Fei went home.

The critters will miss Fei.  She hands out treats.  Fei starts her practicum tomorrow. 

Check out Isabel's snazzy new collar.  Poor girl is going nuts with her hot spot.  We were out for 4 hours to do family photos, grab a quick dinner, antibiotic cream and a new collar for her.  She really made a mess of her wound in that time.  The collar seems to be stopping her and things look better already.  We need to stay with her through this.  Walter did come home while Fei was here but he's too stinky with cigarette smoke for her too.  Maybe if the snow called for actually starts we can follow his kitty footy prints.

Jia's parent teacher talk was today.  It was fine.  She's doing great with the stuff she turns in but we need to get the extra stuff recorded and turned in too. The art, drawing, graphic art, music, dance, home economics, science experiments and random projects. I told him she had perfected the best chocolate chip cookie.  He got a twinkle about how she could present that project.  Haha. Typical of Jia, she came home, spun some circles, did nothing, got overwhelmed and came up to bug me.  I was on the phone so I sushed her and she fell asleep.  I'm such a sit down at my desk and do one thing at a time person that it boggles my mind watching her process.  She really needs it broken down into steps.  Such easy projects.  All on things she has already done, she just needs a way to present the work and it's wide open on how she can do it.  She was pretty happy to have Fei home.  

We met friends at a mall to take each others pictures.  We were behind them and they already had great photos taken by a stranger.  There was a Santa there with a nice set up and a picture was only $15 so we ended up doing that.  Then we lined up at a tree for the original plan.

I don't love it.  The background is blah.  So the xmas card photo will be the one with Santa in it :)  There was some complaining about not looking great in the bright green.  Too funny.  Does anyone alive look good in this color?!  

Then we pushed it too far for Kai by attempting a photo with all the kids.  They were all in black.  We just had ours take the green t-shirts off.  Someone mentioned candy canes so Kai was DONE and the tears were starting.  Jade handed him a candy cane and he settled down but was a no to more pictures.

Kai is home today with a sore throat.  Can the flu shot cause this or is he for real sick again?  3rd time since school started.  The rest of us are fine so it's starting with him, again.  

These two did make it through the Christmas escape room.  

Izzy has a hot spot.

Our old girl has a couple hot spots on her hips. She got a good bath today. Antihistamines and cream on the spots.  She is extremely determined to nash at them.  We're keeping her close so we can ask her to stop.  She is a good girl and she stops but only for a few minutes. Normally she is keen for baths, today it took Jia coaxing and Eric adding a hamburger patty to get her downstairs.  She's had a good spring in her step since and for the first time in a LONG time she wanted to run.  Watching her get old is brutal. 

Flu shots. Oy.

Omg.  Kai was off immediately. Today he hasn't moved.  Jia has a wicked head ache.  I had a chill last night that didn't break until 4:30am.  It was a rough one. Today I've had 6 naps.  Brutal.  Regret.  Off for another nap.

Eric and Luk seem unfazed. It's not been a very productive day.

Look who is home for the weekend.

Our nursing student is home.  Yay.  She made it thru her term, she just has the practicum left.  She starts that on Tuesday.  I'm happy she's home, she hasn't been around much.  Her course keeps her too busy. The dogs are all thrilled.  Right up until they realize Fei is going to help me do their nails, hair cuts and baths.  Fun times around here.  

Covid vaccines.

Five of us went to Victoria this morning for covid and flu shots.  Not fun.  Google maps will NOT take you to 950 Kings Road.  The staff all know it.  So stupid.  They could at least change their web page to tell you that!!  We used up all of our buffer time. 

Kai couldn't figure out how to show us his bandages.  Luk helped. Then Luk didn't want his picture taken.  We went to Noodle Box for lunch.  None of us liked our food, at all, none of us finished our lunch. Very disappointing. Luk kindly switched with me.  My no spice was way too spicy for me.  I ate his kids meal.

His model pose.

