Journal Entry No. 49| Harry Potter Night | Klutch Photography| Vancouver family Photograper

I swear I was only in Indigo Chapters so Amara could pick up the book she’s been hunting down for months! I was almost home free too, till she spotted the Harry Potter dressed associates. They were busy putting up HP decorations on the walls of the Grandview Corners location in Surrey BC.

Being Amara is a beautiful thing, she has no fear when it comes to asking strangers questions, or meeting people, or just making new friends (What a gift BTW!). She walked right over and started her Harry Potter investigation. The lovely associates let her know that indeed it was a special event, they were hosting an HP evening that started at 7pm. Full of crafts, slime …STOP did you say SLIME! She didn’t hear anything else after the slime comment, she was sold!

*We don’t make slime at home for good reasons. I think almost every parent who has made slime in their home will completely understand why. If you don’t get it, have a group of 10 year olds make it in your home, then you’ll get it. Better yet, look at the images below.*

It was 5pm, so we returned at 7pm on a school night. Crazy right, BUT this kid loves Harry Potter, and how long before these type of kid events would mean nothing to her. She’s 10…this might be my last one, so of course, I would take her. I also kind of felt it was serendipitous to be at that location, on that day to find out they were having this event that evening. Follow the universe people, I always say, or maybe just follow their Facebook page to be more formally updated on these events, lol!

It was wonderful. The staff were dressed up, with smiles on, and they were so lovely to all the children. They had crafts, a photo prop station, a scavenger hunt, and of course the slime table! The guy hosting the slime table, God bless him…it’s what nightmares are made of!

Amara loved it, and to top off the evening, Starbucks was serving “Butterbeer” ! Nothing like a cupful of sugar, right before bed, lol! But you know what, she will remember this evening! The laughs, the new friends she made, and the fact that we went together on a school night. That for me is pure gold.

Thanks, Indigo Grandview Corners!

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Journal Entry No. 48 | Clip N' Climb | Klutch Photography | Vancouver family photographer

Anyone who owns a 13 year old teenage GIRL will totally understand me when I say “WTF has happened to my sweet kid”! They literally creatures from another planet, and that planet is called “Parents are idiots, and we know EVERYTHING”. They start residing on the planet once they enter high school (give or take a few months maybe even a year). Everything is blah, or NO, or eww, and don’t get me started on the body language that accompanies these words.

So finding something, an activity (away from the phone, tv or computer) that works for both kids of different ages to do “together” is nearly impossible. #thestruggleisreal -painful!

This past weekend princess “Blahnoeww”, as she will be named for this post wanted to grace us with her presence! Being her doting disciples, we grinned with eagerness, and with bated breath as to what we would do together!

“PB” suggested we attend Clip N’ Climb, it was located right beside TSS. Which worked out great as my youngest most normal child (I swear I would never have thought in a million years that my dramatic child would end up being the “normal” one, yet here we are) goes there on Saturday mornings. “PB” even wanted to see her little cousins as well, so plans were made, fast. We all know how teenagers like something one minute and literally dislike it within the next 60 seconds!

Clip N’ Climb located in Richmond was amazing! The way they’ve set it up with scheduled times that leaves you about an hour to climb up all these creatively done walls. Totally safe, from my safety police credentials. Our whole crew was a big fan, ages 5 through 13, even the adults were a little jelly they didn’t sign up (insert hand up over here). The cost about $14-20 per kids, then you start a punch card for more value down the road. You can race people, time yourself on some of the climbs, and take some great leap of faiths!

NOTE: My youngest would like to advise you that you really should wear pants. Sadly, she had a ferocious case of hungry bum because she wore shorter shorts and those straps are fitted in all the wrong places. Just saying. lol. #Truth.

So parents with 13 year olds, this might be a family outing option for all your people, praise the lord. Amen!

Journal Entry No.40 | Klutch Photography | Vancouver family photography

It seems this two day, three-night whistler/Blackcomb family adventure is becoming a "thing" every April. How lucky are we to live only two hours away from this gem, how unlucky are we that it's so expensive, lol! 

With that being said, it's our year anniversary of buying into Embarc/Diamond resorts, which we thought might be a mistake after our blood pack, not going to buy into this "timeshare stuff", five-hour meeting, signing the papers, pay for it, and then the customary buyer's remorse sets in! But in one year, we've gone on four trips using our purchased points for our international accommodations. So It's safe to say, both of us are sold on the purchase thus far! Hellllooo! Who doesn't want to travel more? oh ya, I know who, my Portuguese mother! Good thing I'm the black sheep of the family who likes to "travel", and good thing she prays for us while we're away for our safety! Got to love a paranoid Catholic mother to keep the bad travel juju away!

So a miracle happened, Amara skied this year! Thank the lord, I wonder if that was my mom's doing? She is pretty tight with the man upstairs. Like I always say, a family that skis together, (while mom does her own thing) stays together!

Also, the Embarc Whistler resort was AMAZING for families, their waterslide was almost more fun for the adults! We didn't even need to leave the resort really (except for some ciders and the cold beer and wine store for one million dollars, insert your pinky to the corner of your mouth), and we did manage to sneak out for some spectacular sushi tho from Sushi Village.  Honestly GO eat there, we all agreed that it was top three places we've ever eaten sushi at.

Again Beautiful BC for the win!

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