Dinosaur Provincial Park

Our first camping trip of the year was to Dinosaur Provincial Park, not to be confused with Drumheller or Writing On Stone. It's 2 hours from Lethbridge and such a great campground. There was TONS of hiking to do in the badlands. We spent hours hiking with the kids and they were in heaven... even with a bunch of scraped knees. We met the Bennett's there, and it was a great trip. The campsites were HUGE, there was a park, and a cafe where we got ice cream, and we hiked hiked hiked! Michael and I definitely want to take the kids back there again when they are a little older!

 Driving to some of the badlands.

 On a walk to the river. Check out that adorable little boy!

 Ah, this is waaay too cute.

 A giant tree!

 The men checking out the river.

 A reeeeeeeeeally old tree... 

 Mikes giving it a hug. 

 It turned out to be an awesome climbing tree and Lauren rocked it!

 haha, Michael was fearful for his life. 

 We called this "The Brain" 

 Blurry photo but this was at the top of some very big badlands.

 The guys found a little cave and it was really dark but Darcy went in it to see how far it went because he could see a tiny little light and we found it weaved in and out a bit and came out the other side so everyone went through it a few times and the kids just thought it was the coolest.

 Okay, so I actually didn't go through!! It's FREAKY that this is underground, ah!

 Amazing views!! Like nothing I've ever seen. You drive to here and it's all just farmland and then you start to descend a bit and there is just this crazy view that goes on for a long time of bandlands!! Beautiful!

The kids watching the Incredibles in the trailer. Ty loved it!

 grabbing lunch at the cafe before we head home.

 Love this view!

 It was windy and rainy when we were leaving.. Good timing!

 Ty talks about this trip all the time and he calls it Dinosaur Avisual Park.... haha

Waterton trip and Canada Day

 Just a cute sleeping picture of Noah to start off.

We met up with the Robinson's in Waterton for our first trip of the year. We hiked up to Crandell Lake (and it took a while to meet up... michael and I learned that there are two trailedheads haha) and the kids did pretty good. Noah fell asleep in my arms on the way down and by the end I was dyyyyying. 

 The littles trailing behind their Dad's.

 The kids getting into the snacks, like always... and Michael, getting his camera ready. 

 Riding on Daddy's back in the water.  

 We went back to the townsite at the park and ate the BEST dinner ever... fruit and veggies, teriyaki chicken salad, chips, and these AMAZING peanut butter cookies Jessica made. They were HUGE too. The Robinson's head home and we headed to Cameron Bay to relax and do our usual... throw rocks in the water. 

 Canada Day was about the same as every year. :) The usual family photo, parade, a stop by my Uncle Reeds to say hi to family members, then to the Orrs for a big lunch and games.. we played water baseball this year.. the bases were pool of water. Lots of fun. Then we went to Grandma Janices to celebrate her birthday with some family and Michael head into Lethbridge to take some photos for Dusty's business... I was lucky and my mom watched the boys while I napped, and then Michael came back out for some more visiting. Then we head home and watched the fireworks at Henderson from our front step, which Ty was so excited for he didn't even go to bed for the night until after at 11:30!!!

 

HAIRCUT and friend trip

hallelujah!! Michael had asked me once after church if I wanted to cut his hair (about a month before this happend) and I was SO tired and had just gotten the kids down for naps and was so looking forward to napping so I told him I just had to have a nap. The next day I asked if I could cut his hair and he said I lost my opportunity. It was soooooo long and I like it long, but not THIS long. So I was getting ready to go to Boot Camp the night before we went on a trip with friends for 4 days and he said "want to cut my hair?" So I skipped out on boot camp and cut that hair like it was my job... oh wait.. it is. ha! He wanted it flat ironed before and holy, that just made me want to cut it even more. Now he is looking so so handsome and manly and I am LOVING it. He is still trying to figure out how to style it best, but it's such a nice change.

So we went on a trip with the Gundersons... SO DANG FUN. We were wanting to go to West Ed Mall and do the fun stuff but we had done a camping trip with them years before near Silverwood (Spokane area), and so once the suggestion to go there was made, we didn't even think twice. I found a condo to rent and we stayed for 3 nights. It backed onto this beautiful golf course in a valley of mountains and it was SO beautiful. So quiet and peaceful at night too. We spent a FULL day at Silverwood, without kids. It was amazing. We shopped a bit and ate out lots. It was so fun to hang out with food friends and even be with Michael without kids for a while. Trips away from the kids are just so good for a marriage I tell ya. It just gives you time to focus on one another without the stress of kids. There were tennis courts and we played doubles every morning.. an amazing pool that we had a synchronized swimming competition in (we won!!), and the guys golfed the last night.

Ty's 4th birthday

This year we decided to just do a friend birthday party for Ty. He has so many friends so it was hard to narrow it down to enough that Michael and I could handle on our own. We had the kids wear their swimsuits and we filled the pool, jumped on the trampoline, and played with water balloons. I had to ask Ty what he wanted to eat for his birthday he said pizza and oreos, instead of cake (because he doesn't like cake....), and I said "what will we put your candles in?" and he said "in the pizza". It was a pretty clever idea. The kids kept asking when we were going to have cake so I think next year I'll have cupcakes for the kids, or maybe even just ice cream.

 All of Ty's little friends.

He got a water gun, a fishing rod, some books, a Big Hero 6 activity book with little figurines, and more stuff that I can't remember because it's been a month. We got Ty some Lego, a bike that wont fit him until next summer probably (it was given to us), and some garage sale finds- Hungry Hippos and Mouse trap. He loves games but I have a love hate relationship with them. Pieces everywhere and having to always set them up. 

We love our little 4 year old.

I guess this post features Noah.

 Sometimes Noah wants to be held all the time and this did the trick. We haven't worn him in the Ergo for a loooong time. 

 When we had Easter Dinner at our house with my Dad, Kristi and family all the adults wanted to play games, so on went a movie for the kids. 

My little bunny. We went to "Big Bird Little Bird" at Helen Schuler and we learned all about bunnies. Ty wasn't very into it but Noah enjoyed it. 

 He always wants his boots on... now he always wants his gumboots. I'll give him his sandals and he will throw them behind him because he loves wearing boots so much. 

 This boy is very snuggly... especially with Dad when he gets home from work. This is how they snuggles after Michael was finished work one day... so cute. 

 First BBQ of the summer! The kids enjoyed being able to eat outside... it was even Ty's idea. 

 Noah trying out the potty. He peed a few drops... I'm not potty training until he's at least 3. Or at least until Ty is 100% for sure totally completely absolutely potty trained. 

We spend a lot of our days on walks or at the park lately. Ty gets so excited if we ever get to go to a new park... I am really enjoying these days of being at home with the kids. I will miss it when they go to school full time and I no longer have an excuse to be outside with them all the time.