Expanding My Horizons

My First Trip to Canada

My oldest daughters, Christina, Kiah, and I took a weekend trip the end of June to Canada to watch our adopted college student, Nathan, marry his beautiful sweetheart.  The wedding was ten hours away in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. Christina planned our route and itinerary.

The thought of driving that far with Kiah the speed demon did not appeal, but I wanted to see Nathan's wedding, Canada, and Lake Superior's north shore. 

Our friend, Brendon, came with us. We figured he'd be handy to change flat tires, share driving, and keep weirdos away.  Weirdos shouldn't bother us with a six-foot two man around. (Unless the weirdos were taller than him.) Brendon deserves a special award for traveling that far with three quirky women. 

Since we were cooped up in a 1996 Grand Marquis for three days, we had to learn to accommodate our differences. Such as the three young people enjoy listening to music much of the time. I could drive to Alaska and back without music and be fine. Kiah plays loud music in the morning while she gets ready. Loud music in the morning grates on my nerves.

Brendon and I drive the speed limit. Kiah doesn't. I like to stop and smell every rose along the way. Kiah doesn't stop for anything but gas and food. Christina and I love to hike and stop at state parks and scenic overlooks. Kiah, not so much. Christina and Kiah are coffee drinkers and frequent coffee shops. Brendon and I aren't coffee drinkers and the thought of paying $4 and up for something that tastes like burnt muddy water is unthinkable. Brendon is a morning person. The three of us are night people. 

We left early Friday morning, hoping the 60% percent chance of forecasted severe thunderstorms meant a 40% chance of no thunderstorms.  Severe weather never materialized, but it did rain and I can't say what Minnesota's north shore looks like as it was rainy and overcast most of the day. 

June 21 and we had this kind of weather. 

(People in Florida and Arizona, eat your heart out.)

Kiah protested stopping at Gooseberry State Park. Said hiking in the rain wasn't fun. Said rainy days were for sitting in coffee shops reading books. We ignored her.  Recent rains had swelled the waterfall to impressive proportions. The water was much higher than when we went there three years ago. 

I like this picture because while I love my daughters dearly, I'm not good in emergencies. I'm standing a respectful distance away from the way-over-the-banks rushing river, while Christina, who is good in emergencies is standing right beside Kiah, ready to grab her if something goes wrong.

We all agreed it was too foggy to stop at Split Rock Lighthouse.  Kiah wasn't disappointed we cancelled the other state park stops as well.

Finally we reached Grand Marais, a cute tourist town at the top of Minnesota. Kiah asked how to spell Grand Marais. I saw "Grand Marquis" on our car's dashboard and said, "like Marquis, but substitute "a" for "qu."

Kiah said, "But I don't know how to spell marquis." 

I told her, "like Marais, but substitute "qu" for "a."  Even my ipad was confused and autocorrected Marais to "Maria."

We're copying the mural of Mama Bear and her two cubs.

Years ago, Keith wanted to name our son "Sven or Ole" but I liked "Andrew" better. First time I've seen a restaurant using those names. 

We ate lunch at The Crooked Spoon. I saw this sign and couldn't resist. 

Vacations are about doing and eating things you can't do at home. I'd never eaten rabbit before and thought it had a mild flavor. It was doctored with Mexican seasonings, so I'm not sure how straight rabbit tastes. 

We left the restaurant, only to discover that Brendon had put our table's salt shaker in Christina's pocket. She made him take it back. Something about road tripping makes us revert back to being children. 

Lake Superior is awesome! So is my daughter.

We all enjoyed this stop. I'm not a donut person, but who could resist the world's best donuts? I got a maple long john and Brendon bought a Skizzle, which is a yummy, fried sweet pastry. After he gave us each a bite, we wanted to get our own but resisted since we'd already eaten a donut. If you're ever in Grand Marais, be sure to get a Skizzle. 

This sign is much more welcoming that the grumpy people at the border crossing. 

The unfriendly Canadian guard fired questions at us. "Where are you going. Why? For how long? What are you taking? Do you have more than $10,000?"  We could safely say we didn't.

I was disappointed not to see Taco Bell north of Duluth. If I ever get filthy rich, I'll build Taco Bell franchises every three hours on my most traveled routes.

We found it weird to be in a foreign country that didn't feel much different than our own. When you cross the Mexican border, it's obvious you're in a different country. But Canada is much like America except for them using metric, eating Ketchup potato chips, and pronouncing words like "progress" differently. 

We finally reached Thunder Bay, Ontario, which in my subjective opinion isn't as cool as it's name. To be fair, it was gloomy and overcast. Our hotel looked sketchy but Christina said it was one of the cheaper options. If Brendon hadn't been along, I wouldn't have stayed there. 

