Thursday, April 2, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Wednesday morning
It's now Wednesday morning, I woke up about 6:00, everyone else is still asleep. I thought I would take advantage of this quiet time. I woke up to fresh snow on the ground, just a tiny bit, but everything outside our window is blanketed, it's so beautiful and peaceful.
Today we are leaving here and driving about a half hour north to Lake Louise to stay at another beautiful hotel and to see more beautiful scenery....I'm over using the word beautiful...but it is just so beautiful here.
I will post pictures later, the service is just way too slow here, I won't have any hair left if I try to do it now.
It's time to start packing up our things....until later....
Exploring the Rockies
Tuesday started out with a quick breakfast in the hotel, then again, we bundled up, got in our car and drove the 10 minute drive to the Sulfur Mountain Gondola. This is something I have done many times with my mom over the years and I have always loved it, so I wanted to share it with my family.
We took the 15 minute ride to the top of the mountain. The ride itself is beautiful. You have an almost 360 view of all these snow capped, huge mountains, with the valley down below where we can see our hotel.
Because we are at a much higher altitude, it's even colder on top of the mountain, but we're all dressed properly, so we didn't notice. We don't think Josh enjoyed the cold too much however. There is an observation deck on top of the mountain and a very long wooden path that goes on for quite awhile. It was very snowy and icy and quite treacherous, so we had to be careful. We wandered on the path for awhile, but the cranker Josh got, the harder it was. So we wound up on the cafeteria for a little hot chocolate and then the ride back down.
We drove around for awhile, just taking in the beauty. We stopped at Lake Minnewanka, it's a huge lake that is totally frozen over with snow covering the entire surface, Rico and I had never seen anything like that before, very cool! We then drove along the Bow River to a spot that has a wonderful view of our hotel and took a few more pictures. We then parked our car and walked along the main street of downtown Banff, it's only about 3 blocks long, so we wandered, and shopped and tried to decide on where to have dinner. It's still very cold out, only about 32 degrees, but we're dressed properly and we seem to be adjusting, because we all seemed to be just fine.
We decided to go back to our hotel for dinner so we wouldn't be out too late. When we arrived back, there was a note waiting for us from my mom and my aunt (the birthday girl). They had dropped by to see if we were available for dinner and they left a number for their hotel. We called them and arranged for them to come back here. They have never stayed at this hotel, so they wanted to see our room. So they came to us about 6:00 and we all went for a very nice dinner in one of the hotel restaurants. We had a really nice time and the kids behaved well, again, bless them. After dinner, mom and auntie went back to their hotel and we watched a silly movie while the kids slept. Another nice day....tomorrow Lake Louise!
The Rockies
I just typed for half an hour, did something wrong, and lost it all...I'm so upset....
Our internet service here in the hotel is so slow.
We're here at one of the most gorgeous hotels I have ever seen. The Banff Springs Hotel. We arrived on Monday afternoon around 1:00 after taking the hour and a half drive from the city of Calgary. It's a beautiful drive, watching the mountains get closer and closer as you head west. We checked in and our room wasn't quite ready, so we found a little lounge with a beautiful view of the Bow Valley and had a nice lunch. The kids behaved well, I think they were happy to be out of their car seats. When we were done and our waiter Steven brought us our bill, he had taken the liberty of checking us in and getting our room keys for us. Rico was so impressed by that, that he gave Steven a big fat tip. I think Steven must have seen his tip, because he then personally escorted us through the maze of this hotel to our room. We were just so impressed by young little Steven. If all the staff here is like that, we will be very happy.
We got to our room, checked it out, they had already put our luggage in our room, also very impressive, then we bundled ourselves up and went to check out the hotel. We wandered outside for awhile, then around the inside of the hotel, it's very old and beautiful. We found ourselves at the pool and saw that there was a children's pool, so we thought the kids would like that. So we took the mile long walk back to our room, changed, then took the long walk back again. We spent about an hour in the pool, the kids enjoyed the warm water. There was a lap pool too, so Rico and I each got a little exercise at the same time.
By the time we got back, it was about 7:30, we ordered room service and after Josh ate a few bites, he was fast asleep on the couch next to me...an nice way to end our first day.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Fun in the Snow
We woke up this morning to about 5 inches of new snow on the ground. I came downstairs, opened the curtains, looked outside and just saw the most beautiful sight. The entire neighborhood was blanketed in fresh new snow, it was just so beautiful and exciting! I said to Wendy, isn't it beautiful, and she said it was 5 months ago, I was taking pictures and Mike was outside shoveling the front porch, I told him to look up and smile, and he just grumbled at me. It was so funny, no matter what Canadian you talk to these days, they will all tell you, enough with the snow already, we want Spring. I'm happy winter waited around for us to enjoy a little. We spent an easy day at home. Wendy made us Aebelskevers for breakfast (their are ball-like Danish pancakes). Then we all bundled up and took a stroll (can you do that in the snow) a few blocks to their favorite coffee shop Tim Hortons and had a cup of coffee, then for something for for Josh to do, we walked across the way to an Asian grocery store that has live fish and crustaceans. Josh thought that was pretty cool. When we got home we played in the front yard trying to make a snow man, but apparently the snow wasn't quite the right texture, so instead papa built snow choo choo trains for Josh. Thomas, Gordon, Percy and Mavis....so cute!
Wendy, her little neighbor friend Jacob (he's 3), and Josh and I went out later in the afternoon and took a short walk to a park that's just at the end of the block and we tried to make a snow man again, but the snow still wasn't right, so we made a snow bunny instead. We also put the kids in the swing for awhile and then we walked home. By now most of the snow had melted, but on all the pine trees in the neighborhood, as the snow melted, made icicles hanging from the branches, it was so beautiful too! So I had to take some pictures of those too.
Mike and Rico and Kyle helped Wendy make home made apple pie and she also made homemade turkey soup for dinner. We enjoyed that about 6:00 p.m. and it was a perfect meal to end a wonderful day. Cousin Carrie came over for a quick visit this evening for some apple pie and to hold little Katie for a few minutes. It's now 9:00, Josh crashed a little bit ago (no nap) and Katie is on her papa's lap just now falling asleep...another nice day coming to a close.
Tomorrow the Rockies....
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