Feeling Hot Hot Hot! The Rain Curse is Broken! Two Weeks of Fun in the Sun! COMPLETE

[englishrose47]

Oh geez, it is a good thing they haven't been keeping up with the report, they would be getting inflated egos!

You mean they don't already

 

[CandleontheWater]

All I can say is "WOW" to all your Banff pictures. Each one truly is prettier than the last! Also Marcus is too cute in his hiking pack! I would have wanted to take a picture of him too!

HP looks really neat! I do like HP and I read all the books, but I am not a huge fan like some people. I think my DH would really enjoy it, I'm going to have to pressure him into going one of these trips. I know he wants to, but he doesn't want to spend the money on extra Universal tickets, when we already have Disney APs.

Don't worry about having a momentary lapse in the store. It happens to the best of us, I agree that you look pretty contained and not at all like a crazy person in the photo, so I'm sure it wasn't as bad as you think!

 

[englishrose47]

I too Love Jordan's PEEPING in !!!
The pix of the Lake are inspiring , is it really that gorgeous color ????
I see the Bros came up with some different ways to use the wands

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

All I can say is "WOW" to all your Banff pictures. Each one truly is prettier than the last! Also Marcus is too cute in his hiking pack! I would have wanted to take a picture of him too!

I love that dog. Mom says our cats are getting jealous because I have been posting about him and not them. She says they feel neglected.

HP looks really neat! I do like HP and I read all the books, but I am not a huge fan like some people. I think my DH would really enjoy it, I'm going to have to pressure him into going one of these trips. I know he wants to, but he doesn't want to spend the money on extra Universal tickets, when we already have Disney APs.

If you guys are Harry Potter fans and the other sections in the park interest you then I definitely think you should visit! The tickets aren't that expensive.

Don't worry about having a momentary lapse in the store. It happens to the best of us, I agree that you look pretty contained and not at all like a crazy person in the photo, so I'm sure it wasn't as bad as you think!

Perhaps it was the timing of the photo. I was definitely pissed off!

I too Love Jordan's PEEPING in !!!
The pix of the Lake are inspiring , is it really that gorgeous color ????
I see the Bros came up with some different ways to use the wands

Yep, the lake really is that crazy blue colour, Alek and Erich said it almost looks cartoony.

 

[KatMark]

Lessa, we are still on vacation, but I am trying to catch up on some of my threads while Mark watches the Sunday night football game.

I've skimmed through all of your updates and just had to say that the pictures of Banff are spectacular. And that little rabbit like creature is adorable.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Lessa, we are still on vacation, but I am trying to catch up on some of my threads while Mark watches the Sunday night football game.

I've skimmed through all of your updates and just had to say that the pictures of Banff are spectacular. And that little rabbit like creature is adorable.

I hope you are enjoying your vacation!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Reading along and getting VERY excited for our Decemeber trip!

I think I'm going to do something fun with the Owl Post info, though. Perhaps I'll send letters home to the kids from Dumbledore, thanking them for visiting.

Don't feel too embarrassed, we ALL have our moments.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Reading along and getting VERY excited for our Decemeber trip!

I think I'm going to do something fun with the Owl Post info, though. Perhaps I'll send letters home to the kids from Dumbledore, thanking them for visiting.

Don't feel too embarrassed, we ALL have our moments.

That is a neat idea about the notes from Dumbledore, you will just have to be sneaky about it!

 

[Moira222]

give mom a nice shoulder rub and all is forgiven I'm sure. funny how all that vacation relaxing can occasionally put one over the edge.

did you post the infamous "tantrum picture" ? cuz the photo I saw did NOT look like any tantrum I ever saw (or threw!)

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

give mom a nice shoulder rub and all is forgiven I'm sure. funny how all that vacation relaxing can occasionally put one over the edge.

did you post the infamous "tantrum picture" ? cuz the photo I saw did NOT look like any tantrum I ever saw (or threw!)

I was just fortunate with the timing of the photo. A minute sooner or a minute later and the scene may have looked very different.

 

[micky hater]

pfft heres a better picture of Lessa and mom

 

[wdwgirl03]

Ahh, I somehow missed the WWOHP updates! Glad you enjoyed it. I'm jealous you got to see the Ollivander show-we weren't able to do that when we went but it does look really cool in the shop.

Are you on Pottermore?

 

[okw19]

Great pictures of WWOHP! I'm not a Harry Potter fan, but I've enjoyed reading about your experience.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Ahh, I somehow missed the WWOHP updates! Glad you enjoyed it. I'm jealous you got to see the Ollivander show-we weren't able to do that when we went but it does look really cool in the shop.

Are you on Pottermore?

Not on it yet, is it now open for public registration?

Great pictures of WWOHP! I'm not a Harry Potter fan, but I've enjoyed reading about your experience.

Not a Harry Potter fan! Just kidding, I know it is not for everybody. It is a neat area of the park even if you aren't into the books/movies.

 

[teachermommy78]

I think the second tantrum picture posted was much more accurate. I'm glad your brother was considerate enough to update!

Loving the WWoHP pics!!! I really, really want to go. How much is admission to Universal? I'm assuming a family of 5 would be outrageous. I told my kids that anyone who has read or listened to all 7 books would be able to go when we go back in 3 years. I'm assuming Finn won't be there yet. Scott or I will stay back with anyone who doesn't.

I also used your hike pictures in a lesson yesterday! We are doing landforms, so several we're covered! Thanks!

