Vancouver B.C.

Us: 

The four of us spent every single minute together this week!!!! It was amazing. We are so grateful for Daddy's week off. We went and explored Vancouver B.C. It is an incredible city. Giant mountains, deep blue oceans and thick rich city culture all in a 20 mile radius. 

We stayed in north Vancouver which was perfect. Other than driving to the temple we never had a commute longer than 25 minutes. My favorite thing was probably the bike ride around Stanley Park. There are a million bike rentals right by the park. It was pretty spur of the moment and i'm so glad we did it. (Bike ride was also our favorite thing in San Fran & Mackinaw, so we need to ride bikes more often when we are exploring!) Jax loved meeting the bears on Grouse mountain and the lumberjack show. Ty loved throwing rocks at the beach. Landon's favorite thing was Granville Island. Vancouver was originally put on our bucket list because one of our favorite shows, Psych, was filmed there. Well we learned it was actually filmed primarily an hour outside of Vancouver. But Psych did it again, it made us very very happy :). Oh and our way home we made sure to stop in the city Psych was filmed!

Just a quick documentation of our week. 

Saturday: Queen Elizabeth's Park/Bird Conservatory 

Sunday: Church, Stanley Park Bike Ride (8 mile loop), Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge 

Monday: Capillano Suspension Bridge, Sushi & Smoothies, Beach 

Tuesday: Grouse Mountain Ski Resort, Bears, Lumberjack Show, Vancouver Temple

Wednesday: Granville Island, White Rock, Dinner with Toblers in Seattle 

Thursday: Jax's last day of school, errands, massage, drive to Lewiston to be with the Hobsons

Friday: Hobson Day!!! I ran with Tiff, Landon golfed with Brad, Jax & Ty played with Kade, Ten & Ry ry! We went on a double date. Tiff & I beat Brad and Lando in aggravation. 

Saturday: Drive home, Jax had a birthday party, Landon & I ran and went on a date. 

Sunday: I went to the our ward for the last time :(. We went to a baptism tonight! 

In Church we talked about the plan of salvation and it really hit home for me. I believe that there is life before this life and that there is life after. As I reflected in Sunday School how that fact has impacted my life I realized it is apart of almost every aspect of my life. And when mothering my two little boys I want to remember more often that I had a relationship with them before this life and will have one with them after this life too. I want to slow my frustration and lengthen my patience and love with the thought that we are all in this together. They are sons of God and thats a pretty big deal. I love them so so much. As the AJ Cope would say, I have "cute aggression" for them. Its a thing. 

On our way to Church I was telling Jax that Ty was perfect.
Jax: "No mom. No one is perfect." 

Me: "Well thats not true bud. Anyone under 8 is perfect. They aren't accountable yet. And if they died, they would immediately go to Heaven." 

Jax: [BIG HUGE GRIN ON HIS FACE] "Soooo that means, i'm perfect and ty's perfect. But you and Daddy aren't perfect?" 

He was quite pleased with that realized fact. 

Okay, im done. Picture overload. 

We had so many people ask if they could take their picture with us. At one point we were surrounded by a tourist group, Ty was latching on me for dear life, Jax was trying to understand what language was being spoken, and I was just trying not to fall. I guess its the blue eyes? I dont know. 

This is the very spot that psych was filmed, and the very episode that put Vancouver on our list. Thank you Shawn & Gus

I Spy Landon, Jax & Ty. 

It took us and hour and a half to get to the temple. My phone died. Landon's couldn't connect to the LTE so we didn't have a way to connect to google maps. We luckily had found the temple, but no where to eat. We have never been more excited to see a familiar Wendy's in site. It was one of my favorite moments of the trip! 

Granville Island was a giant famous market. Similar to Pikes Place. Probably bigger, not quite as epic. But Landon said it was his favorite part. 

Oh PSYCH!!!!!

Psych Office

We love the Toblers!!!!! They are doing amazing things in Seattle. We are so grateful we could stop and see them for a little bit. They have such a way of making you feel important and comfortable, happy and valued. We admire them so much. And dinner was DELICIOUS! 

We love the Hobsons! I know I say this every time we see them, but whatever. We are so excited for all their upcoming adventures and changes. They've impacted our lives more than they could ever know. Tiff is sincerely, one of the greatest moms i've ever known!!! And Brad is a fantastic Dad--its his passion. They are an inspiration to us. Seriously, they've changed us. I can't wait to see them again soon. 

 Few pictures have ever made Landon happier. This is Landon's dad in his grandpas truck(75 international Truck). Two of the people Landon looks up to the most. "IT OOZES nostalgia for all of us." 

And then there is the Adames. We've only know them for a year, but boy do we love them and we've learned so much from them. They are both so crazy talented. One of their greatest talents is how personable and good they are with people. But really they are SO GOOD WITH PEOPLE. They make you feel so important. I'm pretty sure this couple could be friends with any individual in the world. I'm so glad we've had them this year.