Feeling Hot Hot Hot! The Rain Curse is Broken! Two Weeks of Fun in the Sun! COMPLETE
- Thread starter Lifelong_Dreamer
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Lifelong_Dreamer
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They tend to TRAP you there and you feel obligated to stay at least once , after that NO way !!!
When we were there in 2009 Judy'd favorite things in Norway were the Men !!This time not so HOT!!!!!
Of course The Bros pose is just
Yeah, I dislike how they trap you into watching the movie, if they are going to trap you at least make the movie interesting!
Interesting! I would love one of the sweaters but they are so expensive!!
Those Chinese Zodia displays are really cool! Too bad they didn't have Year of the Rat, because I think that's my year
Oh my gosh! Those are insane prices for just sweaters! I thought Disney couldn't get any more expensive lol I don't get it at all. And that cloudberry horn looks delicious
Can't wait to read more!
I think they must have had more of the zodiac on display somewhere I just didn't see them as mine wasn't there either.
The price for the sweater actually isn't Disney's fault. When I looked at the Dale website the price there was the exact same as what is charged in WDW.
I'd be afraid to wear a sweater that costs that much money.
I see your mom said you sat through the movie....I think your brothers big time for that one!
I would wear it, heck, I spend more on a purse!
So I wonder why I will drop that kind of money on a purse but not on a sweater.
Lifelong_Dreamer
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Welcome home!
Those princess outfits were...interesting.
Norway movie is for cooing off and napping.
I guess that is a good way to look at the movie.
Lifelong_Dreamer
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The Crazy Stepmother Chronicles: August 2011 Edition!
As you all know Alek, Erich and I just returned from our annual trip out to British Columbia (BC) to visit our Dad and Grandma. I wrote about one of our trips before as a mini-TR that is contained in my 2009 trip report. Our Dad moved out to BC back in 2008 when he retired early from the Canadian Navy and we first visited him in his new home in 2009. This would be our third trip out West since his move. While it is great getting to see our Dad it also means having to spend time with the stepmother, the horror!
As you can probably tell I can't stand her although I try my best to be polite and civil while visiting in order to maintain the peace although I am not always successful at containing myself. 
I was really looking forward to this trip as we were going to be going to Banff! I had been bugging my Dad to take us there for years, it is only a four hour drive from where he lives. We would also be seeing our Great Aunt Mary who we have not seen since the mid-90's! Our cousins (her son and wife) would be driving her to Lake Louise to meet up with us and then we would be taking her back to Dad's house with us so she could visit Grandma (her sister). The addition of Aunt Mary to the travel plans meant that the stepmother would not be joining us on our Banff trip as I figured there was not enough room for all of us in the car once you add Aunt Mary. Dad allowed me to believe this.
Our flight from Toronto left very early in the morning with a three hour layover in Edmonton. There was a good bookstore in the airport in Edmonton so I picked up some handy books about Banff so I could be a little bit more educated about where we were going as I had only been told about the trip to Banff three days before we flew out west. You are all planners like me so you can imagine the agony of going on a trip with limited time to plan!
The flight from Edmonton to Kelowna (nearest airport to Dad's town) was only an hour long. It passed quickly and we had great views out the window.
Passing over the Rockies
Getting closer!
Descending over the Okanagan!
Dad met us in the airport where we collected our luggage and headed out to the parking lot. I kept glancing around for the car but couldn't spot it. Dad led us to a giant silver SUV and said "Here we are!". What?! No! My hopes and dreams of a vacation in Banff without the stepmother were crushed. Dad had bought an Infiniti as a second car and had decided to surprise us with it.
While it was nice to have a much roomier and thus more comfortable car to travel in it also meant that there would be more than enough room for Maria to join us in Banff and be able bring Aunt Mary back afterwards, the Infiniti seats 7 people. I was seriously annoyed! How dare he let me get my hopes up like that, I had so been looking forward to a few days with just Dad and my brothers and no stepmother!
We loaded our bags into the car and pulled ourselves into the car. The car is so freaking big that it has a step to get into it and handles to pull yourself up.
It is only a 40 minute drive to our Dad's house from the airport and we soon arrived. The drive though consisted of Dad and Maria trying to figure out all the gadgets that came with the car. Apparently they had only bought the car a month or so before our trip and they hadn't driven it much yet.
After arriving we hung around the house for awhile hanging out.
