Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Our Trip to Canada~May 22-June 8, 2012




(It's been a long time since I've blogged.  So many new improvements to blogger, I may be doing this more often)

The last time our family spent time in Canada was Christmas 2009.  Anna Grace was 3 months old.  This trip was long overdue!  The original plan was for the kids and I to drive to Myrtle Beach(19 hrs) and spend a week with some of my family that were vacationing there and then drive up to Canada(15 hrs) and visit my mom, and then drive back to Texas (25 hrs). It all sounded like a great plan months ago.  As we were approaching the date, I was beginning to question my ability to drive that far by myself.  I asked Cor if he would drive me one way.  I could handle driving 3 days by myself.  He didn't hesitate to say no!  I reminded him that he moved our family far away from my family.  Within minutes he announced to us that he was buying us tickets to Canada!  We were all super excited.

We arrived at the airport bright and early Tuesday morning prepared for a 7:15 departure. It was a great 2.5 hr flight.  My sister met us at Detroit.


Some highlights of our trip:

May 22-28

-seeing my mom and sister
-meeting my new great niece Anna (and her brother and parents)
-visiting my nephew and his fiancee in Toronto for 3 nights
-going up the CN tower
-riding the subway
-walking around downtown
-taking the ferry across to Toronto Island
-Black Creek Pioneer Village
-visiting Cor's Aunt Jane and being absolutely spoiled!
-sleeping in the Princess tent (Julianna and Anna Grace)
-visiting the Cambridge Van Dyks



at the CN Tower

standing on the glass floor.  Asher was scared out of his mind!
looking down from the glass floor
Anna Grace 

looking at Toronto Harbor from the ferry
the girls special sleeping arrangements at Aunt Jane's
Jane's dinner spread
Julianna with Baby Anna
May 29-31

-playing Scrabble with mom
-chatting and enjoying many glasses of wine with my sister and mom
-watching my mom spoil and love on my kids. Whatever they wanted and liked, they got!
-watching my mom and kids play many games
-enjoying the crisp, cool, humidity free weather
-dropping in at my sisters
-visiting some of my aunts in Mitchell.
-driving past my Opa's house!  He was the best Opa.
-lunch with a long time friend
-meeting my nephews girlfriends


you must be this short to ride….my insanely tall nephew!
my beautiful mother and daughter
May 31-June 4

-Cor's visit.  He hadn't planned on visiting, but he missed us too much and decided to fly up for the weekend.  It was wonderful.  I was beginning to really miss him and wondering how I was going to make it for another week. The day of his arrival I was so excited, it felt like I was dating him again.
-Asher's first time at school. He went with his cousin
-Stanley Cup hockey games
-my nieces bridal showers
-Oma Van Dyk's 85th birthday!!  What a blessing.
-visit with my brother and family
just a typical shot
Oma Van Dyk
June 5-8


-crossing into the United States.  It always is an ordeal for me.  I always get pulled into the office.
-lunch and shopping with my mom and sisters
-Detroit Zoo
-hanging with my nephews and nieces in Michigan
-4.5 hr plane delay…was to arrive in Houston at 7:45pm but we landed at 12:15 am.  It was a long wait in the airport.  The kids (even Anna Grace) were excellent!  After hanging out that long in an airport, hearing compliments on the behavior of your 4 kids is beautiful!  


beautiful!
the polar bear exhibit at Detroit Zoo is the best!
we are in a tunnel surrounded by water and the polar bear showed off for us
Detroit Zoo is our favorite zoo that we have visited.  
Prairie dogs…they were so cute to watch

baking with Aunt Teresa
We had an absolutely wonderful time.  It was so good to stay at my mom's place that long.  She loved it.




heading home!


And to come home to all the kids bedrooms freshly painted and to this beautiful bathroom
was the best!
my beautiful, huge, spacious,walk-in shower.  I'm in love.
 It turned out exactly how I had hoped

new soaker tub

2 comments:

Lucy van Eyk said...

Looks like you had a great trip! Thanks for the update! I love seeing how your kids are growing up.

The Arnold's said...

Looks like you had a wonderful trip!!! Glad you got to fly!

Love the tile work!!! Looks awesome!

And yes the kids are growing up soo much! Arianna is as tall as you!! Wow!!