Nature.........

Elbow Falls.............

Farming land in Saskatchewan.....................

Lake Diefenbaker.................

Flowers in the "Prairie Gardens" in Winnipeg.............

On the Red River in downtown Winnipeg............

Lake Winnipeg..........

Portage la Prairie..........

Swan River.......

Kananaskis..............

And finally.........

.....a picture of the Alvin and Florella clan and this is less than half of who could have been there and some who were there are missing in this picture. I think it is approximately 167 (Larry and Ken counted on the way back from the reunion) with the kids, grandkids and great-grandkids!!!! I remember Mom saying at the last reunion that she was at...... "Are they all ours?" as she looked amazingly out over the group!!! Yes, Mamma, you and dad didn't have much money or material things but you had a whole lot of love to share, wise counsel when we needed it, common sense to the nth degree, a work ethic that has amazed me over the years and a positive attitude and humor.....oh how we would laugh and play and get angry and cry and forgive and love and laugh again. And the one thing that held us altogether and is still holding us together is faith in our Heavenly Father and that was taught and nurtured in our home. And it is up to us to continue that teaching, praying and nurturing now as we have become parents and grandparents to all these beautiful children and young people.

Whaaaaaaaat????

Again......another picture of these two characters!!!! Ken and Eric!!!!! Need I say more?????????

And how cute is this!!!!!!

Our sweet Breiden all dressed up in his Canada shirt and Canada shoes!

How cute is this!!

Bella, Noah's puppy at the reunion.

It is so hard to say good-bye........

Larry and Irene, Jeff and Kirsten and their children, Olson and Kaelen came to Calgary after the family reunion and stayed with us a week and a half. Julene and Stephen who live here spent the days with us as well......mornings having our coffee out in the backyard and then going out to the mountains a couple of times, out to Drumheller to the museum, out to Jarle and Judy's one Friday night and one evening to Heather and Duane's for a barbeque. The brothers and sisters were at Ron and Delaine's for supper last Monday night so it was a busy time We had such a fun time together and boy was the house ever quiet after everyone left!!!!!! Larry and Irene left a couple days earlier than Jeff and Kirsten so they are saying good-bye here. It is always hard...... a few tears were shed. Such a comfort to know that we are in God's hands when we travel and when we are so far apart. We have a tradition in the Archie family that whenever we and our children and grandchildren part, we always stand in a circle holding hands and pray for a safe trip and for each other. We did that the morning they left and I was so touched that after Grandpa Larry prayed, the children wanted to pray too for their grandparents as they travelled. O the faith of a child......how beautiful that is....

Good-bye Mom and Dad, Gramma and Grandpa......see you at Christmas!!

Safe trip, Larry and Irene. God bless! Thank you for visiting us.

Random pics from our trip to Manitoba and Minnesota.

August 1st - driving out to Dave and Donna's (Jim's brother and his wife) close to the Manitoba border and staying with them one night. They live on an acreage and have goats and donkeys, a dog and a cat, a beautiful home and a yard like a park. Very pretty area.

Thursday, August 2nd. Having lunch with Elaine and David. They gave us a tour of their church. They live about 15 minutes away from Dave and Donna's.

Friday morning, August 3rd stopping by Mark and Linda's summer home on Lake Winnipeg. It is so beautiful, rustic and cozy, right close to the water.

We had coffee with them and their friends from the States who were staying with them for a week. I was so impressed with this area. It reminded me so much of northern Saskatchewan where I came from.

We stayed with Carol and Glenn in Winnipeg on Friday night, and had a wonderful time. We toured downtown Winnipeg that evening. So fun. It was so good to visit with them again and see their beautiful new home and church but best of all was just being together, sharing, laughing, crying! Just the best!

Nanc, Wayne and Breiden at Susanne's on Sunday afternoon for a barbeque. We had kabobs......delicious!!!!! Got to Fergus Sat. afternoon, Aug. 4th after a 2 hour lineup at the border. I think all of Manitoba was going to Grand Forks to shop!!!!!!!

A walk around Lake Alice. We stayed until Thurs. and then we all drove together to the Reunion in Sask. Wayne couldn't come with us because he was out in Colorado at the Youth Convention.

Noah's vacation continued........

