I’m a sucker for traditions and on our trip to Calgary, we instituted a new one.
Much to my mother’s horror.
Remember when I let the kids jump into Fish Creek fully-clothed and we had the best night ever?
They begged my dad and me to take them back during the day so they could wear their swim suits. We went to our favorite spot: the ice caves. Remember last winter when we literally walked on water?
It’s a much different scene in the summer.
We were delighted to stumble upon some kids who were attempting to catch minnows and they graciously loaned us their nets.
Who knew miniature carp could be so fascinating?
Grandpa also held a tutorial on skipping rocks.
I only got pegged once.
But what unfolded next is still causing my mother sleepless nights. When we were at this area last summer, we saw some teens who were covered in mud. I didn’t think much of it–they had climbed straight up a precipitous cliff to get there and risking life and limb didn’t appeal to me. This summer, some teens emerged who’d done the same thing but it wasn’t until I saw a family of four take a much tamer path up the mountain that I decided to investigate.
“C’mon, Hadley,” I barked. We were Johnson girls on a mission.
We climbed for a few minutes until we stumbled upon a trail that was covered in mud. Thinking this was the final destination, Hadley and I called the boys up to come check it out. We then, of course, got dirty.
Really dirty.
Bode and my Dad joined us and Bode tepidly stepped into the mud. His shoe sank. He panicked and soon his other shoe got stuck, he freaked a bit and I thought he was having nothin’ to do with that mud.
Until Grandpa saved the day.
While Hadley and I had assumed this was the final destination, my dad forged forward through the mud and continued upward on the dry trail. And that, my friends, is when we stumbled upon a mucky, oozing wonderland: the mud pits. There were literally pools and slides of mud.
“Well get in!” I squealed.
My kids hesitated. Could it be? The woman who is always saying “stay out of the mud” was actually encouraging it?
They never looked back.
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| Muddy kids w/ view of Fish Creek below |
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| Cooling off later at Annie’s Bakery & Cafe |
And we’re counting down the days until we can do it again next summer.
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 