Grumpy Pants

Not every day can smell like roses.  And not every day can start on the right foot when someone (I won't mention any names) wakes up before 5:30 raring to go.  So when someone (I won't mention any names) spends 20 minutes rolling and bouncing around his crib, eager for the day to get started, and then is re-snuggled in his blanket and told he needs to stay in bed a little longer because it's too early to get up, someone (I won't mention any names) has a complete meltdown and thinks the world is ending and simply cannot recover even when the other parties finally give up and resign themselves to letting him get up because they can't sleep through a screaming, crying someone (I won't mention any names).

But at that point, it's too late.  The grumpy pants have been put on.  The "woe is me" mantra has taken over. The tears are flowing, the snot is falling, and the injustice of it all cannot be forgiven!

Being freed from the crib = no good.
Cuddling with Mama = no good.
Eating breakfast = no good.

Some days, the grumpy pants go on and just don't come off for awhile.

So how do the grumpy pants come off?  TV.  I have learned the magic of letting the television soothe someone.  Truly, it works like magic.  He doesn't have to watch for long before he's calmed down, distracted from his earlier woes and ready to move on with the day.  It's the cure-all for a grumpy someone.  I have never loved TV more in my life :)

Eli's Paddle

I have to brag about my husband.  He made this canoe paddle:

He took a community class last year to learn how to do it, and he's taken months and months to finish it because he rarely had time to work on it.  But he finally finished the project this past week and I am so proud of him!  Isn't it gorgeous?  I love his attention to detail.  He used various kinds of wood including pine, red cedar and walnut.  

I think it's too beautiful to use.  Eli says I'm ridiculous.  I want to hang it on the wall.  Eli says I'm ridiculous.  I say we'll never have time to use it anyway.  Eli says I'm ridiculous!  But truly, it's a work of art and I'm so proud of this beauty that the craftsman part of my husband was able to create.

Glacier National Park

After another day in Calgary, we headed south to Glacier National Park.  Our original plans were to spend a few days in Banff National Park, which is only an hour from Calgary, but after the massive flooding that took place in Alberta last month we decided to change plans.  We had reservations at a place in Canmore, just outside Banff, but the town was hit hard by the flooding and many residents were still boiling their water and undergoing cleanup and repairs.  Plus, most of the hiking trails in the park were closed or in poor condition after the flooding.  So to Glacier we went, where the trails were dry and accessible and the accommodations in working order.

It was lunch time as we got to the park and we'd read about a local place in the town of St. Mary called Johnson's Cafe.  Let me tell you, it was well worth the stop!  It was a charming, small, family-owned restaurant with amazing food.  Eli ordered the Bear Attack.  The description in the menu is "everything but the kitchen sink" and even the waitress couldn't tell us what it was because whenever someone orders the Bear Attack it's up to the chef to create whatever he/she wants to.  Obviously, Eli ordered one as soon as he heard that :)  Every Bear Attack is completely different from another, and Eli happened to get a giant, sort-of burrito with all the fixings (including fries inside).  There were some random ingredients in there, but Eli claimed it was to die for and he devoured the whole thing.

Bear Attack!

Johnson's Cafe, with an incredible view of the mountains

After lunch we headed straight into the park.  I'd been there once as a kid, but didn't remember much.  Eli had never been.  We were both enthralled!  It reminded me of Switzerland.  The scenery was momentous and breathtaking, and the mountain air incredibly fresh.  We drove straight through the park and we couldn't stop staring out the window.  There is no better place to be than the grandeur of God's creation.

Wild Goose Island

The next day we went hiking.  Well, I should say we went strolling through the Trail of the Cedars and then my dad and Eli actually went hiking.  I don't do well with inclines these days, so I was happy to walk the flat, paved trail and then let my husband do the real hiking.  I wasn't pregnant when we originally planned this trip so of course I was originally planning to conquer the mountainous trails with Eli, but alas, it was not to be.  My mom kept me and Caleb company, however, and I got to sit and enjoy ice cream instead :)  Not a bad trade-off for a pregnant lady in the summer!

Trail of Cedars

Caleb ran around for awhile too.  This kid loves - LOVES - to play with sticks and wood chips and rocks and leaves and pinecones and pretty much anything he finds on the ground.  He was in heaven.  His shirt was rather appropriate; it says, "Rocks, Sticks 'n Water....this must be Heaven!"  Most of these pictures are blurry, unfortunately.  Caleb was moving too fast for me, plus it's getting more and more difficult for me to squat down to take photos of him, so I couldn't quite capture him this time.  But you can see how happy he was :)

with my mom and dad on the Trail of Cedars

On our last day at Glacier we went to Logan Pass, in the middle of the park where the Continental Divide is. It was downright cold when we got out of the car.  I was hoping to walk down the trail a bit with my dad and Eli, but neither I nor Caleb were dressed appropriately.  So we wandered around the Visitor Center for awhile, then left them to do the hiking while my mom kept me and Caleb company again.  My dad and Eli saw plenty of mountain goats and marmots, and had to trek through some snow too.  They said it was amazing.  I'm so jealous I couldn't have done it with them!

the Clarks: Krista (née Clark) Horn, Caleb Clark Horn, and Mark Clark

the Horns

Lastly, we ate our picnic lunch at a place called Lunch Creek, no joke!  It was lovely.  The stream was crystal clear and we could see all the mountains around Logan Pass.  It was the perfect way to end our short visit to Glacier National Park.  

