July 01

We had planned on just heading down to Raymond for the day on July 01- but after talking with Grandma and Grandpa, last minute we went down the night before and stayed in a hotel. 

Sunday after church we drove down to Raymond, doing our Come Follow Me on the drive, which has the normal around here the last little while. LOL Daddy does the lesson while Mommy drives. It actually works well, as the kids can't move and we have their attention.

Aunt Kims was our first stop, as the kids always want to go there first and never leave. 

Kims house always has things going on with cousins everywhere to play with, and that is all that matters to our kids. This time Grandma Moxley, Mckenna, Maren, Cassandra and Aunt Kim were all making donuts! There were doughnuts EVERYWHERE on almost every flat surface. Raising, being fried, then covered with a sugar icing and drying. It was a delicious sight to see. 

They were lovey about sharing and we each had THREE! The perfect snack to hold us over until the BBQ.   While we were there we met Sarah, Brandons girlfriend- we had a little chat which was nice and the kids played with kittens and whatever else they could get into. Grandma Moxley also paid their  yearly sum for Graduating to the next grade. Which is a perk every little and big Grandchild loves.Oh I wish I got a pic of the short hour we were there. Thanks Aunt Kim for hour of visiting, fun for the kids and yummy treat.

Aunt Michelle and Uncle Jess had a BBQ for dinner at their house which was very nice of them! We all brought salads and meat to share. Everyone in Raymond area was invited- a last minute family get together. It was a little odd hanging out in our old backyard for the evening but there was great company. Barker brought his Lacrosse stick down and played catch with Kims kids Ben and Cai for a while, they also all played on the trampoline and walked down to the park. Mark and Lindsay pulled up later with Owen and Laura.  The outside party continued- and my allergies flared. 

Pulling into the Hotel at bedtime the kids were tired and excited for July 01. 

Justin and I went to find a open drug store to try and calm my face- I could hardly breathe and couldn't stop coughing. My allergies in Raymond are 50% times worse then in High River. I sound and look like a total wreak and its all I can do to sit outside. We picked up some strong stuff and went to bed, praying tomorrow would be better for my allergies.

Grandpa and Grandma agreed to have Barker and Annaliesse sleep in their room with them- which is hilarious cause those are the 2 who are up the earliest.  Barker and Annaliesse were so excited - Grandma and Grandpa are good sports.

July 01 morning. Man was it nice to wake up and not have to rush to leave at 7:30 am and drive 2 hours! We had breakfast in the hotel and them headed to Aunt Kims so the kids could apply their tattoos. Aunt Krista has been bringing tattoos for the kids for years- they gather around the table and COVER themselves with tattoos.

We headed down to the parade route where Kim and Aunt Karen had been saving seats for 24 hours. Saving seats at the parade in Raymond could be a competitive sport- its intense and I am so glad Kim does it for the Moxley's.  We hung out and visited for about an hour before the parade stated. For the last few years we have been watching the parade at Good Sams so Grandma Selman can come out and watch too. A big difference from Main Street where Justin watched it his whole life while Grandma and Grandpa Selman lived in their house. Now that they moved locations it is VERY handy for us as the Martin family watches at Good Sam so Grandma and Grandpa Martin can come out and watch. We have lots of family on both sides to visit with before and after the parade. Now if only we could convince the Chipman family to come and watch there!!

Aunt Karla came with her three kids and Jaydin's boyfriend. Jaydin and Mateya had been working for a few days making Canada Day scrunchies for all the girls cousins! THEY are sooo cute. The little cousins, scratch that ALL the cousins were thrilled. Even the Aunts all got one. Karla sure has taught her girls about love and caring, they are always the first to do something thoughtful. Like play with the littlest cousins at a family dinner, or help make dessert for the whole family, putting on a movie for the cousins and taking the preteens for slurrpies.  Good work Karla- I hope my girls emulate some of your girls amazing qualities. 

Kalia brought her trumpet down to July 01. 

