breakfast and to fill up, which to me is also just like home I've been there so many times, and then off we went.  About a half hour drive out of Great Falls you could smell it.  Campfire smell.  We purposefully didn't drive down to Utah partially for that reason.  Wildfires.  You could see where it had ravaged these hills taking homes and fences and other buildings with it.  There were hummers and tents sprawled out for miles with people looking at maps and talking on the phone.  The trees and grasses were stills smoking as we drove through.  The closer we got to Billings the thicker the smoke started to become and we knew there was going to be a lot more of this driving to come.  It was like driving through red air.  Usually you have a good visual of Devil's Tower from the interstate in Wyoming but the smoke was so unbelievably thick you could barely see to the end of the hills right beside you.  Great for an asthmatic!  ( no I forgot my inhaler Mom but I was ok)

We decided to hoof it on our first day and make it as near to Rapid City,SD as we could.  Also knowing that we were doing the longest part of our journey I made reservations at a hotel for the night so that I could shower and crash.  So happy I chose that!  Setting up camp when you're exhausted just doesn't work all that well.  Like most people we find ourselves fighting over stupid crap, the pole goes here no it goes there, well how about I take this pole and.....you get the picture.

It definitely was not like in the brochure lol.  Scary when we say that right?  A little smaller and dingier especially next to the Comfort Inn Suites across the parking lot.  Was like looking at a hallelujah hotel that I wouldn't be staying at and turned to our hotel where you can hear the crickets.  Didn't care as long as the bedding was clean lol.  They had a small but deeper pool and hot tub at this hotel which my kids planned on going into the second we walked in the door and they could smell the chlorine.  My kids do that at EVERY single hotel we go to.  Mom and Dad tired from traveling, kids smell chlorine and automatically assume they must put on their gear the second we open the door to our room.  Even though they're older, today was no exception.  I opted to read and allow them to take their baby sister into the pool who is anything but careful which is why I read maybe 4 lines of my book the entire 2 hours I was there.

Finally everyone munching and putting pajamas on, watching old movies and one by one we dropped like flies.  Literally.  Not one of us was tucked into bed.  Nate fell asleep on the floor listening to music(he was stretching out his back), I was asleep face down on the foot of the bed (drooling), and the kids were sprawled out on the bed next to us lightly snoring already.  The only one who looked comfy was our toddler girl who was sleeping beside Mommy tucked into her blanket so I got up and moved her to the crib provided by the hotel, pulled down the bed for the kids, tapped the hubby to get up here it's better to sleep in and went back to blissful sleep.  No one at this hotel was noisy, no talking loud, no loud tv, no slamming doors.  I decided that I really liked this hotel after all.

Morning comes and you can still smell a little smoke but the rain is taking that away.  Wait, the rain?  We're camping tonight.  Hopefully it's just local.  Goodbye Spearfish, we've enjoyed our stay, hello boring paved roads filled with I'm too cool for school old man drivers with their convertibles wishing they was twenty again.  Worst drivers ever!  I always thought old men with hats, but nope I stand corrected after this trip.

About 2-3 hours into driving we notice something.  Something awful.  Our baby has swollen tonsils.  The way we found out?  Our 12 year old son was making faces with her in the back seat and noticed her tongue and throat looked "weird".  I asked baby girl to look at Mom and make that face, Dad was glancing in the rear view and could see what I saw.  Swollen tonsils.  Now at this point some of you are oh no how awful but let me quickly explain tonsils to you.  I promise you that at more times than one in your life without any serious infection associated with it you yourselves have had swollen tonsils on occasion.  As long as the patient isn't complaining about a sore throat and is eating and drinking just fine you do NOTHING.  The body can and will take care of it.  I called our doctor back home and let her know we were on our way home but wouldn't be there until the next day.  But I also made sure she understood our baby girl wasn't complaining and seemed perfectly happy.  She said what I thought she'd say.  Do nothing and come in if she complains.  I love my doctor.  I love having small town doctor mom who doesn't worry she just matter of factly puts stuff out there.  Sooooo my kinda person.

