Bloodfart Backwards

 

I found these two glamor shots on Eric's phone. 

He says he's not looking at any other Jeeps.  So cute.

Drivers meeting.

14 rigs.

Perfect weather for doing stupid shit.

Airing down.

Eric looking quite pleased after the 1st obstacle.  That was very hard.  I bailed.  Did the long walk around.  I half filmed it.  I had a fellow at the top film for me, I couldn't watch.  The videos never show the true angles.  This one is funny.  I will post a link when I figure out how to upload the darn thing to YouTube.  

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

We definitely feel fortunate to get to the hard places.  The beauty is worth the effort.

Overlooking Nanaimo.

Acres and acres of different moss comingling.

The bulk of the day is simple (boring) driving interspersed with obstacles.

The tallest Arbutus trees I've ever seen.  At the top there were round arbutus bushes, also something I've never seen.

Stuck.

Honestly, this seems to be the most exciting to the men folk.

Eric had his snatch block and rope out there so fast and Jay was ready with his winch.  The truck had to be moved sideways off the tree so he could resume forward.

The day is full of stops and starts.

I ended up hiking a good long chunk of this trail.  Just too scary for me.  My hike was gorgeous.

Some pointed out we did the trail backwards.  I have no clue.  There were lots of jokes via radios about it being Fartblood if done backwards.

This is the only picture of me taken.  Haha.  I definitely wasn't excited about the current situation. This is about when I bailed. Oh, and leaping out when you need a stool is hard.  In this moment we were on too big of an angle for my stool so I jumped and hoped for the best.  I didn't crumple or break.  

There are so many things to love about the day and a few not to love.  I don't know that I'm cut out for the advanced trails.  Eric loves it. The next event is night wheeling.  I always said we wouldn't join that but the trail is moderate so we're contemplating it.

We made it to see Wicked part 2.  It just didn't hit the feel good parts that the first one did.

Jia sent me a picture of the boys.  Treat time.

The boys are both still sick.  No one else has it yet.  We have no plans for today.  Jia has to work.  I'm sort of hoping Eric and I can get the xmas stuff out and decorate for the season. While it's quiet.  Or escape for the day.  He's not up yet.

This coming week is full of appointments.  Thursday I'm on clear liquids, Friday is the procedure.  After that I just have zero clue how I'll be feeling.  Preparing for healing time and hoping it won't be necessary.

12 years ago.

 

1st night home with Luk, meeting his big sisters.  

My gosh aroonie he was a cute wee guy. 

Oh no!

 

Our giant toddler is sick again!!

Pray for all of us.

Kai has ZERO CLUE how to take care of his runny nose.  Still unable to blow his nose.  He refuses to even try.  He feebly does a gentle baby blow through his mouth.  Sneezes are always a shock to him.  Like he doesn't recognize in the least that they're coming.  So, we have to wipe his face and he spews with every sneeze and when he coughs it's wet and rattling because he won't ever attempt to bring anything up or out. He also coughs towards us.  He's been asked to cover up or turn the other way a million times but he actually now appears to purposely turn towards people.  

So, I am NOT exaggerating, we have a 170 pound baby here.  Add to that, he is tired and out of sorts.  Sigh.

I live in fear of Kai being sick.  It's quite awful for all of us.

Then I picked up Luk from school today who told me he thought his allergies were acting up.  Uh, no son, it's the end of November, you aren't suffering seasonal allergies.  So they're both sick.

And I am going under for a procedure in a week.  One I've waited five years for.  I can not be sick.

I'm almost tempted to move into the trailer.  I feel too guilty leaving Eric to deal with sick kids when he is on such a roll of getting things done around here.

Another One of those rare empty squares.

 Today is an empty square on the calendar! The only one this month.

The possibilities for the day are endless.  Haha.  So far I'm in a nightie on the couch listening to an audio book and hoping for a nap ;)  I'll have to get functioning to pick up the boys after school.  I could ask Eric but he's being productive so I won't bother him.  

In other news.  We are doing another advanced trail in Nanaimo this weekend called Bloodfart.  Who names these?!

Being extra busy is making the days just fly by.  

Wicked

 

Lili and friends made it to opening night.  They looked soooo cute.

Mom, Lili, Fei, Jia and I are trying to find a day and time to go together.

Not an easy task.  Fei has a ton of school work and Jia works weird hours.  Fingers crossed for this Thursday ;)

Slowly getting geared up for Christmas.  Shopping nearly done.  Mom, Lili and I went to Woodgrove yesterday.  Mom is done.  I just need another idea for Fei.  

Treats.

Swing two.  It was always the favorite and it's getting a lot of use again. We'll keep this one.

