Our trip to Portage

For Thanksgiving this year, we packed our bags and headed off to visit Bill's family in Portage la Prairie. We hadn't been out there in 5 years (for a funeral) and 6 years since we lived there. Maelie was happy to go on the plane! It was practically new to her since the last time she flew she was 4 years old.



When we arrived at Grandma's house, Maelie and Bill went out in the yard and saw a few deer ! They are always all over the place around Grandma's house.



We met Catarina. She is a funny cat. She always sits with her back to you.



Here is a family picture right before breakfast. I had some yummy potato pancakes that morning.... mmmmmmm.....



On Sunday, Grandma was preparing a big turkey dinner. There was a big fight to remove the turkey neck ! We had the tools taken out and everything!!



This is the view we had in the front window. The little baby horses were SO adorable.



As always, I had to spell out Maelie somewhere! I wonder if someone will ever find it before the snow falls :)



For Thanksgiving dinner, Michelle and Jamie came with Ryder. He is SOOOOO adorable! Such a smiley boy. We really wish we could spend more time with him. He is a sweetheart!



Look at his eyes!



Carla, Brian and Ben also came. I had never met Ben before so it was so sweet to meet him. He is a cutie!!



Ryder kept laughing so hard when he saw Ben! It was the sweetest thing. They entertained us all evening!



Here is a picture of Michelle's little family. What a beautiful picture!



The next day, Cindy and I went with Maelie to the pool. It was an awesome place! The only disadvantage was that it was SO hot and humid that Maelie's lungs ached after about half an hour.



This is how big the slide was:



Maelie was so happy! She tried it over and over and over again.



There was the cutest little lazy river at the pool... see if you can find Maelie in the crowd!



Tuesday we decided to head out to the city to get a HOT GREEK SALAD AT NIKOS!!! YUM! I have been craving this for 6 years!



It was as tasty as I remembered it!



We got together with Shannon, Chase and Chloe for supper and it was wonderful to see them again after all this time!! They are such beautiful and wonderful kids!



Another little Maelie in the sand... :)



This was the routine on most mornings... a little Tim Hortons run....!



On Thursday we headed out to the city as a family to go play bowling. Maelie played her games for the Saturday she would miss in her league. She played very well! Of course she beat us grown ups!!



Maelie was very giddy playing bowling! She loves to share her favorite sport with her family :)



On Friday, we took things easy and hung out in the city. Maelie was glad to have Bill and Cindy to play Life with!



We headed out to the park close by with a rake and took advantage of the millions and millions of leaves! Maelie had a smile on her face th whole time we were there!



We had a wonderful week out in Portage. It was really nice to see family that we had not seen in so long. Grandma and Cindy took very good care of us while we were there! It was bittersweet coming back. We were glad to see our home, yet we were sad to leave such kind, loving people. We really hope to be able to see each other again sooner than 6 years from now this time around!!