Keeping Up With the Joneses

We had another fun vacation to Waterton last week--and this time we brought Marshall with us! Here are some highlights. I tried getting a picture of all of us hiking to Crandell Lake. This was the best I could come up with. I love all the smiles and McKay's smiling eyes.  Max had some little minion glasses at church and entertained us (and himself) with them.  My kids meditating on the trail to Crandell Lake. This was BEFORE we saw the bear.  We were hiking along with Mason in front when all of a sudden he stopped and ran back to us yelling "bear!" Two seconds later this bear emerged from where Mason was standing and stared at us and then walked up the trail.  A curious bear.  Once again, the kids loved playing in the water with their kayaks and the canoe. Here are Mason, Max, and McKay getting ready to be pushed out (don't worry, McKay didn't actually go by himself).  Mason caught a little frog (toad?) my Linnet Lake and t...

My kids do the funniest things. They just keep us laughing all of the time. Here are a few highlights: Grandpa Goates: It must be kind of hard being the oldest kid. Mason: You wouldn't last a day. *** Me: Max, I'm sorry the turkey bit you yesterday. Max: That's okay. Next time we go there I will just throw rocks at it. *** Myles: Mom, it hurts too much to walk down the stairs. Can I just slide down the banister? *** Myles charges me $1 per kiss. I try so hard not to kiss him and then I find myself doing it without even  noticing! I'm hoping that his tendency to charge others for physical affection isn't predictive of his future.  *** Mason: I want to join the swim team in Delta Me: But you don't live in Delta  Mason: oh yeah, about that. Can I move to Delta? *** When I told Max my birthday was coming up and he sighed "UGHH! It was just Mother's Day!!!" *** Max's very important question he just HAD to ask me in th...

The weather this week has been so great (70s to low 80s) and so we have been getting out a lot. We took advantage of the good weather this morning (7/8/15) to go to Thanksgiving Point Farm. The kids love going, but Mason is super allergic to horses so when he is with us we have to plan ahead with allergy meds. But. . .Mason is still in Canada so we didn't have to worry about it. McKay has been very interested in animals lately so I thought he would love it. McKay loved riding the little tractor. I LOVE this picture. Myles loves McKay SO MUCH and had his arm around him the whole wagon ride. I can't believe how quickly McKay is changing from a baby to a toddler. The three boys on the wagon. It is actually kind of crazy how much easier three kids seem than four, even when it is the easiest who is missing.  Max on the pony ride.  Myles on the pony ride. I was really hoping McKay would love it but NOPE. I didn't get a picture of him on the horse because...

Mason stayed in Canada when we went home to enjoy 10 days alone with his grandparents. I was a little worried that he would get homesick but I couldn't be more wrong! He is absolutely loving it and it sounds like his grandparents are enjoying having him. He sent me this picture he took on his DS of the owls that says "jealous mom?" Mason taking a picture of the owls.  The owls on top of the cabin.

We drive back from Canada on the 3rd and hoped to make it all the way to Delta. However, by the time we got to Provo and dropped Hannah off I was just too tired to keep going and so we went home to sleep and then got up at 6 the next morning to make it to Delta in time for the festivities. We stayed until the 5th and had a great time with the grandparents and cousins. McKay loved the glow-sticks and was fascinated by the fireworks.  Cousin Peter was captivated by Myles (okay, maybe by his electronics).  Cousins playing before the fireworks.  Myles with the glowsticks. Max with the glowsticks.  After the parade McKay made a mad dash to the playground. I think he had been there a lot with his grandparents.  We got to watch William play the drums in the parade. Some of the cousins. It was so fun to hang out with Kim and Rusty's family again.  Myles is really into having a mohawk this summer and was excited for a...

The kids, myself, Hannah, and her son Ari headed up to Canada for about 5 days and had a great time. The weather was absolutely perfect and everyone had a fantastic time. It just wasn't nearly long enough, so we are heading up again this weekend. The kids did their "summer school" in the mornings with very little complaining (especially compared to the amount of complaining at home).  Three little cousins working on their letters.  Driving grandpa's boat.  Hannah and Ari at the border in Boundary Bay.  Me and the kids at the border.  Myles driving the boat. No, we don't make them wear helmets in the boat, they just always ride their bikes to the boat dock.  Myles lost a tooth.  The kids loved the kayaks at Cameron Lake. Max really got the hang of it this year.  Logan and Mason on the kayak.

Canada Day is one of my favorite days of the year and this year did not disappoint! We had a fantastic Canada Day breakfast of crepes, and it was nice enough to eat out on the porch.  We decorate the bikes (and bike stroller) for the parade. Myles and Ari were the "Strawberry twins" with matching red mohawks. They chose to walk through the parade with the noise makers.  Max came up with his bike decorations all on his own and was "Captain Canada" (like Captain America). He rode his little bike the entire way and I was so proud of him. A sweet Captain Canada.  Jessica and I (inadvertently) had matching shirts and then we used Jamberry Wraps for our Canadian Nails. Pretty fun.  Most of our crew in the bike parade.  That afternoon Hannah and I took Myles, Max, Logan, and Ari on a hike up to the Prince of Wales hotel.