When You are Five

When you are five years old,

there is not much left to learn.

You've already learned a language,

how to feed and dress yourself,

how to throw a ball and ride a bike and count.

You know that life has rules about taking turns

and sharing and saying thank you -

that being jealous is not good

and that aliens and super heroes may seem invincible

but really, only God is.

When you are five,

Papa and Mimi take you to Build-a-Bear

where baby and boy meet to create a stuffie 

suited for the kind of snuggles a five year old may need.

He chose a leopard.

Then he chose a sound to put into him -

a low growl - when you press his paw.

The pedal powered the stuffing machine.

Oh . . . and a beating heart also got tucked in

before he was sewn up.

He chose the outfit for the leopard and named him . . .

Spider-Man K.

For Papa and Mimi it's about entering his world . . .

 realizing that bears wearing striped overalls just

wouldn't do anything for the imagination 

of a boy who's five today.

Dear Koen,

As I picture your tiny newborn form on the couch in Colorado,
I'm not quite sure how it happened  . . .
how a major move and these few toddler and pre-school years
have flown by, growing you into a boy ready for Kindergarten.

One thing I have to say about you is that you are smart.
We only need to have you in the car for a short drive,
to realize how deep your thoughts go in just a normal conversation.
Like when you told us of the meaning of invincible
a word that just happened to be on your mind . . .
or like, when I noted some pretty flowers . . .
and you said, "Boys can say pretty and girls can say cool."
That takes some processing.

We pray that

your imagination and strong will, 

combined with your tenderness and ability to discern 

will continue to help you grow and learn 

to be one who brings laughter and life to those around you.

Happy Birthday!

Love, 

Papa and Mimi

Climbing The Chief

So this is the mammoth rock faced granite cliff you can't miss as you drive through town, 

referred to as The Chief by most, but it's full name is Stawamus Chief, 

named after a First Nations village at the north end of the Squamish River. 

My H has tried to remind me that we hiked it as a youth group many, many years ago

but I doubt that he saw me at the top. 

I do know it did not have all of the steps laid out like they are now and

this time I was set to finally accomplish that bragging right!

So, after a nice short walk in the woods we came up to our first set of stairs
and I laughed. Really?

I  had no idea this likeness to a 70 floor high rise was only the beginning!

Let me take you along.

 Part of me thinks it may be unfair to do this

because I'm taking out the element of surprise for anyone

who will want to explore this mountain themselves.

but the other part of me knows that there are many 

who will not have this opportunity. (smile)

Don't you just love the way the rocks and logs have been laid as stairs?

And they would be great as a set of garden steps...

but these go on and on so that it is easy to forget how 'nice' they are.

Sometimes roots made up natural steps to follow.

We got to an outlook I thought was the top, but it wasn't.

It was a stop long enough to notice a stellar jay in the tree.

Soon we came upon some more interesting ways to do steps.

This photo does not give justice to how nice the ladder was

as it does not show where the path leads at the top.

It looks unnecessary, but it was not.

The last part of the climb gave way to a rocky outcrop,

even steeper.

I'd never thought that chains would be kind of fun

and make it so much easier.
I'd say the chains are easier than the unending staircases.

Another ladder we carefully hung on to.

What I could not help but notice is that many of the railings and limbs on trees

that I hung on to felt super smooth, like varnished and polished from many hands before me.

After one last set of chains, came the view!

And as we sat on the solid rock, unpacking a bite to eat,
It was fun to see hikers come up, with their back to the view -
then turn around and exclaim in amazement!

 

I can't tell you how good it felt to have made it! 

It's exhilarating for sure!

The way down began with a leap of faith . . . literally!

There was no better way than to trust that chain

even though I did see someone take an uncomfortable slide down.

one of the slippery slopes.

For some reason, going down is faster

and maybe easier but, a few days later now,
my calves are still not too happy with me.

I keep telling them it's all for their good.

One Year Old Today!

 And before I continue with our Squamish adventures . . .

there is an important day to take note of!

Dearest Everly,

On this, your first birthday, I need to tell you a secret.

Really, I don't know if I've seen a baby more cherished and cheered

by her siblings in her first year of life.

Cuddled, protected, rejoiced in and cared for as the prized possession you are!

A precious gift from heaven above!

It's a baby year that I did not want to rush . . .

as in looking for its 'firsts' . . . 

knowing that time will take care of it much too quickly ...

and yet, the joy of seeing you grow and come to know us

makes everything just right the way it is.

We love your sweet smiles

and your outgoing nature already noted 

by your hellos, cute waves and kisses.

May the confidence given you by everyone around you

and the God who made you who you are

continue to cause you to be a little light

shining joy to those around you.

Happy Birthday, Evy!

XOXO

Papa and Mimi

Squamish

Some years ago my H did some work on a hotel in this small town -

one that could easily be missed with one's sights on getting to Whistler.

Other than taking note of the strange mountain with the flat sheer rock side

there has not much else that would stick out in your memory,

unless the kids would remember the lumberjack statue with his ax, on the side of the road.

But things may be changing.

We began hearing some excitement about the new Sea to Sky Gondola

opening on a mountain in Squamish 

and thought this would be a good time to check it out and maybe get in a hike.

We drove out on Sunday . . . it's only a two hour drive, much of it along the coast.

Getting into town you can't help but see signs to Shannon Falls,

which we went to see.

And then we bought our lift tickets for the Sea to Sky ride.

Such an appropriate name . . .

as it takes you almost from the water's edge

high up into the sky - a quiet 10 minute ride on the cables. 

At the top, an expansive 5,000-square-foot deck offers views every which way, including the Sky Pilot and Copilot mountain peaks.

A 100 meter long suspension bridge leads you to another viewing platform.

One of the things one can appreciate here are plaques with information

on the history embedded in this town by the first ancestors.

It's a place of unique names filled with legends that give you a glimpse into their life

and the changes they have faced.

Howe Sound also takes on a totally new perspective and beauty from these vantage points.

Upon crossing the bridge one gets access to a one and a half kilometer trail

leading to other viewpoints. 

Wildlife seems to be pretty tame.

This tiny squirrel sat in the middle of the path 

and let everyone take pictures.

We crossed back to the main deck, got some food and sat at a table

on the deck, overlooking the inlet and valley below. 

It turned out to be a day on top of the world!

We got a room in that hotel

and made plans to hike that sheer rock looking mountain

we noted from the gondola as well as from the viewing deck again.

It needed some conquering in my mind.

Of Course Boys Can Cook Too!

You may remember I baked cupcakes with his sister 

while Papa and the boys played outside.

When he came in he felt like he'd missed out on some of the fun

and I promised him that we'd have our own cupcake baking time.

So, I picked him up this week,

this time having to promise another disappointed brother 

that his turn would come soon.

Landon cracked eggs for the first time,

laughing as he did so.

He mixed them with sugar and added liquids.

Then he sifted in the dry . . .

I don't always sift, but I thought it would be fun and 

make the mixing by hand easier.

He stirred hard . . .

and tried to find the best way to fill each muffin tin.

After they were baked and cooled

we both spread icing

and he finished them off with sprinkles.

So simple and yet, such a delight to chat one on one

and see the care and pride with which he 

took home a tray of cupcakes . . . providing school treats for all of them.

A Picture of Summer Before it Passes

While we focus on the babies' first experiences together

we can't miss the excitement shared by the older ones,

running toward each other in greeting

and enjoying each moment like it's exactly the one they've been waiting for!

Ending off the summer with their Prairie cousins here to stay

has been the icing on the cake!