We're Here

 

I texted Shannon this picture and said "We're here".

She texted me back the same view/picture with the words "We're here".

Too funny.

We're prepared for a relaxing Osborn Bay weekend.

Look what I found in Walmart today!!

Seriously, way too much fun for $13.

Mr matched me on purpose today. We're so cute.

While sitting and visiting with friends at the waters edge a lady walking her cat on the trail asked whose Jeep and then she ducked me ;)  

A Shannon Quilt!

 

What an incredible gift.  I love it!

So many personal touches.  Sewn in red thread :) Colors for me, coffee patterns for Eric, 7 rows for the family and all of our names stitched on it.

It is for the family...but...I've claimed it for myself.

I watched her making this one, so that's pretty cool too.

This was the weekend that the group camping at our place was planned.  Eric did the prep work.  One by one people canceled.  Shannon and Ken came for night one.  We four enjoyed a quiet but lively visit on the back deck. Eric had the deck all spotless for us.  Saturday night we got to visit with Dawn-Marie and Al.  So the camping part was a total bust but we did get visits with some of our favorite peeps!

I bought this chair for Esmei, she despises it.  Refuses to touch it.  Haha.  It does crinkle. The battle is on getting her to at least try it.  Last night we discovered at bedtime that she had spent the day locked out of the house out on the upper deck.  She was beyond upset about it when Eric let her in.  Thank God it's a shaded deck!!  She yowled and howled and talked until 2:30am.  It was the biggest story of all time.  She even went downstairs to tell Lili about it.  

Mom, Lili, Fei and I finally got to meet baby Perry.  She is a total doll.  I'm not permitted to post pictures but I can show them off if you see me.

Kai outgrew his favorite pajamas.  They fit me though.  Which he thinks is hillarious.  We did buy him a Cookie Monster Onsie for his Birthday next week.  Shhh.  Don't tell him.  It's super soft so we're hoping he likes it.

We ended up with free time on the weekend.  We picked up dumplings at Ping's and took them to Elliot Beach.  

We sat in the shade, ate, visited and then played on our phones until it was time to head home and get Jia to work.

This morning Eric and I both had doctor appointments in Victoria.  Afterwards we made to the HMart.  It's really impressive and stupid expensive.  We bought a few things for home and some stocking stuffers.  It's likely not somewhere I will go often.  Dawn-Marie just told me Chemainus has a new No Frills grocery store.  I'm more excited about checking that one out.

Oscar was ducked today.  Eric saw the kid do it.  He was in a motorized wheelchair ducking Jeeps.  Awe.  It's a squeaker duck.

So, Lili and Fei both got cars when they turned 16.  Jia turns 16 in four months.  The car hunting has begun.  We found Oscar's actual twin.  Same year, same trim, same interior except it was an automatic.  The body is in better shape.  Eric wondered if it was too much for a parts car.  Haha.  Yes, yes it was.  They did have a silver Mazda 6 that might work for Jia though.  

Another surprise box from Tim's. So fun. Lili and I shared the brownie already and it was really good.

One week of summer holidays left.  Eek.  There are SOOO many things we didn't get to.  At least the kids are all set for back to school.  Eric and I are dreading the schedule.  Sigh.

Food Gambling

 

Lili show/told me about the app

Too Good To Go

Literally food gambling.

Who knew?!

This surprise box from Tim's was 4.99.

Divied up for tonight's snack.  We added fruit.

This could become a problem.  There isn't much in Duncan but real cities have lots of options.

Closet progress. 

Eric's next project.

  

Our little closet and cubby space exploded into the pink room. Eric has been very busy this weekend.

I missed getting the empty closet before picture.  

I'm in the living room listening to him ripping out drywall now.  

It's pretty exciting.

Easter Seal part 2

 

Our new t-shirt creations.

It's a weird experience this year.  All kids.  No adult campers.  No wheelchairs.  Kai and one other blind boy with medical issues.  The rest of the campers are autistic.  So, not a lot of bonding going on amongst the campers.  The counselors are very hands off this year.  So we were largely left to our own devices.  The way Kai likes it.  I napped after breakfast, after lunch and we went to bed super early and I napped before bed.  Our Saturday was very relaxing, quite boring and lonely for me.

I was hoping to see families from previous years.  Nope.  None.  Except one but the parents don't chat much.  English is their second language.

Kai refused to go watch the movie because it was Princess and the Frog. A girl movie.

This is Hank.  Hank is a failed service dog so he is now reinventing himself as an autism support doggo.  His kid could care less.  So far Hank prefers his new Dad. Hank also really liked Kai.  All dogs like Kai.

We got to dog sit Hank while his family took a canoe paddle. Hank wasn't interested in getting in the canoe.

He is the most chill dog ever.

Kai couldn't be convinced to swim, or canoe, or kayak or even go down on the dock.  He was happy to just hang with Hank for a while.

Tie dye.

