Summer in Canada was action packed wit
h the roving Gallant's traversing the province north and south. John and I attended Big Valley Jamboree and from there we stopped in Sylvan Lake to visit the Jackson's. The pictures of us around a campfire are from our visit to Sylvan Lake. The boys along with their son, Joel, went to the waterslides one day as we were having a heat wave!From there we went onto Drumheller to visit the Holmen's and then onto Pincher Creek where the boys went to summer camp. We saw Deb and Randy (John's sister and husband) and some of their family and even took Grandma Gallant down for a visit to view their spectacular new home. On one of our many trips to Pincher Creek we stopped in Airdrie to visit my second cousin Anne Marie Wood who is 91 and charming as ever.
While the boys were at camp, John and I zipped to Kelowna to visit Brian and Sharon and my friend Deanna. The wineries were terrific as usual and our stay was great fun and wonderful weather.
When in Camrose we stayed with Grandma G. and when in St. Albert we stay with our friend's the Henderson's. See Andrew playing Rockband with their son Glen and a picture of Polly and I. The boys enjoyed Rockband so much we bought them one for Christmas and it made it home safe and sound!
In late August, I spent a week with my sister Polly which allowed me time to have coffee with my previous boss, lunch with the ladies I used to work with and dinner with some HIM colleagues plus some shopping of course. At the end of this week, Polly and I joined my long time friends and colleagues for a summer BBQ at my friend Chris Houston's house.
We visited my Dad and Pat in Bawlf along with my niece Amanda and newphew Brian and his wife Amanda (see picture of Dad, niece Amanda and Brian's wife Amanda). See the picture of their little boys sitting outside at Dad's - very difficult for them to sit still but they tried. After all, they said they were shooting coyotes - lucky break for all of us that they were on the case! Pictured left to right is Marcus, Xander and Josh. Josh and Marcus are Brian and Amanda's two boys and Xander is niece Amanda's little boy.
September saw less traveling around the province but tons of activities. Early in September I got the bug to call my high school classmates and see if we could get together later that month. It all came together and 16 out of 30 met at the ageless Chateau Alice in Camrose for a fun night of tales, drinks and laughs. (Group photo shows the ageless class of '77)
Meanwhile they boys worked for a bit with their uncle Bill on the family farm and John helped with harvest. See the picture of nephew Curtis testing the grain for dryness and a picture of John, the boys, Curtis and sister Debbie out by the barn.
I attended my annual Nait class dinner at the Creperie in Edmonton and although we have tried various other restaurants over the years, we love the Creperie the best.
My sister, Polly, hosted a ladies lunch and graciously invited me as a guest which was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon and just in time to be picked up for our evening's festivities at Darren and Shantel's house. Angela was there too which was wonderful as I worked in the past with both Shantel and Angela.
Mid September, John and I attended Rhonda's surprise birthday party on the train to Stettler which was something on my "do do" list. It was a murder mystery, dinner at the hall in Big Valley and train ride to Big Valley and back to Stettler. It was terrific and I'd recommend it to anyone who hasn't done it before. We had the most spectacular day - 25 degrees C and such gorgeous fall colors. We couldn't have picked a better day.
One of the Sunday's we attended Body World's at the Science center in Edmonton which was absolutely fascinating but understandably not everyone's cup of tea. It was certainly a unique way to have an anatomy lesson though.
We had a wonderful dinner at my friend's Donna and Robert Sired's house along with their two daughters Jennifer and Taylor and surprise guest Wayne.
September also saw the start of school for the boys and we were pleased to learn that Robin Moffatt would be our liason teacher this year so smiles all around the Gallant household.
Before we knew it, it was time to pack those 8 suitcases all right on the 50 pound mark and head on out. The check in personnel were most impressed with my "dead on" suitcase weights. Me too!
We thank everyone who hosted us, fed us sumptuous dinners and general hospitality as we had a myriad of wonderful dinners and visits with friends and family throughout our 10 week stay.
