Less than a week in Canada

Since moving closer to home, our 6 weeks in Canada has turned into a weekend here and there or a quick trip up for a birthday party.  Even the summer time has become so busy that it's hard to find a full week that we can spend in Canada!!  This past week we spent 4 great days doing what we love...spending time with family and exploring Canada.

First stop:  Grandma and Grandpa's House

Where else can you find two toddlers playing the organ next to porcelain dolls and an angel statue?

Or a super-wild, giant, white kitty cat who stays out all night?!

Or 3 boys climbing a giant tree?

Or endless blueberries?

Next Stop, Lynn Canyon:

We drove out to North Vancouver to explore Lynn Canyon.  But first we had to stop for lunch...we took over the majority of McDonald's with our huge group of kids!

 Lynn Canyon was so beautiful, but once the sun came out, the kids were dying to go swimming!!  So we headed out to Stanley Park to try out Second Beach Pool that Sheri told us about.  There is something magical about a pool overlooking the ocean.  It was a little chilly, but such a great pool and so much fun!

Next Stop, Second Beach Pool:

 

Finally, A Day at Sheri's House:

We don't get to see Sheri as much as we'd like because of her busy schedule!  This time, we were lucky enough to spend a day at her place, swimming in her pool and playing with her kitty cats!

We also managed to squeeze in...

Birchwood Dairy (and Dragon Fort):

And plenty of trampoline time:

And just like that, our Canada trip is over...for a few weeks at least.

Independence Day

I have now lived in the USA more than half my life!  I've lived in 4 different states, had 4 babies here, visited the nation's capital, memorized the words to the national anthem, taught my kids the pledge of allegiance, celebrated the 4th of July with fireworks and BBQs, and even got teary eyed during the song "Proud to be an American."  

This year we hiked down to Meadowdale Beach...somehow I came up with the grand idea of Mike wearing Summer on the way down and me wearing her on the way up...not sure what I was thinking.

 Then we headed to Kenmore for fireworks.  

Summer had a blast...until the fireworks started, then she cried until it was over--poor girl.

I am very grateful for this wonderful land we live in and all the amazing blessings it has given me. But I still cringe just a little when people call it the "greatest" nation and I'm pretty sure a little more than half my heart will always be more Canadian than American.

Ensign Ranch 2016

Everything didn't go as planned...

1.  Mike's car needed the breaks repaired and he had a 3pm meeting so we got off to a late start.

2.  Summer got tons slivers in each foot that I didn't notice until we were on our way (we had to stop for tweezers--ugh).

3.  There was a fire ban, so our dinner was eaten at a burger joint on the way to camp (instead of roasted on the fire).

Love this eating picture...especially Mike:)

4.  We locked ourselves out of our cabin at 10 o'clock at night (we had to call and wake up the people who worked at the ranch to give us a key).

5.  Summer woke up 4 times during the night.

6.  We ate way too many chips and sour patch kids!!!

But we still had SO MUCH FUN...

1.  We got to meet some new people and play games with the adults (not "adult games"--haha)

2.  The sun came out Saturday for slip and sliding.

3.  Summer played with the shower the entire time the other kids played on the slip and slide (I was worried she'd be upset she couldn't do the slide too)

4.  The kids all got to ride horses for only $15 each!!

4.  The Lake didn't have leaches, so the kids got to go swimming.

5.  The kids met some kids from the stake too!!

  

6.  We made some great memories!

 

Birthday for days

How is it that my kids seem to get two or sometimes three "birthdays" when my birthday can come and go and I'm lucky if I get someone to say "Happy Birthday?!"  Such is the life of a mom, I guess.

This birthday was a special one for Kya...she became a TEENAGER!!  We surprised her with a trip to Family Fun Center on her actually birthday, then she requested The Cheesecake Factory for dinner, and the actual "party" came a week later.

Family Fun Center:  Bumper Cars, Go Carts, Tight Rope, Bumper Boats, Trampoline...

Cheesecake Factory for the first time EVER!!  

Then the FRIENDS party at the lake!  Kya had planned this party for months, and when her birthday came and the weather wasn't great, she did it anyways.  Those kids had so much fun!!

Finished the night off with more cheesecake, smores and a bon fire in the backyard.  

Wallace Falls

With no "big" travel plans this summer, I had goals for keeping busy with local, inexpensive yet fun activities.  I even made a "Summer Bucket List!"  Right out of the gate, our very first weekday of summer break, I had big plans for a hike at Wallace Falls....a hike that one of my friends said she did with her small kids and it wasn't very difficult...only, she was actually talking about Franklin Falls, not Wallace Falls.  Although, I really don't think Wallace Falls was too difficult, if I hadn't been wearing a 25 lb toddler on my back...the entire time!

The trail was well marked, which is a must when I am leading the way!  Although there was a little confusion about which were the "lower" falls and which were the "medium" falls and which were not falls at all.

Luckily we met some hikers on the way up that told us not to tackle the upper falls with a baby on my back.

We stopped at the lower falls to have a picnic.

These are the middle falls.  They were so beautiful with the green trees and blue sky with scattered clouds.

  

 On the way back down, the girls left Tyson, Summer and I in their dust.  Poor Tyson slipped and sliced his knee up pretty bad.  Luckily he was tough enough to make it the rest of the way down the mountain and lucky I had a first aid kit in my back pack!!  Too bad the girls took all the water with them.  I probably should have taken Tyson to get stitches because it still hasn't healed quite right 2 weeks later.

We had to stop at Sultan's Bakery on the way home because I had heard so many raving reviews and it was pretty good.  It was so cute that when I told Summer she could pick anything she wanted, she picked this little pink doughnut--notice Tyson in the background with his giant cookie?

Next time, I think I'll bring someone with me who can trade off with the baby back pack!!

End of the year...(school year that is)

This school year started off a little different...and not "good" different.

Jordan had seminary at 6am and was starting her first year at Skyview without her best friend.  But I think it turned out pretty good:

Football Games

School Dances

Square Dancing (Jordan's group actually WON!!)

Relay for Life

 And of course...Cruise!

Kya was sicker than a dog her first week of school, then struggled a little getting used to her first year of Junior High.  But she got the hang of things and ended up having a great year:

Football Games

Honor Society

Volleyball

 

Choir

School Dances

 Tyson was put in a class without any of his friends.  But of course he made great new friends and had a pretty good year.

Fifth Grade Camp!!!

Track

And of course, the end of the year party with some friends from church!