Panorama 2023
This year in Panorama made up for the lack of the Panorama trip last year. This year Mom and Dad Reed celebrated their 40th wedding anniversay and so everyone took the entire week off and we all celebrated together in Panorama! It was a while week with family and it was everything we hoped it would be, and more. Our kids LOOOVVVEEEDDDD all the cousin time. They played and hung out non stop. They all get along so well, it really was as dreamy as Im making it sound. It was perfect and I hope it was exactly how they invisioned celebrating their 40th anniversary!
We all got to Panorama last Sunday, July 16th. The drive was uneventful and great. I was so excited that this year (the first time in forever) Brian would be there the whole week too! He took a weeks holiday and we all spent every minute together!
The first night we got there we checked in, ate dinner and then the playing begun. The kids all played for HOURS and it was so fun having all my nieces and nephews around constantly. I love being an auntie so much and after this trip I love them more then I even did before, if thats even possible.
After dinner, we all headed up the gondola to the pool. Arguably the best part of panorama (or so we would have said in years past). We prayed so much that Carter wouldn't have a reaction to the water and jumped in!
Unfortunately, that night, Carter had a full body reaction. We were up with him from 3am-4:30am doing everything we could to make the hives stop and calm his body down. My heart shattered for him. One 45 minute pool experience ruined any other pool experiences for the week and he felt so bummed out about it.
Little did we know that Carter having this reaction would open so many other cool doors in Panorama that we had never experienced before and the pool was "ok" but definietly no longer the best part of Panorama. The biggest blessing is the experiences we gained over the heartbeak we initially felt.
The next morning, all the cousins went back to the pool but since Carter couldn't go, Brian took him on a big bike ride on Valley trail. Carter learned to love his bike again this trip. He rode his bike for hours every single day.
We spent the afternoon playing at the courts. Pickle ball, basketball, biking, making forts from falled trees. There was something fun for everyone to do and when we needed a minute from the hot sun, I painted some little cousins nails!
We finished every day staying up way too late, eating too many treats and with so much anticipation for the following day. The weather was only getting hotter and hotter as the week went on.
On Tuesday we got up, had breakfast and headed down to Lillian Lake. It was only about 10 minutes down the hill from Panorama and none of us had ever been before. It was AMAZING! We were all amazed at how beautiful it was! We spent half the day just hanging out, paddle boarding, swimming, fishing. We were all in heaven!
After we finished at Lillian Lake, Brian and the kids and I drove down into invermere to find Brian a collard shirt (for Golfing the next day), get gas, and the kids begged us for these bucket hats. They each picked out their own and then wore them the entire rest of the trip... still not sure how I feel about them BUT they LOVE them so thats what matters the most!
We spent some time in the pool later that day too. Carter was such a good sport, he came with everyone but just brought his iPad and watched the office in the shade and felt content.
It really was such a great day.
Wednesday came quickly! The week was half over but the adventures felt like they were just beginning! Wednesday was a day FULL of new adventures!! We first started off at a little pond in Invermere that had these turtles. They were fun to see. Brian and the kids tried to fish off the dock but just kept catching minos... which was sad and funny all in the same moment.
From there we headed over to the Windermere Recreation Site. We had never been here before but Brian did some research and found it and I am so glad he did!! It was breathtaking!!
The water was also breathtaking... literally. It was so cold that it literally took your breath away! The kids paddled aroud in floaties, the adults and Carter and Bentley clif jumped and Brian did the rope swing ... which actually was insane and I will never understand how he wasn't scared to do this..
Lena and I jumped together. I think we both felt a little more brave with a friend and then we took the floated to a little cave hidden off on the side. This place was amazing! Apparently the water was 90 feet deep! This world is miraculous!
Only our family, Lena & Jarren's family and Meghan and Steven's family came to these adventures. Becky and her family were taking it easy that day in Panorama and Mom and Dad were doing their own little adventure!
Wednesday late afternoon and into the evening, Brian, Carter, Steven and Jarren all went golfing! Carter got to drive the golf cart (the best day of his life!) and loved every minute of being part of the guys afternoon golfing!