Lunch Creek

And now we're home again.  Back to reality.  But we were refreshed from our travels and explorations.  We're so thankful we had the chance to go, and so thankful for such fun things to do and beautiful places to see in this world!

Calgary Stampede

Yahoo!  We had a grand time at the Calgary Stampede today!  We're on vacation and just happen to be here when "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth" is taking place.  Calgary prides itself on its cowboy culture and the Stampede is by far the biggest event the city is known for.  Even before we left the airport we were surrounded by people wearing cowboy hats and we were "branded" by a cowboy who stamped our hands with the Stampede logo as he welcomed us to town.  Everywhere we turn are people dressed in the traditional cowboy getup.  Eli was sad he forgot to bring his giant belt buckle :)

First Family Vacation!

(My parents are here too and it's great to have this time with them!)

Caleb liked to wear his hat like a prospector :)

It rained most of the morning, but we were dry and happy inside the agricultural barns.  Caleb loved the horses.  This particular horse was a Clydesdale named Big Jack.  He is one of the biggest horses we've ever seen.  To understand how tall he is, note that Eli is 6'5"!

Caleb pet a few horses and kept saying, "oooh" as we walked around the stalls.  They're such beautiful animals.  I think there are few creatures so majestic and awe-inspiring as horses.

We also stopped for a photo op with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, a must while in Canada!  (While I thought they were rather fetching in their uniforms, Caleb was apparently unimpressed).

Next was the Rodeo!  It's the highlight of the Stampede, to be sure.  We had great seats up high, in the front row of our section and under the awning (which was great since it was still raining when sat down).  The arena was incredibly muddy, which made for interesting roping and riding conditions that added extra flavor to the entire event.  It was great fun!  We saw bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, tie down roping, bullriding, and wild pony racing (which was hilarious and a new favorite of ours!).  Several of the competing cowboys were world champions in their events, so it was a great show.  It was a fabulous way to spend an afternoon!

the muddy Grandstand

steer wrestling



bullriding

Our own little cowboy fell asleep during the first half of the rodeo but woke up to find himself still at the Stampede and was super excited.  He was snuggled with my dad while sleeping but just wanted his Mama when he woke up :)  He is such a Mama's boy and I love it!

So Yahoo!  We're having a great time already and it's only Monday.  Eli and I have always loved to travel and this is our first real vacation since he started residency two years ago.  And it's great to be in Canada.  Such a fabulous country so close to home!  Caleb officially has a stamp in his passport too, which will be the first of many, no doubt.  We're excited to share our love of traveling with him!

Oh, and just so you know:



Happy 4th of July!

It was a gorgeous day here in Duluth - absolutely perfect weather for the holiday!  What's more, Eli was blessed with the day off!  We spent the whole day together as a family and it was wonderful, just wonderful. We used the new bike trailer and went biking on the Lakewalk to Canal Park where we got smoothies.  The Lakewalk is one of our favorite places in Duluth because it goes right along Lake Superior.  It's stunning!

This kid loves smoothies!

It felt so good to be on our bikes again!

Then we went home for lunch and naps (yes, this Mama still naps at least once a day!).  And then we spent all afternoon outside at home.  It's such a blessing to have a yard.  I could go on and on.  While we lived in Chicago we were surrounded by cement on all sides.  There was no yard, not even a patch of grass, around our apartment.  So moving to Duluth and renting a house with a yard has been a great, wonderful, amazing blessing.  We do not take it for granted!  Caleb loves the yard too :)

Happy 4th of July!

Caleb loves to blow dandelions.  He picks them everywhere and blows on them, trying to get the white fuzzy part to fall off.  I showed him this once, and now he's obsessed :)

Practicing to become a Heisman Trophy winner...Eli was pretty excited :)

He's such a boy.  He loves sticks and rocks and leaves and weeds and...

He also loves playing under the table on our deck.  

His hair's a little long, but we just love those curls and can't bring ourselves to cut it yet!

Visiting the chickens at our community garden.

So it was a wonderful holiday, a wonderful day of rest before our big trip to Canada this weekend.  We're flying to Calgary on Saturday and will be on vacation for a week.  It'll be our first real vacation since moving to Duluth, and our first vacation as a family.  We're looking forward to it!

New Bike Trailer

We've got a new bike trailer!  This was our Mother's Day / Father's Day gift to each other.  We love biking but haven't been able to go much since we had a kid.  This year Caleb is big enough for this, however, so last night we finally put it together and Eli took him for a little joy ride around the neighborhood.

helping Daddy

I got him this flag in honor of the upcoming holiday and he barely let it go the whole day :)

Inaugural use of the bike trailer!

I think he's a fan :)

"Thanks for the sweet ride, Dad!"

We're so excited to use this the rest of the summer.  And since two kids can fit inside, we can use it next summer too!  It'll be the perfect way for us to enjoy being outside as a family, and for me and Eli to finally get back on our bikes!