Crypt Lake

I was remarking to Ken with a hint of jealousy last week that he has had a pretty cool year (San Francisco, Papua New Guinea, Ferrari Challenge, biking the Golden Triangle). Ken's cool year continued on the weekend with a YM camp near Waterton. The Preacher's Quorum (Priests and Teachers) camped Friday night just outside of Waterton, and then on Saturday they went in to the park. 

They took a ferry across Waterton Lake.

And started their hike up to Crypt Lake. It had been snowing in the mountains this week, but not very cold, so it was in a constant melt. The trail was a small steam.

(Insert my jealousy here.)

(Aaaand, delete my jealousy here.) It turned out to be a precarious and snowy hike at the top.

But boys find this sort of thing fun

A beautiful, wintery Crypt Lake.

Edgewater Fortune

The second week of school Carmen got to go on a school trip she had been making instalments towards for a whole year. 

Almost her entire grade participated.

Our weather has turned to fall, so these summer skies off the coast of British Columbia are looking great to me now.

A jellyfish in the wild!

The Edgewater Fortune, Carmen's home for a week.

Exploring tide pools.

Not even the smallest starfish they found.

Paradise.

They caught their own dinner.

Science teacher and volleyball coach.

Smallest starfish they found.

Carmen was given the job of *Purser* which means she signed all the other students on to the ship and did all the paperwork for the week. It was a compliment and a salute to Carmen's leadership and responsibility.

How did a dog get in this post?

Some people love their dogs like one of their children - it is no secret that I am not one of these people. Anyhow, somehow I selected 4 photos to share in this post:

Carmen started playing volleyball this year at school. She is a little late to the party as a 9th grader, and we are proud of her for making the team. I'm sure she will have a spectacular time.

This guy.

Chloe has been running cross country this fall. She is going to Divisionals on Tuesday, and she's bringing her smile with her.

Fall football is everything it should be - crisp autumn air, leaves crunching under my feet as a walk from my car to the stands, and a sweaty, satisfied football player at the end of the game.

The first day of school is a fashion show

Summer Finale

(Today Ken and Steven went on a mountain bike ride, Ken painted the garage door, Steven cleaned his room, Ken painted the deck trim, and Steven went to the driving range.)

Carmen and Chloe made plans for their last days of summer. On Friday, I catered their Harry Potter Movie Marathon that went from 7am to 4am (I went off the clock at midnight). 

Today they wanted water, ice cream, and sparklers.

We went to Stanley Park for the water. Carmen found out she can't catch a swimming duck.

Chloe found out it was a little too cold in the Elbow River when the sun is behind a cloud, even on a hot day.

We had a picnic, and while we were eating, this guy biked up with two parrots on his shoulders. I pointed him out to the girls, and then we saw him place his parrots in a tree while he washed his shirt in the river (you can guess why). He was happy to let the girls hold his parrots.

He said that back when he used to have a dog the birds used to ride on the dog when he would take it for a walk.

This gave Chloe ideas - not happening.

In general Stanley Park was quality people watching; we should get out of the distant suburbs more often.

I had no idea there were so many ways to play on swings - I think they called this one the butterfly. Meanwhile, I enjoyed a couple of guitarists playing at a family picnic nearby.

Some bonus tree climbing.

My plan was to bike to My Favourite Ice Cream Parlour from Stanley Park, but Carmen and Chloe decided that was too ambitious, plus Carmen hadn't yet been to Annie's in Fish Creek Park, so we drove down there for a treat.

The bike ride was my idea.

Sparklers, as planned.

And in the morning Chloe is off to grade 7,

While Carmen is off to grade 9.

Happy Summer!