.cabin camping.

We went "camping" this weekend out in the country with a few of Air's old buddies.

We were going to camp in our *new tent* near Red Deer River by Russ's wife Amy's parent's cabin, but it was raining off and on all weekend so we ended up staying in the cabin instead!

I'll take a trade like that any day personally.

Their cabin was beautiful! More like a house really.

We had a really good time, and were only planning on staying one night but the trip got extended through the weekend due to our sheer happiness to be there together!

Here’s the trip in pictures:

Amy, baby Jack and Russ

our room and view

couldn't get enough of that amazing view!

Russ, Nathan, Air

Thomas and Jack

we hiked down to the Red Deer River and skipped rocks

The boys went hunting while the us girls stayed home and watched Jane Eyre with the napping babies.

.street performers

In this wonderful city where we live there’s a lot going on during the summer.

Last night we went down town to Sir Winston Churchill Square with our friends to watch the street performers! An event that goes on every summer here in Edmonton.

We had SO MUCH FUN!

Jenna’s cousin, Jenna, mee

Jenna, Tobi the dog, Duane, mee, Air

The funny thing about last night is that even though the street performers were awesomely entertaining – it’s not them we ended up talking about the whole way home.

Instead, we couldn’t stop talking and laughing about all of the people wandering around (you know--homeless/drunk/just-plain-crazy)

They definitely did the real entertaining!

Like this happy toothless guy:

Or this lady who walked right up to Basketball Jones and just stood there. He laughed and was pretty confused! He threw her the ball and she threw it at him and started stumbling toward him. He then yelled “Security!” and they came and pulled her away. Awesome.

And of course, I had way too much fun going through all of the little boutique shops:

And I didn’t buy a thing! I am so proud! Well... proud and still wishing I had more stuff!

.looking forward (but mostly back)

*Nichole and I walking around the Nauvoo Temple in '06

I find that life is a lot less difficult to endure when I have some kind of event to look forward to. And right now life is pretty much a breeze... I'm crediting that to the fact that we have a couple of awesome events coming up.

Not only is my best friend and her husband coming up to visit us in Canada; but the very next week we get to go back and visit my old stomping grounds--Chicago. Plus we're going down to Nauvoo!

I can't wait to take Air and my parents and my sister around the amazing town of Nauvoo, Illinois!

I keep thinking lately about my first trip down to Nauvoo... probably in anticipation of Air's first trip. It was a trip that I'll never forget, because I was with my buds: Nichole, Niki and Ali.

{I feel a story coming on....}

When I lived in the mid-west I was persuasive enough to get my friends from Utah to come out and visit me. We toured the city... and then the four of us went on a 5hr road trip down to Nauvoo for the weekend. I drove.

This is where my only ‘hit-a-deer/wrecked-my-car’ story comes from. It was terrifying... but luckily, the car still carried us the rest of the way there and back!

Only bad news for that deer, though. RIP little guy.

I'm still sorry about Megan's van. So sorry.

We arrived in Nauvoo really late at night and pulled into a cute little antique of a hotel on the main street. We were lucky and got a sweet deal on a huge room with three big beds.

Before we went to sleep we decided that we wanted to refresh our memories of what happened in Nauvoo during Joseph Smith's time... we all pulled out our D&C's and basically had a "church history pajama party".

I love my friends.

We spent the next day touring the town. It's so beautiful there.

*Niki, me, Ali, Nichole at the Mississippi River

*taking the carriage ride to JS's "Inspiration Point"

*Carthage Jail

And every time I've been back, it's been just as great. Nauvoo really is a magical little town.

.bananas

Pssssst! I made banana bread!

It was easy peasy.

Why on Earth did I think it would be difficult?

I don't know.

I also went to the dentist today for the first time in........ too long.

Only bad news came from that.

I'm kinda wishing I hadn't gone in the first place...

Ignorance was bliss

.Meanwhile in Canada...

We picked up this little rental car on Monday. It's very RED - perfect for CANADA DAY! Which was yesterday!

On Wednesday Air’s work sched was 6am to 10pm and yesterday 6am to 2pm… So I slept over at his parent’s house with the family! The cousins were all staying over too and we went to a ward Canada Day party!

It was a beautiful and windy day.

*Tessa painting some faces and Josh loving his face-art

*Aunt Tracey waving her flag and Josh shooting water balloons at kids

*Tiana acting like Charlie Chaplin (I thought she looked more like Groucho)

*Tessa, me and our awesome cousin Taylor

When Air got off work he came over and we had a BBQ with the family and we invited our friends to come – the Wilde’s.

Then we went downtown to join the crowds of people watching the HUGEST firework show around!

*The Wilde’s have a cute little dog named Tobi

Now, I’ve seen a lot of amazing fireworks and I’m a really big fan; and I’m telling you--this was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Ever.

We had a fun fun time with friends, family, food and fireworks!!

Those are some good F-words.