Maddie (Madge to her Calgary peeps) and I are heading to Calgary in just TWO sleeps! We're going to get up at a ridiculous hour on wednesday morning and hit the highway. You all know that I am a morning person WAY before I'm a night owl. Wanted to leave tuesday night, but the thought of doing anything until after 10 pm just sounds exhausting.

Jason has his night rating now. That means that he can fly after sunset any ol' time he wants. We talk a lot about flying different places for supper or to visit friends. So far I've only gone up that one time. I would like to go again though, maybe we'll see if Auntie Lisa can look after Maddie for an afternoon??

Mackenzie came for a sleepover on saturday night so Lisa could party like a rock star. And I think she did. Anyway, this first picture is taken around midnight or so. Sammy spent the entire evening sleeping with Mackenzie until I went to bed. It's not a very clear picture but I took it in the dark, so cut me some slack.

On Saturday afternoon, after Maddie had napped and Mackenzie had sung 15 songs in her bedroom, our neighbor (Courtney) came by with her two girls (Kalei and Isabel). These are the ones that live across the street on the left. They are the neighbors we talk to the most b/c they're always outside walking their two dogs (I think they are the Warman Cravens). Isy will be two in August so we've been wanting to get the girls together. And Kalei is 8 and very very wonderful (especially in Maddie's eyes). She is really a great kid and I'm counting the sleeps until she can babysit. So tonight Courtney dropped by with a bunch of DVDs for Maddie to borrow on our car trip. And this totally cute hair ribbon thing that another neighbor made for Maddie. How great is that? Don't hold your breath on seeing pictures of Maddie in the hair thing...she had a look of absolute horror when I suggested it.

Watching The Wiggles.

Maddie took this one. Thought Auntie Lisa would be proud.

Maddie has this new thing where she talks without moving her lips. Maybe a future in ventriloquism?

Mackenzie is having a sleepover at our house. We picked her and Maddie up from daycare then headed to Kinsmen park to take in The Rides. Stay tuned for pictures.

On the way home Madge and Mackenzie were having a deep discussion regarding the finer points of sugar cereal.

"Not for you. Not for Auntie Jenn. Not for Uncle Jason. They are my Floop Loops." - Mackenzie.

30 seconds ago:

Jason is upstairs tidying the disaster that is Madeleine's room.

Maddie: No Daddy, stop!
Daddy: what?
Maddie: Stop cleaning. That's Mommy's job!


Big Sigh.

Crap. I worked really hard to get this series in order for you. (my fellow bloggers will know my pain). But I guess it's bedtime b/c I have these three out of order. Think of them as a preview... I really just wanted to include them b/c they're cute and I want them in Maddie's blog book when the time comes.

On our way to Roblin for the weekend!



Did you know there is a ferry 5 km from our house in Warman? It holds 4 vehicles. And it's free. Really, can it better than this?

This is a family tradition we have: McDonald's car picnic. We stopped in Yorkton, picked up some lunch and then pulled over once we were out of the city. Look at Bosco - always hopeful.

Our picnic view.

Grandma and Grandpa Kenco's!

On the drive there Maddie kept saying "I'm cited!" And there's something for everyone at the valley. And there's definately a CAT for everyone! Last winter Patches adopted Ken and Marion. And then she had kittens. And then the kittens adopted Ken and Marion. Maddie and Bosco are THRILLED to see so many cats! This is Patches in the photo, the other kittens are much more camera shy.

We took Maddie to see the fish farm. Very cool. She was quite interested in all the fish and loved feeding them. Marion cooked trout for supper. I've never had trout before - it was so delicious! Marion also sent back two bags of perogies for us. And none for Lisa. (insert devilish grin here)

Saturday:
Maddie and I had such a busy day visiting everyone, but it was so much fun and worth every napless minute!



We started our day with a quick visit with a little cutie pie fox (a kit, if you will? will somebody google that for me?) This is right by the highway, on the corner to the golf course. I have never actually seen a fox warren before, so very very cool.

Next stop: Sugarhill Clothing Co.

I did some fabulous shopping at my friend Janine's store. Madge took the time to try on a bunch of very cool shoes. That girl loves a good shoe. In all that shopping Janine and I also managed to get some visiting in. Never enough time for that though. Next we headed to Subway (can you believe Roblin has a subway restaurant??? It's the big time now). Anyway, needed some lunch, but really wanted to see Uncle Britt's friend Robbie, the Sandwich Artist. He was out of town, but his mom was there so that was fun. She made a Robbie Special for Maddie (cheese and bread).

