Summertime and the living is easy

We had a busy summer! Of course, there was going to Raymond for Canada Day, heading to Oregon to spend time at the beach with my family, and celebrating Calista's birthday.

But that was only half our summer! There was more!

Kyler had few days off unexpectedly when the water main in his building burst. We took advantage of him being home and went to the zoo

He's trying to take the stick away from the beaver.  I think the bronze beaver has the advantage...

and saw the elephant on a walk!

Also,  cows.

Which were probably Caleb's favorite part.


We - the kiddos and I - headed to Calgary for a few days.

I was nervous to be solo-parenting out of a hotel room, but I also wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone in the name of summer. In the end, I'm very glad I did. The kids had a blast.
We went to Banff and hiked to Silverton Falls,

a hike I'd never done before.

Caleb didn't want to walk at first. He got over it. Mostly.

The kiddos listened and did really well being safe.

Except when Craig tried to give Calista a tackle hug at the edge of the cliff by the waterfall.

I took their pictures separately after that.

Caleb needed to be carried part of the way down,

but when we stopped for a little break by a stream I was able to convince him to finish the hike.

Craig and Calista did the hike without complaint!

Bathroom break shenanigans. 

After the hike, we went into town to go to Cave and Basin.

Also, saw this car in the parking lot.

Calista only wanted to go into the cave once,

But Craig and Caleb wanted to go over and over.

Caleb in particular was fascinated by the water,  enough that I was a little nervous he'd fall in.

Which is illegal. Good thing he didn't.

Going through townsite was completely insane, so I decided not to bother braving finding a parking spot. After the kids had gotten enough of the stinky cave, we headed back to the hotel.
We got to meet up with some friends, Nolan and Lyndon and their mom, Erin, at Telus Spark.

It was nice to hang out and talk with them, and of course play with science!

Oh, and nap. Lots of napping on the go for this little boy.

We also headed to the Calgary zoo.

Back before we knew we were moving to Edmonton, parts of the zoo was under construction in preparation for the pandas. I promised Calista when the pandas were there, we'd see them. Then we moved, of course, but with this trip I've officially kept that promise.

We also saw basically everything else at the zoo, 

Baby camel!

Trying to decide if he should hug it or hit it.

which is, of course, exhausting. 

But fun!

Calista got to be a "grizzly bear"

and show how they do training with their animals.
Calista and Craig's favorite part of our Calgary trip, though, was probably the hotel pool.

Calista went down the waterslide over and over,

Craig loved going between the regular pool and the hot tub,

and Caleb enjoyed splashing and holding on to me.

Thank goodness for flotation devices. I could not have done it without them!

I'm glad I had the courage to go on an adventure with the kiddos alone. Everyone had a blast and made some good memories, I hope.

I planted a garden this year, so this summer we've been weeding,

watering, and (literally) enjoying the fruits of our labor.

Yum!


As a whole family, we took some quick trips to a couple of provincial parks, Wabamun Lake

and Big Hill Springs 

Calista was "testing" the water with a stick over and over again. I'm not sure what her results were. 

Not pictured,  but just off camera: Momma, unsure about having her two year old looking over the ledge. Approximately one second after this photo was taken, I scooped him up and made him hold hands again.

And in between it all, there was just time to play, be outside, have fun, be a kid, and enjoy summer.

I know lots of parents are excited for school to start, get their kids back on schedules and give the parents a break. But every end of summer, I dread it. It means there is one fewer year with my children.

One fewer year before they decide they're too old play together.

One fewer year before their best friends and playmates are no longer each other,

maybe even one fewer year before they hate each other.

One fewer year of childhood.
And I want to cry. I miss my children, even while they're standing in front of me.


So here's to summertime adventures: road trips,

parks,

slurpees,

bikes,

and enjoying being a kid.