Baby Blessing - Canada

 SISTERS ❤

I mentioned awhile back that my sister was pregnant with what is nothing short of a miracle baby. After 10.5 years of marriage, 3 adoptions, 1 miscarriage, a 3% chance of getting pregnant naturally, and they weren't "trying" to conceive anymore... I don't know what else you would call it. While I was on a plane to Thailand, adorable little Piper was born! A GIRL. My sister has three boys and was pretty convinced this baby would be a boy as well. Her and her husband opted to wait to find out the gender and I was just convinced it would be a girl. As I mentioned in the blog post about the baby shower we threw for her, I got her the most adorable little girls dress. Which was my way of willing it to be! It has been killing me to not have met my niece, but I finally got to!

When my parents told me they would be driving through Salt Lake if I wanted to hitch a ride with them to my Piper's baby blessing, I just couldn't pass it up. I wish I didn't have to come back so soon because I always have so much fun at her house! They live right on a lake and with sun not going down in Canada until around ten in the summer, we just play, play, play into the night! Lots of jumping in the lake, and back into the pool/hot tub, eating and goofing off. Never a dull moment at the Palmer household. It was really fun to see so much family. My grandparents were there, along with my other sister and some extended family. I stayed for the weekend but had to fly back on Monday while everyone stayed, which was a total bummer, but hey, a girl has go to work!

Before we even got to Canada we stopped in Washington for a family reunion. We camped for two nights and spent the time with my aunts and uncles and great aunt and uncles, you get the idea. After the reunion we drove into Canada through the BC side. We never enter through British Columbia because it has always been out of the way, but since we were coming from Washington it was the closest. It is by far the best way to go in regards to the views! I felt like I was watching a constant painting move across my car window. Stunning beautiful country. My Grandpa likes to call it "God's Country."

One of the small towns we stopped in on the way up! I would seriously move to a place like this!

We stopped in a little town called Fernie, Canada. It is a postcard worthy town where my Great, Great Grandparents lived. They originally came from Scotland and settled in this area, and it was really cool getting a tour from my mother who spent a lot of time there. My Great Great Grandparents helped raise my Grandpa, so it was really fun to see where he grew up and where I have some family history. My mom also spent a lot of her childhood here, so it was really fun to see where all the great memories happened.

See this building? The top floor and those windows you see was where my grandparents apartment was! If you could only see this town in real life. I can only imagine how fun it was to live there!

Everywhere you go in Canada there is a Tim Hortons. They are super popular and known for their donuts. I had never tried them before (that I remember anyways) so I was stoked to grab some "Timbits" - I am happy to report they did not disappoint. I was just sad I didn't get the 20 pack!

On the way we stopped at a place called Frank Slide. "The Frank Slide was a rockslide that buried part of the mining town of Frank, Canada, on the morning of April 29, 1903. It occurred at 4:10 am, when over 90 million tons of limestone rock slid down Turtle Mountain within 100 seconds, obliterating the eastern edge of Frank, the Canadian Pacific Railway line and the coal mine. It was one of the largest landslides in Canadian history and remains the deadliest, as between 70 and 90 of the town's residents were killed, most of whom remain buried in the rubble."

Seeing this in person was very sobering. When you realize that practically the entire town died and is under all of this is heartbreaking. They have basically left it untouched and it is essentially a massive graveyard.

And since my pictures can't really show you just how massive the damage was. I pulled this Ariel view off the internet for you. Insane.

Alright, enough of the road trip stuff and back to the main show here, baby Piper. I am really happy I could make it work to be there for her baby blessing, to spend some time with her and my family. With my nieces and nephews living long distance I miss out on a lot and I just relish in those moments I am with and try to soak up everything I can. They grow too dang fast!

Cameron looking adorable in his Sunday best :)

This is Kira wearing the same dress on her baby blessing day! My mom and Kira added Piper's name to the skirt next to Kira's :)

Cameron looking adorable in his diaper :)

Warning, a series of family pics coming up... :)

 

She LOVES me...