Canada Day camping

We kicked off July with a camping trip to Kokanee Creek Provincial Park, north of Nelson on Kootenay Lake.  As our whole June of rain and crappy weather, so was Canada Day weekend.  Water levels are high all over the province causing some minor flooding in places.  Kootenay Lake is at a 30 year high or so, so we knew it wouldn't be much of a beach holiday, but whatever, builds character right.  We squashed all our stuff into the RA, and had just enough room except for the little run bikes which had to go on a bike rack.

Flood gates open at the Brilliant Dam

We had to stop and check out the water at the one of the dams on the way.  At this time the dam was letting out 113, 000 cfs,  and Kootenay lake was still rising.  When we got to the campsite and checked out the site we had reserved close to the park and beach, we realized how high the water was.  The site was surrounded by water a foot deep and no access to trees to put up a tarp.  Bit of a hazard with two 4 year olds.  We were lucky and switched to another site.  While Trev set up camp the boys and I went to check out the park.  Disappointing that the lake has encroached right up to the park, but what can you do.  The boys had different reactions to this problem.

Grayson....Oooh, the park is flooded

Cole....Yeah giant puddle!

Wet

The lake should be way back behind the boys through the gap and behind that little tree with a beautiful wide sandy beach and long spit that goes out into the lake.   While we were there the water continued to rise and the boys just got wetter.

Every once and a while the sun came out, just in time for Grayson to have a dry timeout by the tree for biting his brother.

Time out by the tree, sockless

 We also had time for a short walk on the Darkwoods Trail.

Raging Kokanee Creek

Twin trees

The lake has risen so far it has flooded out some of the trails too, a good opportunity to shoot dad with water 

Noodle soup lunch

Stickers

A glimpse of blue sky

Best part of the weekend shooting water, out of the lake or puddles or anywhere they could find water

The boys loved hanging out in the tent

On Canada Day we hit up Ainsworth hotsprings for a soak.  It was crazy busy of course,  and was accurately described as swimming in Alberta soup.  Nice to soak out the wet cold weather though.  Monday we packed up and headed to Nelson for a trolley ride, but that was flooded too.  The boys were pretty disappointed.  We went for a walk along the tracks to find out where it was flooded, and discovered the soccer fields and more were underwater.  I love it when people kayak around where it once was land.

Flooded path at the soccer field in Nelson, note the kayakers in the background

So, Nelson

Eventually we headed home to our busy lives at home, unpacked and Trev started packing again for his trip for 2 weeks with the boys on Wednesday.

Father's Day

The boys present to Trev

 For Father's Day we went down near the Trail airport for a walk/bike ride to the Columbia River.  It was fun exploring a new spot with the boys who are always willing as long as there are snacks.  We love you Trev you are the best dad 2 little boys could want.

Snacks while watching the river rush by

Trev and his boys (no crying Connie!  :)

Cole took this one

Very cute Grayson took this one

Trev really was enjoying himself

Even weeds are pretty

Cover your nickels

Working hard

37...ugh

OMG, you're so old mommy

Thats right another birthday.  They are getting a little more depressing every year.  Having kids ages you, and once your birthday comes around its obvious you've turned another year older.  There were big plans this year for Saturday downhill bike shuttles, then dinner and drinks, but no luck.  A bail off my bike on Wednesday night, has bruised my bum, twisted my hip, and pulled my hamstring, not to mention my injured ego.   So no biking, but Natalie and Vern were so nice to make me a beautiful meal, and good friends still came over to drink some painkillers.

Thinking that I'd get a close up, I grabbed the gin bottle from in front of the cake to get it out of the picture. 

I'm not old, or had a few too many!

Lucky I get to grow old with this handsome guy

3.75 years old

OMG 3.75 years old.  Wow, almost 4.  

3.75 year chair photo

What's new?  The boys have been a lot more fun to be around lately.  Even playing with each other with no fights for longer than 15 minutes at a time.  Soooo nice.  Maybe it was because I wasn't working the last few weeks, or we've grown out of the terrible threes stage, or maybe I am just used to it now.  Only 3 more weeks of daycare before Trev is done work, and home to take care of them for the summer.  Not much has been going on lately.  The weather hasn't been the best lately for fun adventures, so we are laying a little low.  Cole finally got a much needed haircut.  For 2 weeks or so Grayson has had short hair and Cole long which has been great for others to tell them apart, but Cole finally agreed to be buzzed.

Not too happy before the haircut, after was worse, so no after shot

Cole on the right with a nice new buzz, and a disturbingly blue tongue from a
small amount of icing off a Dairy Queen cake

On the weekend they had family day at the museum, the boys had lots of fun driving the old firetruck, painting rocks, gold panning and checking out the plants for sale.

Happy boys driving firetrucks