7canzers

We drove up to the radio tower on the mountain behind us for a picnic dinner, with both sets of our parent’s.

The skies were ominous with both the smokey skies from wild fires, and a threatening thunderstorm

We got all packed up from our dinner, did some wandering and just as we were loading up to go, there was the first crack of thunder and almost immediately the downpour began.  The storm hammered about us, and as we came around the end of the range it stopped and the sun came out.  It looked amazing!

We drove a little further and rounded a corner, and I yelled out to stop the van…..It had been so hot that the road was steaming from the rain, and the light was coming through the trees…..gorgeousness that I need someone to run down the road for me so I could take a picture 🙂

Off camping again, in our old trailer we are.  Just our family and my parent’s this time, to Premier Lake Provincial Park.  I would like to be able to explore a lot of places within about a two hour radius of home, and this one was on our bucket list.  What a treat to sleep in a bed with sheets and duvets!  The kids sleep in the bed overhead but moved down when they woke up for family snuggles.
Breakfast.  They had already been up for ages, zooming around on their bikes, so naturally the helmet stayed on to eat, for a quick getaway.The kids are the most excellent explorers and discover-er’s.  They found all the little trails and critters around about.We went for a bike ride to Cat-Eye Lake.  It was a hiking trail, rather than a biking trail so there was a bit of bike pushing going on.And when we got to the lake it had gotten hot again.  Everyone wanted to go for a swim, but we hadn’t bought togs, so undies it was.Another beautiful BC view.
Firelighting 101.Cooking dinner over the fire,And marshmallows for dessert, trying to keep it away from little sister.Finger lickin good!Monkeys at the playgroundAnd a little after dinner bike ride,a foam beard,and concluded with taking turns riding the bike down the boat ramp into the lake, fully clothed.  I am impressed over and over again how they just seem to need each other, and plenty of fun flows free!

What a super duper day out!  I love going and watching the annual track and field event.  The little kids and I were vehicle-less today so we had to ride our bikes, and with all our mucking around I showed up at the gym and Sequoia had just finished (and won) the high jump.  So bummed to miss seeing her.  She got her Dad’s genes.  She always does really well at this.Neika at Triple Jump…..She won!!100m SprintShe won that too.Sequoia’s 400m.  I can’t remember where she got in that!!Sequoia’s triple jump.  She won!!Neika’s 400m winAnd last and not least Sequoia’s 800m

I overheard a mother complaining about how this day is torture for some kids and how she wished they didn’t give placing’s but rather just finishing awards.  I have to say that I completely disagree.  I think it is so important for us to feel we are successful in certain parts of our life.  Most of us can’t be good at everything.  But at least something!  For a lot of kids (some of ours included), they don’t experience success in academic’s and these kind of events give opportunity for other gifts and abilities to shine.  I was so happy that the girls could participate, and feel the satisfaction of doing well.

This may be the only time we EVER camp in Banff in March.  Usually there would be a few feet of snow still.  It is the second week of spring break, and I feel like I am going a bit crazy hangin out at home, doing the same -old, same-old every day .  This winter has been a bummer for us, with Kent’s back.  We haven’t been able to do much, and I so want to.  It was an internal war trying to decide if I should do this with the kids – the camping with no-other-adult-thing.  Kent is in Vancouver on a back rehab program.  I think I have mentioned that before.  In the end my desire for adventure won out over the huge challenge I knew it would be to do this.

I booked the only campsite that is open year-round, and I was preparing my strategy to be parked up along side 40ft, fully kitted out motorhomes, and our family be the object of curiosity.  What kind of cool story could I make up?  Why would I be camping with so many kids?  Who was I on the run from?!

The kids were really awesome helpers.  They wanted to put the tents up without my help.  This little guy needed a little break to do some finger sucking though.

The temperatures overall weren’t too bad, it was just windy.  Malakai wanted to go home coz he didn’t like the wind.  I don’t blame him!  So in the mornings we went and had breakfast at the cookshack rather than our campsite.

And unflattering mouthful, but I loved the light and colours!

The main thing I wanted to do was go to Johnstone Canyon.  I had read about it and it looked awesome in the winter with frozen waterfalls.  It has packed ice most of the way which was a bit of a mission.

And then I don’t even show you pictures of the waterfall!  It was cool but I didn’t get any really good ones.  I was having to pay pretty close attention to the kids so I didn’t lose them over a cliff and into the river.  I’m glad that we went but it wasn’t very relaxing for me.  

The kids wanted to go look around Banff.  It is hard for me to say “yes” to shopping with a bunch of kids.  That equals near torture to me, but I wanted to grant their request.  We went to a chocolate shop and I let them pick out a treat.  Most of them got whirly pops.  Me and Neika got toffee apples.

This little monkey is supposed to be sleeping.  She did eventually nod off 🙂

The kids wanted to find a playground.  We did, and then through the fence they discovered this bike jump park.  They spent ages trying to balance the teeter-totter together.

We finished off that day with a quick look at the hoodoo’s.  But I like this picture better!!  And then the next day I really enjoyed.  It was a little slower and more relaxing.  We went and checked out a few lakes.  I was scoping places for the next time we come.

And then we drove home.  We spent 3 days and 2 nights.  I am glad we went.  It was definitely a stretch for me with a toddling one year old, but I’m pleased I was brave and could put myself aside to give the kids a fun experience  Oh, and the main thing I learnt?  Take paper plates.  It takes way too long to wash dishes 🙂

I have been wanting to photograph a ‘day in our life’ periodically.  I didn’t actually think about it for this day, but when I looked through the pictures afterwards it probably would have been a good one to do!  I didn’t take any of our normal stuff but I did takes lots of all the activities we did today.

I have mentioned a bunch of times how warm our winter is.  The kids wanted to go for a bike ride so we hauled the bikes out of the shed, and off we went.

Sequoia wanted to give Chelise the experience too…..

It was pretty icy in the park. And in this spot, the water was sitting on top.  Good chance to have a slosh around

Poor Malakai, it was pretty slippery and he kept falling off!

When we got home, we  cleared off our deck which was still covered in reno remnants.  The reward was a smoothie, on this balmy day.

And then outside to enjoy playing with the ball and some gumboot throwing!

And I’m pretty sure no sound minded Canadian would be running around in bare feet!!

The need to go somewhere…..that feeling can be strong sometimes.  We are fairly limited on what we can do as a family this winter with Kent’s back but this was easy.  It just required me making a dinner to-go, warmly bundled kids, a sled and a few other bits, and a short drive to the barn.  And a rush against the clock because I wanted to get there while the light was nice so I could take photo’s!!

We settled in for our picnic dinner – vegies and a good ol’ kiwi favourite……bacon and egg pie.And a quick portait before we headed off for some cold weather shenanigansThe kids found a patch of ice, and we played sliding games until it got dark.  They were much annoyed when I told them it was time to go.

One of the things that I like about having a larger than average family, is that there is more potential for different combinations of kids.  Lots of times they will all play together, but more often than not, the girls hang out together and the boys hang out together…..one combination is more mellow, and one is more crazy.  I’ll let you guess which one matches what grouping!!

On our snowy walk today they mixed it up a bit.  Sequoia and Ashton teamed up, and Neika and Malakai were their own gang, and there was no crossing over.  I enjoyed the change!

I couldn’t resist these pictures today!  It was pretty cold but the bigger kids wanted to go play in the logs by the river.  She doesn’t get to do much other than hang around and face plant in the snow whenever she tries and walks anywhere.