On Thursday, I went downtown to a "market" with Enola A, Evamay, Kate, Don, And Sebree. I bought a few decor items and some ice cream ;) The highlight of the day was the black licorice ice cream! Getting a diet Dr Pepper Cream soda cost me 6 bucks- lol. I also added a few random pics that did seem to fit anywhere else. On Thursday evening, we went with the Thompson/Thompson/Muhler gang to a restaurant for dinner and we paid. (I actually didn't get any pics there).
On Wednesday evening, we had a little extra time between dance class and dinner. We gathered everyone up and took family pics. Everyone cooperated better than expected 😉1- Everyone. 2- The oldest siblings. 3- The oldest siblings with Mike and Don. 4- The cousins. 5- The cousins with spouses. 6- The youngest generations. 7- The three Enolas. 8- Ron, Enola, and John. 9. The siblings and spouses and Don.
The main activity for Wednesday was dinner at the Nordic center for everyone. Kate and Sebree did a break dance class for the boys before dinner. The Anderson boys did very well with that because of their gymnastic talents. We also took family pictures before dinner. It was a great place for all of us to gather from about 4-8 on Wednesday evening. And dinner was amazing.
Since our flight on Monday to Denver (was about 4:30, then on to Calgary from Denver) Our entire day of Monday was spent traveling. On Tuesday, we ate breakfast at a restaurant near the hotel, I went to Safeway to get a few groceries, and then we went to Alsterlund's house. The afternoon was just hanging around in their backyard or inside the house. (it was pretty hot and sunny that day) Enola and Kate fixed a dinner of tacos and sides to have all of us eat in their back yard. (the evening temperature was pretty nice.) All of the family gradually arrived at various times that day. Ron's plan was for us to hang around with his siblings as much as possible. Andersons were the only ones that made a "real vacation" of the week and I will do another post of just their adventures and pictures. Here are "backyard" pics. The last picture is Ron's sister, Enola, after everyone left... she was tired!
July 21-27 was our big Canada trip, for a reunion with Ron's family. We had been planning this trip for months and it was no small expense. The reason everyone agreed to go to Canada was because Todd Thompson had a business trip there and wanted to take his family there, before that trip. The rest of us agreed to that plan. I tried to get everyone to meet in Colorado in June... a lot less travel and expense for all of us except Alterslunds. (They weren't up for that much travel for them. And everyone else's calendars were already booked.) Our plan was travel on Sunday, July 21... leaving SAT about mid day and arriving in Calgary about 8 pm. BUT... there was a world wide "Software" glitch on Friday, the 19th, that was still affecting businesses and airlines on Sunday. Our original flight was canceled and then we were booked on a second flight, going to LAX and then on to Calgary. That flight was eventually also cancelled. We went and got the car from the parking garage, went back home, and tried again on Monday. This time on United to Denver and then to Calgary. We didn't arrive in Calgary until about 11 pm, still had to get the bags and rental car, and drive to Canmore. (My original plan was for us to stay near the airport upon arrival and drive to Canmore the next day, but since we had already lost a day... we drove to Canmore late Monday night.) Andersons arrived with their Sunday flights, but were delayed about 4 hours. Alldays Sunday flight was canceled and they rebooked for Monday. I think Don Anderson arrived on Sunday, but also delayed from New Mexico. (It is now August 4 that I am posting this and I am still waiting for some refunds on those flights that were cancelled for us.) The first picture that I am posting here, was a funny picture that I took in the airport, of two skeleton people... saying "This is what happens when you stay in the airport too long!" The other two pics are from Alldays and Andersons dealing with their flight problems. We got lunch at WhataBurger in the airport that day... but it was having problems too, because of so many stranded people. (I will do several posts about our trip instead of one.)
