Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Vancouver 2026--Day 1!

Okay, peeps.

We're off on an adventure!

A summer adventure!

Somewhere cooler (well, a tiny bit cooler for now; a lotta bit cooler later in the week)!

CANADA!













Fun fact: the hubby and kiddos have never been, and it's been more years than I care to admit since I've traveled up this way--and even so, it was to different cities and provinces for work, so...it's a fantastic, new adventure for all of us!

It's no secret that we're Colorado in Summer peeps, so Canada seemed like a fantastic extension of so much that we love: mountains, cooler temps, majestic scenery and...nice people, eh? ;)

Anywho.

We're spending a few days here in Vancouver, then a few in Whistler, and we're very grateful for some time away!

By the time we make it home, July will be upon us, and it's just wild to me how fast the Summer seems to be flying by (as usual). Moreover, we're so much busier in June/July than we used to be, so time away together is more important than ever. 

Unfortunately, we headed into the trip a bit worse for wear, with the whole fam (except Yours Truly) falling ill in recent weeks. Little Man was the last to tank. His fever had barely broken by the time we had to travel, but I'm not mad at it, considering the fact that it led the hubby to upgrade our travel to Business Class, and let me just say that we're all ruined now, forever.

Our crew enjoyed the special lounge and the bougie airplane seats and service far more than I'm willing to admit, but it gave us more room for our germs and more comfort for our weary bodies.













I could tell my son was feeling much better--due to an increase in mischief and word count, ha. That face of his...I die.















Seriously--it might be placebo effect, but I swear my extreme flight anxiety was lessened up there in the fancy seats with the warm towels and assorted, warm nuts, ha. Plus, I had the sweetest, 16-year-old miniature poodle in a carrier beneath the seat next to me, and it was the best distraction.














The kiddos took full advantage of the special flight service. At one point, I counted a bowl of nuts, two chip bags, two pieces of actual glass stemware and two water bottles...on Chicklet's expansive tray table, alone, ha. 

Oh, well. I hope they lived it up, since it probably won't ever happen again!

We rented a house in a lovely location here in Vancouver so we could spread out a bit and have a washer and dryer. I'm happy to report that it's exactly as advertised.















With our flight landing midday, and our next priority being food, we only had time for one activity on Day 1, but it was a top-notch one: Vancouver's iconic Capilano Suspension Bridge & Park.





























I'm sorry to report that my extreme height anxiety (yep: flight and height anxiety) meant I couldn't cross. I suspected as much, beforehand. The rocking of the bridge and the insane height and distance across was just too much for me.

But, I gladly sent the hubby and kiddos across and blessed them in their Treetop Adventure excursion on the other side. 




























Meanwhile, I spent a lot of time feeling lame and then giving myself an attitude adjustment and appreciating my gorgeous surroundings--plus taking pics of flowers and scenery--while I waited on them to return.












And, return, they did!














Eventually, after spending a lot of time contemplating the extreme regret I'd feel if I didn't at least try one more time on the bridge...I ventured out just a bit, thanks to Chica's kind support, and the calmer vibe with less people on it (and rocking it!). The perspective of the picture doesn't exactly show this, but the bridge is too wide for you to hold both sides at once (because it's two way traffic of people; the horror!), or I would have clutched both sides!!

















We spent a bunch of time in the really great gift shop, the kiddos and the hubby ventured out onto another thrill walk--the Cliffwalk--and we topped the whole thing off with the most glorious salmon burger (though, to be fair, I think it was my first salmon burger?!).

Then...proof of bridge certificates, ha.















By the time we made it home, got showered, settled and wound down for the night, it was nearly one o'clock in the morning according to our body clocks, and after a four-thirty, pre-dawn wake-up for our flight that morning, we were pretty cashed!

But we barreled right into a successful Day 2 (today!) that I'll share tomorrow, since it's likely I'll trend a day or two behind with posting.

Anywho...

Grateful to be away.

Grateful for many days ahead of us.

And...grateful for the pillow my head is about to hit!

More maƱana, peeps!

Over and out.

P.S. I miss my Coda pup. Wish she were with us!

Sunday, June 21, 2026

Camp Hard, Tank Hard

Okay, peeps.

Like with so many other things lately, I'm not managing to take pics of all the lovely events we've got on! 

In fact, I'm lucky if I snag one, where I once would have taken dozens! (Hello, VBS.)

And that includes Little Man's week of his classic day camp, that he just completed!

Here he is, on the final day of camp (already not feeling so well, though only my Mama intuition told me at that point).













He camped HARD all week. So much outdoor time--running, swimming, playing, outdoor gaming...all the things. For reference, here's a more detailed post from the last time he attended, along with Chicklet and her buddy:

https://delappenings.blogspot.com/2023/08/summer-camp-2023.html

It's seriously an incredible, and well-oiled machine, at this particular camp, and always a great experience when it's done with a friend!

My favorite part of the ending ceremony was watching Little Man do all the choreographed motions to the Christian message-themed song they performed, all about stayed tuned to God, and not all the other things in life that can distract you and cause stress. An evergreen message, indeed.

I'm sorry to say that, by the time we made it home the evening, after a burger meal out with his buddy, I could tell he wasn't himself. A thunderstorm interrupted his sleep, and by morning, he was officially down and out for the count.

OYE.

For anyone who's keeping track:

Chicklet was sick Week 1 of Summer...

Chica tanked at the end of Week 2...

The Hubby went down hard by mid Week 3...

Little Man tanked by the end of Week 3, and...

Yours Truly is the only one standing, and probably totally screwed--right as we depart tomorrow on an adventure. Yikes.

So...taking all the preventive meds I can and saying a lot of prayers.

More, soon, as we head someplace a bit cooler and a lot more mountainous!

Happy Sunday, peeps!

Over and out.

(NOT) Father's Day--2026!

Okay, peeps.

Last weekend, we did a whole shebang to celebrate the hubby's favorite things for Father's Day.

We went to a yummy, outdoor meal of GF/DF fried chicken, just for him...

We spent two days assisting him in the crafting of GF/DF croissants that were quite finicky...

We made him a back-up (successful) dessert of creme de menthe brownies for when the croissants inevitably quasi-failed (as so many GF/DF, complicated desserts are prone to do)...

We gave the approval for his order of a new pickleball paddle (pretty much the only present he ever really wants)...

And we had lots of chill, family time, per the hubby's request--including couch sitting and movie watching (with the volume raucous and loud on his sound system, just like he prefers)...

And then on Sunday morning, as I was retelling all the lovey tidbits to Older Bro, he paused and said, "You know it's not Father's Day this weekend, right?"

And...nope. Nope, we did not know it wasn't Father's Day.

Whoopsies.

I guess we were just off-calendar and oblivious...but it was meant to be, since the hubby's health tanked a few days later, and Little Man's shortly thereafter, so we haven't managed much, today, on actual Father's Day.

So...yay, for an accidental, early celebration and, yay, for all the glorious fathers who deserve all the love and chill time they want--today, a week ago, or any other day, for that matter!


















Happy Father's Day!

And, now, for a throwback of some of my favorite Father's Day pics and moments of past years...

https://delappenings.blogspot.com/2017/06/a-splash-happy-father-day-weekend.html

https://delappenings.blogspot.com/search?q=father%27s+day

https://delappenings.blogspot.com/2022/06/fathers-day2022.html

https://delappenings.blogspot.com/2023/06/fathers-day-2023.html