Trip West

I spent a great week in Alberta visiting with my daughter and her family.  When I arrived on July 31st Twyla was at the Edmonton airport to pick me up along with two of the Grands, Karmen and Jake.  A quick 1 1/2 hour drive to their house and then off to Karmen's riding lessons.

Joe and Twyla were having a reception for friends and family that were not able to travel to St. Lucia in May for the wedding.  Plans for a pig roast and a barn dance have been in the works for a couple of months.  Lots of planning and hard work has gone into getting this all organized. By Friday the US Army tent that they had rented had arrived and was set up ready for the dinner.

 Joe and Twyla headed into Drayton Valley to pick up the most important buildings and the tables.  Here Joe's Dad, Leonce, is giving them a hand getting them unloaded.

Joe had picked up the 100 pound pig in Edmonton Thursday night on his way home from work along with a giant bbq.    Taylor (Grand #1) and boyfriend Cam arrived to help decorate the barn and get lights up in the tent.  Fred was put in his corner to keep an eye on things.

Early Saturday morning Twyla headed to Wetaskiwin to pick up the sound system.  The caterer arrived to get the bbq fired up and the pig cooking.  His wife arrived later with salads, baked beans, potatoes and a beautiful cake.  By 3 pm they had things all under control but had to leave to take their daughter to Jasper for dance camp.  Friends and family were arriving, many with their campers, toy haulers, 5th wheels and tent trailers.  The cover went on the pool to keep the flock of little kids safe and the quads were put away.    Taylor and Cam's Mom, Kim, arrived with numerous vases filled with beautiful flowers from their garden.  Joe got the bonfire started.

With the caterers gone we got the food organized, Joe carved the piggy and by about 7 pm everyone was enjoying a great meal.

Just as we were finished dinner the skies opened up, the thunder and lightning took over the entertainment and it poured rain.  It lasted about 20 minutes and then cleared off and everyone started to gather around the bonfire to visit.  The evening was warm and there were lots of puddles for the little ones to play in.

At dusk the fire works started.  Cam, did the honors of setting them off and did a great job.

 
The evening ended with people moving into the barn to listen to the music and have a dance of two.

 Twyla, Joe's niece Jenny and Tawyna (who was Twyla's maid of honor at the wedding) kicking up their heals.

Joe's brother Shane and his wife Karen sans shoes.  With all the rain the sand floor in the barn was pretty wet.  The little kids were not the only ones with dirty feet that night.

The gathering was a great success.  Over the next couple of days we had the campers start to move out and people head for home.  Karmen had three little cousins (Jenny's kids) out to visit the horses. The two little ones are 3 year old identical  twins.

Early Tuesday morning Joe headed back to the Cold Lake area to work.  Twyla, Karmen and Jake took me back into Edmonton to catch the plane home.  We stopped at the White Spot in Leduc for lunch along the way.  (thanks Twyla!!)

It was a nice trip.  I am so happy that their party was such a success after all the work and expense they went to.  It was wonderful that so many of their friends and family were able to come.  A good time was had by all.  It is always great to spend time with Twyla and her gang.  I miss them already.  But it is always nice to get back home again too.

My oldest Grand, Taylor, finally obtained her police check (takes forever out in the sticks!!)  so has been able to apply to write her final exam in September to get her license to be an Emergency Medical Responder.   In the meantime she has been working at a gas plant painting pipes, buildings, etc.  And having some fun by the looks of this picture that I grabbed off her facebook page.  You are just too cute Pookeroo!!

Until next time everyone, safe travels.