My Long Weekend

Welcome back!  I was off work all last week and honestly it has taken me a few days to get back into the swing of things.  Plus we were out at the lake for the long weekend and I really want to go back.

Here's a little re-cap on last week and the weekend:

So our day home was closed - so I was off work.  Monday and Tuesday Hubby was working, so I was home with the kids - it was pure heaven!  I got so much stuff done, I could not believe how much easier it is to get ready for the trailer when I have 2 full days to do it.

On Tuesday I took Little Boy for his allergy test.  We knew he was allergic to fish, but needed to get an official diagnosis and see just how allergic he was.  Well after waiting 10 months for the appointment, we took the train into downtown and confirmed he is mildly allergic to various types of fish – mild enough not to need an epipen – yeah! 

Then Wednesday it was off to the lake we went.
The weather was not perfect, but it wasn't horrible either – so overall great and I'll take it.

Thursday was really nice so the kids wanted the kiddie pool set up – but of course could not wait for the sun to warm up the water at all. 

Needless to say, they had a blast.  After this Hubby took them down to the lake and they continued to have fun and swim in a very cold, not yet warmed up lake – kids are crazy!

I enjoyed many hours doing this:

Ahhh, bliss.

We had fun chatting with friends we had not seen since last year and we also had fun making sure the kids and people avoided the bears that were being spotted in and around the camp ground.

We figured they would take off once everyone arrived on Friday, but I guess the thought of all those smokies and beers are just too tempting for a bear.

Hubby spotted one on the train tracks Saturday evening and the next day the bear traps were set up.

This is how close that trap was to everything - literally right in the middle of
the campground.

As of when we left none had been caught, but more were spotted.  Hoping they are caught soon.

But back to reality, well what ever that means in Calgary during Stampede...

Family Camping

We had a fantastic time out at the trailer last weekend!

The kids had so much fun and there was no rain - what more could you ask for.

If you are a new reader to Minivan Stiletto, we own a lot in a campground out near Cranbrook BC on Moyie Lake.

So our trailer is permanently parked there, we have grass, a deck and a bunk house for guests.

I managed to snap a few pictures, no where near as many as I would have liked, but it is amazing how many walks we manage to fit in, and just sitting around relaxing.

Campfire time

Helping Daddy rake the grass.

Out for one of many walks.

A walk is not complete without ending up at the park.

We all had a wonderful weekend, we are so happy camping season is here and can't wait to get back out there.

Oh, we also got a special treat, on the drive to the trailer, we were able to stop in and see our brand new niece.  Adam's sister had her baby! 

Nothing like snuggles with an 8 day old baby!!

Little Girl was pretty excited to meet her first first cousin - however disappointed she was not up for playing with her and Little Boy.



And it Begins.... Camping Season is Here!

Finally, camping season is back!
There are 7 months of the year that I really wish I lived somewhere warmer.  Somewhere there was no snow and I could camp year round.
But no, I live here in Alberta, where we are cursed blessed with 7 months of winter.

But we are back.  Hubby went out last weekend to open up for us and today we are on our way here:

Of course it doesn't look like that right now, but we are getting closer to summer...

Both kids of course are beyond excited.

Working Weekend

This past weekend we headed out to the trailer and took advantage of the quiet campground to do a bunch of work.

Hubby finished cutting up and chopping the wood.

Little Boy helped.

Little Girl was a great help moving the wood.



I love how she has to wear a dress every day and it does not matter what the job is, she will do it in a dress.



 Even Brutis was tired at the end of the day.



This weekend we did what we call as our pre-shut down.  We are going out one more time this fall when we will shut down the trailer for the season, but this past trip was for cleaning up the summer stuff.

Deflating the water toys, cutting up the wood for next year, cleaning out the fridge, freezer and pantry of everything except what we will need for our last trip out.

What about you?  Are you done camping for the season?  If not, when is your last trip out?

A Wood Shed

This summer our project out at our campsite was to build a wood shed.

Hubby took a look at a few other wood shed around, planned it out and look at what we have now.

Of course I can't take a picture without the kids running in to be included.

We decided to make a smaller section for chair storage.  This will clean up our deck considerably with all the chairs now living in their new home.

Welcome Back!

I know I have been M.I.A. for a while, but I have an excuse, I was on holidays and there is virtually no internet access!  (I have mixed feeling about that, but it is probably for the best that I am not blogging, facebooking and tweeting while I am suppose to be hanging my the kids, sharing a drink with my hubby and chatting around the campfire with friends.)

But because I was so busy getting us all packed and ready for 2 weeks at our trailer, I missed doing a few posts I wanted to before I left, so I will post them over the next few days and then follow with some posts about our holidays.

Camping

Growing up we never went camping, correction, we went twice, the first time I remember a lot of rain, the second time I remember swarms of mosquitoes.

When I left home and ventured out on my own, none of my girlfriends were into camping, rather our idea of camping involved a nice hotel with a great lounge where we could camp out in the evening.

So when I met my husband and found out he was big time into camping with his friends, I was more than a little leery.

I remember the first time he took me out, I had to go and buy a pair of Tivas; the only sandals I owned had a minimum 2 inch heal.

We went to a no services campground with 2 other couples.  No services means outhouses, but I am not a complete princess – I have used them before – I grew up visiting my grandmother and that was the only washroom at her place.

But we had lots of fun that first time out, swimming in the river, lots of laughs and maybe a few jell-o shooters.

The 2-man tent we used got a lot of use those first 2 summers, including a trip out to Tofino where he asked me to marry him at sunset on the beach, but after we discovered the tent had more holes than a brick of Swiss cheese, I started making noises for a trailer.

Our first trailer was bought after we got married, a 17 foot expandable.  We were in heaven!

A furnace, a fridge and a freezer, a washroom – with a flushing toilet.  I might add and we could stand up to get dressed.

We decided right away that we were going to bring our children camping as early as possible.  We camped with Little Girl when she was 2 months old and Little Boy when he was 6 months old.  We would have gone sooner but in Alberta there is only so early even we get out camping.

 Little Girl - her first camping trip - 2 months old that day - I love how little she is on this bed.

This is one of my favourite pictures.  There is a great Dad!

Same camping trip - this is my first Mother's Day!



We loved that little trailer, we only had it for 2 season, but it was fantastic.  Light weight, but still had everything we could want / need in a trailer – we took some great vacations with it into BC.

But camping has changed for us.... more to come on that soon.