We notice after lunch that it's getting hotter and hotter every time we stop.  By the time we had lunch we were basically through South Dakota and heading south on I-29 to our campsite near Omaha.  When we finally stopped for gas and to find something to take to our campsite for dinner it was about 39 C and humid.  Just great when you have a baby.  Just peachy!  We get to our campsite and are almost immediately greeted with a man with a beer in his hand asking if we know who the guy that's supposed to be camping next to us is.  Seriously?  This is an amazingly beautiful campground by the way.  We are right on the lake.  Lapping waves are gonna rock me to sleep.  Maybe....

We had the most eventful night I think I've had in years that night.  While we were setting up camp and the sun is setting it is now 43 C and humid.  Sweat is pouring off of us as we set up our tents and air mattresses. So much so that by the time it's dusk we need to change our clothes because we are soaked.  I already explained the whole grumpy fighting over stupid stuff right?  Only this time it's not with each other.  We see fireworks in the distance over the lake so beautiful and quiet.  They are far enough away that you can't hear them but you see all the amazing colors.  We figure we should probably turn in even though it's this hot and there's only the tiniest breeze ( please bring more wind please please).  Our 'neighbors' have other plans.  And on top of that the down the site from us people have other plans too.  There is a park ranger that literally goes around reminding everyone that 10pm is the campgrounds quiet time.  They have a no noise ordinance in that camp ground from 10pm-7am it's a State Park.  Don't think any of our neighbors except that woman across from us got it.

The 'neighbors' down the way are getting louder and louder as time goes on.  Drunker, less clothing, even yelling at cheering by 11pm.  Our 'neighbors' right beside us are getting edgier and drunker and more aggressive as time passes.  Hubby wanders over to the down the way peeps and asks if they can keep it down we have children trying to sleep ( especially our toddler in this heat )they are rude, abusive and don't seem to care.  I tried calling the park they have no after hours line, something they need to fix because most State Parks do.  Then while I'm doing that a fight breaks out right beside the kids tent.  At this point I'm dialing 911.  I explain to dispatch where I am they patch me through the police are sent we wait about 40 mins for him to show up.  In that time Hubby has asked the peeps next to us to please settle down we have kids here again thanks to beer abusive comments.  I state loud enough for them to hear it's ok honey I already called the police.  Utter silence.  They START setting up their tent ( almost midnight) and trying not to yell at each other because they can't see.

When the policeman arrives at this point I'm so hot and sweaty and tired I just long for some sleep.  He was extremely polite and kind to me it must have shown how tired I was.  I explained we had traveled from Spearfish, SD that day with 3 kids and one of them is 2 years old.  I explained in detail the two instances but told him the ones beside us had calmed down.  He said he'd take care of it, you have a good night sweetheart ( awww so sweet ) and then proceeded to drive towards our down the way 'neighbors'.  He immediately puts a spotlight on them, yells and whistles at them to 'get out here'.  Asked them roughly if they were being obnoxious and causing trouble for 'this nice family behind me'.  They denied it, he yelled at them again.  Then they said hubby was rude to them asking them to be quiet.  Policeman laughs and reminds them of the ordinance they're breaking and warns them if he has to come out again they'll spend the night in jail.  Ahhhhhh, peace and satisfaction.  Now if only I could get a breeze!

Hubby of course is now nervous in case all these people turn on us in our sleep.  I am not nervous at all and fall asleep.

In the morning both neighbors apologized profusely to us especially me.  I was more than happy to accept their apologies and suggest that maybe those ones set up their tent sooner and make sure their girlfriends want to camp in the first place and to the others you can't just act like this is party central with all these families around here.  He takes a minute to look around and sees all the kids.  That'll do it.

