Swan Lake Camping

Swan Lake

Embracing Camping.

• I decided long before we started packing for Swan Lake that I was going to embrace camping and try my hardest to remain positive. I know how many great memories Ken has camping with friends and family over the years, and it seems to be "the thing to do" in our church community and in the area we live in. Do you recall our attempt 2 years ago in August, 2009 titled Survivor Shuswap on my blog? Well let's just say that most of what I remember of that whole experience was a very challenging time. Just a few reminders...I was pregnant with Isaac, Luke wasn't walking yet, it was terrible weather, there was a fire ban, it was a 12 hour drive that we attempted in one day with three young children, need I go on. It has taken a full two years to get over that experience for me. I don't consider myself to be a high maintenance kind of girl but camping is really roughing it. I'm a cottage kind of girl, that's how I grew up.
  
  Some of the things I have learned while camping are:

*how to shave my legs in a dishpan after boiling water to make it warmer

*how to wash my hair in the middle of a lake without my feet being able to touch the bottom

*how to live without power of any kind for a whole week - no toaster, no microwave, no hair dryer, no straightener, no music, no tv, no computer, no Internet, no phone, no washer

*how to meal plan so that all of your meals are cooked over the fire or on a little camp stove (our meals consisted of: pizza pie irons, premade spaghetti and meatballs, premade soup, smokies, steak/garlic bread/salad, chicken burgers)

*to allow the boys to pee outside almost anywhere that works

* how to wear the same dirty clothes over and over again

* how to trust in the Lord's protection over a roaming mountain lion spotted in the area

* how to give up on routine and a schedule and know that we will survive a week without it

These are just a few of the things I have learned while roughing it. Surprisingly it was a really relaxing holiday, better than I would've imagined. I actually read 2.5 books, had lots of quality time with the kids, and with the adults in the evenings. Slept decent every night thanks to the blow up queen size mattress we bought this year, sat in the sun hour after hour, after hour, swam, water skied, biked, lots of walking, lots of laughing, lots of talking. Great memories were made and I'm so glad I gave it another chance. Can't wait till next time.

Waterton

A common sight in Waterton National Park. Looking forward to trying this out when the boys get bigger.


Let the excitement begin.





Mommy and Luke at Red Rock Canyon

Good thing the hike we went on isn't that long. Heavy loads coming through.

Mommy got a cowgirl hat on the holidays. Yeehaw.

Andrew took this picture. Thankfully this balcony is all fenced in and Isaac could crawl around safely.

Peek a boo. Nope not walking yet at 17 months.

Smarties icecream in a waffle cone at the Big Scoop. Yikes $20 for 6 icecream but worth every penny.

Ken couldn't pick a flavor so he got two. Just joking. Luke decided after one bite that he didn't like it so Ken ate two.

Having fun on the beach.

We had a day outing to Waterton. Didn't see any bears this year. Highlights were the park, hike, picnic lunch, beach, icecream, windsurfers on the lake and the wildflowers were beautiful. Field after field of them, so many kinds and colors.

Cabin Holiday 2011

Marshmallow roast.

Grandma played lots of Uno and memory with the boys. It was amazing to see how many times Luke beat Grandma at Uno.

Andrew wanted to have antlers.

Lots of quad rides with Daddy.

The ice cold creek that Ken retrieved his fishing hook from.

Here fishy fishy.

Grandpa showing the boys the fish in the bucket.

Grandpa's turn.

Here's a few that we kept and fried up. Yummy.

Isaac hanging out.

Sam fishing off the dock at the Tams cabin.

Lundbreck Falls.

Typical family shot with not everyone looking. Isaac and Luke found the waterfalls more interesting.

Hubby and me.

Good thing grandpa is so strong lugging Isaac around.

We spent last week at the cabin with the boys. It is such a treat to go there and bond as a family. Grandma and Grandpa even joined us for a night. We did the usual stuff, quadding, throwing rocks in the creek, biking, games and lots of eating really yummy food. This year Ken really wanted to try out fishing with the boys. Ken caught a few fish and the boys helped reel them in. Hopefully the boys attention span lasts longer over time. They sometimes would cast once then wander into the forest to play swords with sticks. Andrew loved going fishing but would cast once then reel in and change hooks/bait etc. Cast again and change again. He loved playing with his tackle box. Ken and his Dad were both quite entertaining with their casts into the trees close by. It was quite an adventure for everyone seeing how they would get their hooks back. Awesome times.