BabyJ's 5th Birthday

BabyJ enjoyed a wonderful start to her day with CubJ presenting her with his self made birthday card, a beach Barbie and some additional clothes for beach Bab's. He was very proud of having managed to convince her that he was buying the gifts as a present for one of his classmates! Beach Barbie was a great hit and enjoyed playing at the beach with us. I am pleased to report that sand washes out of Barbie’s hair quite nicely, and she is a proficient snorkeler.

BabyJ enjoyed a special Birthday Girl button that DaddyJ had found for her. She wore it proudly all day, in fact she would have enjoyed wearing it all vacation if she could have! The first place that she proudly enjoyed displaying her button was at breakfast. After her breakfast of berries, rum cake, banana bread and pancakes (it’s only one day!) we headed off to the Turtle Farm http://www.boatswainsbeach.ky/conservation/history.cfm







The Cayman Island Turtle Farm is dedicated to raising turtles for the purposes of protecting existing turtle populations in wild. Many of the wild turtles are hunted for the flesh, which is commonly eaten in the Caribbean and Asia. Some of the farm turtles are raised for consumption; some are successfully released into the wild and the rest are used for educational purposes.




Despite at least one visit each trip, we continue to learn and enjoy our time there each year. If you ever get the chance, we highly recommend a visit to the Turtle Farm.



On our way back from visiting the turtles we made a stop in Hell, Cayman Islands! How many five year olds can say that they went to Hell and back on their 5th birthday? For a very religiously grounded island, it continues to amuse us that there is a place called Hell in one of the most heavenly places we have been.

"Hell, Grand Cayman is a group of short, black, limestone formations in the northwest Grand Cayman town of West Bay. It is roughly the size of half a soccer field. People are not allowed in amongst the limestone formations but two viewing platforms exist for tourists. There are numerous versions of how Hell received its name, but they are generally variations on "a local official exclaimed, 'This is what Hell must look like.'"


Upon our return to the hotel, BabyJ was greeted with a well organised (DaddyJ extraordinaire!) surprise of a birthday cake decorated with a Snowman (shocking!) and balloons!

After some birthday cake and opening the rest of her presents we headed to the beach! To cap off the day we headed out for her choice of a birthday dinner. That included a grilled cheese sandwich and ice cream, capping off her image of the prefect birthday in Grand Cayman.

Exploring the Island and Feeding the Stingrays

Jeep Day, seeing the rest of the island!

This year we were feeling brave about driving on the other side of the road after our trip to the Bahamas a few years back. So we were off to rent a car to tour the rest of the island. What fun it would turn out to be!

Over the years we have seen about half of the island by taking the local busses. This year we wanted to head all the way put to the other end and se Rum Point. Along the way we would be able to hug the coast, if only we could navigate the traffic circles going in the opposite direction we are used to.

Fantastically, we were able to rent a Jeep for our sightseeing. We all loved riding around with the top down taking in the salt sea air and basking in the warm Caribbean sunshine. Not to mention that BabyJ especially loved the one off opportunity to ride in a big girl seat sans booster! (Just this once little one!)



While heading to the far end of the island we stopped at CubJ’s favourite spot, the Pirate Caves. Now these caves complete with Bats are real caves that were used by the pirates. They have been commercialised for the most part to entertain the kids, however if you ignore the ‘decorations’ they due truly provide an eerie experience! The best part was trying not to scream and run away as I saw the first bat disturbed by my camera’s flash. The Pirate caves are now run by a man who looks and sounds remarkably like our paediatrician! Instead of focusing on children’s health this man rescues and rehabilitates animals. He has created a miniature zoo with animals ranging from Freshwater Stingrays to the local Blue Cayman Iguana. The kids enjoyed watching me become a parrot perch.





After the pirate caves we headed out to Rum Point to check out the beach. While there we tried out the shallow waters on the beach, sampled the usual fare of food for lunch and rated the rum punch with high marks. One of the best parts of getting out there was driving through the local communities. The houses were often painted in bright colours including pink, coral, blue and green. There were more churches of every denomination than you could count and fantastical views of the sea.


What a wonderful way to explore!


Stingray City

This year’s new adventure was taking the kids out to feed the stingrays and snorkelling at both a coral garden and reef. This is a half day adventure begins with a boat ride out to the sand bar where you hop off the boat (slink if you are fearful of stingrays as a result of your older sister telling you that you were going to get eaten by one on your 11th birthday in the Bahamas in a shrieking voice!) and plung into the 4ft deep water.

