1. We’re baaaaaack! Yep, the mini-vacation got cut short for no other reason than we thought we could have just as much fun at home — and sleep in our own beds and do things in/around Calgary. (Plus, let’s be honest…the shopping in Great Falls really was nothing special…at all…)
2. We stayed in the Presidential Suite at the Holiday Inn in Great Falls. Sounds fancy, doesn’t it?? Turns out the Presidential Suite is just 2 big rooms with the doors open between them. The bed was taken out of the second room, and a couch was put in. But the room was so big that when we sat on the couch and had the TV on, we had to squint just to see the screen. It was soooo far away! Case in point — check out Jak having his breakfast…in the middle of the room. 
3. The above-mentioned hotel room didn’t come cheap, either. It cost $25,000 per night! Ok, not really…but sort of. We used airmiles to book the room, and so it actually didn’t cost us anything…but the airmile conversion to dollars was equivalent to $25,000 a night. Yowza.
4. How do you pass the time when you are in the car for soooo many hours? Chew on your socks, of course. 
5. Crossing the border — both ways — was a highly amusing experience. For me. But not for Nick. He gets so nervous! And that just cracks me up. We had one banana and one apple with us in the van when we crossed to the States. As soon as we pulled up to the window, he practically blurted out that we had this “contraband” with us…and then was shocked when the guy didn’t want us to hand it over. He was asked to turn off the vehicle and open the back so another guy could have a look inside. He turned off the key, but didn’t put the van in park so the back hatch wouldn’t open. Panic! And then when he got the hatch open, one of our suitcases fell out and onto the guy. But apparently the customs guy can tell genuine nervousness-for-no-reason from someone faking it or hiding something. We passed thru in less than 2 minutes. And while Nick sighed a breath of relief, I stifled (not so quietly, I admit) a chuckle or two. Too cute, honey!
6. One of the prerequisites for our hotel was that it had to have a swimming pool. Jak has never been in water outside of bathtime, so we wanted to take him swimming. Although curious…
…he certainly didn’t love it! Not only was the water a bit chilly, but I think he was wondering why the heck he was wearing clothes in water! 
7. The drive to Great Falls is pretty boring…and flat…but of course Nick can find great shots anywhere! He went out one evening to check out the scenery. He met some locals. And crawled in some ditches. And of course, got some really good pictures!! 
8. 
9. Thank goodness for the DVD player in the van!! We used it a lot. Baby Einstein was getting a bit tiresome, so we got Jak a DVD of classic Sesame Street songs. And the best part of having the DVD player built into the van is that it comes with headsets — yep, Jak wore his headset and listened to “C is for Cookie” while Nick and I got to enjoy our satellite radio. Oh, and Jak definitely enjoys his movies — when he wants to watch one, he points directly at the folded up screen on the roof until we turn the thing on.
10. In conclusion, I think this expression on Jak’s face pretty much sums up the whole trip. 
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