What a BLAST!

At breakfast this morning we threw around some ideas of what we wanted to do today.  Before long, we had a plan and I had to race to get everything ready!  The weather was beautiful and so we headed out to the airport. 

As soon as we started pulling the plane out of the hangar, Ben started to vibrate with excitement!  We had brought their bikes out too, but he didn’t want anything to do with his… he wanted in the plane NOW!  We got him strapped in and put the headset on him and he immediately reached up and adjusted the mike.  He’s a pro already!  After a few adjustments – we had to prop him up a bit so he could see out easier – they took off and flew over the town.  Emma was not impressed that they left her behind and it took me a bit of convincing to ensure her that they would be back!  Pretty soon, they were back and Emma got her turn.  Both kids absolutely loved it and even got a chance to ‘fly’ the plane!  They were very proud to tell me all about holding on to the stick and making the airplane move.  I think we may have a couple more pilots in the family in the coming years!

   

Once the airplane was back in the hangar, we decided to have some fun and shoot off the rocket we’d bought earlier in the week.  We had been planning on going camping last night and shooting it off then, but a rainstorm swept through and we decided to forego the pleasure of being stuck in a trailer with kids that still haven’t figured out that their bunk beds are for sleeping in… not just playing!

We pulled out the launch pad, got the rocket ready and counted down.  To say that we had a blast (pun intended), would be an understatement!  The first rocket landed out in a farmer’s field that had Lennard chasing after it.  After some adjustments, the next rocket landed in the opposite direction in another farmer’s field!  (I laughed.)  At last, he got it just right and the rockets came right back to us.  It was so fun to see the kids (and Lennard’s) reactions to them blasting off.  We’re definitely going to have to do this activity again!  (Maybe the family campout in August?)

  

Once we had used all the engines up that we had, we packed everything up and headed home long enough for us to unload the bikes, pack up a picnic lunch and head out to Waterton!  We had decided that it was high time that we actually hike Bear’s Hump – since I was the only one that had… and I don’t remember the last time I did!  The kids both fell asleep on the way there, so we let them sleep and had our ‘picnic’ in the truck.  We finally woke Emma up, got some food in to her and headed up the trail.  To say that I am completely out of shape would probably be an understatement, so it was no wonder that I was dripping in sweat (sorry for the graphic picture) before long.  The kids were amazing though!  Ben was ahead of us most of the time and walked the entire way up by himself (other than some of the extra tall steps on those switchbacks).  Emma was content to walk beside me, though it meant I got a bit more of a workout trying to lift her up the stairs too!  We finally made it to the top and cooled off quickly with the crazy winds up top!  The kids loved all the chipmunks and were a bit startled when the chipmunks came right up on the bench beside them and tried to eat their cookies right out of their hands!  After a nice break up top, we headed back down.  Emma entertained us (and everyone else on the trail) by singing “I am a Child of God” at the top of her lungs.  She loved jumping down the steps, though my shoulder didn’t love it!  They made it almost the entire way down the trail too, until Ben semi-wiped out and wanted to be carried.  Pretty good for him to hike 98% of the way up and down!  Emma did the whole thing by herself! 

After loading up on water and taking a bathroom break, we drove up to Cameron Lake.  The kids had fun throwing rocks in the lake and Lennard and I just had fun sitting back and watching them.  It has truly been one of the best days!  It just makes me want to freeze these moments.  I don’t want to forget their excitement and enthusiasm for every little thing.  Looking at the flowers on the trail or finding that extra special rock!  I love feeling their arms wrapped around my neck and getting to smother them in kisses.  I am so incredibly blessed!