This allows you the opportunity to see the stingrays surreally swimming by and stare mouth agape as a member of the crew gently picks one up to give you a quick biology lesson. After that if you are brave enough you can touch, hold and kiss a stingray. Kissing a stingray is said to bring you 7 years of good luck! Now that I have concurred my morbid fear of these creatures I can see them for the majestic creatures that they are. They swim with a near movement less grace that all synchronised swimmers can only aspire to.

The kids were very excited at the thought of going out to feed the stingrays after seeing a video about it before we left home. They were very excited on the boat ride out to the sand bar. Once we go there, their enthusiasm was dampened by the sight of so many stingrays and their massive size. Impressively, both bravely jumped off the boat into the water (and our waiting arms) and overcame their apprehensions to touch, hold and BabyJ even kissed the Stingray! I was so proud of them both, as I know how terrifying I used to find the stingrays.





After Stingray city we were off to the Coral Gardens and Reef for some open sea snorkelling. Again I was shocked into awe by the braveness of both kids as they got off the boat and started snorkelling! It is a completely different thing to jump into water that is two to three times as deep as you are tall in the wide open sea without a shore line in sight! Neither of the kids has been (until this year) an overwhelming lover of the water, they enjoy pools with their ledges, the beach with it’s easy proximity to the shore and clear visual of the bottom. Needless to say while the coral garden is beautiful, it was the bravery of my kids that had me in awe. (Under water pictures) It really opens your eyes to possibilities that future vacations hold! With this adventure under their belts, who knows what they will be willing to try next time.....





To wrap up our trip we spent a lovely day and a half at the beach before heading to the airport for our return flights. For the most part our flights were uneventful despite the several layers of security being added at the airports, shocked American travelers trying to adapt to new carryon policies and an increase in police presence. Luckily for us, both children have spent their lives flying under the improved security policies. Ironically, they simply accept these changes without complaint, as they seem to understand that these changes are for everyone`s security and that flying is a privilege. I wish I could have said the same about a number of the adults... lol

All in all, this was most likely our best vacation in Grand Cayman to date. We left wanting to come back, remembering why this is one of our very favourite spots in the world and having shared new experiences with the kids. It is my hope that all of you have a place you love as much as we love Cayman!

Christmas Concerts

This year CubJ’s Christmas concert included him playing the base xylophone! All of the kids had a great time playing a complicated piece while singing. We are so lucky to have such a talented music teacher at the school. It was truly impressive to think that she teaches each of the classes a different song, teaches them songs in languages other than French and English, and different musical instruments for the 12 classes in grades 1-4! My, I would have taught them all the same songs and skipped the musical instruments, lol!

This has increased CubJ’s interest in playing an instrument, and increased his excitement about receiving recorder later this spring in music class. Please let us know if you have any recommendations for super effective ear plugs to use when the recorders come home!

BabyJ's Christmas Concert

BabyJ’s Christmas concert included 7 songs in French, English and Spanish! She too had the opportunity to play some musical instruments including the tambourine, musical sticks, and bells. BabyJ is a real ham when given the opportunity to perform! BabyJ especially enjoyed telling Pere Noel what she wanted for Christmas.

CubJ's Birthday!

CubJ’s Birthday!

This year CubJ celebrated his birthday with neighbours, friends and family by playing Laser Tag! The kids played two rounds of laser tag to their great screaming, sneaking, shooting enjoyment. After that it was time for pizza, birthday cake and presents.

CubJ enjoyed himself very much. It was a great chance for him to play with two of the neighbourhood boys before they moved to Houston for the next few years. He also enjoyed the opportunity to run around like a banshee with his school friends.

Later that evening we headed out for dinner where Mr Drink Monkey was our special guest. After some yummy gelato we headed home to open birthday presents! CubJ enjoyed many wonderful presents perfectly picked for him, the best present of all was his wonderful day!

Happy 8th birthday CubJ!

Lots of love Mommy, Daddy and BabyJ

Fall and Back to School

Not much of a baby any more, BabyJ heads off to kindergarten!

The end of August saw BabyJ heading off to school for the full day! She has a wonderful teacher who loves teaching. BabyJ is picking up French very quickly and enjoying learning to write. It looks like it will be a wonderful year for her!

CubJ is in Grade 3 this year. He too has been lucky to get a wonderful teacher with patience of a saint. This year has been the start of English class, English spelling and reading. This has been embraced by CubJ with arms wide open. He is enjoying math, science and English most of all.

All grown up! Where have four and one half years gone I wonder? It seems like we just brought her home from the hospital the other day. YIKES

N-An-Gie's Wedding, the perfect wedding for the Perfect Couple!

