after the holidays...

All my kiddos go back to their regular schedules tomorrow.

The tree is down.

Furniture righted.

Gift boxes packed away or recycled.

All signs of festivity have pretty much disappeared.
~~~~

But I don't feel all that bad....
Not like some others I've seen:

I'm actually quite happy to get back to "normal"...whatever that is.
I like my regular, "scheduled programs" and days.
Makes me feel like I know where I'm going...and that's always a good thing.
I think.
~~~

{Now I'm just hoping the above subject gets around to conquering the after-holiday Let Down.

I think once he's over his eggnog high,  he'll feel righted once again:)}

Mornings and Nights ~somewhere else

I'm a sky watcher.

No matter where I am- I always catch myself looking up...head in the clouds I guess you could say.

This week I'm in Arizona.

No...I am still being loyal to my Canadian (cold)~~

but felt the need to absorb some warmth before winter really begins.

~~~~~~~~~

This was the sunrise which greeted me

as I  opened the hotel door early yesterday:

This was the sunset~ (or rather, Moon~rise), 

coming back in from my hike last evening:

No matter where I am....{cold or warmth},  the sky holds incredible beauty.

~~~~~

It's really not such a bad thing to walk 

around with your head in the clouds.

Things (not) To do

It seems there must be many unwritten rules to camping.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Like.... 

never go kayaking with your big brother unless you plan on getting wet.

Or....

NEVER go to sleep in your tent with a brother who likes art and has access to an ink pen.

( I guess another rule could be...ALWAYS look in the mirror upon waking ;)

Make sure you always tell at least ONE good story around this before zipping up your sleeping bag.

Send the kids to do the dishes.....

I'm SURE they have more fun than we do at this chore anyway.

Always use your head.

Never forget to take the time 

to stop at the beautiful moments.

And if all else fails,

you can always go 

~~~Jump in the Lake.~~

Getting There

~A 4am start~

~ A 9 hour drive through scenes like these. ~

~All to get to a destination like this.~

~Worth every minute.~

some of the {154} hiding places...

 

~154 places 

~ 4 kids and 2 dogs 

~ multiple birds ~ wind 

~ sunshine melt

{A lot of variables in this great Hunt.}

our Canadian lakes adventure

I started to a new post this morning, but honestly? My heart isn't quite in it.
I am perfectly fine and happy, but it has been snowing since Saturday night here....and the white stuff is piled up to my windows in some places. Last night I got stuck in a driveway, and coming home from a  meeting, my son got stuck in the middle of the road. My driveway was plowed out last night- but by the looks of things I may need someone to come back again.
And it's still snowing.
Woot!
And so....what more do I post? My heart needs some color. I am a wee bit tired of the white photos.
I went through the archives and pulled out our favorite Canoe Adventure and thought I would share it again.....
and on this blustery day I will pretend I am in my canoe surrounded by blue!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We're just returned from a perfectly wonderful trip to the mountains. Paddling our canoe and kayak in 3 beautiful mountain lakes......the trip was filled with AMAZING scenery & weather.

~~~

The first lake ~Lake Louise...

was where Adam took part in a Rowing Camp. 

(Molly even got to row in a double with her brother.)

The next day we plunked ourselves into Morraine Lake....another perfect paddling expedition. 

We saw waterfalls and glaciers hanging above us, and the lake trout jumped by every so often. 

The water was so cold, the bottom of the canoe felt like an ice pack on our bare feet.

I don't think anyone minded.

Travel into Yoho National Park, brings amazing finds.

One of them included our 3rd and last canoe adventure~ Emerald Lake.

This was definitely the warmest lake...and once we got to the other side of it ~were so hot we all had to jump in for a swim. 

The cleanest water we've ever swam in....and it felt surreal....being surrounded by mountains covered in snow.

~If that trip was all I ever used the canoe~ for it was well worth it!~

~~~~~

{We're planning another canoe adventure for this coming summer....and yes~ I KNOW summer will come.}

:)

Guest Blogging Today....

Still trying to catch up from the crazy long weekend we had, and the Triathlon I DID complete yesterday! Yay!
Pictures to come....but just wanted you to know that I am a Guest Blogger here today:)

In keeping with the theme over at The Life of Ann James I just thought I would post a few more pictures of my trip out to the east coast I took with my daughter 2 years ago this month.

Hope you all had a Happy Weekend,  and that the day ahead is full of pleasant things....

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Cherry Trip Run and Spit Pit Competition~

One of the main reasons for this trip, was to take part in the Cherry Trot Run~

a 4 mile race through the GreenBluff area just outside of Spokane.

It was a beautiful run over rolling hills.

If you managed to work your way out of the throng of the other 2000 runners,

you could take in the scenery surrounding you~ cherry orchards and other fruit farms...(which I am not familiar with....living in the prairies of Alberta). I thought it was beautiful!

It was definitely a "fun run".....not to be taken too seriously.

This is what led all us racers through the 4 miles....it took off before us after a gun was fired.

We followed a minute behind.

I never DID catch up to it though...so it must have been chuggin'!

(or maybe I just wasn't all that quick:)

~

Being Canadian -  we had to show our Home and Native Land roots.

Mom bought us Canadian "gear" before we left.

The band playing before the race even sang a line from our national

anthem as we walked to the Start Line.

We were feeling pretty patriotic :)

It was definitely a run I would do again.

(Made even better by the fact that I got to participate

with my 2 favorite people....)

~~~~~~

Team Canada

Yaaaay Team!

~~~~~~~~~

And the 2nd reason we went on this trip.....

to watch my sister compete in  THE PIT SPIT!

We watched her practice.

We gave tips and tricks we thought would help.

But when it came right down to the competition...she was amazing on her own!:)

Standing in line....we eyed the competition-

who to watch out for,

tricks she could use to Spit Pits farther than last years winner,

and even ways she could "warm up".

(note: the man in the red shirt below is stretching his tongue before his turn...:)

Finally her moment arrived.

She had 3 tries....

SHE HELD 1ST PLACE....

(for one hour and 15 minutes.)

Her distance: 26 feet- 2 inches.

And then....disaster.

Another Spit Contestant was up.....

and beat her distance by a mere 4 inches.

(sigh)

Maybe next year.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(think maybe we're a little too competitive...?)

:)