We looked at Dad's new tv which he couldn't figure out. Alek and Erich told him they would mess around with it later. The problem was that he couldn't get the Bluray/3D player to play through the surround sound speakers. I will admit that the setup was fairly confusing so the problem was not just user error.
After we settled in we got back in the car and made our way down into town to visit with Grandma. She initially lived with Dad but her needs became to great so she was placed in a home. It is a very nice place. She lives in a "cabin" with maybe 12 other patients. They each have their own large room which can be personalized and there is a common living/dining room and an enclosed garden/patio.
After visiting Grandma it was off to the grocery store and dinner and then the dog park.
We had dinner at Red Robin which is a family style restaurant that features "gourmet burgers". We sat on the patio so that Marcus (Dad's dog) could stay with us. The staff let us tie his leash to the fence. Marcus is the most spoiled dog on the planet and I don't think Dad and the step go anywhere without him. If they leave him or go out of his sight for longer than a minute he starts whimpering.
At the dog park it was fun watching Marcus run around and play with all the other dogs. The park consisted of a big open area and there was also a path that went into the woods.
Back at the house we were all fairly tired. I admired the sunset from the balcony while Alek and Erich figured out how to get the video and speakers to work together.
After they figured it out it was off to bed as we had been up for a VERY long time and we would be waking up early in the morning for our first hike of the trip: Pinnacle Lake in the Monashee Mountains.
As you all know Alek, Erich and I just returned from our annual trip out to British Columbia (BC) to visit our Dad and Grandma. I wrote about one of our trips before as a mini-TR that is contained in my 2009 trip report. Our Dad moved out to BC back in 2008 when he retired early from the Canadian Navy and we first visited him in his new home in 2009. This would be our third trip out West since his move. While it is great getting to see our Dad it also means having to spend time with the stepmother, the horror!
As you can probably tell I can't stand her although I try my best to be polite and civil while visiting in order to maintain the peace although I am not always successful at containing myself. I was really looking forward to this trip as we were going to be going to Banff! I had been bugging my Dad to take us there for years, it is only a four hour drive from where he lives. We would also be seeing our Great Aunt Mary who we have not seen since the mid-90's! Our cousins (her son and wife) would be driving her to Lake Louise to meet up with us and then we would be taking her back to Dad's house with us so she could visit Grandma (her sister). The addition of Aunt Mary to the travel plans meant that the stepmother would not be joining us on our Banff trip as I figured there was not enough room for all of us in the car once you add Aunt Mary. Dad allowed me to believe this.
Our flight from Toronto left very early in the morning with a three hour layover in Edmonton. There was a good bookstore in the airport in Edmonton so I picked up some handy books about Banff so I could be a little bit more educated about where we were going as I had only been told about the trip to Banff three days before we flew out west. You are all planners like me so you can imagine the agony of going on a trip with limited time to plan!
The flight from Edmonton to Kelowna (nearest airport to Dad's town) was only an hour long. It passed quickly and we had great views out the window.
Passing over the Rockies
Getting closer!
Descending over the Okanagan!
Dad met us in the airport where we collected our luggage and headed out to the parking lot. I kept glancing around for the car but couldn't spot it. Dad led us to a giant silver SUV and said "Here we are!". What?! No! My hopes and dreams of a vacation in Banff without the stepmother were crushed. Dad had bought an Infiniti as a second car and had decided to surprise us with it.
While it was nice to have a much roomier and thus more comfortable car to travel in it also meant that there would be more than enough room for Maria to join us in Banff and be able bring Aunt Mary back afterwards, the Infiniti seats 7 people. I was seriously annoyed! How dare he let me get my hopes up like that, I had so been looking forward to a few days with just Dad and my brothers and no stepmother!We loaded our bags into the car and pulled ourselves into the car. The car is so freaking big that it has a step to get into it and handles to pull yourself up.
It is only a 40 minute drive to our Dad's house from the airport and we soon arrived. The drive though consisted of Dad and Maria trying to figure out all the gadgets that came with the car. Apparently they had only bought the car a month or so before our trip and they hadn't driven it much yet.
After arriving we hung around the house for awhile hanging out.
We looked at Dad's new tv which he couldn't figure out. Alek and Erich told him they would mess around with it later. The problem was that he couldn't get the Bluray/3D player to play through the surround sound speakers. I will admit that the setup was fairly confusing so the problem was not just user error.
