Book Bribing Shop

Kalia and Annaliesse have been very successful at their home reading program. Annaliesse and Kalia both earned $40 in July for reading. They added it to their birthday savings, and Kalia had about $95 and Annaliesse had $125. They have been counting down the days until we hit the mall.

Last day of July here we are, getting ready to head to the mall. Barker was mad he only read twice during the week I was gone for YW camp- and so I told him if he read that morning for 15 minutes, he would owe me another set that afternoon. Sounds good eh? Nope. He tossed a fit half way through reading and quit. He has such a hard time with reading and its wearing fighting with him constantly.

Barker really wasn't looking forward to the day at the mall, so we stopped at New Brighton skate park on the way. The first time going back to that skate park since he got stuck in the bowl and Mommy had to climb into lift him out..... He is bigger and fast now and we had no problems.

Southland Mall for the day. Now it seems strange to write out what they each choose- but it speaks about their personalities at this age, and I want to remember that!

Kalia and Annaliesse worked together and wrote a list out of the shops they wanted to go to. 

1. Justice
2. Old Navy
3. Children's Place
4. Claires
5. Toys R Us
6. Bath and Body Works
7. Ardene's

Southland had most of those shops so we headed there.

Annaliesse bought

• a little blue sparkly backpack the same size as the one Kalia has in the pic above.
• Hair chalk like Kalia's
• a gift set of lotion, hand sanitizer, shower gel and perfume for her little backpack. And body glitter and lip chap from Bath and Body works
• Lego gift set from Toys R Us
• and some odd stuff from Ardenes I can't remember.

Annaliesse wants to be just like her big sister. She bought things that Kalia has had in the past or things that Kalia was getting.... 

Kalia took FOREVER to buy things. She insisted on going to Justice and didn't even buy anything... we were there for 40 minutes! LOL We were in Claires for even longer! Almost a hour!!

• In Claires: Earings, scrunchi's, chocker, hair donut, ring, and headband. Those 6 things took her 1 hour to choose.... oh man. It was painful
• 3 little things of lotion from Bath and Body Works
• She spend the majority of her money at Ardene's on a sweater and sweatpants. 

Barker and Remy were... ok. Barker had a little bit of money and spent it a soft squishy toy thing. Then a BMX finger bike and a matchbox car from Toys R Us.

Remy was instant she get everything in every store. No joke.
She wanted a little sparkly backpack like the big girls and was just delighted I gave in... guys I have no control over her charms.

It sounds like not a whole lot went on... but it took ALLLLLLL DAAAAAAYYYY.

But I lived. With patients in tack.

#riversquad strikes again

Monday was HOT.

Like HOT HOT HOT 32 degrees

Sunday durning family dinner we talked about making tubing down the river work Monday afternoon.

Monday morning we were up bright and early, well.... Mommy, Remy, Barker and Annaliesse were up early, we had to wake Kalia up. It had been days since our last bike ride, and I knew it was going to get hot fast, so we did a early morning bike ride.

We biked to the river and the heat was already coming fast. The kids waded through the water and onto the little island and spend a good 45 minutes exploring, splashing and make general noise.

By the time we got home and headed out to gather a few more things for tubing! We borrowed Aunt Laura tubes last time, and the kids did so well, I picked up 2 solid ones for Justin and I. We also lost our pump somewhere in the garage, Canadian Tire for another one.

We also met Angie and her kids at the Spray park for a couple hours before her kids napped. My big kids LOVE Blake and baby Slade- its always great for my kids to help others with younger kids to give them a little break in the day. Remy and Blake still play so well, Blake is the little one I watched for 6 months or so.

Back home for a few hours to rest- which really just meant time for Mommy to rest cause the kids went straight over to our new neighbours the Murppy's to play. Justin and Angela Murppy go to church with us and have 3 sons- they moved in a couple weeks ago and the kids have had a great time playing together outside.

It was time for Grandma and Grandpa pick us up with the truck! We loaded out tubes up and headed out with our van and Grandmas truck. We dropped the van off at George Lane Park- the end of the tubing on the river and squashed in the truck for the short drive to the start.

It takes about 2 hours to go down the river, which is great cause that is usually the allotted amount of time we have available until another event.

We had a marvellous time with lots of laughing and shouting. It was so fun. Grandma is hilarious when she falls out of her tube. Remy wasn't sure with the sitting arrangements, sitting with Grandpa on a tube, as soon as we put her in with Annaliesse with a screen bottom she felt much more comfortable. Kalia got the smaller black tube and she loved how she could steer it better then the last one. Barker was less cold this trip and so he had more fun.

Fun time- Justin ended up joining us! He knew we were going down but couldn't get off work early, but because of rain he ended early, came home, grabbed his swim suit and tube- drove to the river and jogged upstream.

He got to a point in the river he could see upstream and we were just coming around the corner! He joined us and floated down for the last little bit with us!!

We got out of the river-, which was a ordeal in and of its self, Justin and Grandpa headed out to get the truck- and Grandma and the kids and I went to get Pizza! By the time we got home a massive thunderstorm had rolled in! Rain, thunder and lightening and wind!! We had a glorious time on the river and ended JUST IN TIME.

While Moms Away

Big Thank you to those who helped with my kids while I was at YW Camp!

