Otto's mom and dad came up for a visit in (ahem) August. (I've also neglected to post pictures from out trip to British Columbia this summer. Hopefully that will come soon.)
Probably the most exciting part of their visit was our trip over to Banff/Canmore/Lake Louise. We hiked the 2km hike from Lake Louise up to the Lake Agnes tea house. There were some BEAUTIFUL vistas to behold along the way.
This was a lake on the way up to Lake Agnes. If I hadn't waited until now to post this, I'd probably know its name. (Mirror Lake?)
Sam resting.
Getting closer!
We took several breaks, and finally made it up to Lake Agnes in about 4 hours. Compare that to a 45 minute trek down.
And the tea house. Word to the wise: if you, too, plan on taking this hike, pack a lunch! As there is VERY limited seating at the tea house, and there's no to-go window. :o)
So happy to be DONE! At least with the going up part.
On the way back down.
Marta and Pupy, back at Lake Louise, right before the all-important celebratory ice cream cones. We made it!!
The next day we walked around Banff, and showed them the Banff Springs Hotel. I LOVE that hotel. It feels like you're walking around in a castle. 
The Royal Family.
And there were rapids behind the hotel. I think we've only been here in the winter, because as we were walking behind the hotel we heard an unfamiliar sound. Apparently on other visits the water was frozen and there WAS no sound.
Their trip was rounded out nicely back here in Red Deer with several visits to resale shops and garage sales, Marta and Pupy doing LOTS of cooking, a Latin American festival of all things (1st annual in downtown Red Deer!), and a night out to eat at Earl's. Come back soon so we can do it again! :o)
We spent several days this past week with our good friends Steve, Rhonda, Stephen, and Sarah that came up from Texas for a visit. Andy, Sam, and I joined them at the Athabasca Glacier one day. Here we all are looking purty.
And one a little sideways.
This is what the vehicle looked like that took us up (from a trip last fall).
And here are Andy and Sam standing next to the tire of the one that took us up onto the glacier (pronounced gla-CEE-er by our tour guide; I've always been more of a gla-SHE-er gal).
And DO NOT go past the blue cones, or they will not be held responsible! We did taste the glacial run-off. Cold!
After the glacier, we drove down to Lake Louise to the Baker Creek Chalets, where they were staying. They were such cute little chalets!
There were two twin beds up in the loft.
And this cozy fireplace. I think Stephen was singing, "Rock-a-bye baby, on the tree top. When the wind blows, his change will fall out!" Sam thought that was absolutely hysterical, as the coins in his pocket were actually falling out. Andy was next, of course!
Chillin' on the sofa.
Thanks to the Fotiades for the pictures above. I forgot my camera. They took these around the cabin the day before. I believe this is Baker Creek, hence the name of the chalets!
And the nearby train track.
The next day we tootled around Banff, had lunch, visited the candy store, and the boys and I headed back to Red Deer while they stayed in the mountains a couple more days. Among other things, Steve, Rhonda and Sarah canoed Moraine Lake,
while Stephen went fly fishing and caught a trout!
They also saw some wildlife. A mule deer (I think).
A black bear.
And a GRIZZLY CUB! They were in the car the whole time with the car in drive, ready to high-tail it should Mama show up. (Thanks to the Fos for letting me show off their awesome pictures!)
The morning after they made it back to Red Deer, we all went saskatoon berry picking. Good thing, as our supply from last year was all out!
Showing off the fruits of our labor, and some muscles.
Then it was on to raspberry picking down the road.
I didn't know that there's a hard white center that you pull the raspberry off of, and that's why it's hollow on the inside.
Our two bucket fulls that we all picked (more than enough after all the saskatoons), and a picturesque old plow to pose by.
A cozy spot in the trees.
Sam wanted me to take his picture by this colorful shed.
And a picnic lunch on the property.
Then we went home and made these! One raspberry with a few saskatoons, and one straight saskatoon. They were DE-licious! And aren't they pretty?! Rhonda taught me how to make a lattice on the top.
The next morning we said farewell to our friends as they went back home. But not before they had a little pie for breakfast. :o) Thanks for coming, y'all! We had a great time!
Probably the most exciting part of their visit was our trip over to Banff/Canmore/Lake Louise. We hiked the 2km hike from Lake Louise up to the Lake Agnes tea house. There were some BEAUTIFUL vistas to behold along the way.
Sam resting.
Getting closer!
And the tea house. Word to the wise: if you, too, plan on taking this hike, pack a lunch! As there is VERY limited seating at the tea house, and there's no to-go window. :o)
