CANADA Continued...

After Banff, we headed down to Cardston for the second half of our trip. First thing down there, El Temple! It was beautiful. Would you believe me if I told you that my parents were married there AND Gary's parents were married there? AND, to make it even better...that it was in this very Temple that I first layed eyes on Gary THREE years before we ever even met or started dating? Crazy eh? So it was kind of sentimental for us! :::SIGH:::

Dinner in a small town. It was actually pretty good though! The ice cream was my favorite part! DUDE, Crispy Crunch, my FAVORITE Canadian chocolate bar. They had that flavor of Ice Cream! It was to die for!

The main purpose for this trip was to meet and visit with Gary's Grandmother. She lives in Cardston in a home there. She is one of the cutest women I have ever met! She has a hard time remembering things, BUT has such a cute spunky personality. I enjoyed just visiting with her, laughint with her, and just watching her! I bet she's been an amazing woman all her life! The trip was worth it just to get to know her!

Sunday we took a trip to Waterton. Another "Must See" place to visit for all of you! When I was younger and living in Canada, we used to holiday here every year. It's so beautiful (How many times do I have to tell you that Canada is beautiful before you'll believe me and go visit?!?). This is up on a hill by a hotel called the Prince of Whales Hotel (pictured below). It's very windy up there!

My Grandma used to work summers in this hotel as a maid. She has told me many times about the "White Glove Test" her bosses used to do on the rooms they cleaned and how she had to clean toilets with her HAND, no brush! Gross eh? But it's a nice hotel!

This is down below in Waterton. From left to right: Drew Thompson, Susan Thompson (Gary's Sister), Peggy Fears (Gary's Mom), Tara Fears (Gary's Wife), July Lacy (Gary's Sister)

K, another quick story. Susan and Drew decided to challenge us to a "Who can take the most lovey picture" contest. So, they did their photo shoot and then we did ours...well, happy to say, this was the winning picture! The waterfall in the background is really pretty eh?

Another one from the 'photo shoot' Gary liked this one lots.

Then we walked down to the lake and put our feet in the FREEZING cold water and then skipped rocks FOR EVER! It was so much fun. The skin on the top of my finger started to wear off and the next day, my arm was sore. I'm a wimp.

This was on our way to and from Waterton. It is such a classic "Alberta" picture to me. When I imagine Alberta, this is one of the things I imagine in my head. Can you see how the haystacks just go on forever?? Awesome eh?

Monday was the Raymond Parade. THAT was fun! Gary's Mom was raised here...along with her siblings who were all there for the event. Well, they know all my family that grew up in Raymond as well! So, from the second we got out of the car I was constantly meeting my relatives! Crazy eh?

HAD to include the picture of the RCMPs!

...and one of Gary sporting some Canadian pride!

And then, off to the Rodeo! That's right folks! We do things up right in Raymond, Alberta!

A highlight of the event: Mini Chuckwagon Racing! - Can you see those cute little horses? K, I admit, I don't know what their proper names are...but you can still see them right? Gary and I decided that we're going to get a team of them and ride them in the July 4th parade in Provo, UT. next year! Anybody have any connections for us?

and then back to Cardston for a July 1st Fireworks Celebration

While we waited for the fireworks to start Gary and I introduced Julie to a game that we like to play when we have a camera and are a little bored. What you do is take turns saying a word (emotion, feeling, etc.) and immediately snap a picture. What you have to do before the picture is taken is make the face that represents that word. Can you guess what word we were representing?

:::::CONSTIPATION:::::

Good one eh? There are many more, but I thought I'd just post my favorite of the night.

Here is half the crew after the fireworks. It's funny because Gary and I were commenting at how much fun we had with older people this weekend! We quite enjoyed the fun late nights and stories! Overall the trip was a blast! We had to much fun with all the family we saw while we were up there and can't wait to go back and finish our list of things to do and see!