Human Step Stool

A few weeks ago I was at Future Shop with Rob and the kids and my dad. Dad had generously agreed to buy us a new printer and we adults were consumed with checking the options out. Meanwhile, and I found this out later, Austin and Preston were looking at video games. Preston had mentioned that he needed the bathroom, but Austin told him to hold it. Then, Austin saw a game he wanted to get a better look at, but it was up too high. So, he asked Preston if he would like to do something "fun." So he told Preston to get down on his hands and knees and Austin stepped up on his back to reach the video game. Afterward, Preston said, "That wasn't very much fun." A few minutes later, Preston peed his pants, just an aisle away from the public bathroom, that no one would take him to. On the TV show "Little People, Big World" they say that "little people can do anything other people can do, just in a different way." I guess Austin is living proof!

Great times @ Waterton

Our family went to Waterton from August 18th-20th. It was the first time we ever went on a holiday with just our family(minus Mark who was home with his caregiver), that was not for the purpose of visiting other family. It was absolutely wonderful! I have never seen better weather in Waterton—high twenties, no wind and sunny. We took our new trailer to the town site campground where we had our first experience with full hook-ups! I loved it. We could use as much power and water as we wanted and had full bathroom facilities in our trailer (the campground also had toilets and showers). We all slept comfortably in the trailer and it was easy making meals with a stove, fridge and sink.
I was really impressed with our kids, especially the boys who basically ran up Bear’s hump. Alyssa on the other hand, whined and cried and was practically hysterical. We chalked it up to her being out of shape and melodramatic, but she threw up at the top of bear’s hump and we realized that she actually had a case of the stomach flu. The next day, Alyssa did much better on the hike to Bertha Falls. In addition to the two hikes, we waded in the water at Red Rock Canyon and went to an interpretive program about bears. I think we will have to make a tradition of having an “our family only” holiday each year.



Rob and Preston at the top of Bear's hump

One of the views from the top of Bear's hump

The kids early on the hike up Bear's hump, before Alyssa turned green.

Austin and Preston--triumphant mountain climbers--at the top of Bear's hump

5 of 6 Doigs at the top of Bear's hump. We talked about getting a child backpack to carry Mark up there one day.

Rob @ Red Rock

Preston crossing the river at Red Rock

Help! We're stranded!

Red Rock. "Are you kidding? I would never tease you."

Red Rock "Yeah, right"

We say this bear from our car half way between Red Rock Canyon and the town site. We also saw a bear movie at one of the interpretive programs. Did you know that if the bear starts to eat you, he is no longer acting defensively but rather as a predator?

Bertha Falls--I would have liked this spot much better if the guard rail were lower.

Rob and Alyssa by Bertha Falls

Columbia Falls Waterslides

Alyssa coming of the River Ride slide

Rob coming of River Ride

Mom and Preston

Austin "I'm too cool for this waterslide park"

Alyssa posing for the finish!

From Aug 10-12th, we went to Kalispell to visit Rob's sister Michelle and their family. We took advantage of the good Us shopping and bought the kids' school clothes. The highlight of the trip was a day at the Big Sky Waterpark in Columbia Falls. Last year Preston was too scared to go down any slides. This year he went down the kiddie slides relatively readily, but was afraid of the bigger slides. Somehow about half way through the day, Rob got him to try one of the big green slides with him. Then for the rest of the day, it was a race to get to the top of the hill so he could go again....and again....and again....and.... It was really nice to spend time with our Hemsley cousins too!

Alyssa and Anna's photo shoot

We invited my sister Sarah to stay after the family reunion for a few days with Anna and Paul Bryner (my sister Liz's two oldest kids) and Sam (my brother Mike's son). Sarah will take the kids with her to Utah tomorrow. Part of the purpose of this adventure was so that these kids could get out on the boat with us. However, we have been sorely vexed with cold and rainy weather all week which is about 10 C below seasonal. The kids have therefore mostly been entertaining themselves around the house. On Tuesday evening, Sarah and I took the kids to see "The Ark" in at the Carriage House Theatre in Cardston. It was terrific. I can really relate to one song in particular which went..."I---- hate the rain....It's driving me insane." Anyway, yesterday, somewhat to Rob's chagrin, we left the boys home and Sarah and I took Alyssa and Anna shopping in Lethbridge. I bought them a matching outfit and when we got home, I did a photo shoot of the two of them. Aren't they cute? I have really enjoyed the dynamic of having Alyssa, Anna and Sarah around. We have laughed a lot. The boys mostly do their own thing which involves computers, Nintendo DS, and stuff from some world other than our own. I hope they are all having fun despite our bad luck with weather.