So funny stuff in the too much info category.  Once we got there we were ushered through fairly quickly.  Luk mentioned he needed a washroom as he was being ushered into his chair. I said no time, you'll be done in a minute.  Except he really meant he was already past due for a change.  He bravely took the shots and got up so Eric could take him to the washroom.  He left a puddle on his chair.  Ugh.  So I calmly dug in my purse for wipes and the nurse calmly got wipes and we were both ready to wash the chair at the same time.  I let her know spina bifida and she was all 'no problem, I'm from peds'.  Then Kai sat down and screamed the second she touched his arm but then didn't even flinch for the needles.  He immediately leapt up loudly setting off the Kai alarm that he needed the bathroom.  Jia was being ushered to the adult side, Eric brought a freshened up Luk and took Kai away.  So, I get seated, get shots.  Eric comes back with Kai.  I look at Jia because she's next and she stares at my chair so I look at the chair and it has a wet spot on it.  Yikes.  From me?!  I look at the male nurse, he looks at Jia, then the chair.  We all look at each other.  Total silence.  I have no idea why the seat is wet. So we just all awkwardly carried on.  Jia and Eric got their shots at different stations and we left.  Sigh. All moments in chaos and confusion. What the heck. I keep bursting out laughing every time I think of Jia's face looking at my chair.  Full on horror.  And she's dressed in a cosplay.  Hahaha.

Kai fell asleep in the Bell store.

After lunch we stopped at a Bell store and upgraded Eric's phone. Then because we hit black Friday deals we did mine too.  While phones were transferring we went to Walmart.  Shoes for Luk, long sleeve black shirt for Eric and black pants for Kai.  Now we're ready for the family photo on Sunday. I also got the rest of the obligation gifts done.  Feeling pretty organized for Christmas.  

Showing the back of Jia's new cosplay.  

Family Photo Time

We're attempting to meet with Mary and family Sunday for family photos.  We have the matching shirts, now gathering black long sleeves and black pants for each of us.  I don't normally let Kai wear black so we need a Walmart trip.

This is why we don't attempt black on Kai.  Haha.  Jenny is staring intently hoping for pets.

We found a sweet treat for Jia's music teacher Ryan.  

We had some time to waste around Jenny's vet appointment so Jia and I went into the  thrift store next door.  She immediately whipped up a picture of her next cosplay project.  Oy.  A quick browse became an intense search.  She found a skirt to modify, the tie and three rolls of fabric.  Those sewing lessons can't come soon enough. Eric is on YouTube relearning how to tie her tie. 

The school is doing a movie night.  The boys wanted to go.  Eric and I don't. We've suffered through them before. Kids running wild and none of them watching the movie.  I get that they're supposed to have fun but if they could at least stay on their blanket and whisper. Anyways, it's been a long day so we talked them into staying home with the promise of the same movie that we already saw in the theater.  It's available but to rent or buy.  So they've been appeased with chilli dogs and Rootbeer and the promise of hot chocolate for snack.  I'd like to feel bad about not taking them but I'm cozied in and sooo happy to not be in the school gym.

Lili has found another trip through the university that works for her as well.  She's now trying to decide between Taiwan and Hawaii.  Tough choice.  

Oh the Excitement!

She has been waiting 16 days for this cosplay.  I asked her to estimate how many times a day she asked me to explain the delivery process.  She thinks five times a day.  I think more.  Her first purchased outfit.  She loves it.  The wig isn't on yet.  She has to style it.  

This is Scaramouche from Genshin Impact. Jia has been working on the head gear/hat for a while.

She had school today, this was her class project. She got some work back and was upset that it was marked proficient and thought she was failing.  Haha.  Another wee lesson about the meaning of the word and grading system and she's feeling better again.  We're meeting with her teacher Monday to go through her file.  

Time to hide?

Luk reports that there were only 10 kids in  his class yesterday.  All sick.  One kid came back after two weeks and he has a mask on.

Today the playgroup called, the entire staff is sick.  No group today.  

We're all good but we don't want it ripping through this house again.  

