A Special Sibling Visit: Part 2 (July 21-26)

Fortunately, we didn't have time to pine for Julie and Mir's company, as Sunday afternoon (two days later), my brother and his family rolled into town!  Due to unforeseen circumstances, they'd had to postpone their trip, but it still worked out wonderfully.  We were super excited when they arrived, so the kids reacquainted themselves over toys, then at our local school playground.

Seemingly bad timing, back in April we had booked A into a day camp at Camp Assiniboia, which meant that she was out of the house before 8:00 am and not home until 4:45.  She had a great week, which took away the sadness of not hanging with her big girl cousins except after dinner.  The unexpected positive is that Kailey and Kieren spent time with the younger cousins, which meant Ai & Iz had a great week, too!  Normally, my nieces are far too busy with A to pay them much attention!

Monday found us spending the day at the zoo, so A didn't mind missing out on that too much.


Tuesday we had a relaxed day, visiting the Exchange District for a bit in the morning.  Once again, I took my visitors to my favourite toy store, Toad Hall.  How could the kids not love that?

It was pretty cute to see Kellie excited to order from a food truck, something she's always wanted to do.  We were all happy she did . . .

S had the afternoon off, so we trekked over to North Kildonan Park to enjoy the outdoor pool, even though the weather wasn't super hot.  The kids had a super time playing together and it was the perfect activity to engage pre-teens and older preschoolers.  Not an easy task!

Rob and Kellie kindly treated us all to dinner out.  Wanting a not expensive, kid-relaxed environment which would satisfy the various particular palates, we tried Palatal Express to see if it would do.  Nearby to our place, I often ride my bike by and think it's such an awful name, with palatal and palatable being so similar.  A fast food version of a Mongoli Grill, we ended up with super happy kids each getting to order to specification.  Thanks for a fun evening out, Kellie and Rob!

Wednesday came so quickly - found us heading to the Children's Museum to get out of the rain.  Should have left much earlier in the morning, as the kids could have played for a good while.

That evening, we were joined for dinner by two more Lower Mainland guests:  Grandpa Reinhard and his biking buddy, Paul.  

Just what a Grandpa needs after a hard ride in the rain!

On their way to a conference in New Orleans on their big motorbikes, they crashed with us for the evening.  Meant I had to borrow some bedding from friends, as I didn't have enough for six guests.  Meant also, that Iz's grandpa and his biker friend slept in Abby's purple room, Paul not likely as comfortably on an air mattress!  But it was a treat to have Grandpa R in our home once again and to quickly catch up.  Sweet guy that he is, he'd picked up McDonald gift cards for the kids.  

Tired after a long, but good day!

Thursday morning had Rob and Kellie looking after our kids, as S and I had our day in court - at long last - regarding the permit problem for our back porch, side overhang and back fence.  With approximately fifty others, we had to wait at 9:00 am outside the violation and by-law courtroom, not sure how long it would take.  After we'd all been processed - many of the violators people who'd been fined $300 for walking through a city park after 10:00 (!) -  we all filed in to have our moment before the judge.  The City of Winnipeg had reduced our fine (for not acting on their Order in the given 30 days) from $1600 to $350.  What a relief, though it was rather humiliating as we could give no explanation to the judge or our 50-something witnesses as to how it'd been a result of work the previous owner had done and lied about - to the City and to us.  We simply had to state, "Guilty" and then declare our method of paying our fine.  :(  Humiliating for S, too, as the judge was someone affiliated with S's work circles.  What a relief it's just done.

So for now, that burden is lifted.  We'd had work done to bring the housing problems under that particular Court Order to code throughout May and June.   By now, it's almost hard to remember just how stressful the whole ordeal made our past year.  The City had originally threatened to come after us for all the permits that haven't been taken out on our house (once again, all before we purchased the home).   That would mean the front porch area and potentially inside, which on a house from 1895 would be frightening!!  We're praying that we can just resume as though it won't happen.  The amount of paperwork, let alone the other financial, legal and time expenses, aren't fun to think about.  

We managed to leave Court before lunch, so had time to take in some of the Manitoba Museum.  My kids have been there often, but to be with Kailey and Kieren made it super fun.  Helped that they breezed through it without reading too many exhibits. :) 

Friday morning came far too soon.  Before I zipped A off to day camp, she got to say her goodbyes to the girls over breakfast.  

Then, one more Playmobil time together while Rob and Kellie packed up the car, and it was time for them to head back home via the States. 

It was hard to complain that our time had been too short, that it'd gone by too quickly - though it had.  We were lucky they had a window of time to come at all, and that they'd drive all this way to see us in our new environment!  They were my first close guests to stay such a short time.  They were also my first guests with pre-teens, which meant no night times to stay up late talking without kids around. Meant that Kellie and I had to do a few long phone calls once she was home for the conversations we hadn't had a chance to have while together!  

It was wonderful to catch up in real time.  A bonus being that I got to take the first family shot of them I've had . . . ever?  I used to have their engagement and wedding photos on my fridge, so it's nice to see them all together beside other faces I love.  

It was especially good to be with the girls as video chats aren't nearly the same as sharing real space.  Crying as she got in the car, Kieren expressed a hard reality of life:

"I wish we had never come here.  Now that I've been with them, I'll miss them and I feel sad to go.  And it's sad that when I'm here,  I miss people at home like Nana and Papa, Grandma and Grandpa. <insert heavy crying here and some "I want Nan.">  If I'm here, I'm sad and if I'm there I'm sad because I'll always miss people I love.  Why can't we all live close and never go away from each other."

She hit the nail on the head with that one.  :(

Since life just isn't that way, I'm so thankful for a brother and sister-in-law who worked hard to stay connected to us by coming all this way.  I'd have loved to show you more of Winnipeg and visit more, but for now, it's great to share the memories and anticipate seeing you next summer (on your home turf)!