yyc flood

My goodness what an insane weekend in June a couple weeks ago. Calgary, Canmore, and High River were flooded to the point of emergency evacuations in communities that boarder the Bow and Elbow rivers. Bowness was one of those communities. 

I could hardly believe it when I saw this picture on the internet: 

That's Mary's Convenience store. I remember going there once and saw that a few canned items were expired on the shelf. I never went back. It's so crazy to think that I lived down in that area only 9 months ago. And I thought last year was bad? This year takes the cake....and the pie...and cookies... and maybe even the trifle. Just insane.

Because of all the road closures on the 21st, I had to cancel with a few of my clients. The mayor advised everyone to stay indoors. On my way back home from the first client, I swung by Bowmont Park to see what all the fuss was about. It was so surreal to see this. Honestly, if you don't see it in real life, you don't understand how incredible it is. Incredible in a negative way that is. I was so sad to see all the natural habitat ruined. It was especially sad to see all the beautiful riverside homes waterlogged.

Here are a few more pictures I found on the internet:

High River was definitely hit the hardest. People were only just allowed back into their homes this week (that's 2 weeks of waiting) to see what they could salvage.

There was also a boil water advisory scare. We never did actually have to boil any water, but people like to panic. This is in Safeway. No water to be seen:

When it finally stopped raining on Saturday, I went on a walk with Kobe. It's so crazy to think that in this picture, Calgary was still in a state of emergency.

I also can't imagine how horrible it would have been with all the road closures to have a wedding! Angela Basi (now Calvert) and Jon could tell you all about that. They got married on the 21st. The positive news is that they're now married! Yay! They had their reception on Saturday the 22nd.

These two are seriously so perfect for each other. 

On Sunday I took a walk with Rick and Denise from Memorial to the 14th street bridge. So crazy to see the river up close.

There should be a pathway down there somewhere...

And just to lighten the mood a little, here are a couple more pictures from Nose Hill.

The next week there was another flood. This time it was a flood of volunteers to help those in need. It's incredible how disasters unify society. I really wanted to help out too so I went down to Bowness with a group of people from my stake.

There were so many volunteers there that they really didn't need me anywhere. Brother Young and I went door to door asking people if they needed any help with anything at all. Everyone declined. We then were able to help some people squeegee the basement floor of a house that was being built. It turns out that that was kind of useless as they pressure washed the walls right after we just dried the floors. Fun stuff. Useless. Well, at least we tried. 

I'm so thankful that I live so high up. I always dreaded something like this would happen when I lived in Bowness. Thankfully everyone I know wasn't affected. Everyone except Carol and her mom. Poor girls were evacuated for a week. Thank goodness they live up high and the flood waters didn't reach their apartment. 

Now the call has been sent for volunteers to go to High River. I hope there will be just as much help because they need it the most.

monday night at chestermere

On June 17, Rick invited me out to Chestermere and told me to invite a few of my friends. I invited all the siblings who live up here. No one was able to come except Arianne and I'm so happy she made it out! I also invited Lita and Matt and they were able to come out too! Yay!

Kobe and me waiting on the dock: 

Rick started a fire for a weenie roast.

Benj and his kids came out too! Here's Isabella on the boat. She loved petting Kobe's soft fur. This girl seriously has the cutest little raspy voice I've ever heard.

It was so nice out!

Benj tearing up the water with his slalom ski. It was so fun to hear how amazed and proud all the kids were of their dad.

Having way too much fun.

Thanks for partying with me Lita, Matt, and Arianne!

In other news, I am on summer break with one of my jobs, Cause and Effect. What a wonderful year of learning and play. I will miss the little girl I worked with so much! She did so well that I won't be working with her in September again. Such a bitter sweet ending.

I will also miss all the kids who went to her preschool. Seriously they were all so amazing and I love them all. Some of the parents got together and gave Miss Kathy and Miss Karen bonsai trees. I really wasn't expecting anything because I'm not really a teacher there, but they got me a beautiful bouquet of flowers! I almost cried when they gave it to me.

Such an amazing first year at my first "real" job!

nose hill park adventuring

Arianne had her baby shower yesterday! It was pretty awesome thanks to Alex. She had a headband/clip making station and scrumptious appetizers. After the shower Cassi and I went shopping. It was nice to be able to get to know her a little better and I was able to find a few things I have been looking for (maxi dresses and Lulu Lemon shorts for running in). 

Since I didn't go to Edmonton today I went on a Sunday Stroll with Biebers and Leishmans (Marshall and Carol) in Nose Hill Park. So lovely. 

Oh Nose Hill. You never disappoint me.

last weekend

Last Friday I asked Marshall and Carol if they would like to hang out. We eventually decided to go to Chestermere for a fire. I phoned up Rick to see if it was okay that we were going out there and turns out he was headed out there himself to mow the lawns! I picked up the little lovers and Carol's mom and we were on our way! 

Right when we got there it started raining so we chilled in the cabin until the rain turned into spitting (it really only took about 5 minutes). It's a good thing Rick was there cause that man sure knows how to party! He got the fire going for us and picked up some hot dogs for us to roast. It was a great night spent with great people by the fire. 

The next day I cleaned a house in Airdrie and their dog got a hold of my shoe. So cute. If it had been a nice shoe I might have been mad but she's just such a little dummy (dummy: term of endearment used by Paige and Burns to describe a cute and innocent animal or human who does something dumb).

After I picked up some Costa Vida, I took Kobe to Bowmont Park. I love our walks in Calgary's beautiful parks.

On Sunday I drove up to Edmonton to see Burns. He's in Lloydminster now so he didn't have to drive as far. We went to Luke and Mandi's house that they're renting for the summer so we got to see baby Riley for the first time. What a precious little cutie.

Burns feeding a baby for the first time:

The Harris' made us a delicious dinner and we played a game for a little while so it was a really nice visit. I'm so sad that it was raining the whole time we were there so we weren't able to go on a walk, but Burns showed me what he has been working on this summer...kick-flips:

We went to a park to let Kobe run around for a little bit before the long drive home. It was so hard saying goodbye.

I almost went up to Edmonton again today but we were both very worn out from our busy weeks we've been having. I'm sad I couldn't see him but very glad that I was able to rest today. Burns feels the same.  I can't believe that man is almost 26!

more nose hill lovin'

I'm so happy I live where I do. I'm sure Kobe is very happy about this too. Enjoy more pictures from our walks and runs.

wetland adventuring

A couple of weeks ago Arianne, Daryn, Kobe, and I went for a Sunday Stroll though the Elbow Valley Wetlands. What a wonderfully dry Sunday afternoon (it has been raining here like crazy for the past month). Here are some pics from our little adventure:

 And of course being with the Biebers meant a little confrontation (Which has more force, a hurricane or a tornado?). Don't worry, Arianne won.

I just love how intense this looks. This, my friends, is how rumours are started. 

The wonderful Biebers then invited me over for a delicious dinner and then Kutarnas came over for a little bit. That's when Navy tried to tell me that her mommy has something in her tummy. I couldn't understand her for the life of me but Alex told me what she had said. So I guess what I'm trying to say is Alex is pregnant again! YAY!!! Due December 21st. Can't wait to meet the little munchkin!