When a Colorado Mommy Blogger Does Canada

July 15, 2008 By

We are flying back to Colorado today. As always, I love coming home to the Motherland and Calgary is my favorite city in the world. The temperatures have been gloriously mild and I could spend my entire summer here if it did not mean being apart from Jamie for so long. When I made this suggestion, he jokingly suggested we could arrange conjugal visits in Wyoming.

Because really, what else is there to do in Wyoming?

This trip has been cram-packed with walks along my beloved Bow River Pathway with my dad, illegally cruising the neighborhood in my parent’s golf cart, marathon makeovers with Grandma B., lazy summer nights at My Favorite Ice Cream Shoppe, a day trip to Elbow Falls with Aunt Sue and of course, the Calgary Stampede! Some other highlights include:

Sleeping in! My kids are both early risers and I generally can’t sleep past 5:30 a.m. But this trip, the kids slept until at least 8 a.m., which is a huuuge coup. The secret? My parent’s gloriously dark and cold basement, both of which are clear reflections on my personality.

My parent’s backyard. This has evolved into a gloriously verdant paradise of overhanging trees with 10 patio tables and swings interspersed in romantic nooks around the yard and a huge deck to kick back and enjoy it all.

Growing up, our huge backyard was the Mecca for every kid in the area with a half-pipe, fort, trampoline, play set and more. We were also at constant war with our neighbors who actually pulled a gun on some of my brother’s friends when we were on vacation. Of course, maybe that Swastika my brother’s friends anonymously burned on our neighbor’s lawn may have had something to do with it.

Hadley getting her ears pierced. Or at least making the attempt. During our family tradition of going out for Chinese food, my sister-in-law Jane decided it was in Hadley’s best interest to get her ears pierced. I was rather indifferent about it and Hadley was game…until she saw The Devil’s Gun that was aimed at her virgin lobe. I’ll spare you the details but an hour later, we emerged from that store with a traumatized mother and a hysterical kid who only got half an ear pierced. Possibly a new fashion statement?

Peter’s Drive-In’s marshmallow shake. Sure, this very shake caused an outbreak of salmonella a few years ago but it’s not like I didn’t just survive that little ol’ poisoning a few weeks ago. And besides, lightening doesn’t strike in the same place twice.

Err…right?

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog

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Filed Under: Canada, Family travel, Humor