Joe Prete Reunion, 2009

Rob laughing hard. I believe that is either because Grandpa Prete got forced into bidding on a Webkinz for Austin or because Rob bid up Christian on a BYU button for Anna.

We went to the Prete reunion at Red Lodge Provincial Park from Thursday, evening, July 30th til Sunday, am, August 2nd. When we were driving to the reunion and for a little while after we got there it was pouring rain. I had been a little frustrated that the 3 and a half hour drive took over 5 hours due to me missing a turn and a prolonged stop in Olds to get KFC--only KFC had closed down there--unbeknownst to mapquest. However, this turned into a blessing because those who arrived earlier had to set up tents in the pouring rain. I quit raining within half an hour of us getting there. My parents, Joe and Haylee and their family, my nephew Sam and my sister Sarah all travelled from my house to the reunion. Liz and Christian and their 6 kids travelled straight from Utah to the reunion without coming to our house first.

On Friday, the kids played some games in the morning. Then the Roy Prete group went to the Collicutt Centre in Red Deer. We came back to prepare the meal that our family was in charge of and participate in the family auction. The auction was great fun. Sarah bought a bucket of Cows for $25. Rob suggested to Austin that Grandpa Prete would maybe buy him the Webkinz as a thank you for Them using Austin s bedroom while here. They told him they would go up to $35, but when the bidding went above $35, Grandpa Prete decided to keep Austin bidding and they got it for $40. Austin was pretty entertaining through the whole thing. All told the Auction raised $1400 for the reunion. On Sat. am I ran some childrens games for all the kids and later my cousin Matt did Farmyard Olympics. In the afternoon most of us went down to the river and waded in it. We had to leave as the first of a few thunderstorms rolled in. One of the storms brought strong winds and some guys tied the canopies to some pick up trucks with tie downs to secure things so we could have dinner. In the evening we enjoyed a talent show which included everything from 7 year old Madeline Nysetvold performing a virtuoso violin concerto to hand stand pushups, a finger light sabre duel (Austin and Paul) to Anna s HappyLand slide show to Sarah on her biology song.

We got up early on Sunday and got back to Magrath in time for church, all except our heroes Rob and Christian and the twins who agreed to stay back and pack up the tents once they were dry and get the trailer ready to go.

Liz and her four younger kids and mom and dad left this (Monday) morning and Sarah is still here. She will drive back with Anna, Paul and Sam at the end of the week.

Anna is wearing Grandma Nash s hat that she won at the auction at the last Prete reunion.

LUNCHTIME!

Duck, duck, goose!

Boating with the Pretes

Despite having a cool summer and way too many rainy days, we did get out on the boat a little while my family was visiting. My brother Joe and his wife Haylee have some pretty fearless little girls! I couldn t believe it when even both their five year old and their seven year old kneeboarded. All of these pictures are from the boat at Jensen s Reservoir.

My niece Emma Prete, age 7 kneeboarding! Good work Emma!

Emma and her Dad, my brother, Joe, going for a wild tube ride!

Sara, age 5 kneeboarding! You are amazing!

Joe, soooo cool on skis!

I can take your picture before you take my picture. My mom, Carma Prete in the boat.

Gradnpa Roy Prete with Austin on the boat.

Alyssa riding the wake.

Sam Walsh-Prete, my nephew, so stylin on the boat!

Preston, in shades!

Rob lets Preston drive the boat sometimes when the kids are wanting a wild tube ride. Austin asked, how come Preston gets to drive the boat and I don t--he doesn t even know where the gas is. Exactly, Rob said!