Coffee, Toddlers, Rain, Fire, Food, Booze, Love, Crab Dogs...REPEAT
The first of many cousin camping trips, and thank goodness for rain suits!
Nostalgia
There is no place I would have rather been last weekend. It was more then a trip down memory lane (as this is one spot I grew up camping), it was our first real family camping trip set up in our very own trailer...Miss Chalet. Somehow we managed to squeeze our family of 4 into that little trailer and find ourselves a dry nights sleep. The boys did fairly well sleeping only a foot away from each other, and I kind of enjoyed the goodnight giggles as I sat around the fire pit.
We powered through Friday evening to get there and be able to wake up to such an incredible place Saturday morning, and although I wouldn't categorize it as warm, the sun was out and the coffee was hot. Now camping is not quite what it use to be with a one and three year old, but it sure made things more interesting, and all I can say is thank goodness we had my parents 4 other hands Sunday and Monday.
The highlight of it all was that I got back in the canoe with my dad, and this was certainly long overdue. If I had to guess it has probably been 15 years since I caught a fish and man did it feel good.
We had a good cheers for my late Uncle Doug the Friday night, and I made sure to pack my stylish fish mug that I bought in his honor last year.
Here's to many more trips out this summer!
#wherearethekids
July certainly proved to be one stressful and busy month for our family. With the renovation of our new house, the big move over and having to rent out the old house, Teagan and I were definitely wound up tight. Kootaney could not have come at a better time, and although it took us a good day to relax a little, we had an amazing time with our family and created some memorable moments. I love thinking back to when we were out there as kids and all the fun that we had camping, swimming in the lake and hanging with our cousins. Now the time has come for us to pass this all down to our own children. Like most trips there is never enough time, but looking back on all these photos I am reminded how awesome my family is and how Kootaney Lake will always hold a special place in my heart.
With the business continuing into August, I did not have much time to edit or put these photos in order, but I hope you enjoy none the less. All the fun and memories are now captured for the day that our kids will be taking their own kids to Kootaney Lake.
Keeping Up
So I realize I have been pretty absent from the posting lately, and when I was asked today what I have been up to...I wasn't too sure how to answer because I really don't know what I have been doing. Its definitely been busy with Teagan gone renovating our new house and me holding the fort down so to speak. Tonight I ate dinner on the toilet as I watched the boys in the bath (because that was really my only time to eat). I have also come to a place where I feel so incredibly accomplished when I get all of our finger nails cut.
I also realized this morning that we haven't done much adventuring lately because of all the heat, so with it being a cooler day we packed the car and set off. With no other little friends to go with we adventured on our own and hit up Big Hill Springs (which again I totally recommend) and Kananaskis Village (a great spot to grab a coffee and go for a little walk to take in some views). I really enjoyed today and the ease and relaxation of having no place we HAD to go.
This morning I was smacked in the face with the thought of "I have to go back to work in two and a half months". This makes me sick even writing it out right now. One year is just not long enough and time goes much to fast. Although I know I desire a career in my life, I am slightly anxious about throwing 'going to work' in the mix (I seem to be unable to keep up on cutting fingernails). I am trying to maintain a positive outlook on the whole thing and am confident I will be able to find the right balance. Life does not need to be about racing around and I hope to take a simpler approach to it all. Less really can be more and if we live accordingly I am sure I can find the right portions of work, self and family.
I LOVE Bowness
Well Stampede has arrived and I won't lie, I really enjoy the buzz of the city. Its easy to say the activities have changed drastically since having children, yet that is something I love. It is true I kind of miss the freedom to partake in all the fun adult stampeding throughout the week, but now my life has become all about the boys and I wouldn't change it for anything. Seeing the beauty of life through their eyes and experiencing joy as they do is what drives me everyday.
This morning was all about the Bowness Stampede parade, and it was in true Bownesian style!!! Check out the cuteness under portfolio.