In other news, Walter came home last night smelling of smoke again.  Jia is on a campaign to lock him in.  She's now showing Eric pictures of catios.  Maybe she'll get it done where I have failed.  I still want the whole side yard done. I mean it's halfway with the fence.  

Isabel is falling more and more frequently.  To the point we have moved her bed out of Jia's room and into the living room with Finn.  It's beyond sad.  She is very elderly but she doesn't seem to know it. Jia is really missing her at night.

Jenny is also having more issues.  She is refusing to use a litter box right now.  Finn was getting blamed for some big puddles but after Eric became a serious critter stalker for a few days he's narrowed the problem down to her.  She is super, super elderly.  

Finn got overexcited when Mom and Poppy came on Sunday.  Then he had an episode. Unlike anything we've seen before.  I was waiting for a seizure.  He had a nap and woke up back to his normal self.  Now we shall treat him even more like delicate glass.

Lili's Taiwan thing looks like it's probably happening.  It's all about the numbers.  31 interested on the list, now we see how many put a deposit down.  We're not sure what the minimum is.

The thrift store supplied some things for Bartholomew.  He's breathed some fire on his pore melting snowman.  I have TONS of Christmas decorations, boxes and boxes.  I had Eric get me one box and I've dispersed it around the house for Jessica.  It's early for us but I know we're going to run out of time and things will only get busier around here.

I'm oddly pleased that we get to pick Jia up from school today and bring all 3 kids home instead of 3 trips to Banks Road.  Bonus free time!  

Walter came home collared!!

We joke all the time that Walter has other houses.  He's popular in the neighborhood.  Lately he's coming home reeking of a smokers house.  So we know he's now going inside someone's house.  Tonight he came home collared!!  Someone is trying to steal our Walter.  Jia is MAD. I'm not sure what to do.  My immediate response was to ask Eric to lock the cat doors.  Our 3 boy cats use the doors and are outside a lot.  Lewis is gone way more than he is ever home.  It would be cruel to lock Lewis and Oliver in.  We need to track Walter and let his new owners know he has a family.  Sigh.

From Hong Kong House on Thursday.

I pointed the camera and he smiled!  A real one. That is his best smile.  Only took 7 years to get a real smile for a picture without trickery.

It's 10pm and Jia is wanting to make chiffon cake.  I don't even know what that is.  She thinks she might like to have a bakery.  Today's whim.  I'm guessing we don't have the right ingredients for chiffon cake because now she wants potatoes to fry homemade chips.  I told her she could make them in the microwave.  Eric says we don't have potatoes so now the two of them are in the kitchen rummaging around.  I'm heading to bed, hoping I can convince Walter to come up with me so I can talk him into staying home.  If only he didn't stink so badly of cigarette smoke.

Luk's Gotcha

Our handsome son.  He requested Hong Kong House for dinner but the big girls weren't available and Jia had dance so we're celebrating tomorrow night.  Still got to celebrate a little bit tonight too :)

Rootbeer floats for snack tonight. A definite favorite!

Then I mentioned casually that I thought Luk was almost as tall as Kai so then I needed to prove it. 

Knotts Merry Farm!

This sale popped up on my smart phone today.  We had been discussing going to Knotts the free day before our cruise.  We were still debating options.  Prices have gone up everywhere for everything.  This was a nice deal so I jumped on it.  We'll see you soon Snoopy! After sitting in the car two days this will be so fun!  

Kai's Waterbottle.

The school called this morning. Kai was at the office in tears.  The secretary said because we didn't send Kai's waterbottle.

Sigh.

Kai has VERY few chores.  One of them is putting his lunch kit and waterbottle in his backpack. His cleaned, refilled and chilled in the fridge overnight waterbottle that is then placed on the table beside his lunch kit.  

I asked if they could send him to the waterfountain or give him a cup.  Apparently this had been tried and the water bottle was special.  I assure you, not special, I buy them at the thrift store and have a few extra on hand because he breaks a few a year.

I asked to talk to him on the phone.  He was clearly upset while I encouraged him to use the fountain.  Oy.  I mean it's not the first time he's forgotten it over the years and he forgets it at school once or twice a week.  Also, he doesn't know how to talk on a phone so Angela had to help him figure out how to hold it and where to talk.  