Home again home again to excessive heat!  Tree's leaves everywhere it's a mess.  House is still standing and pillow is beckoning.  At least I can say now that's a family vacation!

Family Friends and Family Reunion....of sorts

Anywho.

We all enjoyed resting and relaxing, while kids found friends again at the pool and went shopping.  Was nice to have a lazy summers day just chatting, playing cards. ( note to self don't play gin rummy with hubby anymore he always wins)

Along with rest and relaxation came surprises.  Not to me though, I got to be the one to shock. ( hehehe love it)  I called my good ole father in law to say hello there how are you with some fairly minor chit chatting and family updates.  I asked him if he'd be interested in having dinner with us the following evening.  Stone silence.  I can only assume from confusion because as far as he knows we're in Missouri not Alberta lol.  Then I mentioned that I was yes calling from my Missouri cell phone from my Alberta mom's house living room.  Complete and utter shock.  I think he stopped breathing at one point and all I could do was first ask 'Are you ok?' and second burst out laughing.  Best part of the day was that conversation.  He mumbled some stuff not sure what it was exactly because I was too busy giggling up a storm.  ( hopefully I didn't snort that's embarrassing)

Next day, ahhhh sleeping in is awesome I really really like it!  We decided to get up and enjoy our day shopping.  We had promised the kids some early back to school shopping whilst we were in Canada so that's what we did, although with a nice, beautiful, wonderful, once in a very long lifetime twist, Mom got to go on a shopping spree!  Woohoooooo!  My favorite store, Additionelle, is in Lethbridge and I love love being able to shop for designer outfits ( not walmart old lady fat stuff) and enjoy what I'm wearing despite my chubby sized, curvy self.  Even fat chicks gotta look good you know?  I could have easily spent over 600 hundred in that store it's amazing!  But instead I settled for half that trying to be "frugal" as much as I could considering I haven't gone shopping like that since I attended a wedding up there a few years ago.  Despite the shoe store nearby ( if you know me you know I'm addicted could try on everything) I refrained and moved on to allow the kids the buy what they may for the next school year which took quite a bit of time.  Thought I was picky, sheesh!

We really enjoyed seeing in laws greet us at the Montana's restaurant.  As always they were surprised at how much the children grew, totally understandable.  They asked the kids a lot of questions which is good you know because then I get to know what they been doing and not telling me about right?  It was great to hear the chatter and the laughter and see all these lit up happy faces.  Made my day.  (as did the shopping spree woohoo)

Friday!  Another enjoyable restful day of goofing off and meeting up with friends of mine this time.  So great to see friends.  I love them.  I miss them terribly.  Once you've established such good solid friendships with people that not only you stand at their worst but they can stand you back and still love is precious and rare.  Hard not to miss people like that.  Had an outdoor meal with the bugs and the birds.  Children running around chasing and playing having fun, and our toddler girl lifting up the melting ice cream bucket and you could literally see her tongue in there licking it alllll up.  Good times.

My parents are fortunate to live in a town where almost everyone has a bon fire pit in their backyards.  You can't burn garbage in town, but you can burn your yard clippings and have bon fires for the purpose of parties which our family grew up doing all the time with all the neighbors.  Felt like I had gone back in time a little bit toasting marshmallows and making s'mores.  Sticky but oh so gooooood.  It was also nice to vent a little bit with my bestest friend.  So nice to be able to talk about anything and let it all out about everyone and everything after "dealing with it" all that time.  Ahhh peace of mind.  I was sad to say goodbye.

Morning comes and as always where there is a Canada Day Parade it has to be hot enough to burn us all as we watch the parade.  We joined our cousins once again on my Dad's side to take in the festivities ( as much as small towns go it was nice) and watch our toddler's face because this was her very first parade.  She had no prior knowledge that floats and cars would be throwing candy her way but she sure caught on fast.  Albeit the other children around her were faster so she had some help from her older brother and cousin to fill up her candy bag.  When the parade was over and we walked back to my Aunt's house for a visit, which I enjoyed, realization that I've missed my family and I'm used to them always being around set in.  Was hard to say goodbye to my Aunt, I love her so.