A Letter To Doug
What a whirl wind you have sent us on over the last week. You have shaken me to my core and I have shed so many tears trying to grasp hold of the reality of the situation. I am so happy I made it out one final time to hold your hand and tell you how much I loved you. I am so saddened knowing I will never get to see you again. Yet feel comforted by the fact that we were able to make some great memories in the last few months and I once again felt connected to you. I am so happy you were able to meet and spend time with my two boys, and as I pass on a love of camping and fishing I will think of you.
As I sit her with tears streaming slowly down my cheek I reflect back on our time together and all the wonderful and funny memories. Our early morning walks to the store out in Kimberly, my photo opportunity every Christmas morning year after year, your drunken fall down the hill that left me oh so confused because I was too young to even know about intoxication, and my super cool ninja turtle pj's you bought me one year are some of the highlights. You were like one of my best friends when I was just a little girl, awake before all the other children looking for someone to hang out with. And as I grew up and we grew distant, you in someway remained my "Uncle Doug".
With your monotone voice and horribly boring stories, it really is no lie that we all found you incredibly painful to talk with at times. I sit here chuckling thinking about you telling me all about your cherry pound cake baking marathons, and these are things I will now miss terribly. I hope you rest in peace and feel fulfilled when you reflect on your own life.
With Love, Loobop
The Good Life
(Check out the rest of the beautiful babes in Beaton under portfolio)
No word of a lie....I have been seriously stressed to the MAX. With financing for our new home coming down to the wire, along with keeping up with everyday tasks, preparing for a reno and a move, a quick off the grid camping trip was seriously in need. Disconnecting literally and figuratively from the real life and spending time with good friends and family in the middle of nowhere was just what this girl needed. I instantly felt relaxed with my first cold beer, and nothing to do...Then we drove home, and this wasn't just any drive home either, it was 8 hours with lots of stopping and crying. I instantly felt my relaxation melt away, I tried terribly to hold onto my serene self. NO LUCK, but I am happy to report that some very good things came together today and I am starting to once again feel like myself.
I even squeezed in some time to go through my photos from the weekend, and well, they made me want to go back. What a beauty spot it was, and always amazing to leave reality behind and connect with friends, family and nature. It was my first real camping trip with lots of kids around and wow was it entertaining. I am already looking forward to next year (hoping to get an invite...wink wink) when all the kids will be one year older and more able to get into trouble! Again I felt a strong pull to move into that part of the country, but for now we will just have to keep making those FUN car trips out there to get another taste of the good life.
Serenity Now
I'm not sure if it was the two hours of sleep, or the breaking point of not wanting to talk with a two year old and non communicating 8 month old for another day alone in the house but I was having a serious tantrum this morning. I felt I was reaching a point of losing my mind, and although not something I want to admit I am certain I am not alone. But the truth is that sometimes I get to a point where I just feel like taking a solo vacation.
I am well aware how lucky I am to be able to spend a full year at home with the boys. Some days I am sure it appears to be glamorous, but the truth is, constantly having the sloth children clung on 24\7 can really start to wear on a person.
Talking myself down off the cliff took awhile but I managed to pull myself off the floor, pack the kids into the car and took a drive to my happy place. The quiet drive was much needed and when we got to Kananaskis Village I felt like a new lady. It was our first time actually exploring the village and we enjoyed checking out the different trails and taking in the beautiful views!
Feeling the Love
Where do I begin, I have received such positive and loving feedback from so many of you. From my closest of family and friends to those I have connected with online and have never met, it has been nothing but good vibes.. I recently had one of my photos shared on a IG photography page I follow, which made me realize just how far I have come in the last 5 months. All the wonderful feedback I have had regarding both my photos and the blog has given me the push to keep growing and learning. There have been many late nights where I have struggled to get the pictures and posts up and looking back on it all it seems totally worth it. Often I don't even find time to re-read what I have written as I am rushing off to bed to try and get a bit of sleep before Vernon gets me up again. I haven't had the time to really enjoy all the work I have put into my photoblog, but reading through it all this evening I can see just how much I have grown not only in my photography but also in my personal perspective on life and the beauty that it holds. My hope is that I have provided not only a diary for myself and those closest to me, but also a little inspiration to live life full of positive intentions and an exploitative and loving heart.
