Shopping with Kai.

A special trip with just Kai.  Finding shoes for our boy is normally the most dreaded chore I ever do.  He isn't normally agreeable.  His feet have issues. He has issues.  His ability to put shoes on is very low. He seems unable to maneuver his feet, use any strength to push his foot in, he doesn't look at what he's doing.  There are tears.  He dislikes shoes.  Shoe shopping is torture for him and us.  Tonight however, we shopped in toys first so he could show us what he might like for his Birthday.  He was fabulous and very thoughtful with his selections.  Eric followed behind, gathering and putting it up on a shelf to come back for.  We bought every single thing he picked out!  So fun.  I should mention his whole dream list came to $130. All toys.  Then we hit shoes.  He was told we wouldn't help, he had to put the shoes on 100% by himself.  He picked out three pairs and got them on himself!  No fuss.  No tears.  Easy peasy.  Progress!

Victoria

Mom ordered some shoes for Jia that just fit.  Assuming she has more growing to do so we went in person to exchange them for a bigger pair.  Our first time in the big city since covid. We'll...Eric and Kai have been for eye appointments.  

Lili pointed out it's the first time 7 of us have eaten out at the same table in a restaurant since pandemic. We did Spaghetti Factory.  Their prices have gone up significantly x7. They didn't have mizithra cheese, 4 of us were there just for that.  We had two servers.  It was weird and confusing. Jia ended up with two drinks.  Luk got the wrong one.  Eric got the wrong salad.  It just wasn't the dream scenario for our return to the city.  Soooo much mask wearing in Victoria.  Versus a little bit in Duncan and basically none in Parksville.  I'm glad Eric was driving.  He took us on a scenic route so we could see how small and boring our house really is.  Haha.  Lastly we stopped at Walmart to pick up the desk chair for Fei that Duncan didn't have in.  I would have liked shoe shopping for the boys but it didn't fit into our limited time.

I missed getting video of Kai just before this.  He was discovering shadows and doing dancing movements with his hands and arms so I grabbed the camera and just then ice cream was placed in front of him.  Attention averted.

Eric took my Jeep in to have a new windshield put in.  Crack from a rock.  Damn logging trucks.  Boys got a bonus day out in town with treats and lunch.

Bamberton part 3.

These three are doing so great together. It's extremely entertaining listening to their conversations.  

I don't remember ever being to this beach.  It's not sandy but the picnic area is great so we'll add this one to the picnic roster.

Haha.  Texting on the go.  

First time Luk took his phone just so he could take pictures.

The tiny ones are loving camping.  

I posted the same picture but this one was Shannon's and it turned out nicer.  Maybe I do want/need the better camera/phone.

Eric packed ice cream and cones.  Yum.

After the boys are asleep we've been watching movies in the moho with Jia.  She's starting to enjoy some of them.  Last night was Evan Almighty.  Hillarious.  

Back home.  Good to be home.  So many chores to catch up on though.  On my porch perch for nap number 1.  I'll have to disturb them soon to get the kids lunch.

More Bamberton

We did very little all day. I'm exhausted anyways.  It was an early night for all of us.  We called it quits at 9:30.  I was told that was lame.  Haha.  I was actually ready for bed by 8:30.  

Bamberton

What other people see in a campsite.

What I see.

Lili came out for dinner/fire but I didn't get a picture.

Kai's cheater smore...a wagonwheel.

The dog shadow on the dark walk home.  Too funny.

Chopsticks.

Rosie and Joey doing fabulously together.  Love the updates.

Luk's new camp bed with Kai crashing in.

Bye bye Silas.  Back to our site to make dinner.  Correction.  Back to our site so Eric can make dinner.  Fei, Jia and I on our phones and the boys arguing over lego.

This site is super quite and a super slow pace.  There is little to do.  Lots of blessed down time.  Time to relax.  I actually read a chapter in a book.  

Westwood Lake.

I didn't know about this lake until we started looking for housing for Lili last summer.  The hike around the lake has been on my bucket list since then.

Parts are leisurely. The scenery is gorgeous.

No one fell.  Miracle. There were thousands of rocks and tree roots trying to trip us up.

I didn't take a photo of the steep parts. Too busy breathing and trying not to  fall.  

6 kms. The walk was more intense than we were expecting. 3 out of 4 kids cried.  Thank gawd we didn't attempt dogs and the stroller! We were all pretty excited to see the car at the end. I felt like I should apologize at the of the adventure.  Not my best plan.  I had been told it was an hour.  Our crew took one hour and 50 minutes.  Curiosity appeased. Then we went to Taco Bell :) Jia thankfully declined coming.  She would have hated this hike.  

Skywalk

Yes indeed. Jia is officially taller than me now.  

I didn't get many pictures of them all together.  Kalum zoomed ahead to get in line for the slide.  So excuse his closed eyes, the sun or my bad picture taking.  

So the big girls went Saturday.  It's new and busy.  So we expected that today.  It's pricey for what it is.  45 minute wait for the slide.  I didn't love the slide.  7 seconds.  On second #2 I flipped to the side and got skin burn on my knees and hand from coming down 5 seconds without the mat under me.  At the bottom the employee said "came on your side hey?"  8 of us down, 3 of us hurt.  Not great odds.

Reviews are all rave.  I don't get it.  Glad I went, curiosity appeased.  It is a nice enough walk. There would be zero appeal for Kai or Luk and the views are honestly similar at the Malahat lookouts.  We did enjoy getting a drive in the convertible and some play time together.

It's very rare that I write and complain.  Today I wrote to let them know 3 out 8 of us hurt our hands.