Canada, going-going-going

We recently returned from a trip to visit our family in Canada. It was a VERY busy trip and there was a lot going on while we were there...

Serena (Michael's youngest sister) graduated from High School on Friday night (about an hour or so after we arrived).

We spent TONS of time with family! And really enjoyed seeing how big the little ones have gotten. We haven't been up for a visit since April '08. We did see some family last August and that is the only time we had been around my little niece Tylie. She is now over a year old and VERY cute! She loved putting her foot on Allison while Allison was on the ground.

Then on Saturday was Hallie's baptism and Sunday was baby blessing for Brock...so the Smith family had a pretty crazy weekend! We all made it to the baptism, but I wasn't feeling well and wasn't able to make it to the baby blessing.

Monday night Michael arranged for a bunch of the siblings and spouses to go out to eat and to a movie. One of the places we try to make sure and go to while visiting up there is a restaurant called Siagonese. It is Vietnamese food and we LOVE it! Then we went and saw "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." It was fun to go out with some of the siblings and spouses, we just wish more of us could have gone.

Then Tuesday evening someone in Judy's ward threw her a surprise farewell bbq and baby shower. She was surprised and very touched. I am glad that it was done for her. She would NEVER have agreed to it had she known.

Then Wednesday was a crazy good day. It was Canada day...filled with pancakes, a parade, a bbq, LOTS and LOTS of family, swimming and fireworks.

Happy Canada Day! Thanks aunt Judy for the cute hairbows!

Here are the kids eagerly awaiting the throwing of the candy.

Here is everyone eagerly awaiting the parade...which translated into eagerly awaiting candy.

The kids were pretty cute sitting at the table but some finished and started to leave before the camera was brought out, so they were arranged back around the table and the picture didn't turn out as cute anymore...plus I don't know what Mathew's deal was. Probably he was MAJOR tired. We had one of the cousins stayover with us every night but the first and last. Plus the kids went to bed late every night and were up fairly early most of the time. The night before Canada day, we had 5 little ones (3 cousins sleeping over and our 2) they weren't asleep at 11:30 p.m. and were up by 7 a.m. Overall they did pretty good and weren't too cranky that day.

During the BBQ uncle John was jumping on the 28 (or so) year old tramp and put his foot through it and made a hole. Instead of listening to his mother who said no one should jump on the tramp anymore, Michael got on and proceeded to rip a hole right through the middle. Here some of the kids are standing in said hole.

Michael also was able to go hiking and fishing with his 2 brothers Dan and John while we were in town. He and the boys left a little after the BBQ and were back just in time for fireworks.

Originally we had planned to drive back Thursday, but we weren't anywhere near ready and Wednesday was a LONG and BUSY day, so we extended a day and left REALLY early Friday morning and arrived home just 3 hours or so before my parents arrived for a long weekend. More about that later.

We had a good time and it was wonderful to visit with our family. It is good to be home and I am hoping to get to the unpacking, cleaning and all other things soon. But growing a baby is slowing me down and wearing me out.