Pre-Vacation and Vacation!

 We have been vacationing! So sorry for the break in postings!

Before we left on vacation we had a fun trip returning to the zoo (a portion is now open that was not affected during the floods) and a trip to Calaway Park (with special guest: Uncle Jamie!). 

So we'll cover that stuff and the start of our road trip to Radium Hot Springs, BC in this post.

Above - Gwen uncovered a dinosaur in a sand box that the zoo has set up in the Prehistoric Park section (a bunch of dinosaur statues that Cara loves to see).

 Cara and Leah pose at the Penguin exhibit.

 Inside we got to see the new baby penguin (with its parents who are so protective that the keepers can't see if it is a boy or girl yet!).  This was when baby was one month old.

 A great shot of Gwen and her curls.

 Leah and Cara putting on a show in the Canadian Wilds (the other section that is open - the island where the "good" animals are is still closed).

It was a fun day at the abbreviated zoo - lots of animals being active and we stretched it out to almost the full day with the help of Leah, Sidney and Rebecca.

 A couple of days before we left on vacation we went to Calaway Park with Jamie!

Cara got to go on 2 new to her rides - this was the first one - the Swings!

Cara and Mommy sat on a double seat and Jamie beside us - super fun and we went twice in a row!

 Gwen got to drive Daddy around while we were on the swings!

 The spinning balloon ride was next - the girls love it!

 Jamie and Gwen waiting for the train ride.

 Mommy, Gwen and Jamie with Daddy and Cara behind us - choo choo!

 Cara's other new to her ride - super fast, round and round thing that was a lot of fun!

 Daddy and the girls on the Egg Ride to finish the day!

Then we had to pack for our trip!

 We left Monday August 12 for the 3 hour drive to Radium Hot Springs, BC.

We stopped in Banff for a planned picnic at lunch time - in the rain :( with not a covered picnic table in sight.

We made the most of it and after everyone ate something in the car we put on the rain coats and took a walk to see Bow Falls.

 Only a slight drizzle now!

 We went to the smoke shop in Banff and got the kids their first pack of cigs!!! 

Hahah!  We went to the candy store and loaded up with fun stuff for the trip - Popeye Candy Sticks (as they are called in 2013) were a hit!

 To get to Radium you drive to Castle Mountain and take a left.

 Where you enter Kootenay National Park and pass the Great Divide!

Cara was in Alberta while Gwen was in BC!

Daddy was half and half!

 The sun came out and we had a nice drive - we stopped at Olive Lake for a short walk in the woods to a lake.

 Olive Lake

Very very clear water.

 Gwen collected sticks and rocks.

 Olive Lake 

From another angle.

The water was so clear you could see the fish swimming around!

We made it to Radium and into our nice 2 bedroom condo.
We had supper and got the kids to bed late!
Gwen got to sleep in a real big girl bed in the same room as Cara!

Everyone was ready for a good sleep!

We had a lot to do in the week ahead and sunny days on the forecast!

The rest of the vacation will be up this week!

Staycation!

 Daddy made the long weekend into a 5 day weekend so we had a staycation!

On Thursday we went to Heritage Park - an old town replica sort of like Kings Landing.

Cara and Gwen really enjoyed looking around the old houses and choosing which bedroom would be theirs.

 A sprinkling of rain brought out the umbrella while we walked the town's streets.

 Stopped by the school for a lesson.

 Swings are always fun!

 We rode the rides at the old time amusement park.

This death trap was fun for the kids but even Cara thought that there should be seat belts!

 Kiddie Ferris Wheel!

 Full size Ferris Wheel!

Fast and fun!

 Carousel!

 The Whip ride - like a slow Tilt a Whirl.

 After exploring the trains these knuckleheads fell asleep!

 They woke up to reenact the Last Spike!

 Old timey lollipop time!

 Yummy!

 We rode the steam engine train.

 And had fun on the paddle wheel boat ride around Glenmore Resevoir.

Heritage Park was lots of fun!

 We went to an indoor playground on Friday (no pictures) then on Saturday we had great plans for a road trip to a Provincial Park with a beach for a fun beach day.  Well, an hour from home on the highway Gwen was sick...so we cleaned her up and turned around for home with 2 disappointed girls.  When we got back into the city Gwen was totally fine and we figured it was just car sickness so we took our picnic to the local man-made beach Sikome Lake!

Gwen was so happy and so was Cara - and so were Mommy and Daddy!

 Cara had a fun time going in the deep water with Daddy and her life jacket.

 Gwen loves the water and the sand!

 Cara buried and sculpted into an octopus!

 Gwen became a mermaid!

 Castles were made!

 Mud pies were made!

 Fun hours passed on the beach in the sun!

 Sunday we went to our friend Freya's 4th birthday and had a fun time.  Later when we got home the girls were watching the end of Toy Story 2 and eating popcorn.  Supper was coming up and Gwen wanted another bowl of popcorn.  Mommy said no supper is soon.  Gwen turned into the Hulk and yelled and threw things.  15 min later Cara said "Mom, what's that rainbow?" Mom looked at the tv - realized that the screen was broken!  When Gwen threw her cup it hit the screen!  Mr Potato Head was as shocked as we were!

So we ended up ending our staycation with a trip to Best Buy and Gwen got her Birthday/Christmas present for the next 5 years.  A new tv!

Cara had a great idea to tape our a "no-kid zone" on the carpet so everyone gets used to how far from the tv they have to be.

And no more cups in the living room.

And no throwing - not a new rule!

VBS, Birthdays and Running a Race

***sorry for the late post!  It is summer and we are having so much fun!***

Cara was in Vacation Bible School last week and had a great time. It was held at her preschool and some of we friends were in her class. She loves Bible stories and learned a lot. The last day they had a concert that Gwen, Mommy and Daddy went to. She was great at doing the sign language to Jesus Loves Me.

Tuesday was Daddy's birthday so we made him some cupcakes and the girls helped draw pictures on them. They made a big banner to celebrate the day and we had fun sparklers on the cupcakes. 35 is fun!

Wednesday was a big day - the girls got a new cousin!  Simon Eli McIntyre was born!  He looks like a real cutie.

Friday after the VBS picnic lunch we took the girls to Calaway Park!  It was a fun afternoon and a nice day.

 Saturday Mommy and Cara had races to run!

 Mommy had her second 5k and Cara was in her first race - a 1k but for her age group was more of a 1/2 k. It was an early morning to get there in time and we got to listen to a a real Olympic gold medal winner talk and then it was race time.

  Mommy got a faster time (down a minute!) and then at Cara's race was super fast.  She'd made a friend during mommys race and when they said 'go' the friend took off and Cara chased her around the trail to the finish line. Her time for a 1\2k was 2:40! Zoom!

 Post race snacks for the supporters!

 Cara pre-race.  She felt pretty cool to have a number and was ready to go.

Daddy and the girls saved this dragonfly who was injured at the nearby playground while Mommy was running. Cara said he was very thankful.

Sunday was our friend Sidney's 2nd birthday - so we went to her party and of course the girls had a great time.