Vancouver 2012

After we had our fill of Grandpa's straw bales and Grandma's home cooking we headed on down the road for our annual Vancouver trip!

What a beautiful drive!! I did it last year with my mom and sister-in-law in July but doing it in April was breathtaking the mountains were still covered in snow but the valleys were showing signs of spring. Swans swimming on half frozen lakes and green buds starting to sprout in mountain glades. At the tops of the mountains we were driving through snow banks still higher than our van. We did get stopped for 3hrs from a rock slide that was more like the mountain falling down over the road but the sun was shining, we were packed with food, blankets and toys and happily waited for it to open. We spent the night in Revelstoke BC and the next day made it to Vancouver in time for dinner. We were so happy to see our cousins and aunts and uncles that we only get to see once a yr. (and probably longer as soon as we move :(

 3hrs worth of backed up traffic.  We were the 3rd in line.

Heading into the mountains toward Banff.  Mark really wanted to stop for the night in Banff and really regretted that we didn't when we got stopped from the rock slide. 

What good little travelers I have!!

(Thank goodness because we are about to make our biggest trek ever! 

Utah to AZ for graduation then AZ to Michigan!

(but that's a whole other post!)

 We stayed at Matt & Michelle's and although the 1st night Sammy was terrified of Brigham

he soon came to love him (as much as two 2yr olds can love each other anyways)

 Michelle & Brigham took us to the Vancouver Aquarium which my kids loved.

 Especially the dolphins and Beluga whales.

After lunch at Stanley park we met up with the other Van-Keeler's at one of our favorite spots for dinner- Barnett Beach.

 Zina remembered Barnett beach from last year and begged to go back.

She loves loves loves searching for crabs, sea shells, and starfish.

 And we found plenty of all of them!

We celebrated Camden's 5th birthday at Burnaby train park.

 Uncle Todd pushed the kids SUPER high on the tire swing.

 They loved it!

And everyone loved the train ride!

Not the greatest picture but from the left: Zina , Jacob, Liam, Wilson, Camden, Sam(in Mark's arms) Brigham and Uncle Todd.

 We love our cousins! And spring blossoms!

 Liam, Wilson, & Camden!

 Happy Angry bird birthday Camden!!

 The pinata was a hit.

 and the pinata (or Uncle Todd!)  may have gotten the better of a few of the kids....at least they were his kids. :)

We had a fantastic time in Vancouver.  Michelle and Lauri fed us delicious food, and Uncle Matt and Uncle Todd even took time out of their busy schedules (um like finals week - we have great timing!) to play.  Our last day we spent hunting through Mundy Park (another of my favorite places) and playing at the Coquitlam Rec center wave pool and water slide.  The kids LOVED it.  Especially Wilson who for the first time was tall enough to go on the waterslide.  He probably measured his height like 20x and  then raced up the stairs to go again.  He was SO proud! :)