Heading out to the beautiful Kananaskis (not a cloud in the sky) last Saturday via Longview and Millerville with the gang. Jemma, Siri and Noah came with us. Heather was at the "Women of Faith" Conference (which was excellant.) and Duane was babysitting Kalle and Nate so they couldn't be with us. Larry and Irene, Jeff, Kirsten, Olson and Kaelen have been staying with us and Stephen and Julene came over every day. So much fun. The kids have played and played together. I loved seeing their imaginations go to work. Down by the water, they made a restaurant called "The Moose Cafe". That was created by Jemma and Kaelen. Made pies out of clay, utinsels out of sticks, dishes and decorations out of stones, grass and driftwood. Siri created "The Moose Cafe Deli". Noah did a tower out of clay and a stone walkway into the water and Olson did a submarine launch. It was amazing and I love when these children pretend and study the things of nature. It is just the best when they are out in the fresh air enjoying themselves. They hiked to the Falls except for Siri, Kirsten, Irene and I. Siri drew a picture of all the things that she was looking at from the picnic table to give to her mom and dad, Kirsten and Irene got going on a scrabble game and I just relaxed with Siri. Just the best!!!

Having our picnic by the Lakes. One of our favorite mountain spots. It was such a gorgeous day.

Feeding the whiskey jacks. Poor Jeff got his strawberries stolen right off his plate by these birds and Noah put a piece of bread on his head and lo and behold, it was taken!!!!!!!

We were all out to Heather's on Tuesday night for a barbeque. Noah and Olson were taking the pictures. Gramma was even able to come.

Having ice cream! Yummy!

The VBS program last night.

Saying good-bye to Aunty Heather last night at the VBS program at the church. Noah stayed with them Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. They had such a great time together.

Noah saying good-bye to Grandpa last night. Remember this pose, girls????

A cuddle with Gramma before leaving.

The van packed and ready to go. Jeff, you did a good job!!! Note the shoots from Gramma Olson's lilac bush for Kirsten. Larry and Irene got some too and of course had to have them approved by the agriculture guys in order to cross the border. And Kaelon and Olson, thank you for coming to see us. Noah, Noah what are we going to do without you!! Next time you will have to stay longer and bring Mikenna with you. We miss you like crazy already and we have had so much fun with you. We love you all and are praying for you as you travel.

Heritage Park......

Last Friday, Grandpa, Noah and I spent the day at Heritage Park. Here we are waiting to get on the train. After riding the train (with the steam engine) around the Park, we went and had lunch at a little cafe on Main Street. I just can't tell how much we have enjoyed first Mikenna staying with us two summers ago and now Noah. Maybe next year or the year after, they can come together. It is just the best and we feel so blessed!!!

On the train......

Grandpa and Noah waiting for the S.S. Moyie (the paddle wheeler) and we went on a nice boat ride around the resevoir.

Of course you can't go to Heritage Park without going to the candy shop!!!!! We are waiting to go on the wagon drawn by the horses for a ride around the Park here.

Leaving the Park. What a wonderful day together. We had so much fun! There will be more pictures in the photo album we are doing for you. You will have to wait to see the rest of the pictures when he comes back.

Noah's birthday!

What a blessing it is to have grandchildren that want to come to visit. We absolutely love it. Our Noah is a treasure......thoughtful, kind, polite and so fun to have around. Today was his 11th birthday so here are some of the things that he did. The first thing was a ride on Grandpa's motorcycle.........then........

.....a bike ride in Fish Creek.

Having birthday cake, ice cream and presents in the Courtyard at the Beverly with great-gramma.

Just before leaving Great-gramma's. Having fun with Jemma, Siri, Nate, Olson and Kaelon.

Having smores and a fire in the firepit before going to bed. Grandpa and I hope you enjoyed your birthday. We love you.

Family Reunions are fun!!!!!

We had another family reunion last weekend at Hitchcock's Hideaway across the lake from Elbow, Sk. and here my sisters and my oldest brother are having their pre-breakfast coffee at 7.00 in the morning. This was a very special time to laugh, cry, look at Mom's albums, remember our parents, our brother Ed, our nephew Scott and our brother-in-law Howard who are waiting for us in Heaven, it was also a special time to tell stories and laugh til our sides ached and just have a wonderful time together......thankful for our Christian heritage and all the members of our Olson clan. We are so blessed.

Pansy the clown (alias Debbie) came to visit on Saturday afternoon. She painted faces and made balloon animals for the children (and adults!!!!!) So fun!!! Our beautiful Jehru (Steven's wife) with Pansy.

The four cousins, Sue, Nanc, Kirsten and Julene!

Of course our little Breiden was there.

Some people in our family are such characters!!!!! Eric (our son-in-law) and Ken (my brother) trying to outdo each other!!!!!!

All the siblings that were there........from left, me, Larry, Lloyd, Ken, Ron, Jarle, Joyce, Mac, Ida Gwen and Viv. Unfortunately Florence and Ted and Kay couldn't come because of illness. We missed you guys so much!!!
Sue already missing her son.

Just before Sue and Eric left for Fergus on Sunday afternoon. Noah came back with us and we are having so much fun.

Waving good-bye to the family that was left on Monday morning. Such a wonderful time together. We'll see you again in three years!!!!!