Another Day, Another Adventure-- Sliding Rock, NC

As our summer is coming to a close hard and fast, we're trying to squeeze in as many fun memories as we can. Today's adventure: Sliding Rock, NC with our dear friends. What a fun day! Kaitlyn and Mikey went down the slide 3 times... and Mom even went once. Man, was that water COLD!!!! I lost my breath it was so cold! Then we played in the creek and splashed and jumped. We had a sweet picnic lunch down the road and then traveled into the town of Brevard for a treat! What a wonderful way to spend the day. Thank you Stephanie, Flora and Lucy!!!

Oh Canada!

This one will be a doozie!

We were SO SO SO lucky to be able to go visit my side of our family (most who live in or near Alberta, Canada) in British Columbia at Panorama Resort. I haven't been able to see this side of my family who I was VERY close to in my childhood for many years so I was really looking forward to this trip. It was everything I thought.... and so much more! I can't believe our children were able to experience the beauty and oh, what fun we had! Love you my Canuck Family and can't wait to see you again (soon please!). 

We left Thursday afternoon for the airport. The kids were so excited as we haven't flown in a few years and they've been begging to take an airplane trip. Our first leg of the trip was from Charlotte to Toronto, Canada.

The second leg of the trip was Toronto to Calgary. The whole flight Daddy and Kaitlyn played 'Crazy 8's' and 'Would you Rather' while Mikey and Mom watched movies (and napped). It was amazing to see the sun follow us all the way so it was still light at around midnight Charlotte time!

After we landed in Calgary, we went to a hotel (Daddy was SO smart and reserved a room at the Marriott which is located in the airport so we didn't have to travel any more that night!) and the kids promptly passed OUT!

Friday morning we got up and dad picked up a rental car and we headed toward BC to the resort (a 4 hour drive). The views on the way were absolutely spectacular and we were all just in awe. We couldn't wait to see where we would end up.

Daddy driving 140..... (kilometers/hour) :)

We got to the beautiful resort and checked it all out. We had a view of the pools, mountains and ski lift from our room. We even were able to see cool mountain bikers riding down the trails!

Then we checked out Toby's Creek which runs next to the resort and begins from a glacier atop a neighboring mountain. Amazing! We went to the pool to play with aunts, uncles and cousins galore. We ate dinner on the golf course and saw deer just feet away. 

The next morning, we decided to take an ATV tour of the mountains. Man, oh man- we had no idea how remarkable this decision would be. Our wonderful tour guide, Tyson, led us up the mountainside and would stop periodically to point out the view, or show us where to find wildlife, etc. He brought us to a cabin near the peak which used to be a blacksmith for the old mining town. We were given hot chocolate, coffee and cookies while we explored the old mineshaft (which had been collapsed years ago) and saw families of chipmunks and checked out the view. Then we hopped back in our ATV and went all the way to the peak. We had to walk a little ways as the path was covered with... SNOW! The kids and Tyson even had a snowball fight! We saw the most amazing sights from the top of that mountain. Then it was back down to explore the old mining village, the bowl of the mountain where the snow was melting and was the start of the creek that ran down. Kaitlyn and Mikey were both DEMOLISHED by daddy driving through the creek and huge mud puddles!! They were drenched, but we all got pretty muddy and dirty although that was certainly part of the fun. Then it was back to the cabin where Tyson prepared burgers for us with fresh, farm produce that was DEEElicous! Tyson showed the kids how to place crackers on their shoes and let the chipmunks come eat. We eventually meandered back down the mountainside and on the way we saw..... a black bear enjoying some berries!!!!! I could not believe it! Back at the resort, it was off to the pools to rinse off and play. Mom and dad even did the waterslides too. Then we invited everyone to our hotel and we had a wonderful dinner of pizza and were able to catch up and share stories. A most wonderful day!!

Mineshaft

Hot cocoa and cookies with a VIEW!

Getting Daddy with a snowball!

King of the Mountain!

Old mining town

Kate got MUDDY!!!

Sunday we woke up and decided to play around the resort. We rode the ski lift to the top of the Panorama and back down. Kaitlyn and Mikey climbed a rock wall, Mikey did some target practice with a bow and arrow while Kate got to bungee jump on a trampoline. Then we said good-bye to family and headed back to Calgary so we were ready for the early morning flight home. 

One last gondola ride:

Aunt Heather, Kim, Kaitlyn and Aunt Tanya

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Cousins

Back in Calgary, we checked back into the hotel in the airport and had dinner and of course, a swim! Then it was up early to head back home. The kids did AMAZING on all of the flights, I'm so proud of them. It was the most wonderful trip and I'm so thankful we were able to experience it. 

UNTIL NEXT TIME!!!!