The September long weekend saw us at the wedding of one of our most dear freinds, N-An-Gie and MotorMike! Congratulations friends, we wish you a life time of happiness, easy days,wonderful health, many children and more love than you could have ever imagined.

This wedding was the perfect reflection of a wonderful couple. A couple who know each other well, who know the meaning already of in good times and bad and a couple truely in love with everything (the good, the bad and the smelly) about each other. Their wedding was a wonderful country affair, relaxed and warm eactly as they are. Everything from their vows to the receptions showed that they value family, friends and being true to themselves above all else. No stuffy tradtions here, only an outpouring of love!

Their day was magical! The weather was fantastic, sunny with a breeze. the food was out standing, crafted with love by Sisters, Mothers, Mother-in-Laws and Anuties. The receptions was a warm and family affair for 160 people. Tiny twinkeling white lights set the perfect mood to showcase all of the love these to havefor each other and the people in their lives.

N-An-Gie, you are an Angle in our life! Meeting you was one of the best things that has ever happened to me or my family. You have always been one of the most giving, thoughtful, loving, intelegent, patient, wonderful people I have ever been blessed to know. When you met Motor-Mike, everything wonderful about you increased 10 fold. You two have given each other even more joy and love to share with the world, the courage to follow your own dreams and a belief in yourself. I could never have imagined that you could become an even more incredible person than you were, Motor-Mike has brought not only another great guy into our lives, he has made you even more special! Thank you Motor-Mike......

Thank you for letting us be a part of your most special day! It was abosolutly magical, everythign we could have ever wished for you both. May all of your days to come be filled with some of the magic of your wedding day.

Hugs & Kisses ~ The 4J's

Summer Time Fun

Summer Time Fun: August and a Montana Road Trip!

This summer was the year that we finally made time to go to Glacier National Park, Montana. For me, this is the camping of my childhood. I have had wonderful trips to various campgrounds, lakes, rivers, remote logging hamlets, and so many other places since my first summer. While the way I arrived, what we camped in, the family units and duration have changed many times over the years, the trips have always been filled with happy memories.

Some of my favourite memories of Glacier include: camping in our family Tent Trailer, said tent trailer coming loose, dragging chains and bouncing on the beds! Riding on the back of a bike to the West Glacier Cafe and Laundromat with the black garbage bag of clothes on my lap and eating at the counter. Walking across fallen trees as bridges over more creeks than I can count, and the years AuntieL used her gymnastics’ skills to nearly drive G-Ma to an early grave! The clear cold water of lakes, the tree that grows inside the store, the fancy hotels on Lake McDonald and the famous Eddie's Cafe.

All of these vivid and gloriously happy memories have always made me want to share these places with my kids. Now, don't get me wrong, there were things I dreaded in Glacier, namely the Trail of the Cedars and the Petrified Forest. In all fairness, it turns out that I am wildly allergic to cedars, thus explaining why they smell like rotten meat to me not that wonderful smell everyone else seems to enjoy. That being said, it was important to me to try and balance out showing my kids my favourite things while ensuring that it was not going to become their personal Trail of the Cedars! So with that in mind, we tried out some great new things and I grew to love Glacier even more as I saw the enjoyment my family was having!

Day One: Leaving for Montana. With the little J's safely buckled up in their booster and car seats and an all important assortment of movies we headed for the boarder via Pincher Creek. After a quick crossing at the Carway/Piegan border, we were on our way to St Mary's lake.

For me, this is always the beginning of my excitement! There is always a stop at the shops by the lake, some gawking in the grocery store at all the things still not available on our side of the boarder and marvelling at the beauty of the perpetually windy lake. This is a lake that is most beautiful with the waves cresting with little white caps, the trees bent ever to slightly in defiance to the seemingly ever present wind in the glorious sunshine. There are not many places that I associate their beauty with a howling wind other than St Mary's Lake.



In an unprecedented turn of events, there was no wind on our journey around St Mary's Lake. I have never seen the lake so calm. Luckily it was still magically beautiful. During our pit stop, the kids enjoyed looking at all of the different treats, super sized versions of things and a chance to get a snack.

After a quick stop in St Mary's Lake, then the real fun begins as you start the journey of the Going to the Sun Road!

One of the most amazing highlights of Glacier National Park is a drive on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. This engineering marvel spans 50 miles through the park's wild interior, winding around mountainsides and treating visitors to some of the best sights in northwest Montana

The Going-to-the Sun Road takes you through some of the most spectacular scenery in the park. Because portions of the road hug the mountainside, there are a few tight curves, but thousands of vehicles have safely made the journey from one side of the park to the other. Heading east toward Logan Pass and St. Mary from the West Entrance, passengers on the passenger side of the vehicle will be able to look over the edge of the road in a few spots. Follow the speed limit, drive carefully, and enjoy the majesty this road has to offer. http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/goingtothesunroad.htm

With that in mind, we were off! The weather was ideal, the sun was out, the sky blue, and we were able to see for miles along the Logan's Pass. We had the opportunity to get out of the car and view the road more closely at a construction delay. We all enjoyed the oddly sickeningly fun game of peering over the edge of the road, watching the weeping walls, and all of the waterfalls.

