2012 Ad-VAN-ture!

Including the wedding, this is the fifth annual family camping trip.  My momma got married on a lake in 2008 and each summer since we've had the "fun-iversary".  We returned to the same location as we camped last year, for a weekend of fun with my family.

Sam was an amazing traveller!  After a quick breakfast in Canmore he watched movies and napped all the way to Revelstoke!!!  We had a quick lunch and then a pit stop at Crazy Creek.  Shaun and I stopped here on our first drive through BC together on our honeymoon adventure to the Jack Johnson concert in 2005.  I love the rainbow in the background.  Sam just couldn't believe it!

Mom and Sam on the bridge!

My boys!

We aren't 100% sure if these are the initials that we carved that summer of '05... kinda thought it was wonderful if it was so I took a pic!

BEAR ATTACK!

These two boys spent a lot of time together over the weekend.  Sam adores his cousin Charlie.  Here the boys are rolling down the hill, one of many many many times!

The campsite that we stay at is titled on the tire.  It's an absolutely great place to stop, whether you are camping or needing a little 'hotel' to stay in.  It's directly off the highway in Sorrento and has a couple playgrounds, a super tidy bathroom with (free) showers and lots of variety of places to stay.  It's a wonderful place and I highly recommend it!=

A big big hit this year was letting the boys into the 'attic' of the van to watch movies.  This is the part of our van that pops up and that little cot folds out.  It's actually sort of high (and the DVD player took a real beating when it toppled off) but they were soooo good up there.  They cuddled, watched their movies, ate veggies (some excellent peer pressure from Charlie!), talked and laughed.  I heard the sweetest little conversations between them.  The especially liked to talk about how they are both 3.

Camping playdoh session... lots of fun.  They loved getting to look around for funny things to add to their sculptures.  Playdoh is cheap so once it was full of rock or twigs or pinecones, I just threw it out.

Sam's creation.

Charlie's creation.

S'MORES... yum!

I used some of the left over bags from Sam's bday to create a treasure hunt for the boys.  I wrote a list with some photos of what they needed to find.  The decorate the back of the bags and then set out on their adventure.

Checkin' out what they gathered...

Sam was really impressed with Charlie's treasures!

This hilarious game was great fun!  Uncle Dave pulled the boys around in the dingy.  He RAN with them while they bounced around and giggled.  So funny!

This is the little beach that is a short walk from the campsite.  Little boys (and big boys too) love love love throwing rocks into the water.  An hour or so was spent getting the rocks back in the water where they belong.  Just pure joy!

Our newest little family member and her sweet little face.  Best tiny camper ever!

What would your family do in a rain storm?  If you answered set up a slip and slide on a hill, you may be related to me!  The highlight was when Uncle Larry allowed the kids to ride on his tummy down the hill so they wouldn't get as wet.  That is love.

Just before we packed up to go... perfect little site for my family.  What a great weekend.

We headed back onto the road to see some long lost friends in Coldstream BC.

Here is Sam and the Shupe twins on our after dinner walk.  Sam was sooooo excited to get to walk along the train tracks.

Only way to get three little boys to all look my way... funny faces!

More rock throwing!

Our little water bug!

Diving board time!

The Shupe's pool... we loved it!

Sam the surfer at a beach in Coldstream.

Little help from Dad!

BYE SHUPE'S!

Quick stop at my very best friend's Jacki's house!

I love this woman... she is one of those forever and always friends who loves me for me, would drop everything to help anyone, smile brightens the world and is a genuinely good soul.  I treasure our friendship like crazy.

I know some people think the Enchanted Forest is a little creepy, but I love it.  I've been a couple different times, but this time (with Sam in tow) was by far the most fun!  He LOVED it and it was so cool to watch him identify different characters from poems, nursery rhymes and stories.

We ended up staying the in the Enchanted Forest for 2 hours so we didn't make it as far as we hoped.  We decided to camp in Revelstoke instead of carrying on to Golden.  We found a cute little campsite and spent one night camping as just our family.  We ate cup a noodle and too many s'mores.  I found a really cool trick for starting camp fires on pinterest.  You use old toilet paper tubes and stuff them with dryer lint.  I LOVE recycling so this was right up my alley!  I also had on my 101 Things list to build a campfire without any help, so this was my big moment.  Though Sam 'helped', I think I actually accomplished a bigger feat than thought because I was battling his helpful-ness! :)

Our fire!

Breakfast and then back on the road.  We took Sam for a run through the Giant Cedar Rainforest.  If you've never stopped there, you have to.  It is beautiful and peaceful.  Smells so fresh and it's a bit breathtaking to see.

This photo does not do the forest justice... it's just so beautiful.  My Sammy is camouflaged! 

Can't really see them, but my boys found some inch worms and Shaun was showing Sam that they would crawl on his finger.  It was super cute!

One last stop for a pee break just before Banff and a photo opportunity.

Thanks for all your hard work Vannie!  You complete our family!

So after a very long drive, we arrive home to find a wonderful surprise...

Have to say, turning 30 was not scary at all... quite the opposite.  Thank you Linds for this, you have no idea how much I appreciated it!

Shoot... I think I forgot to warn you that this would be an incredibly long post. :)