Throwing Rocks

I started this blog to help me remember the day-to-day moments that pass by so quickly and are easy to forget. I sat down at the end of our first day, even though I was completely pooped, to get down all the things we had done so I wouldn't forget anything. But, as I went to bed that night, I realized I had left off one of the best things I had done that day. It didn't cost a dime and it wasn't on our agenda. I didn't even take a picture of it, but I want to always remember how much fun Evan and I had throwing rocks.

Evan loves balls and, in his mind, anything not square is a ball. He thought he had hit the jackpot when he saw the bed of river rocks that sits just outside the railing of the small back porch of the condo we're staying in. He took me by the hand and led me to the porch. Then, he stood at the railing saying ball and pointing to the rocks. I would reach through the bars of the railing and gather up a handful. He would laugh so hard when I handed him the rocks. Then, he'd throw them back out into the bed and point to them until I handed them back. I laughed each time I handed him a pile. We threw rocks for hours that day and for hours each day since. I'm always going to remember this as the trip when Evan discovered rocks.

We have thrown rocks in several places, graduating from the simple railing on the porch. Evan's favorite place to throw rocks has been Johnson Lake inside of Banff. There was a perfect bridge where Evan could stand and throw rocks into the water below.

He would laugh so hard when he'd see the splash. The whole family joined in the fun, gathering up rocks so Evan would have plenty to throw. We considered filling a bag with the nice round rocks from the condo, but we decided not to. Bryan and my dad were the main rock hunters, bringing back stones that were small enough to fit in Evan's hands, yet large enough they would make a visible splash.

Today we made our final trip to Johnson Lake to let Evan have a final hurrah. It has been chilly most times when we've been at the lake. Today it was hot, so for a grand finale, we took off our shoes and dipped our toes in the water.

If I could only take one memory home from this vacation, it would be the sound of Evan's laugh when he picked up a new rock. That and the sound of all of us laughing at the smile this silly little game brought to Evan's face.