Family Fun

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DAY 11 on the Road to Yellowknife: 

Edmonton, AB (Second day of family fun and rest)

Running total: 4858 km

What a difference a day makes! 

While we were in Saskatchewan, Eli was on the phone with his brother, Emerson. 

His wife Kelli made a spur of the moment suggestion, and BOOM! 

We were able to meet up in Edmonton for a full day of fun. 

I'm so happy this impulsive addition to our trip happened! 

It gave these two sets of cousins an opportunity to meet and have a blast. 

Plus, the "boys" had some major brotherly bonding to catch up on!! 

 A cool group of eight!

Now, back to the beginning of the day...

 We began the day at the restaurant for breakfast. 

I love this picture of the girls snuggled in the booth, checking out the menu. 

"Where does it say 'pancakes'?"

 The girls asked the chef in the kitchen if she could make them chocolate chip pancakes, and she was happy to. 

She even made them in Mickey Mouse shape!! 

I thought it was just very sweet of her to do that.

 Eli went downstairs to check on the trailer. 

He was so pleased that he could see it from our hotel window. 

And I could spy on him... 

 Our visitors arrived!  YAY!

 Cousins "L" and "A" bonded over the Leap Frog game he brought along.

 And they all had a blast jumping on the beds.

 It was so wonderful to watch the three cousins play so well together.

Kelli and I stayed at the hotel while Emerson went with Eli to see the boat and run errands related to that. 
Emerson is going to take our utility trailer back to his place to keep it safe (and to use it for errands), and we'll get it when we visit!

 The cousins became fast friends...

 I loved watching them being goofy together.

 Suddenly, just and Kelli and I were finishing our lunch, the fire alarm sounded and we had to evacuate all four kids out of the hotel! 

I'm still not sure what happened, but the alarm was going for some time. 

The staff said it was secure, though.

 We played outdoors under a gazebo while the alarm continued to go off. 

The firefighters even came to chat with the kids and gave them each a coloured book with activities and stickers. 

I love how they educate kids any chance they get. 

I've always enjoyed having the kids around emergency workers, because I find they are so helpful and conscientious for small kids.

 These three liked watching the fire fighters in their full gear in the hotel.

 Once the "boys" arrived back at the hotel, we all went to the West Edmonton Mall for a visit. 

We did have a mission, and the kids enjoyed all that there was to see!

 Here are Eli and Emerson with Big "G," "A," and L" watching the sea lion.

 The girls liked the indoor fountains.

 A pirate ship!!

 By the pirate ship, there were the remote controlled mini-pirate ships that you could pay to run. 

The kids LOVED this!!! 

(A, G and L... all one year apart.)

 The big kids liked it too!

 Kelli and Little "G"

 We took a pit stop at the food court. 

I should have taken a picture of the sushi Eli ordered. 

Thank goodness Emerson was there to help him!!

 Off on our mission...

 Looking at the ice rink.

 Mission accomplished!!! 

We got the kids COWBOY HATS!

 The three cousins were thrilled.

 Miss "G" loved dressing up the mannequins in Old Navy!  The doggie is a favourite, too.

 They all got into it!

 Miss "G" went to bed with her cowboy hat tonight.

 This is me with "A's" hat... a little small...

 Back at the pirate ships!

 Me and Emerson with his "I'm smiling on the inside" pose.

 There's his smile!

 Truly, they could not get enough of these boats!  (Like Daddy??)

 On our way out, the kids noticed this circle pattern on the floor and used up some extra energy!

 Ever see Barbie's "12 Dancing Princesses"??

 Little "G" thought that her brother and two cousins were so silly!!

 Once we got back to the hotel, we hit the pool.

 We are SO HAPPY we got this day!

Eli and I were reading in the news that the area near Thunder Bay is having some pretty large forest fires. 

We were just through there, so we can't help but feel blessed that we were not near them, but really hope that the evacuees and fire services have some rain soon.

Tomorrow we begin the two-day drive to Yellowknife, stopping in High Level. 

We have been making good time, and will be getting to Yellowknife just an evening before our furniture is scheduled to arrive. 

Thanks for following this blog along. 

I will be maintaining it while we are in Yellowknife, so I hope you bookmark it on your web browser and keep checking it. 

We love the comments from you all!!