Kelowna 2015
We just finished our 7 day vacation and it was so much fun! Our kids were up right at 5:40am and Carter was even dressed when he came in our room at 5:45am because he was SO excited to be going on Vacation with his best friend. It was exciting but 5am is a little too early buddy.. just so you know for next time. We left left Saturday at 7am drove the day with multiple stops to stretch our legs with all 6 kids.. Penny cried most of the 8 hours it took us to get there but the scenery was amazing!
Our last stop was at a super cute little market that had goats and dinosaurs statues. Seems random but was so cute and when Bentley got out of the car (and saw motorcycles parked closer to the front of the market) he gasped and said "Dinosaurs AND Motorcyles.... WHOA!" lol so cute.
Once we arrived at the house we rented and unpacked a little, we all went straight down to the lake. There were trampolines in the water and the bigger kids and Daddy's got right in and had a blast!
Day two started off a little weird. All the kids were up again before 6am .. still because of excitement and the house hardly any blinds so as soon as the sun was up, so were the kids. At the breakfast table, Carter puked all over his waffles... seemed strange because after he puked, he said he was fine. We went about our day continually asking him if he was feeling sick and he just kept saying "no, I'm not sick" We got dressed and drove for an hour to a beautiful cherry orchard and swapped family photo shoots with the McCollums! Its so nice having friends who are also photographers. Just as we were pulling up to the orchard, Bentley puked ALL OVER HIMSELF.. in his car seat. All over his clothes, his blankie and the car. *sign* Was it the flu? We had no idea what was going on but as soon as he puked, he seemed totally fine too and started running around acting crazy with the other kiddos... with puke all over his shirt. Luckily, it was mostly water he puked up and his shirt dried before we did our photos. Here are a few shots we got :)
Thank you so much Andrew & Andrea for capturing some fun memories for us. After photos, we drove back to Kelowna and went out to a little fancier restaurant for lunch. Just as Carter was eating, he stopped.. didn't say a word.. and I knew exactly what was about to happen. He proceeded to puke ALL OVER THE TABLE at the restaurant. *sign* Our poor buddy was sick. We quickly helped clean it up, packed up our little family and headed back to the house to do some laundry and just relax for the rest of the day. The McCollum's stayed out and did their own thing and we all prayed the puking would end there! Little did we know, Lincoln would puke in the middle of the night and Autumn the next night. The flu was going around.. and while we were trying to enjoy vacation. These poor sweet kids. Luckily it really seemed to be a once or twice puke fest and then it was over.
The next morning all the kids woke up super early and Happy!
I mean, who wouldn't be though when you get to wake up to this view!
And my goodness, Autumn and Bentley are so cute!!!!
Since Carter was sick the day before and didn't get to go to the pool which was originally the plan after photos, we all went first thing in the morning!
Doing and flips and jumps into the pool was obviously the favourite thing to do! We headed back into Kelowna for lunch and to check out the beach and splash park there. The kids were on cloud 9!
What a fun place at their main beach! I could spend every day there! That night, we had dinner at the house, and got a surprise rain shower which made the most beautiful calm feeling in the air and it was nice just to take it in.
It also helped that the kids were quietly watching a show trying to pass the time.
We finished the evening with Mini golf and an early bedtime knowing that the kids would most likely be up before 6am again.. which they were!
Day 4 was so fun! We headed to the beach and splash park! Thanks to the kids waking us up so early, we got a really great spot on the beach before it got really busy.
The water was the best way to cool off and snuggle up in your sisters towel.
Penny was a cranky baby on the trip. She was so tired and not sleeping well at all at night. She started wanting bottles in the middle of the night again and really wouldn't sleep unless she was between Brian and I in our bed so she was exhausted and really just wanted to be held.. the entire time.
And as much as I wanted to do so many things, I love that she knows how to slow life down and breath in the sweet moments of life. I am such a lucky mom.
The splash park there was amazing!
And the four big kids LOVED IT!
We finished the day at the pool again and the kids were in bed early again while Brian and I and Andrew and Andrea enjoyed the night on the deck enjoying each others company. It was really fun being on vacation with them!
Day 5. I think we were all starting to be over getting up at 5 something with the kids. We were all exhausted but pushed through the exhaustion and found the energy to enjoy a beautiful hike.. 400 steps to the top of the waterfalls and it was BEAUTIFUL!
