Fall travels - part 4d (Edmonton, BC again)

After Jasper, we three headed off to flatter parts of Alberta.  Little bro Richard and brood live on their 20-acre homestead in the middle of nowhere. Like 15 minutes from Edmonton. Crazy rural... how do you even live like that?

We had a nice time with Rich & Fen and the kids. Lily became acquainted with more cousins she'd never known. 'Tis a shame she (or we for that matter) likely won't see terribly much of them as she grows up.

The obvious touristy spot is West Edmonton Mall, and with kids in tow, the obvious destination in the mall is the kid's play park. Richard had so much fun!

The other kids enjoyed it too. Those cesspools called ball pits were among Lily's favourite.

Nearby attractions included carousels (which we shelled out coins for)....

... and arcades (which we didn't... too cheap). It's amazing how engaged kids can be even when they're not controlling the game.

This was a more relaxing part of our holiday. This also means we rarely have the camera on hand, and as a result I'm always ashamed at how few photos we've taken of family and of at-home time. We celebrated Carrie's birthday with overpriced (but yummy) cupcakes. The driveway gave me only one flat tire... better there than on the open road!

Bonding at story time. Shirts optional.

After an extra-long weekend, we packed up once again and headed off to Surrey to visit Carrie's sister Michelle. Lily was reacquainted with her cousin Micah; they got along wonderfully.

Quality time at the pumpkin patch.

Corn maze!

Then decorating their loot back at the house.

How cute are tiny cousins?! Very. Even if one can't pose properly (must have learned that from her dad).

We stopped in Abbotsford to see Lily's remaining great-grandparents. They're always so happy to see us, and it's very rewarding to oblige them.

Then it was back to Vernon for the whole excuse, I mean reason, for the trip west: Carrie's parents' 40th anniversary, with a nice catered dinner and quality family time.

Reading with Grandma.

Around this time, Lily did some more clambering on that chair, and then one time she ungracefully plunged off it. Her shoulder was in obvious pain, and all the smart heads conferred on whether she had broken something. Common sense prevailed, and we let her sleep it off. It still hurt (a lot) the next morning but she could at least move her arm.

Skip to some time later, and the gang went bowling. Here's Lily bravely (but unhappily) trying to bowl, with (what we later learned was) a broken collarbone. Yes, we felt bad! Poor kid.

We did go to the hospital a few days later once we were back in Ottawa. Turns out there was nothing the doctors would have done anyway; she would just have to be careful and use her arm cautiously as the bone healed. Is that about a B+ for parenting?

Anyway, thus ended our extended trip west. And all blogged about within four months! Not bad, me.