October- Hangin' Out in Red Deer

Little did we know when we arrived in Red Deer that these were the dying days (hours practically) of fall...I think that there were only 2 reasonable days in Red Deer before the snow came and never left. :-( We did find a nice park in Red Deer and were able to go their once before the snow came. We even walked...which is unknown in a) my family and b) Canada. Walking, really?? But because we did that we found another swimming pool near my mom's house and some old buildings that belong to the Norwegian society.

During the days in Red Deer we ate out a lot and we also did a lot of shopping mostly for me. We met Jackie for lunch many days at the same small diner. It was nice and the people who worked there were really nice. Luckily my mom nor Stephen were working so they could entertain us. But all in all we didn't do very much as it was so snowy and cold. We didn't make it up to Edmonton like we planned as the roads were a little too icy and my mom wasn't sure whether the tires on the used car she had just bought were up to the job. And with a baby days just seem to pass quite repetitively since they eat and sleep and play a little.

 

We spent some time with Stephanie too. Bella went to her work a couple of times to see the horses. I went once with Eloisa...that was enough for me. I am not a real fan of horses. But Bella enjoyed seeing them. Steph, of course, came to visit us too after work. 

This is where Steph works...that is her right in the back...

Not impressed by the horses at all

Horse in' around...hahaha

Petting Hannah. She was reluctant but she did it.

ok, ok Grandma, what have I told you about PDAs!

Bella was really interested in these in the store

First ever Dairy Queen treat...Oreo Brownie Earthquake. Eloisa tried to get it also

Playing in the park...little did we know it would snow the next day!

relaxing with Steph

Molly is poised and ready...in case an opportunity for licking should show itself!

No, this isn't a bad hair day...

a favourite sleeping place

taking a moment at the craft fair

Finding a friend at the craft fair

One thing that Eloisa did do there is learn to roll over. I was reluctant at first to put her on the floor for two reasons...both related though...the dogs. One was because of the dog hair and the other was the possibility of her getting licked all over! I know that they wouldn't hurt her but Molly sure does like to get a good licking in! hahaha But I soon got over that and she was down on the floor on her own (relatively) dog hair-free blanket. And that is what she did...she taught herself how to roll over. This was just around 4 months...maybe a little earlier. Which, if I remember correctly, is a little younger than Bella. She also had lots of tummy time to work on her neck muscles. We tried her a couple of times with a bottle but she wanted none of it. The second time we gave it to her when she wasn't so hungry so she mostly did with it as she does with soothers, thought it an interesting idea for playing with but other than that, there was no real interest. That really was one of my main goals for the trip (to get her drinking from a bottle) but it wasn't to be. We were out so much that we just never had much time. 

Albertan Cattilac

soooo comfy

happy Grandma!

sharing the iPad

her new hat

our regular lunch "joint"

poutine at Costco

October 18th- Red Deer

We were able to meet Kristina while in Red Deer as her family doesn't live too far away. We all met up at a farm that had huge corn mazes and lots of other activities for families to do. Unfortunately it was so darn windy and cold that none of us wanted to stay very long. Poor Eloisa had to wear her blanket over her face as well otherwise she wouldn't have been able to breathe! But she was quite toasty all wrapped up and slept most of the time. So we did 2 of the 4 corn mazes (and surprisingly it was quite bearable in there because it protected you from the wind) and Bella and Stephen played giant snakes and ladders, Bella jumped on the bouncy pillow with Max and Lenox as well as rode on the old tire horses (see the photo because I can't really describe it), we had duck water races and general fun. But we sure were glad to leave and get into the car!