Thursday was even hotter of a day. We spent the morning doing all the activities at the top of the resort. Everyone loved it and my cheeks hurt from smiling so much.
And of course.. we had to do the Candy Cabin!
We finished the evening off with awesome water balloon games outside of Grandma and Grandpas unit and it was just the best!
And just when we thought it couldnt get any better.. it did! We all rushed up to the top of the hill to grab some INCREDIBLE ice cream before the shop closed. It really was another perfect day!
Friday came all too quickly. We had planned on another full morning at Lillian Lake because it was so much fun the first time. The second time around was just as awesome. The little lake is such a beautiful warm gem and Im sure we will go every year from now on.
And then.. I notice this little snake slitering in the water...
I immediately thought of Carter and his absolute LOVE for snakes paired with all these fun, adventurous cousins that are always looking for bugs, birds and animals and freaked out!! "BRIAN!!!!!!!! GET THE SNAKE... GET IT!!! CARTER NEEEEDDDSS THIS!!!!! GO BRIAN GO!!!!"
In retrospect, I know I sounded insane on that beach but it was worth it because Brian jumped right in and made all the magic happen!!
The entire day was magic and amazing!
On the way back up the hill to Panorama, our family took a little detour on a dirt road and found the most peaceful, calming rushing river. We found rocks and took the moment to feel peace. It filled our souls right up!
Saturday was a much slower moving day. I think everyone was reaching their max amount of fun and late nights (if thats even possible). The cousins all made a Cousin Club fort in the trees close to our units. We had a picnice lunch up there as one big family while the kids hosted it. It really was so great.
We did the daisy walk with everyone and found frogs!
We had another huge water balloon fight with only a couple of tears from Henry and Jasper when their big brother, Gus, accidently poped a cold water balloon on them during the cousin picture.. oops!
We did one more stop at the Candy Cabin for treats for the drive home the next day..
And Brian and Carter had been wanting to do this huge mountain bike trail all week and explore a few km away so they went to do that together. I am so grateful for the realtionship Brian and Carter have. It's so cool to witness. The found lots of beautiful views, amazing bike trails and even a little cabin in the middle of no where. Such a cool experience.
The rest of us took one last dip in the pool. It was unfortunate that the cool pool was closed for the week after that first day and really it was so hot outside that the warm pools were too warm to really enjoy for too long but still nice to do one last time.
Brian and I and the kids did one last scoop at the best ice cream shop and then called it a night early for the kids so the adults could play games together.
We are so grateful for this opportunity we had to do this with our whole Reed family. We have left this week behind with a million memories, inside jokes, and super full bellies. We are so graetful for Brian's parents and their constant influence in our lives. We love them so much and are so grateful for facilitating this amazing week all together. It really was the best.
This summer is shaping up to be preety amazing with all these endless adventures!
We all got to Panorama last Sunday, July 16th. The drive was uneventful and great. I was so excited that this year (the first time in forever) Brian would be there the whole week too! He took a weeks holiday and we all spent every minute together!
Little did we know that Carter having this reaction would open so many other cool doors in Panorama that we had never experienced before and the pool was "ok" but definietly no longer the best part of Panorama. The biggest blessing is the experiences we gained over the heartbeak we initially felt.
The next morning, all the cousins went back to the pool but since Carter couldn't go, Brian took him on a big bike ride on Valley trail. Carter learned to love his bike again this trip. He rode his bike for hours every single day.
On Tuesday we got up, had breakfast and headed down to Lillian Lake. It was only about 10 minutes down the hill from Panorama and none of us had ever been before. It was AMAZING! We were all amazed at how beautiful it was! We spent half the day just hanging out, paddle boarding, swimming, fishing. We were all in heaven!
Wednesday came quickly! The week was half over but the adventures felt like they were just beginning! Wednesday was a day FULL of new adventures!! We first started off at a little pond in Invermere that had these turtles. They were fun to see. Brian and the kids tried to fish off the dock but just kept catching minos... which was sad and funny all in the same moment.
In retrospect, I know I sounded insane on that beach but it was worth it because Brian jumped right in and made all the magic happen!!