Eric's Birthday

51. 

We booked some days around his Birthday at Rathtrevor.  We went Sunday which was great.  All the time in the world Saturday to grocery shop, load the moho and pack some clothes.  We even had time to go out for a date night.  Sunday we tidied and got the cats and mice ready.  So relaxing.  No rush.

Then came the reality for some of us.  I had to work.  An hour drive both ways.  Missed breakfast by leaving early.  So not there to help or clean up.  Lili and Fei have had to step up this trip and do way more than they're used to.  I'm also the one who tidies so they're all having to step up with that.  Not sure we'll create this exact scenario again.  They're staying there today but coming home after dinner.  Kai has an eye appointment in Victoria tomorrow morning.  So I won't be there to tear down or pack up.  Fei usually helps me so I think she knows where everything goes and what has to be locked up or closed. 

So I barely camped at all.  Hopefully the rest of them felt they got a bit of a holiday.

In the mean time I think I get a quiet dinner at home tonight.  Alone.  Bizarre.  I'm almost never alone.

Kai was having a hard time getting along.  So he missed out on the park.

He's trying.

Ah chalk.  Such fun.  Too much fun for Kai, he got overwhelmed in his attempt to own and control all of the chalk.  Three steps forward and two back.  He still has so much to learn about sharing.

A whole bunch more sharing issues but with both of us there guiding the play we made it through without tears.

My, doesn't she look like a bunch of fun?!

Jia had so much fun playing with a classmate and her brothers.

Parksville night market.  We made it out alone for a bit on Eric's Birthday.  Huge market and a ton of people there.  We just wandered around.  We weren't in the market for hippie clothes, jewelry, soap or art. It was just nice to be out without kids.

A true holiday moment.

This girl...mastered riding without training wheels!! Same age as Lili and Fei and learned on the same field.  Tradition.

Swimming and biking.  Wonder what's next.

What a look.  Pure joy!