After we settled in we got back in the car and made our way down into town to visit with Grandma. She initially lived with Dad but her needs became to great so she was placed in a home. It is a very nice place. She lives in a "cabin" with maybe 12 other patients. They each have their own large room which can be personalized and there is a common living/dining room and an enclosed garden/patio.
After visiting Grandma it was off to the grocery store and dinner and then the dog park.
We had dinner at Red Robin which is a family style restaurant that features "gourmet burgers". We sat on the patio so that Marcus (Dad's dog) could stay with us. The staff let us tie his leash to the fence. Marcus is the most spoiled dog on the planet and I don't think Dad and the step go anywhere without him. If they leave him or go out of his sight for longer than a minute he starts whimpering.
At the dog park it was fun watching Marcus run around and play with all the other dogs. The park consisted of a big open area and there was also a path that went into the woods.
Back at the house we were all fairly tired. I admired the sunset from the balcony while Alek and Erich figured out how to get the video and speakers to work together.
After they figured it out it was off to bed as we had been up for a VERY long time and we would be waking up early in the morning for our first hike of the trip: Pinnacle Lake in the Monashee Mountains.
KatMark
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Oh Oh...definitely NOT what you were expecting when you arrived for your visit with your Dad.
The scenery is absolutely beautiful.
We have Red Robins here and we go about once a month.
I'm not sure I'm looking forward to the updates with the Evil Stepmother.
The scenery is absolutely beautiful.
We have Red Robins here and we go about once a month.
I'm not sure I'm looking forward to the updates with the Evil Stepmother.
Lifelong_Dreamer
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Yes, that definitely describes my family.Oh Oh...definitely NOT what you were expecting when you arrived for your visit with your Dad.
Nope, not what I was expecting at all. He claimed he thought it would be a nice surprise, he must not know me at all if he really believed that I would be happy with the surprise.
I just love where Dad lives and the surrounding area. If it weren't for the step I might seriously consider living there once I was done school.
I had never heard of Red Robin before this trip, it must be an American chain that is slowly making its way into Canada.
I'm not sure I'm looking forward to the updates with the Evil Stepmother.
PlutosRHM55
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Wow... that's a nice surprise for your dad to get a bigger car though it meant adding your stepmother to the crew... hopefully the rest of the trip was too much fun that you didn't have to deal with her a ton since it seems you guys REALLY don't like her.
Red Robin... YUM! I've never been there, but those darn commercials are catchy, right? lol
Oh, that sunset looks so nice from your balcony with the scenery already beautiful. I also love your pictures along the woods trail behind the dog park
Why must Canada be so pretty?
Can't wait to read more!
Red Robin... YUM! I've never been there, but those darn commercials are catchy, right? lol
Oh, that sunset looks so nice from your balcony with the scenery already beautiful. I also love your pictures along the woods trail behind the dog park
Why must Canada be so pretty? Can't wait to read more!
Lifelong_Dreamer
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Alek and Erich don't seem to mind her, don't know how they can feel that way.
I can't stand her, I pretty much loathe the mere sight of her. Aren't I mature? I have never seen a Red Robin commercial, I had never even heard of it before this trip.
Oh, that sunset looks so nice from your balcony with the scenery already beautiful. I also love your pictures along the woods trail behind the dog park
Just wait until you see the pictures of Banff!
orangecats2
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YES! So excited to hear stories about your crazy step-mother. Do we get a pic of her this time?
Lifelong_Dreamer
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englishrose47
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Poor you unwanted time with the Step !!!!!The Bros are prolly to busy getting into mischief to even notece her !!!
The Bros are prolly to busy getting into mischief to even notece her !!!
Lifelong_Dreamer
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Poor you unwanted time with the Step !!!!!
They are usually too far ahead of us on the hikes to notice her. I, on the other hand, am stuck with her all the time because we are both slow and lag behind.
Lifelong_Dreamer
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May 15th continued
Before leaving the park for the day we had to stop for some photopass pictures!
The first photographer we came upon was very playful. First he took a normal photo
Then Mom asked him if he had any magic shots he could do. Well this photographer had taken a shine to Erich and had him do a bunch of poses. First there was the balloon shot
Then he wanted Erich to put his hands out for the Tinker Bell shot, Erich refused due to his hate of Tinker Bell. The photographer thought this was amusing and asked him to instead pose facing sideways with his back turned a bit towards him, he didn't tell Erich what he was going to do to the photo. Erich entertained us all and a few people standing near us with his poses.