I often get the question "what next?" or "what is the plan with your blog?" The truth is, I don't have the answers really. I honestly just wanted a space to share my photos and photography journey, and it has turned into so much more. A documentation, a journal and a place to provide some inspiration.
Will I expand my photography at some point??? I guess we will all have to wait and see. For now I give big thanks to you all. xoxo
Back to Basics
(check out these cuties under portfolio...and get yourself to Johnson Lake)
As I was driving out to Johnson Lake today, which I totally recommend, I looked in my rear view mirror and was in awe of my little Ryder sitting so quietly looking out the window. Yet funny enough I still had this urge to hand him the iPad just to ensure he stayed still and quiet for the drive. It had me thinking, we all survived without the iPad, and I remember all the silly games we played in the car to pass the time. My boys have been on many road trips from the very early days of their lives and we have maintained the rule that the iPad only comes out when really necessary. I want them to be comfortable with boredom and have the ability to entertain themselves when there is nothing around. I was happy that Ryder could sit in his chair for an hour and be content just looking out the window. In this day and age being conscious of not over stimulating our children is something we all need to think about. I say this as I sit here on the computer, watching Netflix, with my phone right beside me...yikes.
My hope is that I could give my boys a spoon and box to play with and they would have the ability to use their imagination and have fun. Who needs all the toys and gadgets anyway...I do! Don't get me wrong, I indulge in "show time" with Ryder, and most days I do it because I am being lazy and need a break. But finding the balance, like so many things in life, is what I strive for.
Ruby Tuesday
(Check out more of this cuteness in my portfolio)
Meet my ever so cute and full of personality nephew Reuben. All the way from Revelstoke he and his parents (my brother and sister-in-law) made it out for a weekend, and what better way to spend it then with a camp-out at the ol'ranch. Now I have expressed in an earlier post my love of cousins, and watching the three boys interact was entertaining and heart warming to say the least. I can just picture them in a few years getting into all sorts of trouble. I can see it now, Reuben the ring leader, followed by Vernon and a hesitant Ryder!
I like to think of how influential my aunts and uncles have been in my life. Sometimes I lose sight of what it means to be an aunt, and the important role this can be. Although this little one is not an easy drive away, it means so much to me to be able to see him grow into the funniest little guy. I hope to build a relationship with him so that one day when I walk in the door he might say with excitement "yay, Aunty Jess is here". Personally, my aunts have played a huge role in my life, and to this day I remain close with them. And as fair warning, if there is no thrid child in my future...watch out to all my nieces, I will be adopting you as a step in daughters!
Summer Perfection
It is no secret I LOVE summer, and I certainly can appreciate Ryder's joy of water. I too was a little fishy...still am. Whether its a pool, lake, river or from the hose sun and water seem to make the perfect combination. There is also something just so beautiful about watching your kids experience all the things you too did as a child...like playing in a bucket of water. Like my mom always says "simple things for simple minds".
#mystopandwonder
More pictures of Barrier Lake hike under portfolio
Tonight is all about spreading the word of finding your "stop and wonder". Those moments in life where you slow down and really take in the beauty for what it is. Whether your "stop and wonder" is alone, with your dog, child, partner or a parent, it is key to maintaining balance. Life moves at such a fast pace and we often forget how quickly it can all be taken away, so slow down and enjoy!
Personally, this weekends #mystopandwonder moments were standing at Barrier Lake lookout with my family breathing in the fresh mountain air and spending 15 minutes with Ryder pedaling our bikes in the backyard and taking a moment to lie down and watch the clouds before he was off to bed. While I was lying there with him I was reminded about the importance of truly connecting with your kids. Its so easy to always be thinking about the future, and uncommon for our minds to be truly present. I think our kids crave our attention, they need us to put our phones down, forget about whats for dinner or the appointment you need to book tomorrow and get down on their level and just be present.
