Elk Island Getaway

Jess and I both love camping but our kids are often more reluctant participants. We decided it might be fun to have a quick camping trip on our own without the kids. So we hooked up the trailer and drove out to Elk Island - a national park just outside of Edmonton - for a night. (Despite the name, I've never seen any elk here. But definitely lots of bison).

Once we set up camp, Jess had all the time he wanted to photograph bison while I knitted and then we went on a walk around the lake and through the woods. The walk may have taken a little longer than I would have liked because we were constantly stopping so Jess could take pictures. Maybe.

Camping Family Reunion July 2018

The weekend after Canada Day, we drove to a campsite near Stettler on Buffalo Lake to camp for a couple of nights. It was supposed to be an extended Schindler family reunion but almost everyone ended up canceling at the last minute except for my sister's family, my mom and Sandy, one aunt and uncle and another aunt stopped by for a couple of hours. But that's okay, my sister's kids and mine had a great time playing together. Well actually just our younger two - Connor was sick and Shae was working.

 

Canada Day 2018

The day before the parade, we spent time with Spencer and Hannah and Jayna and Travis's families. At one point, Hannah helped all the cousins go out and harvest strawberries so she could make us some delicious homemade strawberry ice cream, yum!

Hannah's cat had kittens recently and Jess let Maira borrow his camera to take these adorable photos of the cat and her kittens.

Monday morning, it was time for the parade. Shae had a matching outfit all ready for her and Willow. While Willow looked adorable, she was not a fan of the parade. The marching bands had her very antsy and then when a big semi blew its horn right in front of us, she tore off back to the house. I held her on the front porch and we watched the rest of the parade from there.