Our Creek...

 Yesterday was one of those days. We were all tired and grouchy and getting on each others nerves. My house was getting messier by the minute and I didn't have the energy to clean it up or think up an action plan to otherwise occupy the kids. All I knew was that we needed to get outside. 

 We are very lucky to live a few minutes walk from this beautiful creek. When the kids are driving me crazy in the house I can just grab their shoes, push them out the door and be there in minutes. There are rock bridges to jump across, little pools and tiny rapids and plenty of sticks and pine cones to set afloat.  Theres even a small waterfall to be found if you can scramble up stream. It really is natures perfect playground and even on the grouchiest of days the monkey's turn into smiling and wide-eyed explorers!     

Thank you Mother Nature! You turned our day around!

P.S Seb had a haircut, his first ever trip to a hairdresser in fact! What do you think?

An evening of ice cream and music.....

All weekend the Canmore Folk Festival was on in Centennial park, we didn't make it to the main events but we did head into town for Friday's free street party outside the civic centre. This band was from Holland and had a name that I couldn't pronounce let alone remember but their music was excellent! Lively, fun and folksy in the best possible way it was the perfect music for kids. 

Seb and Bel took front row seats but as the music went on they edged their way closer and closer to the band until they were practically on the stage!

After the performances we wandered around town a bit and decided to check out the new ice cream shop. "The Scoopin' Moose" had literally just opened it's doors for the first time that day. They had a nice selection of flavours including the interesting looking jet black "Canmore Coal" which I think was a liquoricey flavour. The chocolate ice cream was yummy and they made their own waffle cones so I would consider myself a happy customer. 

We snaffled our ice cream's in Friendship park and I took a few photos as we wandered about town. I don't think I've posted many photos of downtown Canmore other than on instagram so I thought you might like to see a little bit of our cute town.....

Ukee...the aquarium and Big Beach.

We do, we love it! It's the sweetest little aquarium with the nicest most approachable and knowledgeable staff. It's a not-for profit organization aaaaand they release all their creatures back into the ocean every year! 

I love that!

On this visit, more so than ever before, Seb and Bel went nuts as soon as we got in the door running from tank to tank, squeeling, ooing and ahhing. Luckily it's just one big room so even when they were running about in different directions like crazy folk we could still keep our eyes on them. I was more worried for the poor little sea creatures getting manhandled by Isobel in her hyper excited state! 

The highlight of our visit was watching one of the staff feed the octopus with a live crab. It was fascinating to watch the Octopus change colour and texture according to his emotions. They are such interesting creatures!

After the aquarium we grabbed an ice cream then headed down to Big Beach to dip our toes in the water and enjoy the sunshine.