Hard to believe that we were able to get away for five whole days! As ranchers, that very rarely happens. The last time we went away for this long, Tawny was ten. A few years ago, we all went camping with extended family but I believe that was only for three or four days and we brought our dogs with us. So getting to visit friends in Alberta was really a delight, as it's often us receiving visitors. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE having guests and visitors - but it is a real treat to see others on their own turf and do the visiting ourselves!
We spent all day Thursday with friends near Bowden, which itself is near Olds, Alberta. They are busy people with all sorts of things going on their property from cows and ropings horses, to trail and wagon rides and cabins for rent with a little restaurant. They have a little boy just a few months older than Silas and the two of them got on like a house on fire and had a wonderful time together. They are very comfortable and welcoming family and it made for a real relaxing day after the busyness of the last few.
We left them Friday around lunch and made a beeline for the airport back in Edmonton. Tawny's flight left at 3:15 and by the time we had dropped off the car and made it to pick up our passes, taken Silas to the bathroom a million times - she was late! Her final boarding call was broad-casted as we were waiting in line for security. Talk about heart in my throat, oh my goodness! Tawny was travelling by herself to Nanaimo to visit with her biological family, so luckily it was just her to rush through security and race for her gate. They actually called her name while she passed through the metal detector! Thankfully, she made it - the gate was the nearest one. Unfortunately, she didn't get to say good bye to anyone - no hugs or anything!
The rest of us made it - just barely - through a quick meal and flight home with a 45 minute stopover in Calgary. Both boys were at the end of their rope and as we flew out of the Calgary airport I was worried Ollie was going to screech all the way home. I nursed him after take off though, and he fell asleep, not to wake up until we were into the airport proper to be greeted by the same woman who dropped us off - Scott's mother Val. Silas was delighted to see her and ran right up to her for a hug to begin chattering about everything we've seen. It was very cute and it did a little something to reward Val for all her extra time and effort spent carting us around. We dropped Tawny's friend off at his house and arrived at our own home around nine-thirty. Both boys collapsed into bed, and we followed very soon after. We were exhausted - but so satisfied!
Having organized the trip by myself, with some input from tawny and Scott, it was so gratifying to see my family enjoying all the things I'd organized for them as well as seeing all the little bits and pieces that make things easier (like stroller rentals and roomy hotels) fall into place just as I'd hoped. I realize now as I'm writing this that there's a reason we only go away every few years - it's hard work and, while fun, very tiring! Tawny is due back this Tuesday - we all miss her and can't wait! And then it's just preparing for back to school. Can't wait for things to settle down and become more routine. . .
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