Memorial Lake, 2012

Our trip to Canada started off nice. Friday night we left for Bismark and stayed the night at Chris' parents house.

We ran into about a 40 minutes delay due to a bad accident. 

We left early Saturday morning and our designation was Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where Chris' grandparents live.

 Ryken was such a good traveler. He slept a lot of the time and when he was awake, he was playing or just looking around. We were so very thankful!

 Since our timing was going better than we expected with the little guy, we stopped in Canada, at a park in Regina for about an hour and a half. It was nice to watch all the boaters.

 It was beautiful too!

I thought it was interesting the way they had their street lights!

 We made it to Grandma and Grandpa house.

Sunday morning, after church and lunch with the family, Chris, Ryken and I left and drove to our cabin about 1 hour and 45 minutes away from grandma and grandpas house. 

 We got there just in time to check in and get our keys. It closed at 5:00. So that was a blessing.

This was our little cabin that we shared with Chris' parents!

 Living Room and Kitchen

 Mom and Dad's room

Our room.

 Once the rest of the family got there, we went to grandma and grandpas cabin to help unload.

 Isn't it cute?

 And beautiful?

 This is where Chris wrote "Look Miss Ally, Canadian Sand" 4 years ago, when he knew I collected sand, but I wouldn't give him my address to send me some. So he just took a picture of it and sent it over e-mail. I would say that act started it all for me! :) 

 Ryken enjoying the lake!

 Solomon, Jonathan and Ben on the beach.

 A few in the water.

 Ryken was talking away on the beach. He loved the cool breeze and watching the trees move.

 Matthew in his pool, showing off his belly button.

 Mini Golf course right by us. Some group of people went at least once a day.

 Ryken looked disgusted the whole time but only once cried.

 Cousins.

Chris and his dad were on the golf course some a little each day. Grandpa and Frank, Shelley's husband went some too, but not everyday. 

 A morning walk around the cabin.

 Rykens bug net that worked, he came back bite free.

 Down by the beach on the hottest day.

 Mom loved doing things over the fire. Here she ad Aunt Shelly are making Garlic Parmesan bread.

 Family picture on the swing.

 Nana helping Ryken cool off. 

 Sitting with Aunt Christy.

 Caught Grandpa sleeping.

 Another day at the beach.

 Matthew in his floater.

 I see a tradition forming.

 :)

 Smores

 Yum

 We celebrated birthdays Thursday night. Chris opening his cards.

 Aunt Shelly and Grandma opening their gift.

 Family shot down by the Lake.

 Pictures with our sweet boy.

 Aunt Sue and Uncle Dwight  drove to see us Friday night.

Matthew ran around saying "Ykeen" for Ryken, it was so cute.

 Grandpa loves babies and babies love Grandpa. So cute to see them together.

 Family picture time

 4 generations 

 The Brucks

 The Schucks

 More Brucks. 

The couple on the left, they were married right after Chris and I and she is due any day. We saw them on the 13th and she had a baby girl on the 15th. 

The young man on the far right is Ben, one of Dwight and Sues kids. They have two other girls that couldn't make it.

 Saturday morning we left at 7:30 and made a stop at the meat shop that has our favorite sausage that the Brucks get yearly.

 Changing Ryken on the back of the car because there was no changing station at the ghetto gas station.

 Ryken did good again for such a long time in the car. Here he is looking sweet sleeping with his elephant.

 Made it to the boarder and made it through.

 After 15 hours in the car we made it home just after midnight. We were thankful for the time away with each other and family. And boy did our own beds and air conditioning feel fabulous.