Calgary

Jakob arrived later Thursday night and we headed off for Calgary the next morning.

It was so wonderful to see Melanie and her husband Mike! They are super sweet! I am loving having a sister. Mel also invited our Aunt Connie who is my Dad's Mom's twin sister. It was so wonderful hearing her talk about Daddy. She said that he was the happiest boy and that she had fond memories of coming home from work and him running up to her. How they would play. Dad moved to Canada when he was 3 from Holland with his mother. His mother got remarried to Tony when he was 5 of six and they moved away from Calgary and Aunt Connie didn't see much of Dad anymore. She kept telling me how I reminded her of him and how I looked just like him. It made my heart happy. Our cousin Peter was also there (Connie's Son) and he was also super sweet. It was so wonderful to spend time with a small part of Dad's side of the family. I've never gotten to do that before.

E was happy as could be coloring away.

Sprout was a champ. After having a massive blow out at Mel's which resulted is throwing away the outfit he was wearing and a full on tub time we loaded up again to get back to Edmonton. The drive was 3 hours each way and the kids did such a great job and Sprout slept the whole way!!

We came home and got some Donair pizza!!!! 

And some Donairs! So amazing!!!!!

It was sch a great day! My heart is full!!!

Aunt Mel & Uncle Mike

While we were in Canada my sister Mel & her hubby Mike were kind enough to drive 7 hours (3 1/2 h there and back) from Calgary to visit us for an evening! I was so grateful my heart could have burst!

 We sat and visited and got some food.

Mom gave Mel some of Daddy's "treasures" (he had some of the strangest things.) And it was nice just to talk. 

Ethnie thought that Mel was just beautiful and asked over and over if she could come play at our house.

While I missed the opportunity of having a sister while I was growing up I feel this overwhelming joy that we could spend some time together. I wish that we were able to talk more, to do more but this time of year things are crazy. It feels strange to go from the "oldest" to the "middle" child, and while we are really too old for that I am so excited to get to know her better! 

Thank you so much Mike & Mel for coming up and taking the time out of your busy lives! It really meant the world to me and I hope that on our next trip (in the summer??) we will be able to come to you!! Love you!