July 15/09 - Our trip to The Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller was absolutely amazing! The town of Drumheller is located in deep craters in the ground called the badlands and it felt as though we were in the mountains in Arizona.

The Drive from Ontario through Manitoba, Saskatchewan and into Calgary.

July 12/09 - My Mom, Dad and I, at 6 AM, started our journey form Ontario to Calgary. It took us three days to drive there as we wanted to take in the scenery and enjoy the drive. On day one we made it to Thunder Bay. The drive was perfect as was the weather. Upon arrival we stopped at the Terry Fox Monument which took my breath away. Looking up in awe at the bronze statue of Terry was an experience I can not put into words. What an amazing human being.

Day 2 started again at 6 AM, we made a quick stop at Kakabeka Falls just outside of Thunder Bay as we had heard so much about how beautiful the terrain was and then made our journey out of Ontario, through Manitoba and into Saskatchewan where we ended in Regina. We spent some time in the Casino before collapsing in our beds late that evening.

Day 3 stated yet again at 6 AM. We made it to Alberta in good time and loved the city of Medicine Hat, arriving in Calgary around 2:30 PM.

FINALLY seeing my brother since early January was AMAZING!! We were all so glad to be together :)

Kakabeka Falls

Terry Fox Monument

Moose in Northern Ontario

What most of Saskatchewan looked like.

Calgary

Back in September I took a little trip out to Calgary, Alberta. It was my first trip within Canada and loved every single second that took me from Toronto to Calgary and back. Every second except when I had found out that my bag which housed my digital SLR, digital point & shoot, and my mobile phone had been taken from my parents hotel room. I learned of this news on the morning I was due to return back to Toronto, all of my 800 or so pictures of my trip were gone.

It has since been 2 months and I have had all of my stolen items replaced, they are even better than what I had before, but the thought of never seeing the pictures I took ever again haunts me quite often. 

My brother moved out West with his girlfriend Michelle back in May, I think it was May, so my parents & I decided to go out and visit. My parents flew from North Bay and we all met up in downtown Calgary. I stayed in my brothers apartment, with an amazing view of the city, and my parents stayed at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Calgary. 

We drove out to Canmore and had an amazing lunch, enjoyed the fresh mountain air and then visited the small town of Banff. The most amazing part of the trip was the Banff Springs Hotel, it was a place I had dreamed of visiting since I was a little girl. The experience was overwhelming. Every room was so grande and elegant. The Bow River was just steps away and the mountains were touchable and prodigious.

My parents took a few pictures, but knew I was a little more of an adept photographer than they were and left that part to me. *Sigh*

We dined in amazing restaurants such as the Saltlik and the best all natural and organic restaurant we found in the woods in the central park 'The River Cafe'. (My all time favourite restaurant) We played golf at the Inglewood Golf & Country Club, we shot pool and mingled throughout various locations in the downtown area. The weather was amazing, time felt as if it stood still the entire trip, and the company was perfect. I can't wait to do it again this spring.

So, my parents were down this weekend and they gave me most of the pictures that they took which was very thoughtful. They still have many on their camera that they have yet to do anything with and I can not wait to see them as well. That said, here are some of our experiences, enjoy!  :)

Cole's 10th Birthday. Part One.

Cole's Nanny & Papa came down to visit for the night last night to be with Cole in celebrating his birthday, a little earlier than his actual birthday but they are busy over the next few weekends. We had French Onion soup for starters, at Cole's request, it's his favorite appetizer. Followed by Rainbow Trout and baked Potatoes :) MMmmm, sometimes I surprise myself :)

Of course we had Angel Cake covered in a delectably creamy chocolate icing and then Cole opened his gift that he had been waiting so long to do. He wanted an iShuffle, and that is what he received so he was very happy with that. I was planning on getting the boys an iPod Classic each for Christmas and this now challenges my idea.

Later on in the evening we put on a movie and chit-chatted throughout, laughing and giggling like we were all 10 years old. Bedtime was at 2 AM and we woke at 9 AM. Eggs Benedict for breakfast, shortbread for a snack and about an hour looking at many pictures of Calgary that my parents brought me.

All in all it was a fabulous visit, never long enough and Cole is a very happy camper. After my parents left (in the freshly fallen snow) that is one thing Cole did mention: "Why is it that I feel sad every time people leave?"

First TIme Blogger

Yes this is my first time blogging, not too sure how to start but we'll see if I can manage.

I will eventually be posting like a zillion pictures on here shortly, that is my favorite thing to do, taking pictures. I recently went to Calgary and took my digital SLR camera as well as my little digital point-and-shoot with me. I took some amazing photographs of the mountains, of the Banff Springs Hotel (inside & out), of my parents, of my brother & his girlfriend, of so many moments that I thought were amazing. The trip was amazing, I loved every second. It ended crappy though, my bag that I kept my cameras and cell phone in were stolen :(

I reported it to the police and the hotel is currently putting in a claim with their insurance as the bag was taken from the Hyatt Regency hotel room. 

The good thing about the situation is that I now have an even better camera, a way-cool phone, and a great story to tell in the future. I wouldn't trade that trip in for anything, and I owe it all to my bro & Mo :)

Well, this is my first blog, and if there is actually anyone reading this I promise that I will make it more interesting and worth your while next time.