Kai's happy spot.  In the TV room on his phone.  Another kid came in and played the piano for a while much to Kai's disgust.  I personally thought the other kid was facinating.  His first time on a piano.  It started out as pounding but quickly became a pattern of four sounds, then five and he repeated the pattern for the half hour. It was oddly soothing.  Loud but not awful to listen to. He scooted through the room later with his Dad chasing him and he quickly did the same pattern on the fly and then took off on a full run when his Dad got closer.  Thank God our kids weren't runners.  It looks extremely frustrating for the Dad.

We left today after breakfast.  I didn't want to stay for the talent show and lunch.  I'm not sure I want to go again but then I look at the Kai smiles.  He genuinely likes it there and in his way he enjoys the camp. 

Shawnigan Olympics

 

Kai actually joined in to the games this year!  And had fun!!

Trickery. His idea, my execution, he held still long enough for the photo ;)

If you took your apple crumble to the nice lady in the background and asked nicely she added icecream for you.  I thought for sure Kai would go be independent for icecream.  He declined but when I offered to go with him he leaped up.  He did ask when prompted though.

Dinner was fabulous.

Spirits were high on the way to dinner despite the rain.

Everyone placed 1st. Kai wouldn't wear his but he told others that I would and he put it on me.

There are only 13 families here.

We're tucked in by 8:30.

Realizing that there is no window to the outside in our room.  No fresh air.  Thankfully it's not hot out. 

Easter Seal Family Camp.

  &

Kai is home.

I set up his bed.  He ate some cookies.

The wifi kicked right in.  He pretty much only wants out of this room for meals.  Not kidding.

It's pouring rain.  This afternoons activity is an open beach swim.  Ah.  Nope.  

No assigned councilor this year.  No one walked us to our room.  We had to hunt for our name.  We're on the bottom floor for the 1st time.  I'm already beyond alarmed at the sound of the elephants stomping around upstairs.  There are only a couple families here so far.  I saw a lot of empty rooms upstairs.  I suspect we have a small group this time.  I've only seen four other kids.  One with a support dog and one with a white cane.  I'd love to think Kai will find kids to bond with and have some fun but honestly he simply won't be interested one whit, unless they are holding snacks to share.  Again.  Not kidding.

Our room is dismal.  Haha.  They all are.  Rebuilding is way beyond past due.  Our room has an open window to the hallway with a piece of plywood held up with velcro.  And it keeps letting go. So that's crazy.  I will 'feel' watched 24/7.  

Wish us luck.

Fei's Gotcha

 

Celebrating Fei at Heritage Indian Cuisine.  The one on Berkey's Corner.

The food was sooo good.  We'll be back.

We had a nice  lunch.  Fei humored me talking about our first moments together as a family of four.

She's working nightshift tonight.  There were lots of leftovers for her to take.

Another duck in the wild.

 

A demon duck!  Eric saw the ducking happen.  I had just bought a nice big duck at the thrift store so we ducked the other Jeep parked near us.  Hopefully it was her ;)  

New leg braces fitting day.

2 and half hours in an old hospital with no a.c.  Kai and I made our escape at the one hour mark and found a waiting room with a bathroom, a fan, two couches and near the front door that opened periodically to let in fresh air.

No one wanted to visit the beach.  We ate lunch out at May Gold before the appointment so afterwards we just high tailed it home.

We're getting there.

Grout.  Eric would like all of us to remind him of this moment the next time he considers tiling ;)

Finny had prayer paws.  That he unfolded as soon as I got the camera open.  How do they know?  

Dole cones.

I went to see Dawn-Marie perform at an accordion festival.  These two came with me.  Then Lili surprised us by joining.  We all enjoyed the music more than we were expecting to.

Dm is on the far right.  She was fabulous of course.

The rain is finally starting.  We are desperate here on the island to help with the fires.  Kai and I are off to Easter Seal Family Camp tomorrow for the weekend.  I'm dreading dealing with rain and I sort of also want to dance in it.  Last year there was a huge storm with lightning, wind and rain.  

Resort Day

 

It rained really hard last night.  We declined sitting outside.  We were home for a late dinner after Cormorant Island and then we just stayed in.  Eric watched his first movie of the trip.

We have been able to sleep in each day.  Eric and I got another quiet morning moment on the beach. 

Tons and tons of bird and chipmunk activity in our site.  Definitely keeping us entertained. Eagles, Stellar Jay's and Crows.

It was a lazy day. Very relaxing.  I got an ocean side nap in my couch.  So nice.  The sun was out most of the day. We ate well all day.  5 nights is long haul for camping.  We've enjoyed our stay here but I'm happy to go home too.  

At one point Eric left for the washroom.  I asked if we should be worried when he didn't come back in a timely fashion. Shannon said he probably found someone to help.  Then she sent me this.  We all had a good laugh.  The neighbors batteries were charging but not going to their trailer.  Eric's official diagnosis, it was crusty.  So he wasn't able to fix it for them.