When we arrived in Montana, we headed right to our campground. This was to be one of the new 4J’s Family Adventures, and now a wonderful part of all of our memories!
The KOA was real eye opener for both DaddyJ and me. I had originally picked the KOA for its wireless access which seemed like a great way to ensure DaddyJ's happiness on a four day tenting road trip. Then as our trip approached, it looked like there might be two nights of rain! After the insane rain of our July Peter Lougheed trip, I was not inclined to be in a tent in the rain a half day from home. So at the last minute we changed our tenting site for a Kozy Kabin.

I must admit, the KOA seemed like we were wimping out in the first place. I mean, camping with fancy showers, an ice cream shop, swimming pool...... A mini log cabin (only beds, no bathroom or cooking facility) seemed over the top!

Were we in for a surprise! The cabin was lovely, the kids enjoyed the bunk beds and I loved the roof every second it rained the one evening! Now, it did rain hard enough that the mud took two days to dry out

While DaddyJ and I enjoyed trying out the local Huckleberry Beer (okay, huckleberry everything and anything!), sitting around our fire pit and chatting with the other very interesting travelers from all over the USA, the kids found their own fun. CubJ and BabyJ took to the park across the little road from our cabin, the ice cream parlour open in the evenings, and the swimming pool! It was an ideal way to enjoy a bit of fun for everyone while checking out MommyJ's must see childhood memory sites.

CubJ even enjoyed helping his sister swim in the rather cold pool!

After a kozy nights sleep in our kabin, where the kids enjoyed the bunk beds, we were off to have breakfast at the Huckleberry Patch. http://www.huckleberrypatch.com/ Home of the best huckleberry pancakes and preserves since I was a child. It was exciting to see that the kids enjoyed the large Hungry Horse heads along the way and pancakes as much as I did as a child. The restaurant was a great hit with the kids, so much so we made it back for another round before going home.

We all enjoyed our time in the Apgar Village. We visited the rangers’ house, examined the 3D topographical map carefully, watched some videos on the park and picked up a kids Junior Ranger workbook to help us learn more about Glacier National Park. We threw rocks in Lake McDonald, explored the old cabins, toured the store with the tree growing in the middle of it (still) and went for lunch at the family tradition of Eddie’s Cafe! http://www.eddiescafegifts.com/index.html

We explored some of the camping sites, shopped in Kalispell, and drove through Whitefish. All in all it was a great exploring trip for everyone. We all look forward to going back again!

Day 4, our last day: We had a final breakfast at Eddie's, tossed some rocks in Lake McDonald and toured the Apgar campground which seemed very much changed from my childhood. Our return drive on the Going to the Sun road offered a very different perspective with is fog, rain and an eerie mist. When we cleared the continental divide and reached St Mary's lake the sun was out and it was incredibly windy.

Our Montana trip wound up with an educational pit stop at the St Mary's visitor's center. The kids really enjoyed learning about how the Going to the Sun road was constructed, how it is being repaired and why it is a monument. After that we headed for the Chief Mountain border crossing. This allowed us to stop in spectacularly beautiful Waterton Park. It is one of those locations that is so beautiful that we could not help but wonder why we do not get down there more often.

We enjoyed watching the wildlife, crazy bike-rickshaw riders, visiting the lake on a very windy day, and a tasty lunch at Trapper's Grill.

It was an ideal trip, everyone enjoyed seeing the sights, I enjoyed visiting the camping areas of my childhood, and we all tried out the Kozy Kabins to our great delight! I feel a road trip on the horizon in 2010 with Kozy Kabins along the way! What a wonderful summer......

July Summer Time fun included a camping trip to Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.

This was a new destination for the Little J's and Mommy to check out. Our camping site was a short walk through a clearing to the lovely Lower Kaninaskis Lake. The first day and night was beautiful. We walked along the lake, played in the creek, followed the nature path, visited the visitors’ center and enjoyed a fire. The second night we were in one of the biggest rain and thunder storms I have been in outside of the tropics! When we awoke to continued rain the next morning, we packed up and headed home.

Our trip started out with a stop at our very favourite mountain restaurant, the Grizzly Paw! http://www.thegrizzlypaw.com/