School Days - two decades worth!

This past weekend was Miles' 20 year high school reunion, so we loaded up the trailer and headed west! Since we were the closest to both the reunion AND Costco, we volunteered to do the massive grocery shop! Because the numbers were lower than anticipated, we didn't qualify for meals at the campus dining hall. It all worked out well though and we had a great weekend, despite the rain & chilly weather. There were 18 grads in total (from a class of 97 students), 9 spouses and about 18 kids... throughout the weekend, we had campus tours, a firepit, a banquet, breakfasts, subway lunch, a trip to a nearby tourist attraction (The Tunnels of Moose Jaw) which was very interesting and numerous chances to mingle and chat. Two nights in a row, some of the grads even headed into town for some late night visiting at some favourite hang-outs! We did have a fun trip to the park planned too but that little visit and snack had to be indoors instead, due to the weather.

Other 'noteable' facts....
While Miles was backing the truck up to hook up the trailer, we got a screw in the tire and were losing air by the minute! OOPS! The joys of new construction sites! We got the trailer loaded ASAP, thankfully found a neighbour with a compressor and headed to Fountain Tire, in hopes that they would stay open for us (5pm - yikes). Thankfully, we got there in time, got the tire fixed and made it to our destination by 6:30pm, just in time for registration - it wouldn't have mattered if we were late because registration went on for a couple hours but... we had the cake, the drinks and everything needed for the first evening gathering! Phew - it all worked out!
Then... Cole refused to sleep in his bed with the side rail on it! He would have nothing to do with it at all. Nothing - get the picture!!! I would rock him to sleep and then lay him down, I climbed in bed with him and he fell asleep with his head on my foot - each time he would wake up the second I moved. He was sooo tired he was almost delirious but extended sleep just wasn't happening. I had thought about bring the playpen but in our rush to vacate (due to the tire issue) it was sadly left behind. Someone who lives on campus offered me hers but I said, "Oh - we'll see how tonight goes and maybe I'll grab it tomorrow night" - if only I could have called her at 2am!!!! Sooo.... then I just brought him into our bed and he eventually flopped on top of the covers, in the opposite direction and fell asleep... until Miles came back later. He then started crawling to the edge of the bed to see daddy, only daddy wasn't really paying attention, Cole couldn't see the edge of the bed and you guessed it - an almighty CRASH! Arghhhhh! We eventually calmed him down and he settled restlessly back to sleep, between us.... until 6:30am, when he proceeded to hit me on the head for an hour! Oh my goodness was I tired by this point! At 8am I went next door to the building where we were having coffee etc, to tie us over until the big brunch, to plug in the coffee perculator... morning had come - no rest for momma! On night two, I definitely borrowed the playpen (that was a no-brainer), separated Cole's bed (the bottom bunks divide in half for storage purposes) and set the playpen up there! I'm happy to report he slept ALL NIGHT LONG! Guess he still desires the security of sleeping with wallsaround him :) Good to know before we set out on a week-long camping trip or something!!!
Another piece of interesting info... one of the girls that Miles graduated with, grew up in the house across the street from where we used to live (our last house) and was the first grade one class at the school where Ethan went to kindergarten and grade one! Small world... or 'useless information' as my hubby calls it!

First Night - heading on a campus tour to see all that's changed over the years!!!

Followed by a fire pit & time of visiting

On the campus tour - Jackson checking out some high tech math equations

Mr. Appleby BBQ-ing in the rain (one of the teacher faves who just retired last year)

A peek into the archives :)

Centerpieces for the banquet - in borrowed pottery mugs (handcrafted by one of the grads - he had some beautiful pieces on display)

The lovely purple and yellow/gold school colours

The 18 grads in attendance

... with spouses

Mingling

"You should see the other guy" - the result of Cole's early morning nose dive! The first day his nose was just puffy & red but by day two it was looking way worse!