I encourage all of you to let go of the hustle and bustle we all get trapped in and discover those "stop and wonder" moments this week. #mystopandwonder
Thoughts of Today
Last night I remembered the importance of giving yourself the opportunity to miss your children. It is not too often Teagan and I get out together (or separately) to remember life without the kids. Somehow Vernon is 7 1/2 months and I have lost hold of my plan to make time for myself. Staying in tune with 'Jessica' and not just 'Mom' can be a very difficult task but I am well aware of how important this is. So last minute we got sitters and headed out to celebrate, eat yummy food and connect with each other and close family/friends.
Which leads me to thought numero dos...the beauty of seeing something through. I have to give a huge shout out to my amazing cousin Elisa for taking an idea, keeping her head to the grindstone and turning that idea into a thriving business. It is no secret I think that she is an amazing, talented, well rounded and determined lady, and her ambition is something to aspire to. She is the proud owner of Juice Because which will be taking the leap from online to a retail location this summer. I am so proud of her and in a lot of ways she inspired me to just go for it with my desire to learn photography. So I would like to pass along some encouragement to all of you, I imagine we all have something we keep saying we want to do but just can't seem to enact it. I am saying "GO FOR IT", there is nothing better then wanting something, setting a goal and seeing it through. Hard work is just that...hard, but the result of making it happen is so worth it.
And finally, what is something new you can do with your kiddos this summer...Kayben Farms. What a lovely day we had, there is lots to do no matter the age. Check out some of the pictures under 'Portfolio'.
Mountain Monday - Quarry Lake
Safe to say today was a success, although not as warm as I had hoped, the kids had fun and we enjoyed some beautiful views!
Head over to 'Work' to check out the photos and stay tuned for next weeks adventure.
Canyon to Cupcakes
This weekend was jam-packed to say the least, here is what went down, in point form as I have two kids about to wake up!
- Fire and BBQ with great friends (Teag had a late night so #2 was a must)
- Quality Denny's Breakfast
- Grotto Canyon, what we learned - always bring the backpack for Ryder so he doesn't have to be carried the whole way down, and taking photos with Vernon in the carrier has proven to be pretty difficult
- Ice Cream in Cochrane
- Melt down because Ryder had no nap
- Family party/reunion (late night for Ryder plus cake and cupcakes = Overtired Sugar High Ryder)
- Sunday morning Tim Hortons (clearly to lazy to cook this weekend)
- Spent too much money at Superstore
- Vernon and I visited my juicing friends from JuiceBecause
- Amazing Feast at a Friends house to top the weekend off
Grotto Canyon is a great hike for the family but as stated above do bring a back pack for the kiddos as it is a bit too long if they are little. Also if you take the wrong turn like we did up the first old river bed you will find a sweet rock slide so it won't be a total waste of time!
Check out Grotto Canyon Pics under 'Work'
Finding the Parenting Balance
(Forgot my camera, so here is my one iphone photo...sad face )
To helicopter or not...that is the question. For me, I strongly believe in allowing my children to learn their own boundaries and to practice fighting their own battles. At the park, as much as I cringe over Ryder trying out all the big kid climbing spots, I try my best to hold back to let him practice and do it on his own. That's not to say I never step in and give a helping hand, but I mostly clench my teeth and let him explore. Additionally, I teach him about sharing and taking turns and not to hit or push but I also like to let Ryder learn to fight his own battles and practice these social skills on his own. I do not believe we need to step in EVERY single time something comes up between our children. This can sometimes make for interesting play dates and uncomfortable park politics as I know not all parents feel the same way.
