Big Fish: Algonquin 2009

Dave was thrilled to be part of the annual boys fishing trip in Algonquin this year: "Big Fish 2009". They had great weather, caught lots of fish, and enjoyed whatever it is that boys do on a 5 day fishing trip. Here's to many more years of "Big Fish"ing!!!

Windermere weekend

Stampede 2009

This year we had Dave's sister, Tara, and my high school friend, Cheryl, here for a visit during the first weekend of Stampede.
As usual, we managed to fit in lots of "Stampeding": a visit to Ranchman's (the local "cowboy" bar), the Chuckwagon races on Friday night, our very own "Stampede Breakfast" Saturday morning, followed by the Rodeo and the "Wild Horse Saloon" on Saturday. It's always busier than we remember, trying to fit in so much into a few days, but so much fun to spend time with friends "celebrating" summer and this festive time of year. There really is a festive atmosphere in Calgary, with decorations, country music, and Urban Cowboys (and Cowgirls) everywhere you look.

Another great weekend in Montana

We spent another great weekend in Montana, this time with Tannis and Steve and Shandra and Dave joining us as well as Crystal and Marc...

Providence Girls Night Out

My "colleagues" from Providence celebrated the end of our parent meetings and the upcoming last few days of "school" with a night out at the Duelling Pianos bar "Aussie Rules". It was great to celebrate and let loose with the girls. Each time we spend time together outside of "work" time, it always serves as a great reminder of how lucky I am to work with such wonderful girls that I truly do consider friends as well as colleagues. Thanks Ladies, and have a wonderful summer!!!

Kananaskis

Although we've spent a lot of time exploring Alberta and BC since moving here, we've tended to focus our time and attention on Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, etc. and haven't spent much time at all in Kananaskis. We've done hikes and mountain bike rides here and there, but have never really explored the village and highway 40, etc.
Today we had a friend running in the K100 (Ryan Strom), where a relay of runners each run a portion of a 100mile stretch of the highway that runs through this beautiful area. We took our bikes out to cheer him on, then spent some time at the Stroms campsite at Eau Claire.
This area is a bit of a hidden gem: so close to Calgary, but SO beautiful!! Here's Dave in Kananaskis Village

Riding down Hwy 40 in search of the K100 racers

We caught up with Ryan and cheered/heckled him along his leg of the race

Back at the campsite, the ladies enjoy some much needed (but highly overpriced) beverages!

Dave's best buddy Bennett

Our first visit to friends' in Montana

(Sorry: I've been having a hard time getting Blogger to post properly lately, so some of these posts are a little delayed)...

We have a few friends from different places who have recently acquired vacation/recreational property in Montana: Dave's biking partner from the TransRockies--Joe and his wife Natasha have built a home they enjoy with their kids, Niya and Jagger; and Crystal and Marc have a beautiful piece of property that they have started to develop by first building a "bunkie".
We were invited down to check out the properties, and to offer Dave's handy-man skills in building a front deck for Marc and Crystal's place.

It was wonderful to get away for the weekend: it always feels longer and more relaxing to me when we are able to actually get away from the daily household tasks (laundry, mowing the lawn, housecleaning, etc.) and have a bit of a mini-vacation.

The drive to Montana is about 4 hrs, but goes by quickly with the beautiful scenery, and now that it stays light out so late, so you are easily able to see the road.

The contrast between Crystal and Marc's undeveloped but "untouched" property and Joe and Nat's beautiful and comfortable but developed home and property was interesting: it made me realize that I really do like the simplicity of the "no running water/no electricity" sense of getting away from it all, moreso than all the comforts of home offered in a more developed vacation property. I used to love going to Aunt Joan and Uncle Fred's cottage on White Lake, that truly was a "cottage", or Jim Bailey's cabin in the woods that was also just that--a hunting cabin. That being said, I understand with little kids how the convenience offered by a more developed vacation home definitely makes more sense! Here's some pictures, hopefully worth a thousand words...
Wild Rose Country

Some good looking shirtless dudes working on the bunkie

Pretending to ride the motorbike (I rode on the back of the quad with Dave but that was about as brave as I got)...

Marc and Crystal at Joe and Nat's place

Dave tries out the halfpipe at Joe and Nat's (boys and their toys...)

Spring pictures...

Greyson seems to be taking over our bed lately... A work trip to Edmonton for Dave and I, as well as colleagues Christina and Kaylea and our friend Mike.

Tannis and Grace

Shandra finishes her Half-Marathon in record time, despite getting over a cold...