The photographer whispered to me that he was going to put fairy wings on Erich. Mom and I thought this was hilarious. Sadly, when we got home and viewed the photos the wings were missing and we just have pictures of Erich's silly poses.
We thanked the photographer for having some fun with us and we continued on our way out when I saw another photographer!
Erich was determined to not take any serious photos it seems.
That's better!
The photographer then had us pose for fairy wings, these ones turned out!
After we left the park we decided to make our way over to the Crossroads shopping centre to pick up a few things from the grocery store and to get some dinner. We decided on Flipper's Pizza since I had read so much about it on the Dis. It was tasty but nothing out of the ordinary and it was kinda expensive.
After dinner we went for a swim over at the main pool. So far we had been to the pool every day of the trip, a real departure from our previous vacations where it was always raining or we were in the parks open to close.
What do you see in the clouds? I see two continents!
Another reason we did not stay in the park that evening was that it was Survivor Finale night! Couldn't miss that! So after our swim we got comfy cozy in our room and watched Boston Rob finally win Survivor, Go Rob!
At that my friends is the end of Day 5 of 15 of our vacation!
[post=42487744]Click here to continue[/post]
Before leaving the park for the day we had to stop for some photopass pictures!
The first photographer we came upon was very playful. First he took a normal photo
Then Mom asked him if he had any magic shots he could do. Well this photographer had taken a shine to Erich and had him do a bunch of poses. First there was the balloon shot
Then he wanted Erich to put his hands out for the Tinker Bell shot, Erich refused due to his hate of Tinker Bell. The photographer thought this was amusing and asked him to instead pose facing sideways with his back turned a bit towards him, he didn't tell Erich what he was going to do to the photo. Erich entertained us all and a few people standing near us with his poses.
The photographer whispered to me that he was going to put fairy wings on Erich. Mom and I thought this was hilarious. Sadly, when we got home and viewed the photos the wings were missing and we just have pictures of Erich's silly poses.
We thanked the photographer for having some fun with us and we continued on our way out when I saw another photographer!
Erich was determined to not take any serious photos it seems.
That's better!
The photographer then had us pose for fairy wings, these ones turned out!
After we left the park we decided to make our way over to the Crossroads shopping centre to pick up a few things from the grocery store and to get some dinner. We decided on Flipper's Pizza since I had read so much about it on the Dis. It was tasty but nothing out of the ordinary and it was kinda expensive.
After dinner we went for a swim over at the main pool. So far we had been to the pool every day of the trip, a real departure from our previous vacations where it was always raining or we were in the parks open to close.
What do you see in the clouds? I see two continents!
Another reason we did not stay in the park that evening was that it was Survivor Finale night! Couldn't miss that! So after our swim we got comfy cozy in our room and watched Boston Rob finally win Survivor, Go Rob!
At that my friends is the end of Day 5 of 15 of our vacation!
[post=42487744]Click here to continue[/post]
wdwgirl03
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LOL, I love how you mentioned you couldn't stay at the park because of the Survivor Finale. It seems like we can never miss our shows when we're in WDW either. We were all so happy that Boston Rob won that season.
The fairy wing pictures are cute. That must be new-this is the first time I've seen those!
It seems like we can never miss our shows when we're in WDW either. We were all so happy that Boston Rob won that season. The fairy wing pictures are cute. That must be new-this is the first time I've seen those!
Lifelong_Dreamer
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LOL, I love how you mentioned you couldn't stay at the park because of the Survivor Finale.
The fairy wing pictures are cute. That must be new-this is the first time I've seen those!
Yeah, couldn't miss Survivor! Most of my other shows I waited to catch up on when we got home but not that one! 
FauntleroyFAN07
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i love the fairy pics with the wings, classic.
Lifelong_Dreamer
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i love the fairy pics with the wings, classic.
The whole fairy wing experience was pretty hilarious.
Hey Kat! Who needs the boards when you live so close, right?
I think it must be a newer magic shot as I also had never seen it before the trip.
jenbear123
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Great pictures of your trip to see your Dad. Wow, I would love to live there looking over that landscape every day. Seems like it took a while to get the speakers/video working since you took so many pictures of the sun setting I'm afraid to find out how the trip to Banff went....
Too funny how the fairy wings didn't turn out It makes for some silly pictures.
I'm afraid to find out how the trip to Banff went....Too funny how the fairy wings didn't turn out
It makes for some silly pictures.-
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