A windy walk.

 The kids are going a little stir crazy.  All the Calgary kids are still in school until next Friday so that means my kids get bored.  There is this nice little botanical garden tucked back in a neighborhood that is perfect for us.

It's not to old and was built by BP.  There is a cute little maze that was fun to figure out.  

 Had to take a pic of the doc's.

 I need to get a better shot of the trees.  they are planted in a spiral.   At the center of the spiral is a big brick circle.   

It was rather windy, rainy and cold.  I kept having to nag Olivia to put her jacket on.

There are plants that are starting to flower all over.  They have some veggie gardens and fruit trees also.  I'm sure I will have fun going there over the summer and seeing everything grow and change.  I will most definitely be spending time there.  A LOT!  I no longer have a lot of land to grow things on.  I miss the smell of the forest and ocean.  I just miss having that clean earthy smell that was Washington.

We were walking through the garden and all the kids commented on how they couldn't' get enough of the smell.  We are such country bumpkins.

A bit windy.

The park is also dog friendly.  It's an off leash park.  We got to pet and see a lot of different types of dogs.  The family and I are working with Milo and Elliot daily so they get used to the sights, sounds and smells of being in the city.  Both dogs so far have done really good around other dogs.  I just don't dare let them off leash yet.  They still catch a scent and take off.

Banff and friends

 Yesterday we were able to run up to Banff and meet up with our friends from Washington.  It was my very first time to the park.  What's really exciting is, Banff is 1 hour and 20 minutes from our house.  Seriously lucky to have it so close.

Troy was so good to me and stuck with me on the walk.  I'm so stinking out of shape and going up and down those stairs killed me.  I'm huffing and puffing trying to keep up and Laurie is there to run a freaking marathon.  I  will never run one but I am determined to get in better shape.  I enjoy being outdoors too much. 

 You should of seen our girls cry when they saw each other.  OK, so I cried too.  I know it had only been a month since we moved, but I miss this family like crazy.  Laurie was there to run in the Banff marathon.  We ended up bringing Cailyn home with us.  Wish we could just keep both girls for a while.  I grabbed my Leah and just breathed her in.  I know all my kids smells.  It probably sounds weird to some people but I miss hugging the girls and their smell.  That does sound weird now that I typed it out.  Mom's would understand though.

 We did a a lot of hiking.  We walked to the Fairmont Hotel.  Holy cow it's magnificent.  Definitely will be making some drives up in the Fall and Winter.

I'm really excited to start to explore around where we live.  There are some pretty amazing places.  From what everyone tells us we have to take advantage of the summer because winter comes to fast here.  We plan on doing a lot of activities too.  If any of you want to come spend time up here, let me know.  We have room for families and friends.  

Disclaimer

Disclaimer- I have the most patient daughters in the world.  They put up with the most crazy Mother out there!  

I had taken theses photos weeks before we moved.

Ya'll know how much I love taking pictures, dressing kids up, flowers, nature, blaa, blaa, blaaa.  Well I had noticed my lilacs had come into bloom, so what did I do?  Photo shoot with my girls!  Geez, they put up with a lot!  I made Ella wear a very small purple dress to match the lilacs and put tons or bug infested lilacs in her hair.  

She deserves a medal.  I poked and stuck lilacs and bobby pins into her head and she just dealt with it.  Just a few squeals and fits because of the bugs.  She's a tuff gal!

 This is how I roll.  PJ's curtsy of the Porter's, and TWLOHA shirt.  

I had to do some bribing and yelling for me to put flowers in my gorgeous daughters hair.  Did I mention the flowers had bugs in them?

 I probably should of grabbed a foot stool.  My children are gifted with their Fathers height  

 Miranda Sings would appreciate  my Crocks.  Troy thinks they are soooo sexy. Hehe!.

 Anna was my helper through this.  She had grabbed some socks and shoes out of my closest.  She thought it was pretty cool she was tall enough to take pictures of her feet. The only lens I have is a 55- 200.  

 Oh yes, she has terrible allergies.  I'm such a great Mom.

 I got some great pics.  Ella is a strong powerful, feminine young lady.  She has amazing strength and courage and is sensitive and caring.  

 When I grab my kids and make them do these crazy photo shoots, my main goal is to have fun.  By no stretch of the imagination am I a professional  I do this for fun.  I do this because this is how we end up.

 We laugh and play.

 I told Anna I wanted to see if I could take a picture of her leaping across the yard.

 OH MY GOSH, I DIED LAUGHING.

  I can't recreate these moments.  I am so lucky I have funny beautiful, uncoordinated daughters that will play dress up with their weird unbalanced Mother.