Banff

While we were in Revelstoke we decided to take a quick trip to Banff. The last time Josh and I were there was when I was pregnant with Maddy. Now that the kids are older, they were able to handle the long drive with relative ease. Maddy was very excited to be there because her Maplelea Doll "Taryn" is from Banff and I was hoping to get a nice picture of Maddy and her doll. In the first picture below, you can probably see that Ethan could sense something was up with all the pictures Jeh-Jeh was having taken.

Here he is trying to completely block Maddy from view in the picture. Haha. He cracks be me up!

After we checked into the campsite we drove into town for dinner, followed by an ice cream for dessert.

Then it was back to the campsite to get ready for marshmellows. I'm sure the kids felt like they hit the jackpot that night

The next morning we went into town again for breakfast and then I wanted to take the kids to a special candy store. 

When I was about 10 yrs old, my family came to Banff to go skiing. Completely out of the ordinary, my parents took us in this store and told us we could choose whatever we wanted, as much as we wanted. We were CRAZY excited and as an adult I don't remember much about that trip, but I vividly remember that time in the candy store. We weren't brave enough to do the 'as much as you want' part, but we did say to the kids that they could pick out anything they wanted. It was fun, we'll save the big time for when they are older and can remember it. I posted this picture for my brother and sisters. The second I poked my head in the store, I knew it was the same one. I wonder if they recognize it too. It looked exactly the same!

We then went to Lake Louise. It was as gorgeous as ever.

We rented a canoe and took the kids out for their first canoe ride.

 Back in the car for the long ride back home to Revelstoke.

 It was a quick trip and not really what I'd consider camping, but it was still a lot of fun. I look forward to summers in the future when we can do some real hiking and exploring of the Banff area. It really is beautiful and I can see why people come from all over the world to see it.

Revelstoke

The day school end for me, we packed up the car for our summer trip to Revelstoke. It's always fun to go up to stay for a whole week. It's crazy to see how much the kids have grown since the last year we were there. We had a great time with lots of crafts, dinners, swimming, beach time, and mini hikes. Since Blogspot has made it so much easier to load pictures, I'll let the pictures do the talking!

Happy Canada Day!

Kaes with Smokey the Bear at the Canada Day parade.

Maddy and Oma waiting for the parade.

After a quick trip to see Begbie Falls, we sat on the beach of the Columbia Rive to have a snack.

Look at that face!! I think he likes the yogurt tube.

Going for a ride in Oma and Opa's garden.

Maddy was in crafting heaven. She spent SO MUCH time by herself in Oma's craft room.

She even let Oma make a mask of her face. She did really well and did not 'freak' out.

A picture with Oma and Opa in the forest.

A trip to Revelstoke is not complete with out a weiner/marshmellow roast.

This is the neighbourhood dog. Ethan just LOVES her. Hearing her whine when she first saw us and we know the feeling is mutual. 

We feed her all kinds of food and then send her home!

On the ferry to go to the Halcyon Hot Springs. An awesome 'rainy day' activity.

 

Enjoying lunch before the hot springs.

A canoe ride with Opa and Oma in Williansom Lake.

Dancing in the street at the nightly music festival.

The Brown Johns came to stay over while on their road trip. Here are Lily, Maddy and Nora enjoying the music.

Posing with the "Revelstoke Bears"

Bocci in the backyard

This was the first time Ethan's eaten chips 'straight from the bag'.

 He just parked himself in front and not even the wadingpool/playground could lure him away.

He was one HAPPY boy!

Family time at the park.

Thanks mom and dad for a great week! We love you!!

He really can make a kite!

My dad has always told us stories of his childhood and one of them is about how he and his friends used to make their own kites. Kite making was for fun, but they also flew them and pitted their kites against the other children in the area. Think of it as 'olden days' Pokemon cards! I remember a story about how he and his friends would glue finely crushed glass to the thread of the kites so that they could cut the strings of other kites flying in the sky. I guess it's ruthless out there in the world of kite flying! :)

Recently Maddy had become interested in the flying a kite and since we couldn't seem to fly the stunt kite I bought for Josh, my dad said that he'd make one for us. Maddy was very enthusiastic and I thought it would be great for the kids to see Gong Gong actually make the kite. My dad however just started to make the kites on his own (four of them in total) and now that I've seen how much work they are, I understand why. A couple of weeks ago we took them out and my sister Joanne and I were stunned to find that the kites actually flew! Actually they flew way better than we imagined. My dad still had the one for Ethan to make, so we got to see him make one after all. I was impressed with the skill he had and I enjoyed watching my dad do something that I could see brought him a lot of joy in his childhood. As he made Ethan's kite, he told us of how in the 'old days' they made their own glue out of starch and vinegar. They didn't use starch and water because the bugs would eat the starch if they only used  water. He told us how they'd save/gather scrap pieces of paper to paste together to make the body. All I can think is, "Wow, our kids (and us for the matter) have it way too easy."

Anyway it was a great family bonding time and a memory that I will cherish.

Gong Gong working on the spine of Ethan's kite.

Here is Maddy adding the decorative touches to her 'fish' kite.

Gong Gong attaching the line to the kite.

"Run, Maddy run!!!"

End of the school year

When I was first pregnant with Maddy I came across a book called Let Me Hold You Longer  by Karen Kingsbury. It's a beautiful book based on the idea that we celebrate many 'firsts' in a child's life (first step, first word, first day of school...), but we often don't celebrate, or for the most part even know that it's a 'last' for other events (last nap, last time nursing, last time they want to cuddle in your lap). Here are a few lines from the book that may help convey what I mean better than I could say it myself:

 Long ago you came to me,

a miracle of first:

First smiles and teeth and baby steps,

a sunbeam on the burst

But one day you will move away

and leave to me your past,

And I will be left thinking of

a lifetime of your lasts...

The last time when you ran to me,

still small enough to hold.

The last time that you said you'd marry

me when you grew old

Precious, simple moments and

bright flashes from your past---

Would I have held on longer if

I'd known they were your last?

Anyway as the last day of preschool and Strong Start came, I started to think of this book again and it made me want to hold on longer. I know that you can't hold on forever, but in these times when you know it's the 'last', I want to try and savour/celebrate the moment.

 

This is Elisabeth. Ethan loves to see her at Strong Start and thinks that the school is her 'home'.

 On the last day, they had a potluck. Yum, yum!

Maddy's last day of preschool was a field to a 4Cats Splatter Party. Here is Maddy with one of her teacher's Kim.

 Maddy with Brenda. Another one of Maddy's teachers, Megan, was sick on the last day and we couldn't get a picture.

Each of the "graduates" were given a frame picture as a keepsake. Maddy is so proud of her 'gradulate' picture.

The kids are growing up so quickly. Just trying to live in the moment and enjoy every single one of them as they happen. Not just an easy feat for the 'planner and worrier' in me, but I'm trying.