Waterton Trip!

Every summer since I was a little girl, our family has traveled to Waterton Park, in Alberta Canada. The last couple of years I haven't been able to make it over there, but this year it finally happened! Waterton is a place that is so special to me (and everyone else in our family!) and I was so excited to take Clay to one of my favorite places in the whole world! Waterton is filled with so many great memories and I feel so blessed to be able to go there now with my own family. It's like a dream come true!! Now I know there are a lot of photos, but I couldn't help it!

This is of course the fabulous view from Bears Hump. Clay and I hiked it together and it was so much harder than I remember! I used to run it when I was little, and this time around I could barely make it(no pun intended!). The view is like no other! It was definitely a highlight for Clay on our trip.
I could sit up there for hours looking at God's beautiful creation!





This is Clay on the boat, just gazing out at the lake. It was a cloudy, but beautiful morning. We just couldn't get over the weather there! As soon as Clay and I got off the plane in Calgary we just wanted to stand outside in the cool air. It was certainly a treat for us to have some rain, and weather below 100 degrees!


This shot was taken while hiking up to Bears Hump. There were wild flowers everywhere.


One of the biggest treats for us was seeing Nana and Papa! I was so excited we got to spend a couple days with them, and they finally got to meet their first great grandson!! Little D warmed up to Nana right away! He even tried to take off with her jewelry!

One of my favorite things to do in Waterton is go on walks. Just strolling along main street is always fun! I think we had a Big Scoop everyday! I even ran into some old friends that are still working there, and of course had some nice conversations with good old Pat! I miss working at Big Scoop and the Coffee Shop! It was some of the best times I've ever had!

Waterton was so gorgeous!


Here's Clay and Dallas on one of our Walks.

We had even more fun at night just hanging out in the Cabin with a fire going. It was cool enough that we had a fire going all day and night!

We certainly took advantage of the weather! Clay and I had smores every night we were there!! Thanks to Cameron, I was able to master the technique of smore making! His trick is to roast the Mallow and then after you smoosh (technical term) them with the Grahm and Chocolate, you put the whole thing over flames again to melt the chocolate completely. Oh Heaven!!!!! Thank you Cameron!!!!!

What goes around comes around! I never thought I would see the day where my husband and son are taking a bath in the infamous tub! It was hilarious! Dallas seemed to be having a good time!

Does this shot look familiar to anyone? Hanging just above the tub, there is a photo of Chelsea, Chanel and I, in this same pose, in the same tub about 18 years ago.

Clay got in some good reading time. He enjoyed just lounging on the hammock....again taking in the beautiful weather!

I love this photo! Nana & Papa love to sit here and watch the lake or take a snooz. They look quite happy don't they? I think anybody would be in this place!

Here's an adorable shot of Grandma Beattie and little D. These two were inseparable! My mom took us down to Waterton and watched Dallas for us so we could go on hikes and be adventurous! Clay and I haven't spent much time together just the 2 of us since Dallas was born so it was so nice to have her there. It was like having our own personal nanny! She really took care of us and we owe her a BIG Thank You!

Dallas snuggling up to grandma on the boat

The first thing we did as we arrived in Waterton, was take the boat out! The lake was like glass and Papa took us for a spin! Nana got chilly as the sun started to go down, but she still looks like a million bucks!

Oh Nana! :)

Papa & Clay

We stopped along the lake and snapped a few photos!

Papa taught Clay how to drive the boat, and he was hooked!

I just kept thinking..... I can't believe I'm finally back here!!! I couldn't stop smiling I was so happy!

Here we are at Cameron Falls on another gorgeous day!

Ah the Prince of Whales Hotel! This place hasn't changed a bit, but its tradition to visit the gift shop and take a few pictures!!

I Love this picture! It looks like an ad for Oakley sunglasses! :)

I made Clay stand there for this photo! You can't see his face to well, but he looks so sick of me taking his picture!

One of the most fun things we did was go horseback riding at Duce Outfitters! Good old Tyrell took us out on one of the most scenic trails I've ever been on!

Here we are crossing the river!

Clay's horse had little trouble keeping up. He just wanted to eat everything in site.

I felt like we were in the movie Legends of the Fall!!

This shot was taken on the trail right behind Cameron Falls.

I love this shot of Dallas. Grandma Beattie bought him this darling hat. It looks like it could be the cover of a Baby Rap album! What Up?

How cute is that? Grandma had so much fun with her Cabin Buddy (her new nickname for Dallas). I think Dallas really misses her!

This is the trail up to Blackston Falls at RedRock.

Mom & I were laughing about how much fun we had when we were kids and used to slide down the rocks here! Clay was temped, but the water was ice cold! He still managed to take of his shirt and get wet! The people there were looking at him like he was a crazy foreigner.

This is along the road up to RedRock. If you look closely there is a Moose in the water.

I actually took this picture, can you beleive it? It's not a close up either, we were really this close to the bear!!!!! We all drove up to RedRock one afternoon (with a BigScoop in hand) and saw 9 bears in a matter of 30 minutes! Clay had never seen a bear before and got more than he asked for! It was incredible!

It's like something out of National Geographic!!

No Bears here, just a beautiful shot!

One thing I was determined to do on this trip was get on an ATV. I had never been before and always wanted to go! Uncle Mike & Dad were so good to take us out twice! I've never had so much fun in all my life! The last time Clay went with the boys, he came home and we ended up with a dirt bike! I had a feeling I would be hooked too! I was!

I had a blast! It was so fun to hang out with the Rice gang! I miss them so much! Here I am with Madeline and Samantha!

My Mom and Aunt Shauna came and met us up at the trail and we had a campfire! They had the babies all bundled up nice and warm!

Grandpa & Dallas went for alittle stroll! One day he'll be taking Dallas for a ride! Grandpa had to work most of our trip but we loved being with him while we were in Calgary! He's always takes such good care of us!

Here's the Gang! Dad or Uncle Mike must be taking the picture. Cameron & Cody had full body grear on. I was pretty intimidated. We roasted smokies and this is where Cameron taught us how to make the worlds best smore! I'm in heaven when I get to be with family like this!

I got to meet Logan for the first time, and oh my gosh!!! He is so adorable! He has a full head of crazy hair and a couple of teeth that give him the cutest smile I've ever seen. Dallas & Logan are only 3 months apart so it was so fun to see the 2 of them together! I wish we lived closer! They'd be best buds!

Thanks again Uncle Mike & Dad for taking us out! It was such a memorable trip!