From one family to the next we traveled home to Mom and Dad's and Mom's side of the family was about to arrive.  My cousin and her husband and their sweet little girl and my Mom's younger sister and her husband came in to town.  Other cousins had been detained although it would have been incredible to be able to play catch up with them and see how much their kids have grown.  Was a nice relaxing evening filled with .....bbq....mmmmmmmm ( taking a moment to relfect).  Not to mention our eldest daughter turned 14. (sighs)  It's getting harder to call her a kid now, young woman might be in order.  (bossy young woman)  Oh shoot she might be reading this, I love you!  Apple of my eye, fruit of my loins, sunshine smile girl. ( when you smile) Ok, seriously the last one I promise!  The birthday cake was an assortment of cheesecakes, yummmmmmmm...........................what was I saying again?  Oh yeah, Happy Birthday!

We journeyed the next day as a family to Waterton National Park, where they let us in for free.  Was really hard for me not to take a gazillion pictures since Missouri is definitely lacking in Rocky Mountains, which I had grown accustom to seeing often growing up and in my adulthood.  Was a mixed up day if you ask me, beautiful and breathtaking when it was sunny, then 5 mins later, cold miserable rain.  Of course it just had to show up as we were eating lunch.  Murphy's law.  ( stupid Murphy )

And then there is, the 'potty'.  A tremendous whole dug in the mountainous ground with a piece of plywood formed into a seat with an actual toilet seat cover.  You could see on the wall that they had made every effort to cut down on...................THE SMELL.  The best way to have it smell a little fresher is to have open windows not closed cake in the heat kind.  Ew.  But they did have hand sanitizing foam and toilet paper so that's good.  Although I still can't sit on those things, I hover.  Don't like 'em.

We wandered down to the town sight and the falls, of course when we got out, it started to rain.  Yup. (sighs)  I've seen them plenty and we had a very curious 2 yr old who wanted to see them until it really started to rain, she hates rain, she used to scream 'Rain! Rain!' whenever we drove in it so heading to a large tree for some shelter was okay with her no more I want to see the falls up close.  ( Thank Heavens)  We also headed to the big Waterton Lake.  It is such a beautiful setting of  clean mountain water with green mountains cascading behind it and beside it.  The youngest two girls sure enjoyed tossing in and skipping rocks with their dads.  Was a beautiful setting to watch.  I almost started to cry because my heart ached at the very thought of leaving the mountains.  It's inexplicable in words how happy I feel in the mountains.  Would live there if I could in a heartbeat!  I hope someday.  It started to rain and pour.  I got soaked.

We headed over to a campground site and shared a camp kitchen with a lovely muslim family who was having a picnic on the one side and offered us the other table.  It was sunny when we got there.  We pulled out our grill to cook the hamburgers and hot dogs and had to use ketchup as our bbq sauce ( poor man's sauce lol) was still very yummy and I really had fun talking with everyone and finding out what everyone has been doing and especially, watching my mom with her sister.  They are amazing to watch.  It is obvious and apparent how much they love each other and how giddy and happy they get when they are together.  So great to be a part of.  My mom has always had a close family.  I truly hope that someday my children will be the same because they are driving me nuts with their fighting.  ( understatement )  And it popped into my head that we were most likely heading home the next day.  Bummer.  But at the same time, what an adventure.

We actually didn't get to Salt Lake City as we had intended to visit with hubby's sister and family.  He opted to allow us all to stay a couple of extra days with my side of the family and rest and relax a little bit more before travelling that great distance home again.  He also did it because he really loves his children and he could see how much they loved and missed their friends and opted to allow them more time with them.  He's an awesome dad.

The trip home?  Well that is completely another blog filled with excessive heat and police.....