Summer Road Trip 2013

Also found some pictures from our summer road trip to Idaho last year. Some pictures were taken by my little photographer Leila.

First stop was in Cranbrook, BC.

Somebody enjoyed taking pictures :D

Welcome to Silverwood Theme Park!

Boulder Beach

M O N T A N A

I needed this trip so bad after mom's sudden passing. It was a wonderful trip despite the timing and the kids had so much fun, that itself made this trip all the more memorable.

'Til our next road trip :D

A Summer Worth Remembering

Just when I thought I'd have more time blogging because it is summer, of course I turned out wrong. Having the kids 24/7 is the culprit. We didn't plan any summer vacation this year which I'd like to think is a blessing in disguise (I will explain in a bit).

Prior to the kids' summer vacation, we spent a week in Vancouver to renew our passports and discover Beautiful British Columbia which was indeed beautiful! We explained to the kids that the BC trip is our summer getaway so don't expect more.

So the first couple of weeks into the summer, the kids were fine. We were enjoying late nights, sleeping in, being lazy and doing stuff they can't do throughout the school year. We were just basically hanging out with friends or staying home, kids doing their 'chores' and me paying them allowance money as promised.

Our summer was going on it's usual course (minus our yearly vacation) when I lost someone dear to me. I can't imagine getting this sad news while on vacation somewhere. Good thing we are home and had nothing special planned. For a week, I just wanted to be alone. I could've stayed like this forever but I had no choice but to pull myself out of the slump I'm into. I have kids to entertain, a family to take care of and somehow keeping myself busy helped big time but robbed me off the chance to properly grieve :(

Few weeks more and the kids will be back to school. We decided to go on a trip somewhere close but to a place the kids will surely love and make their summer memorable. It is hard grieving for you own mother and at the same time trying to be the best mother you could be for your kids at a time like this but hey that's what my mom would've done anyway. I am sure wherever she is, she is smiling down at me saying what a great job she has done raising me :D

Our First US Trip (and hopefully, not the last!)

We had a fun summer vacation in the United States last August. We stayed there for more than three weeks and we had a BLAST! It was our first time setting foot in the US. I wasn't just excited for the kids but also for hubby and I. It was nice being with family, going to places I've only seen on TV, seeing the cousins bond with each other, shopping, etc.

Calgary airport

Calgary airport

boarding the plane

too scared of the view up in the sky

Lance's stuff

Leila pretending to read :P

almost there!

IKEA! :p

Okay, enough of the good stuff! Hubby and I didn't enjoy the traffic, long walks, long travel hours haha! We live in a small city here in Alberta where everything is within arm's reach. Just kidding! We are just lazy peeps that's why. We were in awe of the whole experience, bad or good. And we will be forever thankful for the generosity of my bro/sis in law.

wasted no time, went straight to Carlo's bakeshop

Cannolis from Carlo's

1st stop was red Ribbon Bakeshop

pretty girls!

precious moment :)

We had so much fun eating, hubby and I gained 10-15lbs during our vacation. We ate like there's no tomorrow, rice from breakfast to midnight snack not to mention the street food, fast food and buffet! Who cares! Life is about enjoying the things we love and eating is number 1 on my list :)

fish soup

Binagoongan

boiled peanuts

Sisig

other versions of Sisig

One of the most memorable places we went was the Statue of Liberty. The kids were very excited to see this landmark, ride the ferry and get those cool souvenir sunglasses. Our Washington trip abruptly ended because of heavy rains but we got to see beautiful landmarks as well.

We still have hundreds (maybe thousands?) of pictures to remind us of our wonderful summer vacation. I wish we can do this every year. Again, huge thanks to the people who made our stay memorable. We miss you guys! Til' we meet again :D