Banff

We finally made it to Banff.  I have been trying to go for a few years now and it never seemed to work out.  And it turned out to be the most perfect weather that we could have asked for.  Not to hot, but not rainy or windy.  When I asked the kids what they most wanted to do in Banff, Blake said he wanted to do a hike.  I mean really if you are going to go to Banff you really should hike.

I looked up a few easy hikes.  After such a long drive there and doing the things that the rest of us wanted to do we weren't going to have tons of time.  Johnston Canyon looked perfect.  It was 5.2 km with not a lot of elevation.  My idea of hiking is a beautiful stroll through the mountains.  There were two falls, we hiked to the upper falls.  When Dave looked up how to get there we discovered that apparently it is the most popular hike in Canada.  We ate our lunch in the car when we arrived and then hit the trail.

It was indeed beautiful.  It was paved most of the way and had walkways, which was kind of weird for a hike, but still very neat. We were literally hangin out over the canyon.

After the hike we drove into the town site to walk around and try Beaver Tails.  Something I had heard about forever.  Dave tried apple pie, Leah brownie bit, and Blake nutella banana.  Then we all tried them all.

Well worth the hype.  

We walked around some more and drove around the Banff Springs Hotel.  Then headed home.

In Canmore we stopped to try Red Rock Pizza.  

It was seriously so good. Dave said it was the best pizza he has ever had.  

It was a late night getting home.  Leah had done homework on the drive, so we all got to read part of Hamlet :)  An excellent play.  Love Shakespeare.  I am so glad my kids enjoy it and understand it. It was a wonderful day.  I am so glad we finally made the trip. Hope to go again in a few years. 

The kids are getting into the swing of school.  Blake is not loving getting up for seminary. ( Leah never did so nothing new there.)  He is working hard in school and doing well.  Volleyball has started for him.  They won their first game.  He has some fun song in band that he is enjoying.  Leah is busy doing lots of homework every night as usual.  Going to every football and volleyball game of her friends' that she can.  Her teachers are great and are always willing to give her extra help if needed.  She applies to college soon.  We are going on college tours in just 3 weeks.  Crazy! Cora is still in Lichfield.  She has a new companion.  Her name is Sister Hunt and she is from Samoa.  Cora said they were in the MTC together and had a blast, so she is anticipating this will be a good companion as well.  She has been so blessed with her companions.  They have a great number of returning members that they are working with.  Dave's work is going well.  There is so much down turn in the economy that we are thankful every day that he has a job. Life is good, we  are blessed.

Back to school they go.

August went by to fast.  We had plans to do things and most never worked out.  But we are keeping them on a list. Lots of work for Leah and Blake as well as Dave.  We got lots of Friday morning boat time in.  Blake can water ski.  And he absolutely loves it.  One morning we went out Dave would not let them tube until they had had both skied.  Blake got straight up and went until his arms gave out.  Then a few hours later skied again.  Leah still pops right up with no trouble, but her, what was bad knee, is now to strong and over powers the other.  She goes straight left.  Most she stayed up was about 30 seconds.  Dave has given her the assignment to do lots of squats this fall and winter and practice standing on the balls of her feet.  Fingers crossed for next summer. The kids avoided getting ready for school as much as possible.

One day Blake got out all the knives.  When Dave got home they talked about and scrutinized each one.  It was kinda fun to listen to their discussion. Second from right is a woodend one he made and the one in his hand is a metal one he made.

Blake started with this thick piece of long metal and has had carved/sanded this knife all summer.

He has a little more work to do, but it is coming along nicely.

Blake passed her learners test and has been driving a little.  He drove all over the gravel road before with different vehicles and tractors, but now that he is legal he is a little nervous.  Highway I understand, but thought it odd he was nervous around here.  He was so proud he got it first try, since his sisters definitely did not!!

We had plans to finally go to Banff yesterday.  Then it was forecast to rain most of the day and was supposed to be really busy.  We decided to head to town instead.  We had lunch and went to see Yesterday.  It was a good movie.  We had a great time together, until the way home.  Dave took the teasing a bit to far and Leah was ticked.  We hadn't had much of a chance to do things together as a family this summer with everyone's different work schedule and I thought it was important to get away and do something just us. The last 15 mins of the drive home was silent as all were not pleased with one another.  As soon as we got home everyone went a different way to get school bags packed, laundry folded, car wash, etc.  For the next hour I thought about how we were going to resolve this.  I finally thought of some things I needed to say, things to help everyone see each others point of view. Dave was in our room reading at this point, I gathered Leah and Blake.  Leah still pretty ticked and didn't want to come.  We all squished down and laid on our bed and as I prepared to say what I had planned, I suddenly felt like I shouldn't say anything.  We all just laid there for a few moments, then Leah quietly started talking.  We stayed there squished and uncomfortable for over an hour. Hearing stories from work, laughing, talking about what they were and were not looking forward to about school starting up.  Nothing ever came up about the ride home.  We all came down and made dinner together, Dave gave the kids blessings, and then they finally got bags ready for school. I know this is a long boring story, and not the direction I had intended when I started this post, but I wanted to remember.  I thought we needed to do something as a family, I thought we needed to get away and spend some time together. As it turned out we just needed to spend time together doing nothing.  No Netflix, no texting. Just us squished on a bed. Those are the moments that were best this summer. Early morning boating without a soul around, late night talks after everyone got home, Saturday morning breakfast before everyone took off to different jobs. I'm glad the Spirit told me to be quite and listen. Dave and I have great kids with high standards that they are not willing to lower for anyone or anything.  I hope they can stay strong and sure through out this next year with everything they will face.

Blake in his last year of junior high, Grade 9 and Leah's last year of high school.  She is so excited to return to school. ;)

We also had a wonderful call with Cora yesterday.  They have so many appointments and returns that they are hopping.  She is loving every moment of her mission. It's hard exhausting work.  She loves the English people, the country, trying new things and especially loves growing closer to the Saviour every day.  She said the other day that reading the Book of Mormon on her mission and studying every day so intently was like she was reading a whole new book then the one she had read a gazillion times growing up.  We are always learning and always growing. hopeing