Now, I'm SUPER impressed that he managed to express a need, find help and get all the way through the ranks of teacher, ea and other kids to get to the office to call for help.  I just wish it had been for something we could help with.  Although Mommy sort of wanted to run his stupid waterbottle to him.  Eric thought not.  No lesson learned that way.  But what lesson are we learning?

Long day waiting for him to come now.  I suspect something else was bothering him and he made it all about the waterbottle.  

In other news, I just booked covid shots for 5 of us.  It was hard to find anywhere in Nov that had five spots and wasn't today.  We ended up with Victoria Nov 25. Which is insane.  Totally insane.  

Eric just checked passport dates and Fei's is up in Feb.  6 weeks past our trip not the recommended 6 months.  Yikes.  I just spent half an hour reading the rules/laws versus suggestions.  We're good. We hope.  I don't believe we could get it done before the trip that would cause extreme stress.  While on the Mexico page we were reading the travel alerts.  Yikes.  It's not pretty.  Bit scary really.  Eric suggested staying on the boat.  I hope he's kidding.  I will agree we should likely stick close to ports and not head off far exploring.  

It's Luk's Gotcha day today.  We're going to have a dinner of Asian appetizers and root beer floats.  We're celebrating tomorrow night with Lili and Fei at Homg Kong House in Nanaimo.

Taylor Swift Tickets Secured.

Lili's que got through.  Lili, Jia and I have tickets!  $175 each for not fabulous seats ;)  We got the Sunday.  Lili is still in a que for Sat.  She wants to go twice.  

Lili is relieved.  It wasn't easy managing the screens and codes and plans. Ticketmaster was a challenge.  Time to relax now!  

Update, Lili got a Saturday ticket too.  She's delighted.  Some people are at 8 hours in their que.  Nuts.  We're feeling lucky.

Taylor Swift tickets.

You all need in on this fun.  We have 5 registered fan accounts.  2 are Lili's and one for Fei, Eric and myself.  We are all pre registered for tickets but it's a random computer lottery for a code to purchase ahead of sales for all the not registered fans.  Codes came out today. 

Eric and I both got codes for the pre-sale. Lili did not.  We haven't heard from Fei yet - update Fei got a code and it's for the Saturday! The codes Eric and I got are for the second night.  We'd prefer the first night but either is fine.  

So we're decently sure we'll get tickets.  Lili, Jia and I are going. We're hoping for 3 tickets on Saturday and one on Sunday for Lili to go again.  Lili is shopping for Saturday on Fei's account with Eric's visa.  I'm looking for one ticket for the Sunday on my code.

Usually the second the tickets sell the hotels go up.  They're already stupid crazy high for that weekend in Seattle.  Lili and I have been on the phone for two hours trying to get organized.  We got a hotel booked that is about 15 minutes away from the venue at a price I'm pleased with. A little bit backwards. 

We've set up our ticketmaster accounts with working visa numbers.  We've studied the seating map and looked into parking.  

I think we might be ready for the 10am moment.  Stressful and exciting all at once. 

While this is all happening Miss Jia is in the kitchen making chocolate chip cookies totally unassisted.  Love it.  They are perfect!  Just what was needed after the travel planning.  Just wish the big girls were close enough to eat some too.

Fei has a stressful day tomorrow. She has to do a skills test.  A half hour full assessment of a patient with mental health issues. Some of the choices she might be presented with are depression, suicidal, schizophrenia or a child with adhd. She comes from this crazy family so I know she'll do just fine.  She has no idea which scenario she'll get.

Tomorrow is our busy Tuesday with Luk's iep meeting added to the day.  Yeesh.  Jia has to come with us so we can scoot her to school afterwards.  

Update, the east coast shut down Ticketmaster with unprecedented demand.  Very weird and glitchy this morning on our coast.  Lili and I both got in the queue and were both kicked out of line. Lili got a message from Ticketmaster that sales will be postponed until 3.  I did not get that message.  Is this better than when we had to line up in person at the ticket windows?  I mean it's Taylor, couldn't they have anticipated this?  

