I've been slacking in my weekly updates because of one major setback. Joachim no longer takes naps in the sling so I am not able to take him with me to the coffee shop and use the Internet. He is just physically too big, but I got every last day out of the sling that I could.
So, I have lots of picture to share from last couple of weeks. Most significantly we went to a Bartel family reunion in Owen Sound, Canada the last weekend in July.
Unfortunately the travel did not go as smoothly as it could have (a reflection of the present state of our airlines). On the way up we had three flights canceled. We arrived at the Colorado Springs airport at 7:00am and had to check-in and go through security 3 times before we finally took off at 3:30pm. Our original flight was canceled after we had already boarded (mechanical malfunction) and our airline put us on another airline, so we had to get our bags and start all over again.
At the gate for that airline they announced it was delayed three hours (and we'd miss our connecting flight), so we got our bags back again and went back to our original airline and check in for a much later flight. There were two problems with this, we didn't arrive in Toronto until 12:00am and we weren't there to drive my 85 year old Grandparents to Owen Sound when they arrived 7 hours ealier.
After almost $40 of international calls (because my parents were already in Canada) it was arranged that they would have wheelchair assistance meet my grandparents when they arrived and put them in a taxi to my cousin's house in Toronto. When we arrived we also drove to my cousin's house, arriving at 1:00am.
On the plus side, Joachim got to go swimming for his first time ever before we drove to my aunt's farm, needless to say he loved it (I did too).
But wait, I'm not done ranting yet! On the way home our flight was canceled when we got to the gate and after almost 2 hours they put us on another flight, on another airline, in another terminal. Once again we were not able to fly with my grandparents and we had to get our luggage back and go through customs and security all over again.
We had to spend the night in Dallas at our expense and fly to Colorado Springs the next day. No compensation for anything! Unfortunately, Joachim had to fly on two late night flights and I found myself wanting to explain to the other passengers "I never intended to bring a baby on the plane so late."
But, we did make it and here is my Aunt's cabin and farm.
We can see this lake from our apartment but it's a state park and has an entrance fee so we don't go often. It's the only swimming around and a far cry from Sauble beach, but Joachim gave it a try with his cousins and Grandma.
Joachim and "uncle" Chase. Now, there's a man who knows how to get into Joachim's world.
Joachim and his buddy Michael. We wish Michael still lived in Delta.
My relatives are big game players and Joachim was not about to be left out.
We passed fields of wind turbines on our way to Owen Sound and I thought they were really cool. Some people think they're an eye-sore, but I think they're nicer than the Jurassic looking oil pumps scattered around Texas.
Tina, Jonathan, Mom & Joachim
Ben, Joachim & my cousin, Pat, on the way out to the back field to check on Patrick's sheep
This was the first time I'd seen Patrick since '95 and he'd spent 6 months of each of 6 years since then tending a herd of 1,500+ sheep in a remote part of Canada. He has shot every kind of bear and wolf and I'm extremely proud to have a modern day Daniel Boone in my own family. It was a wonder for me to see him with my very cosmopolitan cousin who we stayed with in Toronto. I hope my kids pursue such interesting and individual lives. Below are pictures of Pat and the herd he shepherded.
This picture was taken from our balcony, I was impressed with how bravely Joachim played by himself. First he pushed his swing a little and then he went on to feed grass to the the chickens. He looked so little in the big yard.
For me, the highlight of the whole Canada trip was our visit to Sauble beach on lake Huron. It's close to my Aunt’s farm so we got there mid morning while the residents of Toronto were just getting to the outskirts of their metropolis. For the first few hours we had the whole beautiful beach to ourselves before it became as packed as the Jersey Shore from my childhood.
Sauble beach is all the best things about a beach without the salt water and sharp sea shells (and for Joachim’s sake the waves). The water is clear and there’s no mucky seaweed or mud.
Here is Griffin and Ethan and the booty of beach food.
Here are my grandmother's three beautiful great-grandsons flying kites. Ethan is the oldest and he taught Griffin and Joachim the finer points of the art. I was impressed with his ability to share and his concern that each of his younger companions got long enough turns.
Joachim actually did an excellent job of piloting the kite, he was able to hold the string himself and mastered the slight waving pull to keep the kite afloat.
Unfortunately the travel did not go as smoothly as it could have (a reflection of the present state of our airlines). On the way up we had three flights canceled. We arrived at the Colorado Springs airport at 7:00am and had to check-in and go through security 3 times before we finally took off at 3:30pm. Our original flight was canceled after we had already boarded (mechanical malfunction) and our airline put us on another airline, so we had to get our bags and start all over again.
But wait, I'm not done ranting yet! On the way home our flight was canceled when we got to the gate and after almost 2 hours they put us on another flight, on another airline, in another terminal. Once again we were not able to fly with my grandparents and we had to get our luggage back and go through customs and security all over again.
