We're Off

We're in line with the big guys.  It stormed all night.  I don't love leaving the kids to fend for themselves.  They don't know how to light a fire in the living room wood stove, or use anything in the moho to keep warm.  We weren't going to bother taking the new generator with us but it was so ugly out that we changed our minds.  I mean, the solar panels won't work very well in dark gloomy weather.  Then Eric realized as we were in line for the ferry that he left his phone and reading glasses at home.  Sigh.  He thinks he'll be fine.  Everything trip related is on my phone.  If ya'll need Eric, call me.  He's taking a break from social media haha.  In the list of fabulous ideas we're not so sure that camping in November is one of them.

Vinyl Pro

I bought this decal to cover up an ick section on Cheese but it was too small so it's been sitting in our kitchen for a year or so.  Haha.  No rush. I suggested we put it on the trailer.  Eric came and said he could do it before it rains.  Looks nice.  Like it was always there. 

Tickets

So, Taylor Swift is coming to Vancouver.  Of course Lili wants to go.  She made 12 accounts with people she knows.  We were ALL waitlisted.  Arg.  Massive disappointment.

Then I saw that the Christmas Express tickets had been on sale for 8 hours and I raced to get tickets because it's selling out fast!!  I didn't get any the last few years. There was a fair amount of back and forth with Lili and Fei until we found a date and time that works.  We have tickets!  It's not Taylor Swift but it'll be fun.

Oscar got his Tattoo.

Not really permanent, I suppose we could pick it off.  It's vinyl.

Both sides.  Now he's ready for the trip ;)

We didn't have much of a plan re: family xmas picture or jammies.  But I was asked to submit something adoption related quite quickly here and we don't have any current family pictures.  So, if we weren't busy enough, we've thrown together a plan for this Friday.  Jia wants to decorate Oscar in a Grinch theme for the Christmas car parade.  Eric found these shirts with enough for all of us.  So Grinch it is this year!  We were going to drag everyone to Nanaimo to meet Lili but she is coming home so we'll just do it here.  We just need a green backdrop that isn't all fall colors.  We do have a great fir tree in the back yard so next we're hoping for no rain.  Wish us luck.  Family picture day is a rough one for Kai.  

I just ordered this set as Oscar's costume. LOL.  I can't wait to show Jia.  How did we all survive without Amazon?  

Kai saw his Pediatrician today.  All good.  No issues.  Nothing important coming up. Cardiology, geneticist, liver and kidney tests, all deferred for a couple years.  He will see his Endocrinologist in the spring.  Still watching for puberty.  Interestingly, the Pediatrician was just at a conference where she met a Dr. that is using a new medication to help with obesity issues directly related to Biedel Bardet Syndrome (BBS).  It's such a rare Syndrome that she was surprised to hear anything at all about it.  And, the drug is basically Ozempic.  Interesting.

We have managed to keep his weight semi under control.  Too high but not at a level he needs medication for.  Yet.  We all agreed taking his love of food away would be a bit cruel.

Ozempic definitely is a weird one.  I feel full all the time.  But low sugar levels indicate I have to eat, often.  But I'm FULL.  So I have to eat, but all food is gross.  The unhealthy relationship I had with food is even more twisted than it was before. The constant search for 'safe' food re Crohns, now mixed with the need for diabetic considerations all while it's mostly just yucky.  Haha.  I can't imagine navigating this with Kai.  Kai isn't diabetic yet, or even pre-diabetic but the Drs expect he will/could develop issues eventually and so he is checked every six months.

My numbers are holding in a good place.  Still not being forced to use insulin.  The Endocrinologist thinks my life would be easier with it.  I'm not convinced.  

I am pretty happy that Eric and I have the trailer for this trip which means mostly safe food for the week.  

An after-school snack turned into dinner yesterday.  Kai thought his hat was pretty special and wore it proudly right up until bedtime.  So fun. Oh, and now home from school today with his hat right back on.  It's paper.  Wondering now if I should go get more from McDonald's while supplies last.  

Life is mostly calm these days.  We're just constant movement trying to keep up. 

A wee catch up.

Eric is fine tuning the trailer.  I said the area above the fridge seemed like wasted space.  So he punched the panel out.  Right then and there.  It was alarming.  Haha.  He fixed some loose wires in there.  Sealed some air gaps.  And made it pretty.  Now we have space for the electronics box and all the dvds.  He even created a strap to hold the big dvd binders in place for travel.

A couple shelves were added.  One always needs more shelves.  

