Last week I headed out to the Island with the kids for a few days of vacation. Paul joined us later after his classes were done for the week. We love going there to visit Paul's parents. Cici even said that she feels so relaxed there, I agree!
One of our favourite things we do is to visit Little Qualicum Cheese Works. We visit all the animals and get some yummy cheese to go! Our timing was great this visit as it was calving time. We visited the Maternity Pen and saw all the mama's waiting to give birth. In fact, one of the mama's was VERY close. I was hoping to witness the event! There are some pens where the 2-5 day old calves spend their first days. On our first visit, there was one calf. We went back to the farm again 2 days later and there were 2 more that had joined him. Our mama in waiting had given birth. It was fun trying to guess which one of the newborns was hers.
Of course spring is the time for lots of baby animals at the farm.
This little lamb had just been born too. Her umbilical cord was dried up but still attached and her mama still had signs of the birth still on her. She was brand new!
The sun did come out on our last days and we soaked it in. Boy we miss the sun.
We also love going to the beach when we are there. This time of year the seagulls feed on Herring roe.
It feels like our life has been in hyper drive. So much going on, but full of lots of fun. Here is what we have been up to.
SATURDAY
We went to Science World on the Skytrain. The kids loved riding the train! We spent the day exploring all the exhibits, the Lego one was by far their favourite.
During one of the demonstrations Cici got called up to be first in line for the "Pain Train". She had to touch the big ball, get all charged up (hair standing on end and everything) and then had to touch the girl next to her elbow to elbow. Well, you should have seen the spark that past between them, the biggest shock she had ever felt! She was brave but surprised by the power of it!
SUNDAY
Had a great visit from some of our good friends that were in town from Alberta. We seem to see them once a year.
This picture was taken last year. All our kids were born just months apart. They really enjoy being together, they pair up instantly and we don't see them for hours. Makes for a great visit between us adults! As the night was coming to a close, the oldest girls schemed up a sleepover. Then the younger girls wanted one too. So, we had an impromptu sleepover. The boys tried but they played and ran upstairs till 10:30. Our friends then headed back to Coquitlam with their son and the girls stayed here.
MONDAY
Hung out with the four girls and J Man all day. They played and played. They were tired, very tired too! The plan for Monday was to head to Port Moody to do some house hunting, which worked out great. I dropped the sleepover girls off in Coquitlam on the way, but before that, I needed to pick up our babysitter for our kids as they were not coming house hunting. Did lots of driving and house hunting but found nothing, again. Patience, I am trying to be patient.
TUESDAY
Woke up early, real early. I drove Paul to school and then headed to White Rock to take Cici to my sister in law's school. She teaches grade 4 and they are not yet on spring break so Cici asked if she could go and be a part of her class for the day. It worked out great. She loved it! While she was in school I spent the day with my mom and B and J Man.
WEDNESDAY
Went to go see Gungor with my sweetie. They were amazing. We were expecting more of an acoustic sound like this video but they rocked it out instead. They are crazy good. Great times.
THURSDAY and FRIDAY
Got up early again and drove the kids to my parents house so I could escape with my husband for an over night trip. We went to the States to THIS PLACE. We went to the same place last time we got away from the kids, two years ago! We need to start doing this more frequently! We did some shopping, then I got a pedicure while Paul went for a steam at the spa. The best part? We slept in.... till 10am! Almost missed breaky. Oh, well, felt so good.
TODAY
Laundry, cleaning, more laundry and watching lots of tv with the kids. Paul is writing his last really big paper today for school and we are just relaxing, finally! What a week!
Tonight I was explaining 80's fashion to CiCi. Explaining what I wore when I was her age. Neon, leg warmers and big hair. B then looked at me and commented, "oh, that was back in the olden days!".
Tonight while Paul was doing laundry I went upstairs to find him taking the door off the laundry closet. He had dropped one of our dryer balls down beside the machine. Our old dryer ball lead us to these brand spanking new ones that were just waiting to be found down beside the machine. Thank you old dryer balls.
Ever have a week that turned out nothing like you thought it would. This week has been that for our family. Our J Man has been so sick all week. Usually when our kids get sick they are down for a day or two and then bounce back but not this time. Our poor little guy has had a fever for 4 days, coughing constantly and sleeping day and night. He said to me this morning, "mom, the hospital has air". He knows this because after taking him to a walk in clinic on Tues they sent him to the ER to get a chest x-ray. Kids never get sick during business hours do they! His oxygen was low so they gave him "air". He also had to wear a mask and have his very first blood draw, he didn't like that much. He got stickers though. His chest looked good and his blood work was good so he came home. We took him back to the doctor yesterday because he still had a fever, still unable to really sit up and he said that his ear hurt. He is now on some meds for a likely secondary infection in his ear and throat, I think his fever has finally broken. I am hoping that this will finally be his turn around day. I am hoping too that I can get some substantial food into him, he looks so skinny.
As a result of this, our week has been turned on its head. He missed his last day of preschool and his first day of preschool at his new location. I haven't left the house in over 4 days. The rest of us also are sick now too.
It all hasn't been all bad. I haven't been able to leave the house to take the girls to school. They have been asking to walk to school alone for a while but we have said no. I trust them, I don't trust the drivers. There have a few close calls with us crossing and drivers not paying attention. Paul even had to grab a little boy from being hit but a van that turned right in front of all the kids who's walk signal just came on. But, this week there has been no choice. They had to go alone. I watched them all week through my living room window as they crossed carefully at both lights. When other kids bolted and ran across the road, they stuck together and walked. Very proud of them, a big step as a parent giving them a bit more freedom. They did ask though if I could walk them again when J Man is better, they miss me and I miss walking with them too.
Next week will look very different again as the girls will be home Mon -Wed for the teachers strike. Basically they are having a 3 week spring break. They only have 2 days of school next week, then spring break starts the next week. I am looking forward to it, so are they. They like being "home schooled". I asked Cici yesterday if she would want to be home schooled and she said she would love it. Then I asked if she would miss school and she responded that she could go there two days a week and then home for the rest. We have thought of home schooling on and off for over a year. It may not be best for all our children in the long term but at least I have around 3 weeks to come up with some fun things to do and focus on some basics that need some attention.
J Man is up and sitting next to me chatting. It is the most he has talked since Mon, except for what he has been shouting in his sleep! I don't think he usually talks in his sleep but with the fever and all the meds he has been saying some funny stuff. He has been in our room since Mon as to not disturb the girls. Last night in a very loud and clear voice he said, "Dada, can you put the movie back on I want to see then end of it!"
He is sitting up on the couch which is a big step, he spent all yesterday laying on it moaning and crying. It has been very sad.
Well, off to get our "get better day" started. Wish us luck.