 

[jordanyosh]

your brothers must drive you crazy, but they make me laugh...I think I probably match them occasionally in maturity level...............

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I think the second tantrum picture posted was much more accurate. I'm glad your brother was considerate enough to update!

Yep, so appreciative.

Loving the WWoHP pics!!! I really, really want to go. How much is admission to Universal? I'm assuming a family of 5 would be outrageous. I told my kids that anyone who has read or listened to all 7 books would be able to go when we go back in 3 years. I'm assuming Finn won't be there yet. Scott or I will stay back with anyone who doesn't.

A one day/one park ticket for an adult is $85, a 2 day/2 park ticket is $136 for an adult. AAA usually had cheaper tickets and I have seen "sales" on Universal tickets from time to time.

The Wizarding World is mostly themed after movies 3/4 with a little bit from 1 and 2 sprinkled about.

I also used your hike pictures in a lesson yesterday! We are doing landforms, so several we're covered! Thanks!

No problem!

your brothers must drive you crazy, but they make me laugh...I think I probably match them occasionally in maturity level...............

Yes, sometimes they do drive me crazy but I was somewhat expecting that picture to show up in one form or another at least a few times during the report. It is their favourite picture of me.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

The Crazy Stepmother Chronicles: August 2011

Day Eight: Banff National Park: Plain of the Six Glaciers and Lake Agnes Hike

Last I left you I had arrived at the end of the Lake Agnes trail to find the family waiting patiently for me on a bench. Once I arrived we continued a little further down the path and the lake came into view. It was beautiful!

Unfortunately due to the time of the day the sun was in a bad position for photos.

Marcus decided to take a refreshing drink from the lake.

I decided that I would like a refreshing drink for myself and what do you know? There was another tea house! This one looked a little fancier than the Six Glaciers tea house, would it be as good? Unfortunately only Maria decided to join me. Ugh, "bonding" time alone with the step.

They had indoor and outdoor seating. The sign said to seat yourself and that a server would come and take your order. We grabbed a table inside since it wasn't as busy in there.

Here is their menu board

Well, we waited and waited and nobody came to serve us. I eventually got fed up and said they clearly didn't want our business and I would just finish off the water in my pack rather than wasting time waiting for service. So if you ever hike in the area and are not sure which tea house to go to, I recommend the Six Glaciers tea house as it has good food and good service.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

There was a waterfall nearby so I went down to get some photos.

This crazy dude climbed right out into the waterfall. I am all for trying to get good photos but no way would I climb out onto slippery rocks into a waterfall. Too risky! He clearly did not read about the Yosemite incident this summer. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4381580...s-who-went-over-yosemite-falls-presumed-dead/

After snapping a few photos of the waterfall I told the family I had found a better path that would take us back down to Lake Louise. It was the horseback riding trail so it wasn't as steep as the path we had climbed on the way up.

Marcus was being silly and kept trying to walk through Dad's legs. It was funny to me but annoying to Dad.

My toes were killing me by this point. They were in so much pain, I think I need a pair of hiking boots a half size bigger than my normal shoe size as going down hill my toes felt so crammed. I told Dad that my toes hurt so bad that I would probably lose a toenail. He told me I was exaggerating (who is the Nursing student here? .) Well I won't leave you in suspense. My toes were really red and throbbing once the hike was over and I took the boots off but they looked like they would be okay. Well a few days after we got back from BC I noticed that the nail on my baby toe on my left foot had turned black and it is still that way over a month later! I am just waiting for it to fall off.

Due to the pain, the trip back down was slow going for me.

About halfway down we came upon Mirror Lake. Again, because of the time of day and the position of the sun my pictures aren't that great.

Lake Louise is getting closer!

Back at Lake Louise. Wow! Just look at that colour!

Dad laughed at how I was walking, said I looked very regal. I was walking very slowly and being careful of my footing due to the pain in my toes and my back was ramrod staright. I also had my walking pole which from a distance could look like a parasol or a cane I guess.

Originally I had wanted to go into the Chateau to take a look at the interior but I was in too much pain. I just wanted to get those boots off! I just snapped a few pictures of the flowers and the exterior before slowly hobbling back to the car.

As soon as I got into the car I pulled those boots off. Sweet relief! I had my flip flops in the car so I slipped those on and wore them for the rest of the night.

Back at the campsite I took a wonderful shower. The campsite had some wonderful private showers available, it felt so good to get the sweat and grime from the day washed off.

Once again Maria made a ridiculous amount of food for dinner.

That night the campsite was giving another presentation. This time it was all about wolverines. None of us knew anything about wolverines so it was really interesting. There was no on-stage volunteer participation this time but Erich did get a National Parks temporary tattoo for answering a question. She had a picture of a marmot, a pika and one other animal on the screen and asked what they all had in common. The obvious answer was that they are all prey of the wolverine. Well the audience gave all sorts of answers, none were the one she was looking for. What was Erich's contribution? That they all have eyes. He and all the others all got tattoos anyways despite their ridiculous answers.

After the presentation I decided that the only way I would get sleep that night was if I drugged myself so I downed two Advil Cold & Sinus. I know it is terrible to take meds you don't need but I was desperate for a good nights sleep and Advil always knocks me out. It worked like a dream and I easily fell asleep that night and slept through the whole night. Alek and Erich complained that I snored. For some reason taking cold meds makes me snore.

That is the end of our second day in Banff! We had another full day of hiking ahead of us in the morning.

 

[englishrose47]

Poor you bonding time with the step

The Bros version of you with the angry face is toooooooo funny!!!