Mani-SNOW-ba Trip February 24-March 6

The kids and I went on our first adventure with Sam! I took all three to Manitoba for a visit to meet three cousins they haven't met yet (Tianna, Meskerem, and Paulos). Plus, Sam finally got to meet all of my family! The trip was also a surprise visit for my sister Ramona, whose birthday was while I was out. One of my hopes and plans for the trip was to be able to spend my sister's birthday with her... finally. BUT, of course, things never go quite as planned! Right before I came out my sister threw her back out, and Sam was very sick the entire time there, and Ramona also got strept throat while we were out, so I was not able to be with her on her actual birthday. I did, however, get to see her and celebrate her birthday in person!

COUSINS:

The front of my parent's yard.

Papa and Uncle Kevin took Jake and Olivia on many adventures! One day they got to go ice fishing! Here is proof that the trip was successful! The kids loved how the fish "danced" on the ice after they pulled it out. They were so excited that they caught fish as well! (Papa never did tell them that the fish they "caught" were the bait he put on their hooks!)

How could you NOT roll around in the snow when you are sitting in the hot tub, surrounded by fresh white fluffy snow? :) (the only bathing suit photo of this momma you'll be seeing on the internet!)

(it was so cold that our hair froze! The kids LOVED it!)

We had the chance to visit some very special people. here is Jake with his Great Grandma. She was always our "measuring stick" as we grew up- here she is, beautiful as ever, at 85 years old (and under 4ft 9"!!)

Jake, spending time with baby cousin Tianna.

This is the first cousin he has ever been able to hold. Such a sweet time for him! d

Big T with Little T.

Jake and the big tractor wheels on the farm!

My dad and I took J and L to Lake Adam for some sledding and hockey playing!

Another very special visit was with my dad's mom, Grandma Martens. She is 93 (?) now and the kids had a fun time singing hymns with her.

(Sam was sick.... so yet again, we endured a visit with the town dr. Every time we fly to MB one of the kids gets ear infections and we have to pay to see the dr. Plus, it's always when I am doing the trip solo- without Dan's help!)

All in all- it was a wonderful trip. Very special memories made for the kids and myself!