A longtime coming

Between visits from Bumpa & Nana, a 4-day stay in Vancouver & seeing Annie on Broadway with Kai (!), spring break, cleaning Mara's artwork off the walls, picking up junk and generally going out of our heads, we realize the updates are few and far between. It sure doesn't mean there hasn't been a lot going on, it just means that most of the time I haven't had my camera where it should be.

Now that the weather is improving, slowly, we're out and about more & there will be more photos to come - like this one of Drew below. Bumpa shot this one while I was in Vancouver & it is one of my favourites. We are sure lucky to live where we do.

Monster on the beach!

When Nana came to visit we did a tour of Cathedral Grove. Not only is it a breathtaking place, it is also a very special place for me. My parents stopped there on their last trip together & my dad shot a beautiful photo of my mum that now hangs on his wall. It feels good to go there.

On the way home from visiting CG we saw a sign for a 5K run to be held the next day in Qualicum Beach. Sue Anne agreed to enter it with me and after a hilarious trip that night to find her some running shoes, first thing in the morning we were off! Grant & the kids were on the sidelines to cheer us on & take some photos. We had no idea what to expect, but it turned out to be a sunny day, a nice trail - and, more importantly, there were cookies and hot chocolate to be had afterward.

Coming to the finish line in my "12 year-old boy" touque - as Grant calls it

Nana burns out with her super fast shoes

While clearing the table we discovered Mara could climb
- she happily helped herself to the remaining stew.

Kai wore my Brownie uniform for 'retro' day
at school & in an instant I felt very old.

Where have we been?

Drew lost 3 teeth in a month & his instructions for
the Tooth Fairy became increasingly complicated.

Kai practiced being Kai during lunch in Victoria.

Kai did what she was born to do...
Her first Christmas performance at school.

Then she had Holly for a sleepover.

Mara yelled at Drew's snowman in our front yard.

Thankfully Grant & I didn't "ruin Christmas" by
staying up so late that Santa couldn't come.
Drew was up at 5:30 to be sure.

Mini Tumblers? From us? Nooooooo....

Mara's new hi-tech book - her favourite!

We stomped around Neck Point on Christmas Day.

We enjoyed Christmas #2 at Bumpa's.

Bumpa made DK their own jack-in-the-box gingerbread men!

Mara taught Uncle Curtis a few things

Drew had a very happy birthday with 16
of his friends from Vernon/Kelowna.

Drew & Kai

Calta taught Mara a few things.

2.5 hours of running flat out in the gym
is now the only kind of party our kids get to have!

We had lazy, relaxing mornings at Bumpa's

Halloween - no snowsuits needed!

The kids didn't appreciate the greatness of it like we did, but they will when they get older. Not only did they get to wear their costumes for 3 full days of dress-up bliss (but it's Halloween everyday for Kai anyway), they also didn't have to wear a jacket over or under their costumes while trick or treating! They were out for 2.5 hours.

"We sure got a lot of candy this year...but it seems to be disappearing quickly." (Drew)

Dad gets to go the 'creepy' part

Drew really did his all on his own!

Off to the dance at Kai's school

Kai's first field trip

Kai & "Grade One Grace", her older & much admired friend

Kindergarten snacks are so cool!

The best part about this shot is that Kai did it just
to get a laugh from Uncle Jason & Montie HoHo

Here & There

It's hard to believe October is almost gone & that we're already so close to Halloween. Most days it still seems as if we've barely finished moving in, yet we already have a life here. A life full of new friends, kid's activities & favourite places.

We were so lucky to have a house full for our first Thanksgiving on the island. Nana & Grandma Sue came for 5 days over the long weekend and Bumpa & Brian shared a busy couple of days here as well.

On Saturday we had a great day on Gabriola, touring artist's homes & picnicing on the beach. On Sunday Nana & Grandma Sue treated us all to a full and fantastic Thanksgiving dinner.

On Monday, Bumpa took DK to their first IMAX in Victoria while Grandma Sue chased Mara around at home. This allowed Sue Anne, Brian, Grant & I to enjoy a rare afternoon of kidless bliss in Victoria.

Drew posing for Nana

Our picnic spot on Gabriola

Brian & Grandma Sue looking serious

Nana carves "her best turkey"

I like dinner

Going in for seconds

We spent this last weekend in Vancouver. Less than 9 months after our big interview date, there we were again - same hotel, completely different lives. This time we were there for the regional conference & to meet the company's new president. Unbelievable!

And, just as Bumpa watched DKM back at home during that interview waaaaay back when, he was there for us again this time. He came to Vancouver to entertain all three kids for the day while we were talkin' junk at head office. They "walked for a really long way without even whining" (Kai) to deliver timbits to Uncle Curtis at work, they discovered room service & they probably drained the hotel's hot tub in the time we were gone. We are so grateful for Bumpa's endless support & his constant willingness to put his sanity on the line. We're even happier to hear Drew say tonight, "It's like we don't even get a chance to miss Bumpa because we are getting to see him so often." Music to our ears!

Different city, same disgusting habit.

Who knew a 13-month-old could play GameBoy?

Waiting for the ferry back home - Drew at the top of the slide...

...shoeless Mara trying to reach him from the bottom