Our Canadian Adventure

We met with our friends the Kooles in Banff, Canada and enjoyed several days of beautiful hiking in the Canadian Rockies. I thought the mountain peaks around Missoula were big, these were impressive! I also had some quality play time with Racquel. She does this thing where she stands and then moves without leaning on anything at all! It was quite the trick and seemed to enable her to get places faster than the crawling maneuver I have mastered. Since our trip I have been studying this "walking" and feel that I am coming very close to mastering it myself...

Heidi, Racquel, Isaiah and Lindsey - clean and excited about three days of not showering, sitting around the fire and hiking to our hearts content.

Lake Louise on a beautiful Sunday morning. 

Racquel, Heidi, Reuben, Lindsey, Paul and Isaiah - All smiles before the start of our first hike.  Racquel is already a nature connoisseur.  As you can see she is way more excited about the view than posing for a picture :0).

A view of the beehive just before the first teahouse.  There is nothing like tea on top of a mountain or at least we’re assuming that’s the case since we all forgot to bring any cash and thus had to forgo tea.  We did enjoy the view immensely though.

Isaiah is all smiles after enjoying a tasty lunch and a gorgeous view.

Daddy and Isaiah are hamming it up.

Who wouldn’t want a graham cracker for dessert?  They are so delicious!

Another gorgeous view.

I like to travel in style.  Thanks to some generous family members I have the ultimate seat when hiking.  I have the best view, I stay cool and I can nap if I so choose. If only everyone could be this comfortable.  

We are at the top and (surprise of the century) everyone is smiling.  I felt exhausted just watching all of the adults walk up the switchbacks on this trail.  The view was definitely worth it though.  

On the way down...

I took a very comfortable nap.  I am dreaming of mountains, snow and my next bottle of Similac.  Ahhhhhh.

Racquel and I had a blast playing in the “pen”.  Our parents enjoyed some hands free dinner prep time :0).

I am enjoying my fantastic view of the “raging river of death” (tell me what movie that quote comes from and you will win my everlasting respect), while mom and dad do more smile for the camera stuff.

This is my personal bug screen.  Only problem is the designer of this backpack put it on the side instead of on the front.  I am going to have to take it up with someone when I get old enough to talk because I see this as a serious design flaw.  What were they thinking!?!  I mean what if I actually swallowed a bug? Ew!

We couldn’t pass up this photo op at the Upper Falls.  It was the culmination of two great days of hiking.  Afterwards we practically ran back down the path for some ice cream.  I have to say I’m pretty excited about maple walnut.  Delicious!!!