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“I hate walking,” Syd complains.
“Walking is really good for you. You probably don’t remember, but when you were little, I had a special hiking stroller and I would take you through the forest on all kinds of hikes back in Vancouver.”
“I want that stroller back,” Syd complains.
“Well, if you get really tired just say something and I will carry you on my back,” I tell my daughter.
Ellie is being quiet this morning and for some reason I don’t like it. She finally breaks her silence when we are on the path headed to the falls.
“Let’s stop here. It’s a great place to take some photos,” she suggests.
We all stop.
“Go stand by the trees, Connor. Syd, you move in close to Daddy,” she directs.
She holds up her phone and takes the pic.
“Here, can you take one with my phone too?” I ask her.
She takes my phone and takes another picture.
“Ellie, I want a picture with you too,” Syd says. Truth is, even before my daughter said something I knew I wanted a picture of her to remind me of this day.
Ellie moves in close to Syd.
“I can take the picture,” I offer.
“You get in, Connor,” Ellie says so easily. Like us making memories together isn’t a big deal.
I take Syd in my arms. Ellie takes a selfie of us.
“Now make a silly face,” she instructs.
Each of us scrunch our face in some weird way, but I notice Ellie and Syd both stick out their tongues.
“Okay, you silly gooses. Let’s keep walking. This is a short trail. We’ll be at the falls soon and we can take more pictures there,” I say.
Syd takes Ellie’s hand and they walk ahead of me. When we reach the falls, Ellie gasps.
“It’s so beautiful here,” she says.
“If you want, you can come back here later with your art supplies while I take Syd to the water park,” I suggest.
“I’d love to join you guys at the water park though,” she says.
“But when will you have the opportunity to work in this kind of environment again?” I ask.
“You do have a point,” she agrees, looking thoughtful.
We take more pictures by the falls and then we head out on a different route toward the bike rental place.
“I’m tired,” Syd complains.
“Don’t worry, they have special trailers I can attach to the bike for you to sit. You won’t be doing any work,” I assure my daughter.
“Are you up for the bike ride?” I ask Ellie.
“I’m clearly not in as good of shape as you are,” she replies, her eyes running down my chest. “But I think I can manage it.”
