Beautiful Banff with my Benny

Such a great weekend. As we packed up for Banff, Hadley kept asking "Where you going mommy?"

"I'm going to go be with Daddy, in the mountains!"

And I showed her some pictures from our little day trip to Waterton. 

"Oooooo!" she said. And was fine with us going

because I think she got the message--Mommy and daddy are so important to each other, they want to hang out and do something special the same way we she likes special time with each of us.

Time away as a couple really isn't about getting away from the kids, as much as it is getting to BE with each other! And I realize that's what I need to emphasize to my kids. 

We probably wouldn't have planned another get away so soon after out little stay-cation. 

But when Ben's friend Patrick, founder of the  Lethbridge Sports and Social Club, invited us to come along, we just couldn't resist.

It was really awesome to talk to him on the way up, and through out the weekend about his vision and plans for his company and our weekend hanging out with him, encapsulated many of his purposes and goals as I perceived them-

-we explored  local attractions (were tourists in our own province, seeking out and appreciating the many amazing things we have right her in Alberta)

-we enjoyed nature  (ice walked on Grotto Cannon in Canmore Provincial Park, went out door skating, went to the hot springs and snowshoeing in Banff) while stretching ourselves a bit (physically and comfort zone wise....he is all about encouraging "novices" to have a venue to explore and develop their skills, in a fun verses a more competitive environments)

-and we socialized and enjoyed one another company, getting to know one another better. Patrick wants to provide a place to meet new people, and associate with people you might not other wise. A rather quiet guy himself (no wonder him and Ben get along so well), I love that he still see the need and value for us to create shared experiences. 

He is truly trying to supply people with programming that will nourish them in multi-faucets of their life, and bring a sense of fulfillment and enjoyment in greater depth. I am super impressed with his dedication and determination to reach out to people and offer them these kinds of meaningful experiences. And our weekend was a perfect taste of all of it!

Go Patrick!

Grotto Canyon

I wish I'd figured out years ago that winter was a better time for Ben to enjoy nature.
Ben gets crazy bad allergies, and ends up feeling hot and stuffed up and  just pretty miserable when we attempted too much nature in the summer months (which is also waaaay busier for him work wise) But winter works great! (the drone probably helps too;)

The Canyon was beautiful

...so was the wild life?????

Patrick, Ben ....and his drone



Ben had more fun shoveling off the rink then he did skating

It's been soooo long since I've got to skate outside
(inside just isn't the same!!!) It was my one request for the weekend.

Our final outing was snowshoeing...up to a beautiful view!

I was dying when Ben flew his drone of this cliff, it was soooooo nerve racking!

What did I do at the park before??? (aka instagrams galore!)

No really! Before my instagram, what did I do at the park???

Maybe I took a book. That must be it cuz I'm way behind on my reading!
It's so fun to just have my phone with me--making me look at my kids playing, capturing little memories of ordinary little trips to the park. I like that there "Everyday"-ish instead of just special days like birthdays or big trips. Just little jaunts to the park. Immortalized with an iPhone.


Sooo here's a whole whack of park pictures...


Why do I take so many? This post explains. Memories, yes. Gratitude, yes. 
It's my way of making myself  really "be" there. Really seeing and trying to capture the moment, so one day I can look back at these little "phone pics" and remember.

Our fav park downtown (usually visited after the library) Has awesome big mature trees! 

McKye calls it the "blue park".

Playing "real" sports at Probe.

We love walking around Sunridge, it's the most "naturey",

 with bunnies and red-winged black birds, duck, geese. It's wonderful.

Little walk with just evi after a frustrating day. 

This was his way of telling me "it's okay, mom."

First trip to Riverstone (that's not what it's called, I can never remember the real name, but that's the neighbourhood). Our favorite rock throwing park.

A quick little before bedtime trip to the park in jammies.

Riverstone again, also our favorite springtime park 

for sheer blossom-ness!

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I'm also in love with the little tree in our very own front yard!

 It's gone through quite the transformation this spring (and it goes purple the fall)

It's always nice to come home after the park. 

So glad it's for nice weather, so me and my boys can just be outside.

 Grateful for a great neighbourhood with lots of fabulous park options. 

Grateful for cute boys, who like to be barefoot...just like their mamma.



* * * * **
Before I got around to posting this, we had a couple more park trips.

I even take pictures of other people's kids!  Remember these tubby babies??? the cuteness continues!

The rocks were too big at Henderson, so Aaron did some recruiting.

Stroller envy.