Quote of the Year

"The babbling brook would lose its song if all the stones were removed."

This has been such a hard, emotional year with all the stones I have come up against. But, lately I have felt like this is part of my test, my refiners fire. And this quote just reemphasized those feelings.

I will make it through and my song will be that much sweeter for having endured!

Love Affairs at the Fair

By Colette

Cell phone photo masterpieces by 8-year old Colette from her series entitled, "Water Creatures."

Traveling Dog

Have you noticed a little Scotty dog in some of our pictures? Check out his entire Banff experience here.




(It was pretty funny taking him up to the Teahouse at Lake Louise. Several people on the trail did a double-take, not sure if he was real or fake. Hilarious!)

Banff National Park

At the last minute Dave and I were able to join his family up in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada for a few days. It was pretty cool to have the entire family together, if just for a day!

Below you must endure our entire travelog (I'm just trying to makeup for my lack of posts lately).

After a two-day journey we arrived late Wednesday afternoon to find a quiet campsite -- the family was off enjoying the sites of the Park. Dave and I setup our tent then decided to go into town for dinner -- yes, we camped. :(



Thursday we enjoyed a pleasant morning at camp before heading off to Lake Louise. Dave has been telling me stories about the Teahouse restaurant there ever since our first date. We joined the rest of the family and made the three-plus mile hike up the mountain to the fabled Teahouse where we enjoyed $6 chocolate cake and peppermint tea. Let me tell you, that $6 chocolate cake was totally worth the price and calories after that long hike. Yummy!











Friday Dave's family packed up and headed for home. We decided to stay another day because there was still so much to see in the Park. Natural Bridge was our first stop, then we spent an hour canoeing on Emerald Lake. Finally we made it to Takkakaw Falls -- the most amazing waterfall I have ever seen!










Saturday was my birthday. It started off packing up our campsite. I have decided that what I really dislike about camping - besides the cold temperatures at night - is having to take down camp. Everything is so dirty and nothing fits the way it should in its original packaging. So once you get home you have to set it all up, clean it out, and then take it down all over again. Seriously not cool.

Anyway, it took us something like two hours or more to put it all away. Next we headed out to Johnston Canyon and hiked up to Lower Falls and Upper Falls. After a quick lunch at a nearby picnic site we then hopped on to Hwy 2 and began our two-day journey home.







Despite camping it was a very fun trip. We had a blast and we'll be back sometime soon -- but maybe this time in a hotel or a camper.

The Lion King

We bought the tickets way back in February and last night we finally saw the Lion King!



Note to Self: Never get tickets in the balcony of the Capitol Theatre ever again.

2nd Note to Self: Never take children under the age of 8 to a live theatrical production.

False Start

Wouldn't you know it. I finally have a minute to catch up and most of my pictures are on my other computer. Drats!

Oh, well. Here is a preview of things to come...

$6 chocolate cake worth every penny



And more adventures of Scotty the Dog!

Toasted Marshmallow Anyone?

YUMMY!