We visited Kakabeka Falls which was very pretty. Kiah stayed in the car. She's like her Dad that way. (Inside Dad comment - "You see one waterfall, you've seen them all.")

When Kiah was driving in Thunder Bay, the GPS said to turn left so she put on her blinker. We stopped for a red light and she got distracted looking at nearby shops. When the light turned green, she said, "Why do I have my blinker on?," turned it off, and drove straight ahead.

 We ate dinner at a fun restaurant called, "Gargoyles." Our waiter heard we were headed to Sioux Lookout and said they eat a lot of gravy there. The bride was Mennonite, so the food was bound to be good. Yes, we could live with gravy. 

We're at a cool scenic view that overlooks the city. Only you can't see the city in this picture because it's behind me.

That night we tried to watch Duck Dynasty on my ipad, but a dialog box said we couldn't in that region. Probably a good thing. Hate for Canadians to think that's what all Americans are like. 

We survived one day in the car together without getting on each other's nerves. Happy to be in Canada and looking forward to the big occasion the next day.

Stay tuned.

Congradulations

This month I've been tackling the backyard I've neglected for five years and have spent more time outside than inside, so am woefully behind on blogging. I wanted to share about a big deal event in our family last month.

We had THREE daughters graduate from Technical school.

It was fun to have them graduate at the same time. Christina is seven years older than Erica so a few things happened to make this possible. Christina already has a four year degree from Iowa State. She worked for a couple years and then went back to school for a nursing degree. 

Kiah started and stopped going to school a few times. We were glad Kiah and Christina could do the nursing program together, although there were times, we feared they would kill each other. 

Erica took three years to finish a two year program, so all those things added up to a three-for-one graduation weekend.   

Erica (left) with a Occupational Therapy Assistant degree

Christina (middle) and Kiah (right) with nursing degrees

Our house was grand central station for five days. Andrew and Rachel drove up from Northeast Iowa, Christina's best friend Ruth drove up from Ames, Iowa, and Aunt Karen and Uncle Bob and Kiah's best friend Cassaundra drove up from Northwest Iowa. (got all that - there may be a quiz.)

First we had a party for Erica - but wasn't smart

 enough to take a group picture before she went to bed. 

Kiah, Anna, Andrew, Nathan, Amy, and Lani

 The next night, Christina and Kiah's nursing class had a joint graduation party/candle lighting/pinning ceremony at our church

Christina and Kiah with the ten girls in their nursing graduating class. The traditional lighting the candle ceremony is a tradition with roots in Florence Nightingale's nursing efforts during the Crimean War.

Christina and Kiah with their Aunt Karen and new uncle Bob

Andrew and Rachel with Karen and Bob

Kiah with Cassaundra, her best friend since fifth grade

Fun to celebrate with friends and family

Raising six daughters can do this to a person.

Yummy!

Me gusta

Proud parents

Great way to handle a photobomber

Oh, Amy!

The girls and two friends from church

Parties are done and now they have to take their 
licensing tests and find jobs. One step at a time. 

We're very proud of them. Good job girls!

Wedding Bells!

A favorite topic of speculation the last few years is who the next person in the family will be to get married. Never in our wildest dreams did we dream it would be Keith's sister, Karen.

Karen was divorced in 1976 and has been single for 37 years. Last summer she started dating someone she has known all her life. They tied the knot on April 20th and Keith had the honor, along with his brother who is also a pastor, of performing her wedding ceremony.

They are 65 and 66.

Bob is an only child and his parents are both gone. 

He went from being by himself to Instant Family. 

It was the funnest, sweetest wedding I've ever seen. We smiled from start to finish.

Karen's grandson, Eric, walked her down the aisle.

When asked, "Who gives this woman to be married?" Eric repliced, "Her family does!"

My daughter Kiah sang a solo.

Lighting the unity candle.

Keith and his brother, Neil, co-officiated the service.

Bob kisses his much shorter bride.

Karen and Bob with Grandma Vik

Grandma Vik with her three children and their spouses.

My family, minus three daughters who couldn't make it because of a late April snowstorm.

We're missing five cousins in this picture. 

They always like to do one crazy shot. 

Youngest and oldest cousins - my Lani (14) and Jill (43)

Grandma Vik and Kiah

Andrew and Eric

Very cool present

Time to get married

Keith said this was his favorite wedding he's ever performed. It was a fun day, especially with being able to spend time with family and friends. We're happy to have a new brother. Welcome to the family, Bob. Hold on to your hats, we're a crazy bunch.