Our trip to Nova Scotia, Canada started with a little pit stop at the Detroit airport. We had a little over three hours to burn so Steve, Lucas, Landon and I did lots of walking, exploring and even some shopping at the duty free shop.
With the three hour time difference it was quit late by the time we arrived in Halifax. Once we picked up our rental van, checked into our hotel and grabbed a little food it was already midnight and time to hit the hay. The next morning we awoke with the bad news that Grandma Judy's hip had popped out of place for the second time in two weeks. Papa rode with the paramedics in the ambulance to take grandma to a nearby hospital and they were then transported to a different hospital in downtown Halifax where they could actually pop Grandma's hip back in place.
In the mean time Steve and the boys went swimming at the hotel while I got in a workout. We then secured our room at the hotel for another evening before heading to Halifax to do some sight seeing. 
After crossing the bridge into Halifax we found our way to the Halifax Harbour where we spent the remainder of the day. We took in the local farmers market, had lunch and walked along the pier checking out the 100's of vendors. I wish we would have had more time to explore Pier 21, the last standing immigration shed in Canada. Maybe next time.
My first lighthouse of the trip - Halifax Harbour Lighthouse.
Lucas was ready to throw in the emergency safety tube to anyone who fell over board.
This playground was a little different than the ones we are used to back home.
During the day we found out Grandma Judy was going to have to spend the night in the hospital. After picking up Papa Joe from the hospital we headed back to the hotel where the boys and I were able to go swimming once again while Steve and Papa grabbed some food and drinks at the hotel restaurant.
Monday morning we dropped Papa off at the hospital so that he could help grandma with the tedious process of checking out of the hospital and Steve drove the boys and I around the parts of Halifax that we did not explore the day before. We were able to drive around the grounds of the Citadel but did not have enough time to do the tour, this is something that Steve and I would both love to do the next time we make it to Halifax.
After crossing the bridge into Halifax we found our way to the Halifax Harbour where we spent the remainder of the day. We took in the local farmers market, had lunch and walked along the pier checking out the 100's of vendors. I wish we would have had more time to explore Pier 21, the last standing immigration shed in Canada. Maybe next time.
My first lighthouse of the trip - Halifax Harbour Lighthouse.
Lucas was ready to throw in the emergency safety tube to anyone who fell over board.
This playground was a little different than the ones we are used to back home.
During the day we found out Grandma Judy was going to have to spend the night in the hospital. After picking up Papa Joe from the hospital we headed back to the hotel where the boys and I were able to go swimming once again while Steve and Papa grabbed some food and drinks at the hotel restaurant.
Monday morning we dropped Papa off at the hospital so that he could help grandma with the tedious process of checking out of the hospital and Steve drove the boys and I around the parts of Halifax that we did not explore the day before. We were able to drive around the grounds of the Citadel but did not have enough time to do the tour, this is something that Steve and I would both love to do the next time we make it to Halifax.
Lucas wanted me to take a picture of this double-decker bus because it reminded him of the bus on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Yet another thing we want to do the next time we make it up to Nova Scotia, ride on the second floor of that pink bus.
Grandma was released from the hospital around 1:00 pm and then we began the 3 hour drive to Shelburne to Great Grandma Hagar's house where we would be spending the remainder of the week.
Grandma was released from the hospital around 1:00 pm and then we began the 3 hour drive to Shelburne to Great Grandma Hagar's house where we would be spending the remainder of the week.
It was a little slow going at times but I was so proud of all the kids for pushing on. They were very relieved to see the lake where they finally got to have a much deserved snack.
Lucas and Landon are starting to get a kick out of our little friend Isabel, now that she is getting so much bigger. Landon enjoys playing peek-a-boo with her and Lucas likes to make funny faces that make her giggle.
Grandma Janice went along to watch the boys in the pool as well as their cousin 
The boys spent a lot of time outside riding their bikes and scooters and playing in the water at grandmas house. Landon also enjoyed playing and digging in the dirt so much he could not be bothered to go inside to use the restroom. I walked outside and looked at him and all he said is "I peed", and kept right on digging.
As always the boys loved playing with 
When we go to Laramie there are certain things we always have to do, it's tradition I guess. One of those things is to go to the local Book/Movie/Game store, Hastings, so the boys can look around and pick out something for being so good on the long trip. We also spend one of the days downtown shopping and just walking around. We go to the Chocolate Cellar, the Curiosity Shop, 
We were also in town for my sister Terri's birthday. Grandma Janice watched the boys while I went to the 
One of the less fun things we do while in Laramie is to visit the laundry mat. Grandma's washer and dryer are not quit big enough for the piles of clothes we manage to accumulate. The boys did get to play with some other cousins at Aunt Tina's house while I went shopping with Grandma at 
We went to Cheyenne on Wednesday afternoon to spend some time with Aunt Tonia and her family. Her son Kent just recently got out of the Marines and her youngest son 
Friday we took the boys to Frontier Park to do some more shopping and to ride the carnival rides. The boys each got to ride about 8 rides and then they each chose a cowboy belt with a buckle as their souvenir.
Friday evening the boys were so excited to see their dad get into town for his annual Laramie 
Saturday the boys and I met up with Uncle Robert and Aunt Shelly before we headed up to 
We also found a puppy for Landon who looks a lot like Momma White Dog did when she was "younger". :) You will never guess what he named her.
He never fails to amaze me, some of the stuff he comes up with.
The boys swimming at their friend Gabe's birthday party.
And they all loved the hammock that the 
Poor Landon slipped on a rock and got a little more wet than he intended. Lucky for him Kristen was close by and helped him up out of the freezing cold water.
We headed back to camp for dry clothes and fishing gear before we then went up to Mirror Lake to do a little bit of fishing. The higher into the mountains we went the more snow we saw and a lot of the camp grounds were still closed despite the fact that it is now mid July. Lucas and Landon tried their best to catch a fish, even going as far as using licorice as bait. Mia was the only one to catch a fish but it was fun none the less.
Later on back at camp while we were preparing to eat dinner, Lucas tapped Kristen on the arm and in a very calm voice said "Kristen look, a deer." Sure enough just up the road was a deer. She said it was just too funny how nonchalant Lucas was about it. :) Once again we enjoyed our 
