My summer according to Instagram

This is a summary of my summer, in no particular order.... 

 My dear, wonderful friend Tara called my husband with a fantastic idea for Mother's Day. The plan was she and I would go to Jersey Boys... and we did! It was so fun singing along with the talented people on stage. I was, however, surprised that they didn't ask me to run away with them and be in the show... Maybe next time!

 I had the pleasure of running away to Banff this summer to a "secret wedding". Our neighbors got engaged about eight years ago, and decided to elope. It was such a fun weekend! If I were to do it again, I would so do it this way! Thanks Phil and Carrie for trusting me with your memories of this day.

I changed my hair up. Big time. I dyed it grey. Yep. On purpose. And I loved it! But yesterday I got it cut again, and we threw some pink in it. Again, I love it. Yay! I am so happy that I found an amazing hair dresser in Lethbridge because this gives me a reason to have a whole day to myself! 

 I learned to drive the boat. Sort of. Well... not really. It scares me. I don't know why, but it does. I don't want to hit a sand bar, or go too fast, or flip the boat (I know, I know... I won't flip the boat). But I did drive it around our lake for a bit. One day I will be able to pull Grant on his skis, but not yet.

 We crammed as much family time in as we could. With Grant working away, and summers being his busy time with forest fires, we have to take what we can get. So, we took! We went boating, and to movies, and worked in the yard (so fun.....) and just enjoyed our time together.

 I celebrated my ten year wedding anniversary. However, as I said before, Grant isn't around much in the summer, so I spent it with a bunch of girlfriends instead! It was a night full of laughs, drinks, and debauchery. (With very little debauchery.) I also started working on the plans to celebrate our anniversary together. Grant and I are going to wine country and San Fran this fall. I can't wait for some time away together, and also a chance to see the city my youngest sister says is her all time favorite!

 We camped. I know that a picture of a drink doesn't necessarily mean camping, but this is what Darcie and I did while we were camping! We spent a week in Champion's campground while our kids had swimming lessons. We had a blast. The kids got along better than they ever have, and I learned that I can camp without Grant! I was pretty proud of myself.... until I ran us out of propane. That makes for bbqing a bit harder. :/

 I read. A lot. Summer is all about relaxing and not stressing about the little things. At least it is for me. And so, I spent a lot of time behind the covers of some excellent books. The Sisters Brothers was one that I really enjoyed, and was completely surprised by. I will admit that I bought it because of the cover, (and a great review from a friend on Facebook). I really had no clue what it was about, and by the first page I realized it was a western. But I kept reading, and was pleasantly surprised that I liked it. I read six or seven other books this summer. It was quite a dent into the pile I have that need to be read, and then I bought about ten more to read, so by that equation, I need to catch up!

 I pickled. A couple of girlfriends and I got together and made a whopping 76 jars of dill pickles. It went by quite quickly considering, and I only forgot the salt for two batches..... 

 I shopped. Tara and I took the girls for a Girls' Day Out to CrossIron Mills. We had a good day spending money, and getting ready for back to school. I love that her daughter and Avery get along so well. It makes spending time together easier! (Not that it is hard.... It is just one more reason to get together!)

 I helped with harvest. It started so early this year. I don't ever remember a time that Grant was in the field in the middle of August, and this year I am happy to say that I took on the full time role of farm wife. I have never been too excited to take meals to the field or get parts, but this year it became a necessity, and I was glad to do it. Inconvenient? Yes. But it also meant that we got extra time with Grant that we wouldn't otherwise have had.

I escaped Lethbridge before the fire closed the highway! There was a major grass fire just outside of Lethbridge last week, and of course the wind was crazy that day fueling the flames, and even creating little fire tornados. The flames jumped the river, and the highway, and came very close to both Coalhurst and Lethbridge. The highway was closed and my friend Catherine was stranded in the city for hours. I made it out and was able to get these pictures when the fire was still relatively new.

This isn't the whole summer, and we certainly filled our days with swimming, and camping, and zoo trips, and Calaway Park, and more swimming and I for one am sad that summer the season is over. I am thrilled that summer the weather is still sticking it out.