Then off we motored to Birtle (hands down, my most favorite hour on the road is ALWAYS the highway Roblin to Birtle and back again. I don't know what it is about that road, but that trip always seems to go so fast. Such a beautiful drive). Anyway, we went to Birtle to see my grandma. Honestly the visit went much better than I thought it would go. Grandma is still herself, which is the most important thing. We both enjoyed looking at the photo album from her 90th birthday. She was really thrilled to be able to spend time with Maddie again and was eager to introduce her to everyone at Sunnyside.

Maddie thought Great Grandma's "car" was not too shabby. She especially appreciated the "basket" feature and immediately began stashing treasures in there.


Next we headed back to Roblin to see Grandma Pollock (Grandpa Pollock was, wait for it....fishing!) Donna brought up a bunch of great (and vintage 1970s) toys. Of course I was thrilled to see the old fisher price truck camper set (go ahead, google it and trip down memory lane). Maddie was more interested in the bag of plastic balls (something to do with golf practice?), although Grandma seemed to have trouble holding them all. Unfortunately no pictures at this time b/c the camera died when we were in Birtle.

Look what Maddie found in the basement.

"Carry me, Mommy."

Dear Treena,

Thank you so much for coming out here for the weekend (and a big big thanks to Dan for making sure it happened!) We had such a good time. This afternoon I found the note that you left (when? how?) in my desk at work. Thank you. It was, of course, immediately pinned to my psuedo bulletin board (they just don't appreciate bulletin boards at KCC like they do at STA...)

Favorite Weekend Moments:
- sitting in the car talking.
- eating Chocolate Pate at Calories. And the wine...
- our "wine and cheese" snack at home. New cheese: Oka. Yummy.
- picnic in the car after the Mendel Art Gallery b/c it was too damn cold and rainy to be outside.
- Maddie's "squeakies" (I hope Rogue and Knox love theirs even half as much...)
- role reversal: I bought the white wine and you bought the beer. What the ____???

Things to do next year (when you're here):
- eat perogies at Baba's Perogies
- eat a saskatoon berry flavoured dessert (maybe at the Berry Barn?)
- go to Batoche or Waneskewin or some other "Louis Riel" - ish type heritage site. Maybe even the Seiger Wheeler Farm
- eat at the Mennonite restaurant in town (Hello, Wagon Wheel anyone?)
- go on a Warman Pub Tour. Just to say we did. And we could ride bikes there.

Who wouldn't want to come here for their Birthday Holiday?
(p.s. this is what my street will look like....in 80 years....)

Maddie's look here really says it all.
"Will you two just take the picture already??"

Before our Night Out On The Town.
Yes, of course we were home by 11 and tucked into bed by 11:30.
But damn we had fun before that!

Friday Night Picnic

We knew we'd be rushed getting home on friday so we thought we'd pick up some McDonald's for supper. Then we had the great idea of having a picnic. We drove over to Meewasin Valley (??) park - wow, what a wonderful place. There's lots of picnic tables and fire pits. We'll have to go there again and spend an afternoon or something (Lisa, are you up for it?). There are lots of trails that go down to the river. What a beautiful city. We are so lucky to live here.

Can you see the french braids?
"Josette (from daycare) made my hair pretty"
She slept in them that weekend and I had to convince her that I could make braids too before she'd let me take them out.

It's all Rainbows and Unicorns out here in Warman.

Well, not everyday, but most of the time it's pretty great. This is the view from our spare bedroom. Maddie really wanted to "have" the rainbow. Sigh.

Mom and I decided to make a pit stop when we were shopping the other weekend. I guess we were a bit distracted talking in the bathroom when suddenly we realized Maddie was not with us. This was a small bathroom (a two seater, if you will) so we had a pretty good idea where she was....

Yep. Locking herself inside the stall. I took this picture by standing on the toilet in the next stall. Never say I'm not a dedicated blogger....the things I do for you Lucky Fans. There are lots of pictures that are even cuter, but (again) to preserve Maddie's modesty I thought I would crop this one up and put the rest in her blog book when I make it.

I think Auntie Lisa will be especially proud of this. As soon as I can find a cable to match that camera I'm going to post a blog "Madge Style".