Crave Photography Giveaway

http://cravemyphotography.com/blog/lens-giveaway-2/ Love Crave! Hoping, hoping, hoping for the 85mm lens!!

Field Trip to Craters of the Moon with Joshua

When I found out Joshua was going on a field trip to Craters of the Moon I was so excited to be able to go with him.  I love hiking and especially with my kids.  We started off with a loooooong bus ride.  We stopped at the visitors center first and talked with a ranger.  Off we went to go on our hike.  The weather was beautiful!!  Unlike when I went with Caleb and the winds just about gusted us off the trail.  It was a wonderful day this time.  It was fun to find the lava rock with blue in it.  The kids loved searching for it.  I think it was hard to resist taking a rock with them though.  They were told not to because if everyone did it the park would lose many, many dump trucks worth of rock a year.  

I loved how Josh was ready to plow ahead.  He always wanted to be first in line!

I was simply amazed with the foliage that would grow in the most unusual places.  And how beautiful it was.  The flowers were tiny, but they somehow are able to grow in rock! 

Below is a spatter cone.  Because tourists use to climb right on it and due to erosion the spatter cone is not nearly as large as it use to be.  But is still amazing to look at none-the-less.

Caleb's Choir Concert

One thing I've loved about Marsh Valley Middle School is the choir program.  Caleb has taken it each year and they do a big concert at the end and it is so fun to watch.  The kids are so talented.  Other kids have complimented how nice Caleb's voice is too.

The older kids did a farmer theme which was so cute.  One singer in particular is so amazing.  Her name is Carrie Davis.  I do step aerobics with her mom and we've done a star party with her mom and dad.  Their family is so talented.  It's always a treat to hear Carrie sing!

Is Caleb Really 14 now?!!

You really can't be 14 yet Caleb!  Looking back time has gone by so fast.  It's so great you're 14!  I love having a strong, handsome son that has so much potential.  You make me laugh and you amaze me with how fast you learn things and help me when I need you.  Just aim high and continue using those many talents and you will find happiness.  I love you!

Meeting former Canuck players

While we stayed at the Canuck Place we had a fun event occur.  Two former Canuck players from the hockey team the Canucks came and visited.  Their last names were Pavel and Gino.  I guess Pavel was quite a star forward in his day!  We also had the privilege of the team mascot being there, Fin.  We had the most fun with him!

Pavel

Gino

Even Fin printed his hand.

The final result!  Great job guys!

It was really special to see the kids staying at the Canuck Place that could interact with the hockey players.

The wonderful Canuck Place

What an amazing hospice place David gets to stay at in between hospital stays.  It's a mansion that was converted into a hospice for children.  It is beautiful inside.  They feed you really well, have a game room, a learning room, beautiful rooms to lodge in too.  We loved it there with David.

The day we left was so hard to leave and say goodbye.

This was the room we stayed in.  It was huge with 10 beautiful stain glass windows.

This stain glass window was at the staircase between floors.  It was huge!

It was so great when we first got to see David!  I gave him a huge hug and the tears came.  So hard to be so far away.  He has to lay down or sit in his wheelchair pretty much the majority of the time.  He can use crutches a little bit.  He just can't put any pressure on his left hip.

Yes you can call me a Daddy's girl.

David gets himself around really well.  He is definitely a trooper.  I miss the days of seeing him run around though.  Andrew and Joshua and Caleb sure enjoyed themselves at the Canuck Place.

Bunch 'O Pictures at Butchart Garden

I was so excited to go to Butchart Garden, but as you can tell my kids were not.  That would definitely explain why an adult ticket costs $30 and a child's ticket costs $2!  Even though the garden was not in full bloom it was still amazing!

The tree on the left is the so unique!  I love it!  And boy do I miss redwood trees.

Overlooking the Sunken Garden

This fountain reminded me of the fountains at Bilagio in Vegas.  They kept changing into different formations.  Bet it's beautiful all lit up at night.

Love those pouty faces

There were all sorts of different animals like these made from plants.  

This is my absolutely favorite blooming tree of all time.  A magnolia tree.  The flowers are huge and so delicate looking.

On the left we were walking through the Rose Garden.  Unfortunately no roses were blooming yet.  Bet it's a sight to see!

More pouty faces

The flowers on the left, called forget-me-nots are one of my favorite flowers.  They are so tiny and my favorite color, blue.