Happy Birthday Finn

Finn is 2 today.  He's having some issues so we are super grateful he is still with us. He is more active than usual so perhaps my worry isn't necessary.  The vet proclaims he is in perfect health aside from his hydrocephalus.  As usual, as many cuddles as possible for the day :)

Modern Day Miracle

Jia is eating cereal! With milk even. She picked it out, Krave, filled with chocolate, it tastes like chocolate chip cookies.  It's a start.  She didn't like this photo so she flipped it and then let me post it.  So weird for the background to be backwards.

Now it's almost midnight.  Eric and I are just heading up to bed and she's in the kitchen doing a just for fun science experiment. She's making soft ice. It needs to set for two more hours.  I asked if she was planning to stay up.  She is. Oy. I just said good night.  This is homeschooling Jia style.  She's cooking food while she waits, Eric went up the stairs asking her not to burn the house down.  

Happy Birthday Coco!

3 today.  The little tongue sticking out while she naps.  Haha.  I'm talking to her so she lifts one eye open.  She is the sweetest little girl who still keeps me on my toes.  Busy every waking moment.  

My body held it together for the trip then the first night home was rough. Full on fever and chills.  Crohns at its finest. I'm feeling great today but still took the day to lay low.  Eric pinched his back this morning so he's out for the count too.  Lots of napping and TV today.

9 hours extra at the ferry terminal.

Lili slept on the plane, so did her neighbor.  Haha.  They cuddled for half the trip. I did NOT get frisked or have my backpack searched!!!

So, last minute before we left I booked a ferry reservation for 8:15.  I figured we'd be much earlier but just in case, so we wouldn't end up stuck.  I never book return trips.  It's too hard to know when we'll return.  We rolled up at 4. We were advised to come back for our reservation because on standby we were unlikely to get on.  Tswassen Mills was fun for 3 hours then we headed back at 7 to line up. Except...I totally screwed up...and booked the wrong side.  EEK.  So we ended up on standby anyways except much further behind in the line.  Arg.  We sadly did not make the last ferry. A LOT of us were turned out to go through for a refund and turned out again.  We were advised to immediately line up again because they were full all the next day.  I said we should go get gas, just down the road, we were advised not to as we'd lose our spot.  We had half a tank, so 3 hours running time and it was freezing. 

We were surrounded by a lot of waiting people and they just kept arriving through the night.  We had food, water and there was a porta potty.  We dug through our luggage and layered up. It was pretty funny and totally surreal.  Honestly though, it was way easier a situation than torrential rain off and on all day at Disneyland.  We had to turn the car on every so often to warm up.  

7 layers, a shirt tied on my head for a bonnet hat and my Lulu leggings as a scarf.  Also a pic-nic blanket. 

The terminal opens again at 4am. Staff come and bang on the windows.  We did manage to get some sleep. We also made it on the first ferry.  Soooo good to be home.  Soooo good to be warm.  

I left Eric a list. So cute, he actually used it.

Universal

Most importantly, there was no rain! Cold and windy instead.  

Minion dance party.

The best part.

Butterbeer!

Hogs Head Bar.

Sun beams. We sat here in the sun for a bit.

Tram ride. Never disappoints.

Classic.

Super Mario World.

Snack. So good. It's hours later and we're still not ready for dinner.

The Secret Life of Pets.

The new ride. It is so fun.  We were turned into stray puppies that needed rescuing, groomed and adopted.  I was a scruffy brown dog.  Lili was a foo foo poddle. So funny. There is even a point where you look in mirrors as yourself as the puppies and your movements are shown as your dog self.  

We discussed going again but we were cold and opted for heading out. 

The drive back was 2 hours!!

The carts were cardboard boxes. So funny.

Beautiful little view as we were walking out.

We had express tickets.  Totally worth the upcharge. Worked on everything. We did the whole park in five hours. 6800 steps. Half of yesterday.

We head home tomorrow.