I was reluctant to let her, but she took the time to ask her band teacher, before school got out, to help her find a copy of Oh Canada for the trumpet. She had the music for about 2 weeks and had been practicing NONSTOP. She loaded her trumpet into the van with her bags in High River and got it out at the parade. She played O Canada for us while we visited. Lots of people around were commenting and happy with it and she sounded great. 

Barker and Daddy played catch with Lacrosse sticks and a tennis ball while we waited. Poor Barker was running and slipped on gravel landing in a mess. He was crying, hurt and embarrassed as there were lots of people around. A few hugs from Mommy, hiding his face in my shoulder, some bandaids, a drink of water and he was good to go again. 

Rhonda and Bob Beavens were in Raymond this year and sat across with the Martins. Their youngest daughter Shelby is Annaliesse age, and they get along smashingly. Every reunion we have they find each other and are 2 peas in a pod. They live in Red Deer, so we see them once a year usually. Annaliesse was thrilled they were here, so Shelby watched the parade with us and tagged along for the rest of the day until they were ready to head home. It suited us just fine, Annaliesse had a girl her age and Shelby wasn't bored by herself! 

The parade was a parade...

Hahaha but we go for family time. Well- Justin and I do more so- the kids go for the candy.

As always the candy was flowing and the kids were happy as clams. It was way warmer this year so there was lots of water coming from floats and from the crowd. Barker used his stick to try and get floats and people to toss candy to him- he had a delightful time trying to catch and sometimes catching treats. He got less candy but he was thrilled to be catching it. 

After the parade we headed over to the Chipman BBQ for a bit. Its so hard to juggle family- harder now as the kids all have an option on where we should be at any given time. Not a lot of time at Aunt Gills this year, but enough to say hello and let the kids play for a bit. Mason and Keta have discovered axe throwing these last couple years. Keta is even in a ladies division or something- so they had axe tossing set up in the back yard. Our kids made a BELINE for it and had a great time tossing axes and tomahawks with Mason supervising. Which I thought was fine, but when Grandpa arrived he was quick to add more supervision. 

Aunt Gill also had some bean bag toss rings set up- Remy enjoyed that more then the axe tossing. All of my older cousins are so good with my kids, and as I have said this before I so appreciate it. It makes all the difference. 

After Aunt Gills we headed over to Taelor Street Chapel for the Moxley luncheon. This year was Cafe Rio for lunch and man was it tasty. Koodos Aunt Karen and Grandma Moxley. It was a smaller affair this year, but just as nice. Justins cousin Christina came up with her Baby, so she could meet (take a pic) with Grandma Selman. It was so nice to visit with her and the other cousins while the kids were hooligans with cousins. 

The older cousins went bridge jumping and Kalia was included. She is definitely the youngest of the oldest. She is actually in the middle of the youngest and oldest, so she often has a hard timing finding where she fits. So I was happy she was included. Off the older cousins went, Devin, the life guard went, which made this momma heart ok with Kalia going. She had the best time, Im sure the older cousins just had fun, but Kalia felt so included and loved. Which made this day, that much better.

At 5pm we went over to Vic Park for the family festival but didn't stay long this year. My allergies did SO well all day- until that evening. The wind picked up and my pills wore off. I have no pictures- I know we saw some friends but I had my eyes closed or tear filled the whole time so I can't remember who we saw. The kids played a bit but they were pretty much done to. Justin and the kids did a few more bounce castles while I hid in the van as my eyes were swelling shut. 

Driving home to High River Justin promised the kids they would go see the fireworks as we left Raymond to early for theirs. I was.... hesitant. He knew I was tried after being hunted by allergies for 2 evenings- he just took them himself.  We got home about 7:30pm- where there was no power at our house.... so we went to Grandmas and Grandpas. Totally invited ourselves over to for a movie night we watched Malificant  and had popcorn before the fireworks.  It was a pretty awesome day packed to the gills.