This amazing world is so unique, so beautiful and full of so much character and all we have to do it find it!
Hehe, these two cuties are so fun together! Good friends are the best!
The rest of the day we went to Atlantis WaterSlides. I didn't bring my camera because it seemed too risky leaving it while we enjoyed the slides, but it was a blast!! Bentley wasn't really into it although he did come down a few with me but Carter and I had so much fun with everyone and went down lots of slides!
Day 6. After that stunning hike to the waterfalls, I was desperate to go back and take a few more family photos myself of our family. It was such a pretty spot and the lighting that morning was amazing, so both our families went and took some more of our own families and I am so glad we did!
These two boys melt my heart!!! (When they aren't screaming and fighting that is!)
And this little lady's smile is so contagious!!
My boys to me are so special. I share a special bond with each of them and I love them together and individually more than I could put into words. My heart is so full when they are around me. I love you so much Carter and Bentley.
Penny is my sweet little lady. Her and I have a special bond too that I wouldn't trade for anything and she is totally a Mama's girl which I love and hold close to my heart. I love you my sweet Penny girl!
The bond and relationship that Brian has with our children is more than I could have ever dreamed of. He truly is the best Daddy in the entire world. He loves our children more than anything and shares a special relationship with each of them.
We are so lucky to have this special family we have created and not a day goes by where we don't count our blessings as parents to these special little spirits.
And I cannot thank this one special lady enough for being such a great friend. Andrea, it was so fun vacationing with you and your sweet family. Thank you for being such a great friend. Im sorry Brian and I have zero decision making skills and probably drove you guys crazy lol but at the end of the day, we are blessed to have you guys as friends and are excited to go on another family vacation with you!
The place we took photos this time around was honestly amazing! So Andrew came up with the idea to play hide-and-go-seek.
SO.MUCH.FUN!!!!
Love all these sweet little kids so so much! I am glad that they will get the chance to grow up together!
That afternoon, the two families split up and did our own things for a couple of hours. Our little family went to Kelowna and went back to the beach but this time to play at the park. The drive down there was.... quiet.....
The park there was super fun for the kids.
Once we were done at the park, we found a shady spot on the grass and just hung out and enjoyed all the small things that bring so much happiness to us. We just sat and chatted with the kids in the cool grass and spent time together. It was nice.
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And an hour or so before meeting back up with Andrew and Andrea and their kids, we went out to a little ice cream shop in downtown Kelowna and got some cones. The boys LOVED it... clearly...
The week had gone so fast and before we knew it, we only had one day in paradise left! This was probably one of my favourite days of the vacation. We went to Kangaroo Creek Farm.
Im pretty sure mine and Andrea's hearts were going to explode when we found out that we were able to hold baby kangaroos!!! We were all in heaven! This sweet little joey was named "Tinkerbell" and she was just one week out of pouch!
Carter got to hold another one too.. lucky duck!
The whole farm was amazing!! There were Kangaroos everywhere, eating, sleeping and jumping around. They were obviously super friendly and we were able to go up to any one of them and feed them or pet them. It was so cool!
Bentley LOVED the little chicks!
Penny LOVED the crazy looking chickens.. she would look at them and either scream or squeal and kick her feet and swing her hands.. its was a little crazy!
And Carter's favourite was he fun little Sugar gliders! He was IN LOVE with the fact the they crawled all over him and jumped around. He was in heaven with them.
Everyone got a turn with the sugar glider on them.. even Penny, and Im surprised she didn't freak out!
It jumped on me too but the lady ripped him off my shirt so quickly because he was about to poop! Im so glad she knows him well enough to know when he's about to poop so that I didn't have to walk around the rest of the day with that on my shoulder.
It was seriously so much fun and I wish it was in Calgary so I could go again.. every single day! For our last afternoon, we went back down to the lake and played.
Bentley doesn't really enjoy cold water so he just had fun throwing rocks in the water.
I had so much fun with Carter playing "Pirates" in the water. I love those moments with him.
After dinner, before bed, we went back to our pool for the very last time. Carter said the pool was the best part for him. We had so much fun with the sweet McCollum family. Im excited to do it again. Thanks guys for being such great vacation buddies!
So until next time in the beautiful rocky mountains, we will cherish these sweet fun memories we made. We are lucky to live in the most beautiful area in the world.