I bring this all up because there was a bit of a scare today, and as much as I don't want to admit this happened, its the reality of raising kids. We checked out Sandy Beach today (which was beautiful) and of course within one minute the boys were in the water. After a few hours of play Ryder really started to test how far he could walk into the river. I stepped in and tried to explain to him that he can not walk too far out because it gets deep and the river can sweep you off your feet. Well this didn't seem to impact him and he continued to test the waters. I said to a friend that "he is going to get knocked over and land on his bottom and his head will be under". Well what do you know...within 5 minutes this exact thing happened, luckily a quick footed friend was able to scoop him up.
This all got me thinking, should I have taken him out of the water to prevent this from happening, or was it okay that he tested this boundary and maybe learned a little something about river safety today. I would like to believe the later. Maybe some of you would disagree. For myself, I was reminded that things can happen in a second, and we need to be there to support our kids learning, development and growth in a safe manner. I will continue to let my boys navigate this world with my helping hand at a safe distance.
The Place To Be
Tip of the day...check out Big Hill Springs Provincial Park. Great little hike for the kids, beautiful spot for a picnic, and a cold creek to cool off...what a lovely day we had. Venturing somewhere new doesn't always pay off, but today it certainly did.
I must say, the last few summers I have said to myself that this will be the summer where we get out hiking, camping and to the cabin as much as possible. And what do you know, I find myself at the end of September sad the we didn't make it happen...not even close. So reflecting back on this month I feel accomplished. I have experienced more this May then I did all of last summer. Although these long sunny days can be exhausting for all of us, looking back on the photos taken I find my head hits my pillow with satisfaction.
I encourage you all to pick a few things you want to make happen this summer (that maybe you didn't get to last year), write it on a piece of paper, and put it into action. And if your looking for a hiking, exploring, lunching or camping partner, we are always game!
Get Outside
Memory Making
Where do I start. This weekend was full of heart warming, memory-making moments. Although Saturday was a bit of a bust (Teagan on call, worked most of the day) we made up for it in the later part of the weekend. I sit here tonight with a pretty full heart (and very tired eyes) as I reflect on a few of the moments this weekend.
Topping off the list was watching Ryder share his first horse back ride with his Gramps. I'm not even sure I can put into words my feelings of watching those two ride around. What really gets me is when I think about how much that meant to my father. Sunburst Ranch is a very special piece of land, a property he bought with the vision of spending valuable time with his family. A place where he could share his love of ranch life with those closest to him. Sadly, shortly after he bought the land and built the cabin I turned into a bratty teenager, but being out there with my children now makes me truly understand the beauty of that place. I feel so fortunate that Ryder is able to spend this time with his Gramps, and that he not only shares my fathers name (Richard) he will also have these special memories (and photos) to look back on. Which leads me to the other heart melting moments...and that is watching my mom with her grandsons. She has such a bond with those boys, and there were a few times I really just sat back and tried to hold onto the moment. One was when she once again (its her favorite thing to do) rocked Ryder to sleep. It was such a beautiful moment of love, tranquility and connection.
This is what life is all about...RELATIONSHIPS! I have always said, my passion in life is my family and friends, and this weekend reinforced that. I live for making plans and making memories with those I love.
(Check out the picturess under work, and stay tuned for the other half of the weekend photos "Mountain Monday numero uno")
For A Win
Someone came up with the bright idea of going camping (four hours away) this weekend while still feeling under the weather...and that someone was ME :) I just couldn't resist completing our already planned first camping trip of the season. Although I definitely should have stayed in bed and we ended up leaving in 24 hrs after a spike in illness, I will choose to look at this trip as a WIN.
Ryder certainly had the greatest time, and what 2 year old wouldn't with so much to explore. He ate his weight in fish, ran through the water till his legs were red, went on a good handful explorations, and got real dirty. Teagan and I haven't made it out since pre-children so it was great to wet our feet again and get our stoke on for the next trip. Vernon will know nothing different then camping in the summer, and that's just how I want it. And lastly, I finally made it back out to White Swan after too many years.
I wasn't up for picking up the camera much but managed to snap a few pics.
(full gallery under work)