Canada

Crew got his first stamp in his passport last weekend.  Jason heard from several co-workers how gorgeous Banff National Park is, so we made a little weekend trip and went to Canada.   

It's a short hour and and 20 minute flight from Salt Lake City.  Crew travels so well.  This was his 5th time flying, and we usually give him a bottle or his pacifier at take off, then he falls asleep.  So I was holding my sleeping baby, and decided to try and beat my score on temple run on our iPad.  It's a great time killer.  I still had a ridiculous low score when the Pilot announced that he was starting our descent into the Calgary Airport, and to turn off all portable devices.  So I stick our iPad and my book that I was reading into the pocket of the seat in front of me.  We were seated on the last row.  Part of the deal with flying standby we are suppose to stay and help the flight attendants do seat belts and get the plane ready for the next flight.  Once everyone was off the plane, and the seat belts were done, we gather everything and left the plane.  We are walking up the jet bridge when the pilot yells, "You forgot your diaper bag" How do we forget his diaper bag right?! Then it felt like we walked an eternity through customs and then past baggage claim to the car rental area.  Jason was signing for the car when I realized that I forgot my iPad and the book I was reading on the plane.  I felt so sick to my stomach, and wanted to throw up.  Thinking how far back the plane was, and how someone is really going to enjoy their free iPad.  We ended up running to a Delta gate and they were able to call the plane and some angel of an employee grabbed our iPad and brought it to us.  So a little rocky start of a vacation, but once we had it back we were able to calm down and enjoy ourselves.

From Calgary to Banff was about an hour drive.  Calgary was very flat, and not as green as I had pictured it.  The closer we got to Banff everything changed.  The trees were changing colors, which was absolutely gorgeous.  Huge mountains.  A river along the highway.  It just seemed to be a slower paced life style.  Crew fell asleep on the car ride to Banff, and he has the cutest little baby snore.  So Jason and I were taking in all this beautiful scenery and listening to him snore.  

This is the resort where we stayed.  It was only 15 miles to Banff National Park.

We drove first to Lake Louise.  This place was stunning.   The weather was perfect.  

We hiked up to "The Lookout" which was 1.8km.  This picture doesn't do it justice.  We were hiking straight up hill.  It's a good thing my husband is tough and can push Crew up the mountain.  I could barely walk up it.  I was just wearing flats, and at the bottom of the hill, some old lady told me "You wouldn't be able to make it up the mountain wearing those shoes" so part of me had to just to prove her wrong.  The view from the top was worth it, even though days later I can still feel that hike. 

The views from the top...

Crew is such a ham!  His smile totally melts my heart...

My two boys...

This is downtown Banff, just cute little over priced shopping and restaurant's.

Check out this hotel...

Natural hot springs.  Blazing hot, but we had to put our feet in!

It smelt horrible...

This sign just cracked us up!  You would see these signs everywhere!

Overall the weekend was fun.  It was fun to hear the Canadian accent.  Everything was in kilometers.  Speed limit signs along the highways posting at 110km.  Our 2012 Ford Focus rental car had a rear view camera, look at Ford stepping up their game huh?  The food was way overpriced.  We went to a grocery store and a box of cereal was around $8.  We are so blessed to be able to travel.  It's always so fun to go somewhere new, but it's even better to come home.