One last Trip North

What an amazing week. 

We had a scheduled surgery for Macie in Lloydminster, but it fell through in the last week but we had booked a hotel that was non refundable so we decided to go for it. 

We could have some fun in a hotel and then Cruze up to cold lake and check on our house. 

When we were almost in Lloyd we got a call from our realtor who had someone put an offer on our house. We eventually accepted the offer and hope all conditions can be worked out this week. 

The buyer would take possession March 25, 2020. 

What wonderful news. 

We made it to the hotel and had a blast in the swimming pool. It had a really fast slide and a hot tub.

We ate at our favourite places, Tasty K’s and Spiro’s. Man those are some good eatings.

We headed up Friday to Cold Lake and got our house back up and running.

Turned the hot water tank back on, plugged in the fridge and connected front room fire place. 

Unfortunately, our sewer line froze up and we backed up the pipes a bit. However, a call to the city and we were flowing again. They showed up with a steamer and heated things up for us. 

We had to do a bit of raw sewage clean up in the basement :(  but it could have been a lot worse. Only a few nasties.

We enjoyed a lot of time with close friends the Ellis family. They fed us well for 3 dinners.

Twas really cold weekend up there. That made us appreciate the mild southern Alberta weather a lot. Had to warm up the vehicle many times before departures. 

Sunday was nice to go to church in Cherry Grove and see some familiar friendly faces. Lots of wonderful folks who are so kind and loving.

Monday morning we packed up and Cleaned the house one final time. We borrowed a vacuum and hit all the floors, cleaned bathrooms and shovelled some snow. 

We were on the road by 830. We had to make a visit with another family that moved from Cold lake to Lacombe. We got to Lacombe early afternoon and enjoyed a good visit with our friends the Lowrys. Even won the game pandemic for the first time as a group. Kids were so happy to get out of the car and play. They shared valentines with each other. Which was very cute.

We had to make one more stop in Red Deer to visit with our good friends the Kents. A sweet couple we met in Lloyd. They moved to Rocky  Mt house. We ate dinner with them at Montana’s and enjoyed a great catch up session.  

Making the trip north this weekend was nice, but visiting friends was priceless.  These folks have been important parts of our lives.  It goes to show you that what really matters are people. Not the stuff. It’s people.

Past Few Months Clean up

Where the heck have we been. There has been a lot of changes in our life. Since we left off, We have to go back to October 2019.
First off Big congrats to Macie and Wade for getting Awards at school before they left.

Pretty Awesome Kids

One of our favourite places in Cold Lake is the provincial park. Below are some time lapse photos from2016 and now. 

In early September we bought a house in Magrath Alberta.

Bye Cold Lake. 

Our Cold Lake House has not sold yet. 

Our new house is simple and very satisfying. The back yard is huge and comes with a few fruit trees that we look forward to picking next September.

Our new home

Back Yard

Why not move were we vacation? So now dad travels to Calgary to fly to Jackfish.

Plane daddy takes to work

We moved Oct 10, 2019 with a huge trailer to house all Dads Junk.

The move went fairly smooth. It was a very long few days. Packing, cleaning, driving, and unpacking. We Left Cold lake after 9 pm after long day for dad to drive from a Calgary conference he was at back to Cold lake, all the whole mom was trying to get the last items packed up in preparation for the moving truck to show up. Mom and dad were exhausted. But we cleaned the house and left for Magrath. We got to Killam and stayed in a hotel. Drove the rest of the way the very next day. The truck arrived very late but some helpers managed to wait long enough to help us unpack.

The house only had 3 bedrooms so that meant that Wade was living in with mom and dad until dad could get his room done.

             

Wades room adjacent to furnace room

Wades Room in the making

Work on the basement commenced as soon as possible, building walls, putting up drywall, muding, taping, painting, laying floor, installing doors, and finally putting up base boards and trim. As of December 24, Wade had his own bedroom. A big shout out to Grandpa D for his time spent on the floor with dad, installing flooring. He also helped with trim and doors.

                  

Macie's Updated Room 

                

Wades New room 

I neglected to mention that the kids really enjoyed themselves this Halloween.Not only did they get some sweet costumes, but they also got to trick or treat with their cousin Grady.

Lady Bug (Macie) Billy the Kid (Grady) Cat Noir (Wade)

Cute little Mine Mouse

                 

Kansas' alternate costume (peppa pig)

Macie, yes the little girl in all the past posts turned 8 and was baptized on December 22 in Magrath with family their to share in her coming of age. It was a very special time, as family members came that we have it seen in a long time.
Both Mom and Dads family came out. It was amazing to get together so soon before Christmas and enjoy a little meal and feel the spirit.

Mom started a new job in Lethbridge at a place called Visual Effects. She works twice a week and is really enjoying working there.

The kids have enjoyed spending time with Grandma and cousins as they only live a block away. We have tried to make time to watch our young nieces sports game. Macie is enjoying watching her older cousins.

Macie and Grady were in the school Christmas concert together.

Wade and Ms Miller

Wade and Ty M

The weather down south is so different from Cold Lake. We have to access both Winter and Spring gear as one day its spring weather and the next is winter.

hiking out by the golf course

Kansas saying" its a great day to do nothing"

For christmas we got a real christmas tree and got to have a little visit with Mr and Mrs Clause at the festival of lights in Coaldale.

Helicopter Rides

Back in August we attempted to sell our bouncy castle on a local buy and sell. One person responded and didnt want to buy it but was interested in renting it for his military squadron family event. I said there is no insurance but I would just let you use it at no cost. He then wanted to have me and the kids come to the event and enjoy the festivities. I said that wouldn’t be necessary and not to worry, until he offered a free helicopter ride. YUP WE ARE SO IN.  The day before the event he said that he did not need the bouncy castle anymore but we were still welcome to come. So we went for it. And it was so fun. Free Free Free. 

Bouncy castle and obstacle course, fire truck tour, F-18 tour, carnival games (fishing, beanbag toss, velcroball toss, cotton candy, popcorn, prizes, BBQ and of course helicopter rides. Now this area was behind security so we had to have special permission and no cameras allowed so you’ll have to picture us in a large hanger with two planes, lots of tables some blow up bouncy castles and some kids toys. It was perfect. 

Wade loved the bouncy obstacle course, Kansas loved the bouncy castle push cars and the cotton candy

And they all loved riding around in a golf cart converted into a fire-engine. 

The bbq was good as was the cake but the best for dad was the helicopter ride. 

We were on the stand by list for the helicopter rides so there was no guarantee we were going. To go we needed to do a few things. We needed pants, safety training and some lucky sucker to watch Kansas and we needed a cancelation. Well we secured pants as I was in shorts and Wade said he didn’t want to go, and the guy who invited us, Devin had his wife watch Kansas for me. Two cancelations later. We got trained and were off. 

It was awesome riding in a Griffen. We took of from the base and flew north to the lake , we followed the shore line past the beach and spray park and headed south on the east side of cold lake and grand centre. The pilot then flew us through the beaver river valley and it was wild. Cutting left and right , up and down, Macie got a little weezy but she managed.

We saw some deer and cows. The fall colours were amazing. Then we came in for our landing.  The whole trip must have lasted like 15-25 min. Wow so lucky.