Spontaneous Weekend Trip- Vancouver, Canada

We decided on a whim to head to Canada this weekend.  We've always heard that Vancouver was a great place to visit and when I did a quick search, I couldn't agree more.  It was an interesting city with a lot of diversity.  The downtown water front was beautiful and the neighborhoods we visited had an authentic vibe.  We found great local diners with amazing food and explored a science museum, a park voted the best in the world and a 425 foot suspension bridge.

 

Capilano Suspension Bridge- 460 feet long and 230 feet above the river.  It was an incredible engineering feat!  It was pretty hard to stand still for too long because all of the people walking on and off of it made it really move.  

 Hold on!

 In the park there was also a tree top adventure where many of the douglas firs were connected by suspension bridges.  

 Avery is across from us, wearing the red coat.

 Another part of the park had a cliff side walk which was also amazing.  The walkways were only connected to one point on the cliff.  

Vancouver has only 90 sunny days a year and we were so fortunate to be there during one of the 90 days!

 The Squamish Nation put these totem poles up at the park to share their history of the land.

 Can you find Avery and Alia?  They thought this was hilarious and wanted me to take a serious picture of them hiding in the cardboard cut outs.

 We were able to visit Stanley park on Sunday.  It was voted the best park in the world.  It has an amazing path all the way around the water and a lot of interactive places.  The kids thought this hollowed out tree was neat.  

 Next stop, Science World.  We always love hands on science exhibits.  

 Her birthstone and favorite gemstone.

He was laughing so loud at the series How to Train Your Dragon.

Celebrating 60 years with Bama

 We were able to fly to Wisconsin over winter break to celebrate Bama's 60th birthday.  We packed all of our winter gear, ready to play in snow but it rained and rained!  The day we flew out of Seattle it was snowing and it continued to snow on and off the week we were gone.  I guess we switched weather.  In this picture she just opened the DNA kit we got her for her birthday.  It was a great visit with everyone.  We even got to see Bama try to bust a move playing Catch Phrase!

The weather was crazy while we were gone and a tree branch went through Avery's bedroom window.  The glass shattered and exploded into the hallway.  It was a 3 hour clean up project.  Thankfully we were able to catch an earlier flight home.

Celebrating 9 years

 Grandma and Grandpa were finally able to stay over night in the little house once it was done.

 Picnic time in Olympia

  Alia wanted to celebrate her 9th birthday at Great Wolf Lodge this year.  We were so happy Grandpa and Grandma were able to come with.

Wolf ears on, ready to go

 

 Avery loved dumping water on unsuspecting people passing by.

 There were many giggles trying to get on and stay on the floating animals in the pool.

 Black light mini golf!  We ended up getting 3 holes in 1 between the six of us.  

 

 We took advantage of the sunshine and headed out for a walk

 The flowers are already blooming this year

 Grandpa keeping Avery in line

 For Alia's birthday Grandpa made a bird feeder for her.  It's made out of cedar and designed to look just like the tiny house.  She spent the morning reading the instructions and putting it together with Grandpa.

 Alia and Avery's pictures are in the windows.

Happy 9th Birthday Alia

 

 Disco party!  Alia got an Amazon echo for Christmas and she is always throwing dance parties for us playing Kids Bop.  We got her a disco ball for her birthday to add to her parties.  

 

 She asked for a lemon cheesecake with raspberry sauce and homemade oreo ice cream for her birthday. 

Alia and Banana 9 years

9 year Questions....
1.  Favorite color:  turquoise
2.  Favorite game:  kings and queens
3.  Favorite food:  carrots
4.  Favorite animal:  sloths
5.  Favorite books:  Puppy Pirates and Magic Animal Friends
6.  I want to be a zoologist when I grow up because I like animals.
7.  My favorite subject is recess and my least favorite is math.
8.  If I could buy anything I would buy a motorized car.
9.  I like that I am funny.
10.  My favorite thing to do is go to the pool.
11.  I like to collect beach treasures like beach glass.
12.  I like to play ball with Mom and wrestle with Dad.
13.  My favorite family tradition is Friday night pizza and movie night.
14.  My favorite memory this year was camping at Heifer Hut.

New Years Eve Beach Walk

On New Years Eve this year we were able to go to a night beach hike because it was a full moon and low tide.  There were so many neat things to see.

 There were really cool bioluminescent plankton that you could touch and they would glow.

Squid eggs