A Visit and Waterton Park

Andy's Mem came over to visit us for a week from June 6th till the 13th.
And we had a really great time.  It was exciting for Seth and Tristan to have Beppe over and to sleep with her in the little apartment, as well as for us to catch up on news over cups of coffee.
It was also fun for us to show her our Little Farm on the Prairie, all the things we've done, and the dreams we have, the excitement of being on our own place and all the work it entails.
It was the week between cycles (which was planned, yes) so we had some extra time off to do some sightseeing and day trips.
First on the list was Waterton Park. Andy figured out exactly what he (we) wanted to do and away we went. It was a fabulous day - weather was not too hot and not too cold, the sun was bright and God's creation stunning.  We saw only a small fraction of the park and we can't wait to go back again to explore some more.

Getting ready for our first hike, the Bears Hump starting from the visitors center.

This trail in Waterton Lakes National Park is the most popular short hike in probably all of the mountain parks. It's also the steepest, climbing 240m in just over 1km.

From a third of the way up we could get a nice view of the Prince of Wales hotel built in 1927, the largest wooden structure in Alberta.

View from the Bear Hump towards Upper Waterton Lake.  (views over the mountains towards Glacier Park in Montana)

From another angle, we could see how the prairies meet the mountains.

Waterton Village

The climb was quite strenuous making us ready for a break and snacks!

Seth and Tristan couldn't get enough of rock climbing.

"Hang on to Rowan!!"

 

After a picnic lunch we drove to the Red Rock Canyon for the next hike.

This was an easier hike to the Blakiston Falls, and Rowan wanted to walk too:)

We were there at the right time of year, there was lots of water flowing.

Third and final hike for the day was the Red Rock Canyon loop - lots of bright little wildflowers in the crevices.

Enjoying the view

Ready to head home. One last snack before heading two hours home.

Writing on Stone

 On Saturday I took the kids with a group from Taber to the Provincial Park - Writing on Stone.  Beautiful and fascinating, remote and peaceful, it is nestled under the shadow of the Sweet Grass Hills and along the shores of the Milk river. 
It's on the Alberta/Montana border about 1 1/2 hours from here, closer if you could drive straight as the crow flies, but since you have to go around a bit, it takes longer.   We had a fun day exploring the hoodos and walking the paths to see the actual writing carved into the rocks by the blackfoot indians, years and years ago.  We went on a cloudy, wet day but I can imagine that it is not a place you would want to go to on a hot sunny day since it really is desert climate, no shade around!
The next time I go I hope to take Andy along as it was a bit nerve wracking trying to keep all three boys in my line of vision, the park was not really child friendly, seeing as the paths were not fit for strollers and the warnings to stay on the paths due to rattlesnakes was very real - we saw two!  Seth and I ran past (me holding Rowan) but Tristan reminded me of Lot's wife from the Bible, he counld't resist the urge to stop and take a peek, so he did, and had big round glossy eyes the rest of the day:)
Sorry for the picture overload:)  The place was really really gorgeous and the kids had so much fun, I couldn't stop snapping and now to have to pick my favourite few? No way, I'm going for an overdose this time;)

Dangerous, but incredibly much fun.

What ever the big boys do, Rowan has to do too.

Hoodoo Dudes

Seth took this picture "I cut off your head with the zoom mom, you were too far away"

On top of the world!  (sort of)

After the hoodoos we followed the path to see the writing on the stones

It's hard to see from here, but there was a whole battle scene etched into the sandstone. Indians versus White man. 

Indians with the bows and arrows...

White men with the guns and bullets.

The third and final hike was to the viewpoint overlooking the sweet grass hills and the milk river as well as a deserted RCMP office from the 1890's. 

The RCMP buildings (would be neat to go down there and actually look inside). I have an obsession with old deserted buildings - Alberta just feeds it. ;)

Seth was in love with the prairie cactus' growing all around. It's neat to see how he notices and appreciates small things in nature.

We took a school bus there just for fun so here are my two happy travellers! What a fun day!!

Kite

Southern Alberta is known for its wind...

 Made for a fun afternoon till it got stuck in the tree and a storm blew in. Ironically, the hawk kite got stuck in the same tree two hawks have made their nest.  (Andy had to climb up and shake it out).

Watching the thunder roll in and the lighting strike

Gardening

May 24 weekend had arrived... (it actually fell on May 18th this year) but according to all the local farmers that is the weekend to plant your garden, so of course we had to do that. ;)

It was way too much fun.  We had already purchased the seeds - almost impossible not to have done with the super enthusiastic littles in this house. (passing a seed stand in the stores is like going into a candy store for most kids - 6 little hands reach out and plead with me for cucumbers, pumpkins, lettuce, spinach, flowers, beans and zucchini - how can I resist the excitement??)
I remember being little and thinking planting was the most exciting thing you ever do in the spring... as soon as the weeds pop up it looses its luster, but for now, it's ok. :) 

Daddy showing Seth how deep to plant the onions

...gourds...

A whole row of watermelon seeds... good thing there's alot of room in this garden;)

Taking a break

This is the way Rowan works - one boot on one boot off.

Half way done!

Potato planting was done a couple days later - it was warm:)

Good thing we have a bath tub and extra pants!

Eight (8!!!) days later the things are peeping out of the soil.... how exciting!!!  

Kale

Sunflowers

A ripe strawberry!