Zack's Birthday

Happy 8th birthday to Zack!

Balloons, presents and cake on his actual birthday:

On Saturday we had Zack's family party. We started out the day with a visit to Corn Maze. We all went through the maze and then the kids played in the various activities around the maze. It was sunny and beautiful!

After the corn maze, we went back to our house for supper, cake and presents:

Happy birthday, Zack!!!!

Thanksgiving in Banff - Day 3

On our last day in Canmore, we went for a hike to Grassi Lakes. It was a nice hike up to 2 beautiful lakes.

We took a little break at the top. 

Walking back down:

After the hike, it was time to head back home, but not before a quick stop at the candy store.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Thanksgiving in Banff - Day 2

We started out our second day with a hike at Johnston Canyon. It was a nice easy hike with beautiful views:

After our hike we went to Banff for lunch with a quick stop at the big Banff sign for a few pictures:

After lunch the kids went climbing at Elevation Place. They love this climbing wall!

That evening we went out for dinner to celebrate Zack's birthday and Thanksgiving.

After dinner we went back to the hotel to go swimming and then celebrated some more! Zack opened his gifts and we had cookies and donuts:

Another full day!

Thanksgiving in Banff - Day 1

We went to Canmore and Banff on the Thanksgiving long weekend with the whole Bollman family. We went on hikes, shopped, swam, celebrated Thanksgiving, Zack's birthday and had a relaxing weekend away together.

Saturday we drove up to Moraine Lake. It was a beautiful drive up the mountain:

Once we got to the lake, it was freezing! The wind was blowing and it was cold!

The view was gorgeous, so we braved the freezing temperatures to take a few pictures:

We drove back down the mountain to Lake Louise. It was sunny and much warmer!

On to Banff Ave for some shopping, including the candy store:

Our hotel had a nice pool and water slide. The boys loved the fast slide!

Jakob's Award

Jakob won an award for the best mark in Robotics class last year! They held the awards ceremony last week and Jakob was very happy to learn that he would receive that award. He loved that class, so I'm glad he was the one who received it. 

German Exchange Visit

Jakob's German exchange partner arrived last Sunday. The Canadian kids were so excited to welcome their exchange partners to Edmonton. We filled each day with activities and fun for the German and Canadian students. It was a VERY busy 2 weeks!

Lined up at the school with welcome signs:

The bus is here!

At school to learn about Canada's history:

A rainy visit to Churchill square:

Fort Edmonton Park:

Mini golf at West Edmonton Mall:

Swimming at the Waterpark:

Oil Kings hockey game: for lots of the German kids, this was their first ever hockey game:

Epic trip to the Calgary Zoo:

 Sleepover at the zoo:

Drumheller - hoodoos:

Drumheller - suspension bridge:

Drumheller - museum & fossil casting:

on the way home stop in Red Deer for dinner:

Curling:

Canoeing down the North Saskatchewan river:

Good bye dinner at Redtail Landing golf course:

German teachers and students good bye presentation:

Photo booth was a big hit!

Pitch & Putt golf before dinner:

Not pictured: Pizza party & games night, 3 German bilingual elementary school visits, City tour by bus, Scona High school visit, Whyte Ave scavenger hunt, Launch Pad, Rec Room, Hawrelak park family BBQ, paint-balling, shopping at West Edmonton Mall & Southgate Mall. We definitely gave the German students the full Edmonton experience. 

It was a very busy, but awesome week!!