Wed- Lauren, Justin pick up

Thursday- Tannia, Grandma pick up after work, Justin pick up after his work

Friday- Mark and Lindsay, Grandma pick up after work, Justin pickup after his work

Saturday- Justin and kids clean house spotless and then head to the Zoo with Grandma Moxley

Couldn't have done it without you!

Mark and Lindsay took the kids to Nanton to pick Saskatoon's, play at the Air Museum and get slurppies. They had a great time with Uncle Mark, Aunt Lindsay and Arlie.

Then the Zoo with Grandma Moxley and Daddy. Daddy was excited to see the pandas!!

2018 Young Women's Camp

High River Ward & Branch Young Women's Camp! 

Our Stake does Youth Camps a little different then other Stakes I have been in.

They rotate- one Summer Ward Camp, next Summer Stake Camp and next Summer Moroni's Quest. Repeat.

I have cycled through once since being in Young Women's and we are back to Ward Camp! (in our case Ward/Branch)

Thank heavens for our amazing Camp Coordinators Dana and Kenny! 

We camped in Peter Laughed Provincial Park at Lower Lakes Campground. 

It was wonderful! 

We arrived Wednesday afternoon and the girls got right to work setting up their tent. 

Sister Lee was so lovely to the girls and made them each personalized water bottles!

Thanks again Sarah!

We did a quick Hike Wednesday afternoon- up Canadian Mount Everest Expedition Trail. It is a little nolle that over looks Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes. Its a easy hike, 2.5 km but with a bit of elevation. 

The view was amazing; the girls did amazing, and the foot cool down in Upper lake was lovely after.

Lots of pictures this first day...

Wednesday evening we headed to the After Dark Discovery Series in the amphitheatre. On the way we saw a Momma Grizzly Bear with her 2 cubs- rather close to our campsite. It wasn't to big of a shock- there were sign EVERYWHERE saying High Alert. Bears Active.

The 1 hour long show was quite the in event- I think my kids would LOVE it.  The girls laughed along.

Thursday morning we had planned on doing Rawsen Lake Basin but unfortunately it was closed because of multiple Grizzly's in the area.

Instead we took the girls back to camp- picked up the canoes and headed back to Upper Lake to explore on the water!

Good Choice. It was hot and lovely- the girls had a amazing time cliff jumping and canoeing!
 Our awesome camp leaders are so great at being flexible and rolling with the punches.

So... Friday morning we did our hike instead!! The Priesthood leaders took a few hours Thursday afternoon deciding where we were going to hike. They took this decision very seriously while the girls had quiet time and the YW leaders had a good visit. LOL

Ptarmigan Cirque was moderate hike with beautiful views! I want to go back and take my kids!

Friday after our hike the girls did a YCL led activity it turned out super cute- good job girls.

This year they came out with a new YW Camp Program and it was delightful. 

The focus is on simplifying YW camp and it was rather delightful being so laid back. 

Thanks for the lovely few day girls!  

Shout out to my fellow YW leaders- Joci and Jen- you two are lovely, doing this crazy calling with you two is an adventure! Dana our camp coordinator/ YW secretary- I could NOT do YW Camp without you- but you excel and Im never worried about it. Thanks to our Priesthood- President Lee and Bishop Chipman, with Kenny our half camp coordinator half priesthood- you three are chill enough to come to YW Camp and have fun. Kudos.

A Play Day Before Cray Cray

Monday before Young Women's camp there are SOOO many things to do. 

The list wasn't super long, but long enough. However the kids were going to be shuffled around the rest of the week and Tuesday I had to stay home and cook, clean, make lists and pack. I figured if we took Monday morning and early afternoon to play- I could spend Tuesday getting stuff done without to much whining.

We slept in and headed into the Science centre. The kids were thrilled- its been a while since the older 2 have been- we always seem to go without them 😐

Barker and Remy were so excited it was warm enough to explore Calgarys Largest Outdoor Playground! They opened up a few new outdoor exhibits- including a junk yard for kids to create and build things in. As exciting as it sounds... the still preferred the giant slide, wood and wire web and double swing.

We spent awhile outside and headed in to Creative Kids Museum. Now each time we come here it seems we spend less and less time in this section of the museum. THIS TIME the kids couldn't get enough! Barker and I built a Damn in the water table, stacked wooden blocks and played with magnets. Remy danced contemporary on the stage for 15 mins, and  Annaliesse played with the lights and music. Kalia made friends with a little 2 year old girl who played with her for the whole 45 minute we were in there. Kalia tried to come back to us and play with her siblings but the little girl kept following her around. Which was totally fine- we just had another little friend.

Upstairs next to play with our usually favourites. The Glue Gun station,  Dress maker station and Open Studio Workshop. Unfortunately Open Studio was a huge disappointment this time, the volunteer was sooooo slow- the kids just up and left before their time was finished.

Remy found a new favourite. A chalk board where you make animation. I showed her how it worked with a simple picture of a mountain blowing up- she thought it was hilarious. She stood there and drew pictures, snapped with the build in camera over and over and over again FOR 30 minutes. I finally found a chair and just observed her.

We had a great time at the science centre- we spent the perfect amount of time there. We stopped for slurppies on the way home- it was a great summer day.