Lili has to work today.

She's not thrilled about missing time with Lian. 

Fei, Lian and I went through the Wooden Boat Museum in Cowichan Bay and then into the vintage candy store.  Then I dropped them into the downtown core.  There is music at city square, it's beautiful out, the farmers market is on and Fei has been keen to try out a new juice place. 

We still need to squeeze in a visit to attend Chuck's celebration of life this afternoon.  Planning to take the boys to see Sue.  She's always enjoyed them. 

We had planned to hike Stoney Hill this afternoon but Lili didn't want to miss out so we're scrapping the sit down dinner plan and packing dinner up for the hike at dinner time. 

Walter claiming more peeps.

Cutest miniature boats at the end of the walk!  Have to take the boys there now.

Too many choices!  

All the old childhood candies in one spot.

Fei picked fudge. Lian got the sack of gold gum nuggets and I got root beer candies :)

We didn't tell the boys much about Chuck's memorial today.  Seemed easier to just hope for the best.  Luk noticed that we didn’t see Chuck.  Both boys thought it was a great party.

Nelson's Campground.

We need a road trip together!

Cutest little boys ever.

Stoney Hill

Changting sisters.

Our beautiful girl Isabel.  In her glory on an evening hike.

Lian is here.

Savjords are here for the weekend.  Yay.  They brought their new to them moho so the men folk are thrilled jawing about their massive toys. 

Back to School BBQ

Eric was cooking the weiners.  Have I ever mentioned how much Kai likes hot dogs?  Ya, poor kid wanted one sooo badly. He was keeping his eye on the sitch.  Not a great turn out but all the regulars were there so we had a nice time.  Jia and Luk were too busy playing to stop for a mere hot dog.  Kai was sooo excited to finally have his dinner.  Then he wanted to go home so he stayed pretty close to me asking every few minutes if it was time to go home. 

We ended up at Wendy's on the way home for a skookum snack. 

Homework

Can we talk about my love of homework again.  My gawd.  Can the teachers seriously not get anything done in class?!  We're way too busy.  Two weeks into school and Lili has already been up late twice trying to get it done.  Fei once. Plus one morning of Lili setting her alarm for 4:30 so she can work on a project.  Plus she has a cold.  Dance is back on, piano starts today and she has work.  They're upping their time to two hours for piano lessons and at their level they need to be playing every day.  Lili and Fei have taken over the kitchen table to do their homework.  They like to spread out.  I'm thinking the new basement could use a big table for them by the windows.  Then we wouldn't have to clear it all up every day to eat dinner. 

The littles haven't started  homework but it's coming. 

Morning cuddles.

Oh Walter.  Everyone's favorite kitty.

Little Catch Up

Look what we found!  We got them for Eric, me and the girls.  I wish they came small enough for the boys!

Our costumes are going to be fantastic.

Can't wait!

I finally picked out some new frames.  Prescription is the same but it was way past time.

Gorgeous day yesterday for my flex so I took the littles to eat their snack on a train ride.  Luk was feeling tired and asked for his chair. The conductor saw us coming and got the lift out.  We've never used it before.  I think Luk thought that was cool. Keeping it real...it was sunny, we had maple crunch muffins, pumpkin cookies, popcorn and cold drinks. Leaves were fluttering onto our laps while we sat on the train. I thought it was a magical moment. No worries.  No hurry.  And Luk breaks into a whole litany about how bored he is. Mentioning several times in a row how bored he was. Might as well use the F word.  We don't use the bored word EVER. Lili and Fei looked at him in horror and told him to be very careful or he'd get serious chores.

Lili and Fei are teaching Jia and Luk piano.

Their lessons started tonight. I cleaned them up and introduced them to Miss Lili and Miss Fei and we talked about expected behavior. I think it went fairly well. Fei in particular liked doing it.  Both Jia and Luk were keen.  Jia has already put in practice time. Too cute. 

He was thrilled. 

We're no where near getting the basement back and the boys have been watching dvds all summer.  Kai does way better with tv on. Now that they're back in school we wanted him to have his tv back so he can decompress after school. Yay Dad. With tv on he settles in and plays near the show.  He doesn't watch all the time but he is always listening. Without tv, he wanders and gets into everything.

Fruit Salad

Jia made herself a fruit salad.  Guess she didn’t like dinner ;)

The littles ate in the kitchen while we were in the living room watching Game of Thrones.

We've had a pajama day.  Much needed day of rest after the week we had. Except for Lili who worked this afternoon but she's home now and back in her jammies.