Party On, Wayne

Mere weeks after I arrived back from Manitoba, it decided it wanted to repo me for a while longer. That’s cool. I like living on the edge of flying insanity. The kicker here was that we were only flying out for two days. Ugh. But yay! A weekend in homeland is never a bad thing, despite how wrecked I’ll likely be on Monday. One early, early, early Friday morning, Janelle picked us up (still in her pyjamas, of course) and dropped us off at YXX. I couldn’t even post a pic of the sun rising on FB because this is all on the DL.



After a uneventful journey and picking up our rental car at Avis (at which I apparently had 24 reservations and 23 were cancelled), we headed on to Altona and onto the driveway of my parents’ farm.

No one was around, so I figured they must just be in town or have gone to Winkler or something. I called my Mom’s cell phone and she reports that they are on their way to Fargo for the weekend. What? I just talked to her last night to make sure they weren’t doing anything. This is how my parents work. I asked if they had a spare house key and she asked why, to which I reported we were parked in front of their house and needed to get inside. Ha! They turned the car around and advised us to break into the house using a super-secret stealth ninja method. Done and done.

After we had settled in, we hopped back into our Kia Forte and headed out to Marty’s sisters’ house, where we surprised an unsuspecting niece and nephew. The whole purpose of this trip was to surprise Marty’s dad for his 65th birthday. We did exactly that when we walked into the family dinner all nonchalantly. He cried. It was super cute.




Marty got ribs. Of course he did.



One of things I was most excited about was seeing my newest lil nephew, Will. He’s just such a little (chunky) guy!




Look at those legs!


Look at that belly! Hoikey kazoikey. So much more to love…looks like he takes after his uncle Marty. Zing!



We had a fire after dinner and roasted wieners and had s’mores. I miss having backyard fires.



The next day my parents took some time out of their busy farming schedule to go to the Hut with me for lunch. I had a bacon cheese dog – unfortunately the enterprising young staff there felt the need to squirt mustard and relish all over my delicious wiener. Wahhhhh







We visited my Gramps late in the afternoon and he wasn’t too happy that he waited around all afternoon for us. Oops. He was happy to see us anyway.


Wasn’t he?

I don’t’ even know how we squeezed it in, but I also managed to go with my parents to Winkler yet in that afternoon. In hindsight now, I’m so confused. When on earth did we find the time? I wanted a chilled glace (the stupid McDonald’s in Altona was out flavoured syrup – unacceptable) and my Dad wanted to pick up something from Little Morden.


What an odd name for a machinery dealership.


Ahhhhhhh

That evening was the big party for Marty’s dad at his parents’ house. Of course, I got squeeze lil Will a few more times again.


He’s just a little guy!











The party went off without a hitch. The next day was breakfast at Marty’s parents and meeting Kelly and Cephas for some more treats at the Hut. Coming to a close so soon…although I suppose this is just an ordinary weekend…







Kelly and Cephas just had a fresh little guy too, three weeks prior to this meet-up. I wanted to squish him too, but there wasn’t much to squish. He was pretty chill, until he got sick of me.


Babies just make this face at me. I don’t know what it is…




He must be pooping here. He’s gotta be.

Shortly thereafter we headed back into the city and re-boarded a plane home. I just love those prairie skies and sunsets.



Oh! And the Iron Maiden plane was there too!


RADICAL.





Until next time my beloved province!! (Yes, it is beloved.)

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(Day 10) Family Ties

In our last Amurrica adventure, we ate lunch at Qdoba in Grand Forks (and really…how do you pronounce it? I pronounce it ‘kwa-dough-baa’.) I unno..it really pales in comparison to Chipotle. Wahhh. But it was still really tasty. Did I say last adventure? I meant last adventure before stopping for a final farewell at the local ‘Bou.




Pappy feels ‘peace’ at The ‘Bou.

I really miss the prairies actually. The skies are brilliant and blue and there is only peace and quiet for miles. That is why I grew up such a relaxed and easy-going person. Ha.







A vacation inside of a vacation. It’s like Britney Spears’ Dream Within a Dream tour. It wouldn’t be a Sunday with my parents if we didn’t eat dinner at the local Chinese restaurant (though they would argue this) – the restaurant, once a bustling hub of patrons has been largely deserted over the past decade. What, you don’t want to look at a greasy little Chinese man in a wife-beater making chicken balls? I love chicken balls.




Me? Critical? Psh.

My aunt arrived in town that night, so I wound up back at my Grandpa’s, once again scouring the family albums for some sweet photos. No dark shady past here – I’m always smiling wearing some interesting fashion choices.


Janelle looks like the cutest thing on earth. Such a symmetrical head!


I have mixed feelings about this one – I look like I’m guilty of something. And look at that little pot belly! Whose pants am I wearing?






Someone has a little mullet to their name. I’m sorry that Mother felt the need to cut your hair as a child B.

Then, Matthew came by too! To visit me! What a little guy.



Then all us gals (Matthew included), headed to The Hut for some ice cream and gabbing about this and that. You know how we girls do!



Aw…*sniff*


Altona nightlife.



Wahhh! I hate saying goodbye to people. The next morning, bright and early, we were off to the city so I can catch my flight back to Vancouver. I’m going to miss these skies!



I hate the Winnipeg airport. It is as old and as 1970’s as an airport could possibly be. If the new terminal was ready enough for the Queen to fly out of, why can’t I? Wahhh.



The crowning point of this journey home was that I tested positive for explosives at the airport. Wtf. I don’t know. They swabbed my hands and then when the machine tested the sample it came back red! Oh dear. I got the full run of airport security these days on my trip to the gate. They were polite enough though…but what did I touch? I was so paranoid both flights because what if someone tried some funny stuff? They would suspect me immediately! Good heavens!

I made it home safe and sound…back into the cool pacific air. But I miss you little MB! I’ll come again soon.

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