Emerald Lake....

Emerald Lake

The day before New Years Eve.....New Years Eve Eve if you will, we took a little trip to Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, British Columbia. It's a very special place for us. It's a place we've visited a lot ever since our very first week as Canadian residents. It's where, five and a bit years ago, we got married surrounded by all the people we love.  It also happens to be where, a year later, Seb toddled his first steps! It's not too far form where we live now, just a hop, skip and a jump along the Trans Canada and you're there. In fact it took us almost exactly an hour which in Ralston road trip terms is like popping to the shops :) We had planned on hiking around the lake but as it turns out I had come down with a nasty cold and could barely breathe let alone hike. Instead, we had a wander down memory lane. We showed the kids the spot where our wedding ceremony was held and as we walked we talked about the different memories of  all the people from the week of our wedding. When you live thousands of miles from where you grew up you don't get many places like this where there are reminders of familiar faces around every corner. There will probably not be another time when all the people that were with us that week will all be together again. I have so many vivid memories from that time, it's almost as if I was trying extra hard to squeeze it all into my mind and keep it there, perfectly crystal clear. I remember sitting on a warm September day on the patio of Cilantro's (in the photo above) with my sister and Paul laughing and drinking icy cold drinks. I remember greeting my brother and Mum and Dad at the door to the Lodge and seeing their faces as they caught their first real-life sight of my huge 8 month pregnant belly! I remember the warm feeling I got every time I walked into the breakfast room and saw familiar faces at every table. Sitting around the fire pit talking to my friend Caroline so amazed that she and the others would travel this far to come and see me! Sorry for rambling on.....I really do love this place and I think it's pretty cool that we can just pop there for an afternoon now that we're living in Canmore.

The little store on the lake shore where we all rented canoes the day before the wedding.....

The bridge that Neil and his crazy brothers jumped off into the cold, glacier-fed, Emerald coloured water.....

The fire pit where everyone sat during the speaches....

Here's Neil and Seb in the exact spot in which we said our vows. Seb was pretty fascinated by the whole thing and seemed to take great pleasure in announcing to every single passer by, waiter, receptionist, lodge guest, baby, and even to a pretend Santa that "we got married here!" oh and of course he had to add "I was in Mummy's tummy!", thanks for that Seb, announce to everyone that we had a shotgun wedding why don't you! I won't tell you what Isobel tried to tell people. Believe me, it was far more embarrassing!

Here's the very first cabin we ever stayed in......awww, I wish I could keep it....

And the stunning Mount Burgess......

Before getting on our merry way we had a mulled wine by the fire in the lodge (by we I mean I, Neil was driving and Seb and Bel weren't in the mood for booze)  and headed into Golden for dinner. Other than feeling a bit under the weather it was a lovely end to the year and I can't wait to go back after the thaw and see that beautiful Emerald water again.