I'll Just Keep Buying My Stickers...

We are buying stickers in every place we visit on this trip. We’re telling a story on our bumper. We can look back at them with fond memories.

See these ones? Are you imaging beautiful vistas and idyllic memories that will last a lifetime? Think again. These stickers are a big farce. I shouldn’t have bought them. Remember that when you look at pictures on social media of the summer adventures from your friends. It’s probably a lie.

We’ve have had great times. Keith and I loved sharing Banff with the kids. Abby and I shopped. We went into every souvenir shop we could find and even went to McDonalds, yes McDonalds in Banff. Meanwhile, Keith showed Parker all his favourite places.

Downtown Banff

Tunnel Mountain

We went ATVing in Panorama and it will be a highlight for sure. The views, the dust, the mud and speed made for a great day.

The haze in the background is from the forest fires

So happy!

A moment

Made it to the TOP!

He made his Inukshuk!

Glacier run off

It’s been really amazing for the most part. But we are in 30 ft of space and week 2 is ending. We’ve had our moments. Abby and Parker’s love/hate relationship is minute by minute. Right now, they are enjoying their bikes in Jasper National Park.

Earlier in the day it went like this:

Lake Louise

Parker: Why is this beautiful? groan groan groan

Me: Look at this! Look at this glacier-fed lake! People come from all over the world to take this picture

Parker: Eye roll

Keith: I need coffee

Abby: Are there shops?

Even though we did not look like we belonged, we searched the Fairmount Chateau Lake Louise for some coffee (preferably complimentary). All we found was a health ‘bar’ that had green stuff and Matcha. Not acceptable. Keith gave up. He and Parker retreated to the motorhome to fire up the generator to make some coffee. Abby and I checked out the souvenir shop and I bought my sticker. Time spent at Lake Louise - 30mins.

Won't you don't hear are the complaints that the sun is too bright and note I'm forcing Abby to look up...

Columbian Icefields

K&A: Come on guys, let’s go have a look

Parker: You’re going to watch ice?

Abby doesn’t even hear us, she’s still got on her headphones. When I tell her to turn them off I get this look

And then: Seriously, Mommy, You’re going to look at ice?

But I'm good right here!

She was afraid too afraid to stay alone so she came with us.  Parker figured this was going to be another Lake Louise so he stayed in the RV to watch movies and probably sneak marshmallows.

To visit the Icefield and go on the new Glacier Ice Walk it’s $94. Keith informed me that we saw snow and ice on the ATV’s yesterday. I agree. We duck into the souvenir shop and buy the sticker. Time spent at Icefield – 30mins

As we’re leaving the packed parking lot, I comment to Keith that I bet ½ of the RV’s we’ve seen are full of miserable people. It can’t just be us. He agrees with me and we feel better.

Next stop - Jasper. The kids assume their positions with headphones in place. We’ve convinced them to at least travel with the curtains open so we can scream out the REALLY impressive views and wildlife we see along the way. Basically, this is what it looks like. I call it the den of doom, it's usually much darker:

Can you pick ANYTHING up?

Keith and I are enjoying the ride. You can take the kids to the mountains but you can’t make them say their impressed.  They are enjoying their bikes, scooters, souvenir shops and spending Desormeaux Dollars. Could they do this at home? Yes. Am I sorry I’m dragging them to all these destinations? Nope. If all they look back on, are the times Mommy lost her mind or Daddy dragged Parker into the bathroom to show him how to put the toilet seat up, I’m ok with that. You can’t prescribe memories. You can provide the setting.  This setting is pretty amazing.

And at the end of the day, look what Parker found on his bike: