Banff

Our summer travel continues... and internationally!  A good friend and coworker of mine was getting married in Banff Canada so I saved my week of parental leave (thank you Nestle for that!) and we packed our bags for Calgary.  Banff is in the Canadian Rockies, which is the Canadian side of Glacier National Park, and I must say it's absolutely stunning! Craig found us a condo in Dead Man's Flat a little outside of Banff but it allowed us to have 2 bedrooms (convenient for naptime & bedtime) as well as a kitchen so that we could still have some home cooked meals.  One of the highlights of our trip was the Garby/Miller wedding.  The ceremony was at beautiful Tunnel Mountain meadow with the reception at Mt. Norquay ski lodge.  Allison LOVED playing with the "big girls" and even cut a rug on the dance floor, enough to be the center of a dance circle and steal a dance with the bride!  We had such a great time and were so grateful to spend time with the happy couple the day after the wedding too. 

Because we're brave (or crazy), we also took the kiddos on a couple hikes.  The first hike at Lake Louise was supposed to be a leisurely one but I let Craig talk me into hiking all the way up to the Tea House and Lake Agnes.  It was a moderate trail, about 4.5 miles round trip.  Yes, you read right.  I haven't hiked since before babies so I was excited to do a "real" hike but didn't think through the true consequences.  Drew ate when we left the condo, Lake Louise was 40 minutes away, and it would likely take 2 hours to get to the Tea House.  My worst case scenario came true: I had to nurse on the trail before making it to the top.  And even worse, we didn't realize it was mosquito season and had no bug spray.  Thankfully, we were able to borrow some and made it to the top just fine.  Both Drew and Allison did great, Drew even passed out on the way down!  Our second hike was easier but a little longer, about 7 miles, through Johnston Canyon.  I loved how the trail went over the river, past two major waterfalls, and ended at different colored pools of water called the Ink Pots.  We timed it better this time, packed a lunch, and got both girls up and back without any issues.  Of course, they both passed out at the end but it was a great hike and more beautiful scenery!  Last on our wish list while in Canada was to make it to the Colombia Icefields and ride a SnoCoach on the glaciers.  It was a 2.5 hour drive from our condo, Drew slept the whole way there and back (woo hoo!) and Allison sang Twinkle Twinkle and her ABC's the entire time.  It was a true test of our patience!  

I was a little hesitant to take such a big trip with Drew only 4.5 months old, but I'm so glad we did because I truly believe it helped us bond as a family.  Drew may not remember getting a pat down in customs (no joke) or nursing outdoors with such beautiful scenery, but I know she'll appreciate seeing that passport photo at 8 wks old some day :)  And Allison was such a blast!  She was the life of the party at the wedding and a real trooper during the hikes and road trips.  We got so many great photos, so check out Allison & Drew's photo pages, but here are a few of my favorites in no particular order: