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16 in 2016: Updates on Year-long Goals



Although I don't have more than one item crossed off on my 16 in 2016 goal list, I am working on a few more at the same time, and this post is to document the in-between. 

One of my goals was to travel to Banff National Park and see Calgary (and who am I kidding? ride horses like in Heartland). We're heading out that way in mid-June for a family vacation with my mom and stepdad as well. We'll stay two days and nights in Banff where hikes and nature will be prime priorities, and then just under a week in Calgary before we drive back and the 'rents fly home. We've got our places booked thanks to airbnb, and we've got tons of things to do and places to explore thanks to the great tips I got on facebook. Are you familiar with those areas? Leave me a comment with the best places to eat or family-friendly things to do.

Another goal I have is to explore Vancouver island. I've been to Victoria perhaps 3 cumulative days before and never anywhere else. Two of my friends are meeting me up at YVR this summer and we're hitting the ferry to explore the island! It's a great time to come to Canada because our dollar is quite low, so they were willing to say this year is BC year. What better way to accomplish a fun goal than with some of your best friends? I'm counting down the days!

Reading through the Laura Ingalls Wilder books has been great so far. Out of nine books, we've read through book four (just started 5, "By the Shores of Silver Lake") since Christmas. At this rate, I hope to be finished with them by mid-June, when school ends. That shouldn't be too hard, the first 4 are the bulkiest. It's a six-month commitment, but it's been a fun one to do with the kids.

I've also bought or received a few more (living) plants for our home! I bought a really nice plant from IKEA where even the plants are just a few dollars. I have no idea what it is because it didn't come with a tag, it's not on their website, and it's not shown above. There are a good 30 leaves and it reaches about 6 inches high. It's funny that it was a 'goal' because now that I received two as gifts (an African violet and an Easter lily), I feel like I only need to purchase one more (a nice hanging plant) and that goal will be finished! I found a great local spot that was new-to-me that I've scouted out a beautiful hanging plant for a reasonable price but they are almost never open, so I'll keep trying.

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