we're in Cancun…..

I'm at the point where I am just going to post pictures and let them speak for themselves.   I'll do the speaking when I make the book, but it just isn't going to happen here.  Sorry peeps.

cyclathon 2015

The cyclathon happened and I pretty much missed it.  Thankfully I have a few pictures - none of them action, however.  

Cade, Mia and Eric all cycled while Lucy and I were in Winnipeg, taking Maddy to write her SATs.  Lucy really wanted to cycle this year, but it just wasn't going to happen without me doing it along side her, and I committed to taking Maddy.  She wasn't very happy about it but it ended up being a good thing.

It was much tougher than last year.  The conditions were much less favourable than last year so it was a little more gruelling.  And it ended in rain so the kids were soaked through with no dry clothes to change into.....  Their change of clothes was with the van in Winnipeg.  Not the best or most happy ending!

After the SATs, the three of us headed to Red Rock to join the others.  Cade was quite relieved to have some dry, warm clothes, although he was probably more happy to see his mom (okay, I admit that I live in a dream world....).  We made it in time for the program.  No big prizes for the Ackermans this year, but Cade still did come away with a great sweatshirt and Eric got a rose to plant in our yard (it is pretty much dead already.... we are no gardeners).

We all spent the night again (well, okay, again for all of them.... I didn't last year).  The next morning a friend pointed out a beautiful, dew-covered spider's web that I needed to photograph.

The day was filled with swimming, hiking, talking and eating.  It was a great weekend.  And I think Red Rock liked it too.... they raised a whole lot of cash (for kids to attend camp).

Next year, I'm riding!!!

moms and daughters

May long weekend, Glenda, Alex, Maddy and I drove on down to Minneapolis for a dandy old time of shopping, visiting and general carousing around (okay, we really didn't carouse at all).  The visiting was done with our fabulous hosts - brother Scott and sister-in-law Cynthia, and of course darling little niece Aianne.

Part of the agenda was to find some grad/"farewell" (a prom-like event for only the grads, put on by the school) attire.  That was done with great success.  For all four of us even.

Scott and Cynthia seem to know all of the good places to eat, so we ate very well.  Oh my, so much good food.

The initial reason for this little adventure was because the girls wanted to go to a Kodaline concert.  We thought it a rather lovely excuse for a trip.  The night of the concert, Glenda and I babysat Aianne while Scott and Cynthia went to a movie.  It was kind of fun to be with a little one again - its been a while.  She reminds Eric and I so much of Maddy, without the constant hollering, of course.

I can't even remember why, but Glenda gave Alex a piggy-back ride to the car at one point (forgot her shoes in the car??).  Impressive.  I don't think I could even do that with Maddy.  Although I don't plan on breaking my back to find out!  It was rather entertaining to watch.

Most people probably wouldn't put such a picture of themselves out for the world to see, but my pride could use some bashing anyway.....

I found this dress at one of the stores and just had to try it on.  It weighed a TON!!  It was a workout just wearing it.

Alex tried some things on too.  We were in Macy's - and the store clerk loved us.  Alex kept finding larger and larger cup sizes.... sizes I didn't even know you could find in a store.  Custom made is what I thought.

The day we left was Glenda's birthday, so the evening before Scott and Cynthia bought an ice cream cake for her.  They told me about it....  Somehow in the hours between them telling me and it happening I forgot (shocker!) and thought it was a good idea for the four of us to stop at Target and get some treats to eat while we watched a movie together.... treats which included ice cream.  My level of moron-ness just never ceases to amaze me.

And this is what we headed back into....  Nothing like snow at the end of May.  Not the best way to end a great weekend....we were a little worried about the drive home.  But c'est la vie!  It ended up being fine, by the way.

We found another lovely little shopping area on the way out that we would love to keep in mind for future trips.  I hope Glenda has kept it in mind because I don't remember at all where it was!  We stopped briefly, long enough for Maddy to try on a dress.  Sort of.  She wasn't motivated enough to actually go in the change room and give it a real go.  

The dress was not purchased, but fun was had.

party time at the canad…or not

Oops!  I forgot about this one!  It has been sitting there waiting for me to finish it for some time now - like three months.  Sheesh.

Sometime near the end February-ish my darling sister Kim and I took our little baby girls to Grand Forks for the weekend.  Okay, so maybe they are not so little and babyish any more….

The first night we went a little cheaper and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express.  It was quite fantastic.  And lesson learned - we should have just stayed there.  But no, we (okay, I) was drawn (sucked would probably be a better verb) in to the flash and pizzazz of the Canad Inn.  And it sucked too, just like me.

The girls loved the simple, quiet, smallish pool at the Holiday Inn - who knew?  And they almost despised the noisy, chaotic craziness of the Canad water slides.  Plus the price stunk.

The girls could, however, play with broccoli and their cups at the overpriced hotel.  That was a bonus.

(Kim was hiding from the camera….)

They could also make their bread rolls, that they ate only the insides out from, talk.  Quite fascinating.  (the phone wanted to focus on the real talker - Riley - instead of the noisy mouth of the bread-man)

Initially when we got to the Canad, we were put on this floor where we were the only people who were not part of a pee wee hockey team.  The very nice mothers whom I met in the elevator suggested that if we wanted sleep, we might want to request another room.  Either that or we could party with them.  We chose quiet.  So we asked to move rooms.  The second room was good up until about 2 minutes before the girls fell asleep, whereupon the power went out in the bathroom.  Kim tried to fiddle with various things but to no avail.  Since we didn't want the upheaval of moving right when the girls were finally settling down (emphasis: finally), we lumped it and showered in the dark (almost complete and utter if not for the flashlights on our phones).  

The problem was that the power was still out in the morning.  And the hotel only made suggestions on this we could try that Kim already tried.  It did not work.  And they did not apologize or even fein regret. Not pleased.  Needless to say, Canad Inn will never be on our list of desirables ever again - overpriced, under serviced, extra charging, crazy crowded place that it is.

Boy, that was a whole whack of negativity.

We really did have a fabulous time in spite of it all, however.  How can you not when with two crazy 9 year olds.  Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber are a seriously good time.