Mom and I did a thing. We bought purposely mismatched Christmas shirts and hats for the family photo.  Haha.  The pure chaos that depicts our reality.  Now we have to find a time that we are all together and feeling like picture taking.

I always pick orange, purple, pink or red.  I went with green for healing.  Ugh.  I hate it.  It looks so wrong.  Live and learn.  Interestingly, the kids never say a word about my toes but a few have said ew to the green.  Haha.

Kai at school.

The furnace is moved!

Into this wee shed.  

Big projects going on here.  People around often.  It's weird and so nice on the weekend when it's all quiet again.

Please Dad, some chicken please?

Eric had his excise hole cut bigger on Friday. We get to change the bandage today and see how it's doing.  The Dr will only do one at a time.  So 5 weeks until he'll cut the next one out.  Sigh.  This will be a long process.

Eric took me to Bin4 for the first time.  I understand the fuss now.  The food was great.  We shared.  Lili and friends go in Nanaimo after 9 for half price burgers.  I don't want to eat that late or drive home in the dark but it's almost tempting.

Eric and I stayed put today.  Trying to catch up on house cleaning.  We're managing to keep up to the daily things.  Floors and sheets today.  I made an Olive Garden knock off soup for dinner.  It's smelling so good.  

Want a chuckle?

 

Jia works anywhere from 3 to 5 shifts a week, about 25 to 30 hours.  Jia has WAY too much spending money for a 15 year old. Saving is proving difficult.  In the meantime gaming is still where the bulk of the funds go.  Occasionally packages arrive.

This character is from one of the games.  His name is Phainon.  Jia ordered a cosplay outfit to become him.  It was custom made from China.  It was very pricey.  Very, very pricey.  It took months for it to be made and arrive.

Yesterday was finally the day.

The box was huge.  So many packages with bits and pieces.

There is literally a video tutorial of how to put this outfit on.

At one point Fei, Eric and I were all helping.

It fits perfectly.

The detail is truely impressive.

The stitching on this is simply amazing.

So fun.

So, here is the funny part.  Jia worked until 10.  Outfit on by 11.  In my room visiting until 11:30.  Then Jia woke me up at 5am.  Completely STUCK.  In a bit of a panic.  Jia had managed to get one arm worked down inside the body part.  Then had no way to maneuver in any direction. After struggling for an hour, getting crazy hot and feeling panicky I was woken up for help.

With a lot of laughing and frustration we got it off.  It wasn't easy.  I'm fairly certain Jia won't ever put it on when alone!

I chuckle every time I think about it.

Souffle?

Sugar free, gluten free, low calorie, diabetic friendly

chocolate cheesecake brownie.

This thing rose up huge.  Looks like a souffle.  Smells amazing.  Waiting for it to cool. 782 calories for the whole thing.  Update, Eric, Lili and Luk spit it out.  I thought it was ok but not good enough to bother wasting my limited calories on.  Kai loved it.

I've held my weight for three years and recently went up 4 lbs.  So the calorie counting has started up again. It's shockingly surprising how easy it has been to fall back into the plan.

It's like it was never there.  So weird.  Much calmer to look out though.

Bad News but not REALLY bad news.

 

Eric got a call Monday to make a Dr appointment.  Which meant something not good showed up on his biopsy.  The next afternoon Mom picked up the boys and Eric and I had the call.  The Doctor said "it's bad news but not REALLY bad news".  Eric's mole is melanoma, the bad one, but caught early.  The excise margin wasn't good enough so he has to go back in this Friday for a bigger hole and to have the other moles removed.  So, this is your notice to have your moles looked at.  Eric has always had these moles.  They aren't new.  I made him go in to look at one that had changed.  That one apparently is fine.  Go figure.  We are extremely grateful this is all early detection and cut to cure at this point.

Phew.

This morning I'm hiding in the living room.  I have a book and puppies.  After the last couple days a bit of peaceful down time is required.

While I'm hiding, Eric and Ty are working.  Mom is in her space with a kitchen guy measuring and there are people here picking up the playground.  

We celebrated this guy's gotcha on Sunday.  He picked butter chicken for his meal. Isn't he so handsome?!

Finn has finally discovered the house.  He can't figure it out.  He gets in and tries to spin circles.  Then gets right out.  I keep finding it upside down.  He's already tried twice since I've been typing this post.  Would it be extreme if I had Eric fasten it down so it doesn't tip?  Haha.  Anything for the baby.

Clearing out is still happening.  I kept this beauty for years and years.  My plan was to change up the basement eventually.  The kids still don't love this like I do.  They want comfort and not weird vintage.  The couple that picked it up were thrilled.  

Watching the playground go is letting go of an era.  It's sad.  Watching all the kid things go is sad.  I don't always embrace change. 

It's been a super long week already and it's only Wednesday.  Sigh.