Memories

Remember when?!  How is time moving this fast? What cutie patooties.

It's a Jeep thing.

Eric is having fun in the new toy too.  He got the wave today from another Wrangler.  So fun.

Today we dropped the boys at school and then ran some errands.  We got the Jeep in at noon for an oil change and safety inspection.  Then we found a detail person that we liked that is CONFIDENT we'll be happy with what he can do to clean her up. We attempted shopping locally for a couple replacement parts but no luck ordering new or using auto wreckers.  So Amazon it is.  

The boys had a nice first day.  Original pants still on ;)  They were given a choice of out with us for lunch or home.  Yup, they chose home.  Eric and I ate at Thai Pinto in Chemainus and it was really good.  Then the Jeep was ready to be picked up.  No real surprises.  The front sway bar needs replacing.  Which Eric knew.  Something or other thingy mcbob in the back is leaking and needs a thingma jiggy thing replaced.  Haha.  I listen really great sometimes.  Anyways it's booked for that repair.  All the fancy dancy work we were told was done already really was done.  

Now the big event of the day.  Almost 19 years ago when I was super sick we moved to town.  I did NOT want to move.  It took years and years and years for me to get over it.  Eric wasn't thrilled with the dark forest, living in winterland and he wanted the kids spending less time in the car.  He did present me with a fancy white key with Ladybugs on it.  I loved it. A couple weeks ago he took it off my key ring.  I asked him not to.  A few times since I've been unable to lock or unlock the door and I've had to send him to do it.  He hasn't complained.  I should have known.  Today I asked for the key back.  He responded with "the thing is.....".  Lost.  Of course.

While we were at Canadian Tire I chose an Eyore key.  It didn't work.  Eric took it back and they were out of that one so Eric got me a Tigger.  The fun surprise was seeing that the back has the gang on it.  

The family is now all on the lookout for my ladybug key.  If we weren't looking for something what would we be doing? 

1st Day of School

Grade 7.  Their last year in elementary.

4rth year of University for Lili.

Jia won't start for a couple weeks or so in her hybrid home/school program for grade 9.

Fei is all done school.

The last of the trip.

Eric and Ken saw this guy behind the general store at the entrance to Rathtrevor.  Yikes.  There are signs all over that there is a bear in the area but we doubted it was close.  Except it actually is!

We didn't bring my sugar free ice cream so Eric made me a baby cone.  Haha.

Shannon got a picture of all five babies looking in one direction at once!

These two.  Big kids.  Love.

Shannon made another duck today and then ducked Mom.  It's truely amazing how happy little ducks make people.

So, we had to get the extra car home and decided since our friends were leaving after dinner we would do the drive tonight. So we drove the van, kids and dogs home.  Fei was home so was good to keep them all.  Eric and I drove the Jeep back and are getting an evening alone!  

It's so quiet.  Except Jia texted that she wished she'd come back with us because Kai was having more poop problems.  Sigh.  Eric called Fei and she says he's in bed now.  

The new toy in the firelight.

Overall the trip was super fun.  Checking out to go listen to crickets at our very quiet fire.

Kai's 12th Birthday

Kai requested a McDonald's lunch ;)  It was all that he hoped.

Poppy thought she'd like the Birthday dinosaur.

Kai had more fun trying to get Poppy to unwrap gifts with him than he did getting new things.  

Then he passed out goodies and played with balloons but there were tears because he wanted to watch the end of the movie.  So he promptly had an accident because sadly it is his current way to get attention and it got him out of playing with balloons.  Sigh.

Time to go back to rewards of desired snacks at bed time if accident free for the day.  I hate this method but none of us want to be back in the playing arena he's choosing.  You can not quantify how much I don't want to send him back to school.  

Alone time.

Ok, well not totally alone but not with my family :)

Eric went home to take Jia to work and help Lili with her move.  The boys presented more and more potty issues so I brazenly begged Eric to remove them from my care.  

He took both boy beds and all the laundry home.  Both boys were out of pants.  Eric has done way more than his fair share of cleaning this weekend.  Plus Isabel when left in the moho for two hours flooded the puppy pee pad.  Finally last night when they all came home Kai peed on the toilet but none of it went in the toilet.  Sigh.  So Eric wasn't here long enough to even say hi before he was on hands and knees cleaning the whole bathroom again.  To say we're dismayed is an understatement.  

Eric and I took the boys to Lordco and Canadian Tire.  We thought they'd enjoy guy/car shopping.  Nope.  Bored to death.

Unbelievably the fabric seats in the Jeep have been peed on twice already so our first purchase was fake leather car seat covers.  Plus an antenna.  So now the radio is working much better.  Bonus, while figuring out the stereo I discovered a best of John Fogarty cd.  Which seemed dull until I put it on and realized I know the words to his music and I like it.  Haha.  Who knew.  Eric was picking up a part we ordered at Lordco, he came out to find me rocking out in the car with the boys.  So fun.

The Jeep has l.e.d. headlights and they flicker on the day setting.  Too much power so we got a flicker kit to fix that.  

I spent a leisurely day after they left with Shannon, Ken and their kids.  We went to the Qualicum Cheese Farm and Factory.  Which was a fun little outing.

Then we hit the S.O.S. thrift store.  I found a Halloween costume for Luk.  

These two came out for a visit.  Shannon came with us for a cruise and dinner out.

Dinner at the Shore in Qualicum.

For Dole Whip of course!

I got to go to bed alone in the moho.  Look at the little one waiting.  He loves nights in the moho sooo much.

Kai's birthday tomorrow.  Please universe, don't let tomorrow be about pee or poop.  We really, really, really need a break.

A mostly peaceful day.

We drove the Jeep to day parking to make room for Lili's car.  Then a perfect walk along the water back.

Ken and Eric took these 3 to fun golf.  Kai stayed with me, Shannon and the 6 dogs.  

Kai is having a rough go. He's regrettably regressing with his pottying.  It's very frustrating. Turning 12 on Sunday and still learning.  I have no words left.  

Last time he was in a bumper car his chait was bleeding.  We've come a long way!

Bliss naps.

Cuteness overload.

Luk and Zoey were playing cards, Kai and Dagen were watching a movie, Isabel is limping and tired.  So the 4 adults and 5 Chihuahuas had a lovely evening stroll.  The sky was spectacular.

Tomorrow Eric is heading home to get Jia to and from work and help Lili move her heavy stuff.  The rest of us are staying here and Fei is coming out to visit.