Best Decisions Ever

Tanner and I have gone camping every year since we've been together. For starters, Tanner and I went camping on our honeymoon! We started in Whitefish, MT and then travelled up the Rockies, stopping at different places on the way, ending up camping in Jasper. It was a wonderful week! The following year we went back to Jasper for our 1st anniversary. Despite being 6 months pregnant, I still really enjoyed the trip. Jasper has a special place in my heart, now.

THIS YEAR Tanner and I were craving a good camping trip. Tanner and I were so pumped that we even bought our very own tent! (We've been borrowing my parent's tent on past trips.) We went to Bass Pro Shop and checked out all their tents. They have these cool mini-model-tents that you can look at to help you decide. I was more fascinated with these tents because they reminded me of the Barbie tent I used to play with as a child......okay okay, as a teenager. It was a cool tent, okay! In the end, Tanner and I came home with an 8 MAN TENT! It's huge! A tent is a big investment and one of the most important decisions you make in your marriage :) I didn't want to get a tent that our family would quickly outgrow! Tanner was just happy to get a tent that he could actually stand up in.

I'm sure that most married couples will agree with me on this next point (I hope) - when you are married for x-amount of years, you and your spouse become less conversational. Well, this is usually the case for Tanner and I. I'm not saying that we don't talk any more, I'm just saying that conversation isn't always as lively as it once was. So, for this camping trip we decided to invite another family with us! I asked my twin brother and his wife and little baby boy to join us. One of the BEST decisions I've made!... since buying the 8-man tent :)

We camped for 3 nights and 3 days just outside of the Banff town site, at the Tunnel Mountain campground. Tanner and I are picky campers and kept going back to the campground registration gate to change our site. Seriously though, if you don't like your campsite, you won't have as great an experience. In the end we found a gorgeous campsite on the edge of the campground with only a couple of neighbours. More secluded.

Gwen did very well on her first camping trip. She was such a trooper during the cold nights. She had a fleece toque that she literally wore the ENTIRE time! Buying a toque with a chin-strap: best decision I've ever made. That way she wasn't able to tear it off! Gwen and her little cousin did well with not being able to crawl around (too many choking hazards on the ground). They spent the weekend in strollers, playpens, tents, baby carriers. Their only chance to really crawl was at church on Sunday, in the Banff Branch chapel. Freedom!

We all went on hikes each day we were there. Banff is SO beautiful. We got to see the Hoodoos and hike to to Banff Falls,  we went to the Cave and Basin, Banff Hotel, and walked up and down Banff downtown. Our first day there, we found a Korean restaurant and couldn't resist a hot meal of Bul-go-gee. Yummmm :) Tanner said that he wants to retire in Banff. He's also retiring to Shuswap and Fairmont ha ha!

Tanner and I hope to make it a tradition to camp in the mountains every year. We had such a wonderful time and cannot wait until next year. (Sorry, but I'm a wimpy camper who doesn't camp during the winter months).

Another BEST DECISION I've ever made: Marrying Tanner. Probably the best one yet :)

Jenny :)