So every year for the past three years Phase II takes the crew and some of our awesome subcontractors to Harrison Hot Springs in Canada. This is Bryan's and my third year going, and it doesn't get old! Seriously, there is nothing to do there. The town is tiny with a handful of shops, there are a few restaurants, and the hot springs to lounge in. So why do we love it? It's so simple. We are required to relax!! There is no pressure to get up early, there is no guilt in playing card games for hours, and I can read a book with no interruptions! And that is exactly what my dad wants for us - a few days to relax and unwind. Sleep in, hang out, and turn our brains off (this is a lot easier for some than others!).
We always drive up on a huge comfy coach/bus. We eat lots of snacks, drink lots of soda, win some gift cards, and watch a movie. We stop at the Costco on the Canada side to stock up on Cadbury hot chocolate mix (which, in my opinion, is worth the drive all on its own) and eat lunch. The Costco there has some cool food in their food court!
When we got to the springs this year, Bryan and I hung out in our room, watched some TV and I read a magazine. We then went down and soaked in the hot springs before dinner. Every year we have gone to this pub for dinner, but I think next year we will try something new! After dinner we soaked in the tub some more, as did most of the people who came with us. It's so fun to go with basically the same people every year! We get to know the subcontractors better and their wives are always really cool!
And the next morning? We slept in!!! Until 10am!!! It was so awesome. After we slowly got up, lazily got ready, and went downstairs, we strolled around the town with Carissa and Adam (who don't work for Phase II, but live here and got to come, and also got to listen to me tease them for not really being Phase II employees!). I love the town. The little shops are always fun, I always get to pick out a new Willow Tree figure (my favorite tradition!), and they just opened a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory! We also get some Canadian chocolate to bring back for the kids.
Friday night my dad always hosts a big dinner for everyone. The food is good, and the company is better. And then, on a super-full tummy, we don our swimsuits and get into the hot tubs again! The best part is that there is really no agenda - we have to be at the dinner on time, and on the bus the next morning before it leaves us, but other than that, we can do what we want. And it's awesome! We can't wait until next year!
Coming back into the states was oh so interesting! For the first time they made all of us get off the bus to check our passports. Little did we know that while we waited forever in the border patrol building they were searching our stuff for illegal stuff we may have brought in. No worries! No one brought guns, drugs, or insane amounts of alcohol back. But then came the shocker. They were denying enterance to our...Kindereggs. Excuse me? My hollow chocolate egg with a cute toy inside can't cross the border? Apparently the toys are a choking hazard (what isn't these days??) and the U.S. has made them illegal. Carissa and I each got a package of 2 thrown away, and our friend Debbi had a Costco box of 24 taken away!! It was so stupid! But...I can neither confirm nor deny that three Kindereggs not found by border patrol were smuggled into Washington and found their way to three little boys :) 
10 comments:
I swear, we are employees of Phase II... even if we only work like 10 hours a year. So technically...
We had a lot of fun and I hope we are invited next year! I need to blog now. Show off. Stop blogging so often!
Almost makes me wish that I worked at Phase II. I would miss all my daycare babies though if I didn't work at home. Glad that you enjoyed your much deserved vacation.
The hot chocolate is so worth the trip! We are going up next month to stock up ourselves!!! Glad you guys were able to get away and relax!
Amazing! You have an awesome boss to do that for you guys. I am glad you had a great time, and were able to sleep in.
wow that sounds like so much fun! You guys are always doing such fun stuff together, and as a family! I think we'll start doing stuff like that. You are a great blogger though! are you a twin or a triplet? Either way that is so cool!
wow that sounds like so much fun! You guys are always doing such fun stuff together, and as a family! I think we'll start doing stuff like that. You are a great blogger though! are you a twin or a triplet? Either way that is so cool!
Look like fun! Glad you guys had such a great time!
I've been waiting for this post. Apparently, I haven't checked bloglines for awhile since I'm the 8th to comment. Looks like a great trip and I'm writing my senator about kindereggs being illegal! Luckily, they don't check my mom's luggage when she comes back from Switzerland.
Glad you had a fun time to just relax. I need one of those kinds of trips...although I like taking my kids too!
PS. I totally would have eaten all 30 of those kinder eggs at the stop. No sense in letting them go to waste!
Another exciting weekend! You're making Jeremiah and I look like the most boring people ever. And just so you know, Kurt and Denise aren't employees either. I'm glad everyone got a break, everyone deserves one every once in a while. I'm craving Kindereggs now.
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