We had a really fun trip to Canada and Montana. It was so nice to get away for so long after not having any long vacations last year. It was a long drive and the first day was a little on the awful side with Lucy getting carsick by the time we got to Ogden and throwing up a total of three times that day (two times in the car and once at the hotel after we let her eat her kids meal and super speed and then swim her little heart out--super smart parenting). Isaac and Esther didn't want to sleep by her the first night because they were so worried she was contagious. Fortunately, it was just motion sickness and a sensitive stomach. The next day we were much more diligent with the dramamine and things went much better. Our first stop was Claresholm, Alberta to visit John's parents in their new home.
Unfortunately, this was the only picture I remembered to take while there. The girls got to look through all of Nana's jewelry and were in heaven with that. Isaac got to play with cars on the stairway and thought that was pretty awesome too.
Next we headed up to Calgary for the Thompson family reunion. James and Janine were sweet to let us stay at their place for the duration. The first day we got to hit a splash park and the kids loved that. I love this picture of Isaac and his cousin Will, both with their tongues hanging out.
My kids especially loved their big cousins playing with them--sweet Sam pushed them on this swing for a LONG time.
The next reunion stop was Banff National Park. It was gorgeous! I am so glad my kids got to see it.
It is a historic family site since it is where John proposed to me over ten years ago. :)
We went on a hike up Johnston Canyon to these beautiful Falls. With all the flooding the water was pretty fast and high--it made me slightly nervous..
My pictures, of course, don't do it justice. My kids stayed up super late with cousins the night before and after the hike they were a little on the tired/cranky side.
Fortunately, we squeezed this in on the drive back to downtown Banff so we could meet everyone for dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory and be good patrons.
On Sunday we had a fun barbecue at Fish Creek Park in Calgary. This is most of the Thompson cousins' kids posing together.
The next day we hit the Stampede. It was rainy and slightly cold but the kids still LOVED it.
They got to practice their milking skills,
hold baby chicks, see all sorts of farm animals, and get lots of free farm stuff.
At night John and I went to the chuckwagon races and the Grandstand show. Pretty entertaining.
After the reunion we headed to Dickey Lake, Montana with John's immediate family for some lake fun.
Flora and Lucy were quite the fearless swimmers this year.
Isaac's favorite activity was playing with this watergun... for hours...
My kids even enjoyed tubing behind the jetski this year (although we forced Lucy the first time with some pushing, holding, and tears but the next couple times were voluntary)!
We made all sorts of bravery strides.
My sister in-law brought her paddle board down to the lake--we all tried that and loved it. It was the perfect tame water sport for the preggo lady.
As ususal, my kids spent plenty of quality time in the hot tub as well.
Esther loved kneeboarding this year!
(more bravery strides!)
She even tried skiing but got a face full of water and decided it wasn't for her this year. I was proud of her making the attempt! (strides:))
Our last day at the lake was a little cloudy and cold but that didn't stop these girl cousins from swimming to the dock and playing nonstop in the water.
Isaac was more of a cold water wimp with me.. so we had some quality time in the hammock.
Isaac's second favorite activity at the lake was going on the jetski with John, or an uncle or cousin. He, just like his dad, LOVED going fast and doing little jumps. A little bit opposite of our girls taste on the jetski. These two were pretty cute together.
We had such a great time and miss the family already--wish we didn't live quite so far from everyone!
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