Oh Canada!

Well, we did it. We survived our fabulous trip to Canada. I can't believe we've spent about 32 hours in the car with the kids in the last 10 days. Yep, 32. On the way up the three kids all wanted to watch movies, which made it hard. Livi's taste run to Elmo, Ella's to princesses, and Ethan to Pokemon. When you add in that Livi is rear facing still, and that the DVD player broke at the Canadian border (3 hours from our destination), we had a FUN time getting there! Luckily we did it in two days, so the kids weren't as bad as they could have been, and they got to play in the new park when we got there. I wanted to kiss the ground when we got there, but the prolific piles of deer droppings squashed all those feelings fairly quickly.
My parents and sister were fabulous helpers with the kids, and Eric and I even got to go on a couple dates while we were there. Eric got up every morning with the kids, and in return I didn't complain once on the many fishing trips he took (I think I got the better end of the stick, but whatever makes him happy!), so all in all it was a great break for everyone, even me.
We cried when we left, especially Ella who sorely missed her Grandma/coloring partner about 30 minutes into the car ride home, and wanted to turn around and go straight back. That was the beginning of the worst car trip in history. Well, maybe not, but it was not fun. Ethan threw up 1 hour into it because we took the windy scenic route across the border. Livi cried for about 7 hours of the 15.5 hour trip. We didn't have a DVD player for 4 hours into it, and Ella thought she would die of bordom. In Billings, Mt, about half way, Eric pointed out that Ethan's eye was swollen and oozing (bacterial conjuntivitis) so we spent lots of time disinfecting the car and washing hands at gas stations. Even with all that I would do it again just to spend time with my family. It again stuck a dagger in our hearts that we are so far from family, so if anyone knows of any attorney positions in Utah or Idaho let us know, I can't take hearing from my sad kids how much they want to be able to see their grandparents "all the time." (yes, they are in California, but we all know where they will end up).
We LOVE the new park, they really put their money to good use, I wish we had one like it in town!
It wouldn't be Waterton without throwing rocks, and the amazing and beloved Banana Boat!
Ethan and Ella had a blast coloring with Grandma Sharon. Ella and Grandma worked on coloring princess pictures and Ethan wrote lots and lots and lots of books.
Our group horseback riding. From left: Julia, Eric, Ella, Nicole, Ethan. The kids LOVED getting to ride on their ow, and Ella even looks natural on a horse. Both kids loved when the horses would trot, and I sat back and tried not the pull my hair out with worry.I am glad Livi warmed up to Grandpa Bud. I knew if she had the time (and some quiet this time) that she would love him as much as everyone else does!
Our last picture in the park. We were so sad to go, and plan to spend much more time there next year. Hopefully it wont rain every day next time, and Eric will get in some better quality fishing.