He also installed a little inverter in the outside cubby space under our bed so we won't hear the fan anymore.  He ran a cord up and I got an extra outlet that will be nice for charging the battery in my heated blanket.  Hmmm.  Now wondering if this means I can take my electric blanket from home with us.  I do have a bit of fear leaving my hot tub and heading out in an ultra light trailer in November.  We really have zero idea if it will stay warm enough for me.  Oscar has an amazing heater, my plan is to turn him into a sauna now and then as needed.

I had a ton of fun using the new boondocking membership.  I have five nights organized with five different host families.  We'll be staying on their properties.  They are all our age.  They all rv.  I think it's going to be a lot of fun.  At the very least it will be interesting.  

So, the car and trailer are all ready for next Saturday.  Now to concentrate on work and getting the kids organized.  

Fei ducked me!  I love him.  

The girls did the Taylor Swift movie together.  If you haven't seen it and even if you're not a fan, it's a good movie/experience.  So, Taytay announced new Vancouver dates.  Tickets go on sale Thursday.  You need to be a verified fan and not everone who applies for a code will get one.  Lili is on it.  She has us all registered hoping for codes and a chance at tickets.  

Lili things.  She is moving home mid December.  Her last term is a bit lighter, plus her rent increased significantly.  I prefer to think she just wants to be with us ;)  She is planning a dumpling night with friends but wants to practice making them here start to finish.  So today we're getting a bonus dumpling night.  I will help her fill the wrappers.  We'll also use today to celebrate Luk's gotcha day since we'll be away for the actual day.  He's requested butter shrimp for that day which Lili will make for him.  

Look what I got!!  Totally frivolous.  I put it in my cart a month ago but refused to pay the price.  It went on sale and Amazon let me know.  So I did it.  Now, here's the thing, Fei has fancy/pricey water bottles that she swears by.  Then Jia got one that she raves about.  I definitely was thinking a cup is a cup and they were wasting money.  I bought mine more for the picture.  Well, let me tell you.  This Tervis cup is freaking amazing!  Not kidding.  It's my new current favorite thing.  It keeps my water COLD all day, all night. I'm constantly shocked at how cold it is after sitting.  

Eric has been busy all weekend.  Constant movement.  I've been puttering.  The boys wanted to do NOTHING all weekend.  I tried.  Luk did do some lego for a bit.  He's gaming with Jia now. Kai got up at 2:30am and turned the tv on at 4:30am so now he's tired.  I was too tired to come downstairs and chase him back to bed.  

The weekends are going by faster and faster.

Lili just got here for project dumpling.  She ducked me too!  I love him.  They'll be so cute together on Oscar's dash for xmas.  Truly amazing how much joy ducks bring.

I did a thing!

I got a boondocking membership!!  Connected to Harvest Hosts but for smaller stays without an obligation to purchase anything from the business you are visiting.  You have to be self contained.

I booked two nights in Virginia City in an rv park and it is pricey.  We don't need much for our travel days.  Literally just a safe space to park and sleep.  So this is a fun option.  It was $67 (96cdn) to join for the first year.  I only have to book one site to make it worthwhile.

Eric and I sat this morning and set up our account and started figuring out how it all works.  We've requested a stay in Sisters for our first night and one night in Reno for when we leave Virginia City.  Approval pending.  So fun.  Fingers crossed this works for us. Update, 1st approval is in.  

I forgot to see what is available in Canada.  Off to go check that out now. Update, there are lots available in Canada too.  Even a few on the island that look like interesting places to visit.

In other news.  Our solar panels arrived.  Eric has them installed already.  Two 600w flexible panels that came with a nice little control panel.  The panel has two usb charge spots.  So he installed it by our bed and now we can charge both of our phones during the night.  Our bed set up is almost as fancy as the kids bunks now.  I still need a light switch I can reach from bed.  It's getting there.

Eric is having a heck of a time getting the water system cleaned out in the new trailer.  There are smells.  He's working on it.  We might have to consider new tanks.  We'll be taking big water jugs with us for drinking and cooking.  

It's starting to feel rushed here.  Getting ready to leave is always exhausting.  There are so many details.  

Finally a Definitive Decision

We are going to do a bucket list road trip for our get away.  We've been talking about this one for 31 and half years.  Haha.  We're driving Oscar and towing the trailer to the Virginia City RV Resort.  We have a view site overlooking the valley and graveyard.  I'm freakishly excited about this.  I got a saver route off the island and booked a couple nights at the resort.  The rest of the trip we're winging.  

My favorite movie of all time is the Long Long Trailer.  It was filmed on the road to Virginia City.  I can not believe we're finally towing a trailer on this route!  I'm super happy we're not towing a long, long trailer ;)  

I have also always wanted to camp near Disneyland.  The idea of towing through Seattle or on the i5 in general is terrifying to me.  Eric is not terrified.  I might stay awake the night before so that I can sleep the first day of highway driving away.