Esmei Boots

 

Could she possibly look any more annoyed?

I dared to get out of bed and wake her.

I gave her a good scrub to make up for my rudeness.  She feels soooo soft.

So far, Eric is outside puttering.  I'm dealing with strangers listing items in the free chats.  Listening to an audio book and gearing up to make lunch for Kai and I.  Taking Jia to work this afternoon and then meeting Lili at Christmas Chaos.

A miracle.

 

Lewis is home!!!!

We haven't seen Lewis since the beginning of May.  After 6.5 months we were pretty sure he wasn't coming back.

Treats for everyone.

Very happy kids.

Oliver behaved.

He looks good.  Healthy and strong.

He's yowling a good amount.  Jia and I were up a few times with him last night.  He's mostly hanging with Jia.  He seems super happy to be home.

We would all LOVE to know where he went.  Was he lost?  

For a feral he is being all extra and dramatic like a house cat right now.

He stuck around all day and is hanging out with Jia for some gaming right now.

Bump, bump, bump.

Esmei was shaved today.  She's so tiny!  It's always shocking to see.  She got boots again.  I need a better picture.

Celebrating Finn's 5th Birthday.

The game pictured was Finn putting kibble in Jia's shoe, then pawing at it, while Coco watched.  I left the kibble in the shoe.  That won't teach Jia to put her shoes away but I can hope.

I asked tonight if there was kibble in the shoe, Jia said no but laughed at the idea of Finn putting it in there.

The day before Finn's bday, we celebrated Coco's 6th Birthday.

Life is a little too busy.  Chaotic at times.  The only room that feels calm is the dining room.  Xmas has started. Progress happens but with all renovations the mess and destruction has to happen first.

We don't have anything planned for the weekend.  I grocery shopped today so we can hunker down here if we want.

 

Revisiting the good old days.

We're clearing out the basement and finding old treasures.  Once upon a time we had swings in our kitchen. How crazy was that?!  We even had a selection of them.

We've outgrown this one ;)

If it can hold Kai, it can hold me.  Haha.  This thing is soooo uncomfortable.  Massively cutting into the back of my legs.

This is intended for kids to get right in, criss cross apple sauce and then spin.

I think we're really good to let this one go.

I saw a post from a Mom seeking an air hockey table for her son.  I was able to message her and offer her ours, she's picking it up tomorrow evening.  The girls quad left a few weeks ago.  The zip line is down and I'm gearing up to let the playground go. Also Luk's little wheelchair.  We have no clue where to donate it.  His miniature walker is here too.  It's the cutest thing in the world.  Oh, and also an electric wheelchair that was gifted to us but Luk doesn't need.  Apparently I need to make some calls.  Possibly starting with Queen Alexandra.  

The wall is up with drywall between Mom's apartment and our space.  So I can see the plan now. For today I think it will go back to the same blue and furniture it was, just vinyl flooring instead of carpet.  I was shocked to see the old blue carpet is still down there.  I want to put a basic playroom back with some of the kids old favorites. If I dream grandbabies perhaps it will manifest.  

Remembrance

30 of us went to Mt Bolduc to see the WW2 plane crash site.  

The weather was perfect.  There was pure chaos getting us all turned around to come back down.  No obstacles but a steep narrow climb up that did require 4x4.  

The trail to the crash site isn't far but also not easy.  Then it's sobering to see how far the crash site extends.  I also didn't realize the whole area is deemed a war grave yard.  

This trail is hillarious, it's called "fuc* my mirrors".  Nothing tricky just technical winding through.  Eric says many years years ago it was just a bike trail.  Trust Jeepers to figure a way through.  

Ben got Eric a badge for Oscar.  His 1st one ;)  Oh, and got a couple more ducks today.  

Being on the top of mountains never gets old.

Definitely the biggest group run for us.  The radio chatter is very entertaining.

Oscar got lots of accolades today.  So that was fun for Eric. 

Drivers meeting.

This is the link to Jay's Epic Off Road video.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1AfqUWdxdF/

On the home front, Mom is turning Isabel's yard into the secret garden.  Eric and Ty removed the dog pen, chicken coop, Izzy's old age ramp and bottom decks.  

Fei and I are sad.  The perfect dog set up has no dog, so there is no reason to be sad about the changes, but we are anyways. Logic doesn't play into this. 14 months and we are not over missing Izzy all day every day. 

I think it's funny that I was completely shocked to see that the fence is actually a gate!  I had zero clue.  

Eric and I are out there having grand adventures and the kids just keep declining coming with us.  I don't get it.  We arrived home with a few groceries.  They weren't impressed with bread, fruit, yogurt and ginger cookies and they didn't really want to hear about our adventure.  

Mini Test Wheeling

 

Eric and I headed out on our own this morning to test drive Oscar in his new finery.  Overall Eric was pleased.  A bit of rubbing and some alignment issues.  Eric is outside working on it.  We were hoping for a group Remembrance day run.  Fingers crossed.  We did run into a couple Jeepers and played together for a while.  Always fun meeting new people on the trails.  The Jeep in front of Oscar is the same age, trim, engine.  He thought Oscar had more pep, so Eric had fun letting him know some things he could do to his engine.  He wanted to hire Eric.  Haha.  

A quiet and cold lunch overlooking the Chemainus River.  We were wrapped in blankets.  

Does anyone local know this dip shits name?  

He has been attempting to spend time with Jia.  He does know Jia's age.  He set up an account online just to contact Jia.  Why do such pieces of crap get to live? 

I sent him the following message.

"This is Jia's parents. Attempting to communicate with our 15 year old child is wildly inappropriate. We expect all attempts to meet with or talk to our child to stop immediately. You have been reported to all of the appropriate authorities."

He did come back to McDonald's the other day and Jia's manager took over the counter and dealt with his order.  A manager also managed to get this photo.  

We walk Jia into and out of work.  Jia is never alone.  He doesn't know Jia's last name or where we live.  The idea that the perverts are out there is always on a parents mind but having your child tell you about a specific creep and the cringy conversations they try is super scary.

Jia is scared.  Eric and I are livid.

I certainly would love a chance to chat with him.  Jia doesn't like the idea of me staying at McDonald's full time until he shows up again.  You all know I would though.

It was another super busy week around here.  One step forward, two or three backwards.  Eric has been busy with all of the projects leaving me with more house chores, kid duty and meal planning.  Meal planning sucks.  The daily struggle of what to eat is the most exhausting chore.  I just dropped Jia at work this afternoon and bought items for three dinner options.  We just shopped a huge order on Thursday, the fridge is full and I still have a hard time making a plan.  We are a mostly ingredients house. Eric used to tell me he would make anything I wanted he just wanted me to tell him what to make.  I get it now.  

My super full calendar has NOTHING on tomorrow's little square.  So rare.  A little thing of beauty.  

Jeep video links

Jeepers Creepers advanced run with Epic Off Road BC.

https://youtu.be/eCXh2WdrSl0?si=2UHmAFkgtFcWtxbr

The Nanaimo run, Driving with Stu.

https://youtu.be/cthKrZQrOvM?si=MmpLE8Lqq2yodrpr

Insane.  Needed a new tire carrier because the new giant is too heavy for the door and hinges.  We opted for a metal bumper with tire carrier swing out.

There is ZERO chance the kids and I can climb in without a stool. I'm laughing about it but it is actually kind of sad at the same time.  Leaping in and out non stop on the trail, as we do, will be exhausting and tedious for sure.