42 years later ... my mum and dad did pretty good, didn't they?

all together

and they begat seven sons

Today is the last day of Sam's three weeks off of work this summer, back to "real life" again for all of us tomorrow. It's been a good month, each week something planned so that I was kept busy constantly packing and unpacking for a big trip away. Our anniversary weekend, our family reunion up in Parksville and this past week over to Vancouver to visit 4 special little boys and their parents. It's funny that in this next big stage of life after high school, university, traveling, and hanging out in the city together the three good friends Sam, Jeff and Eli now have 7 sons between them ... it's the best boys club I know! Eli and Allison have the cutest 5 month old twins, Ari and Mylo, and Jeff and Shendah have 2 year old Ronin and his new little brother, 3 month old Angus. The three babies were passed around and loved on by everyone and I just couldn't help but get out my camera and take lots of close ups. Allison organized a picnic at the park one night and then Shendah cooked up a big fancy supper at their place the next night. The difference now from years past was the chaos, distractions, tears, and hardly anyone eating uninterrupted. And I loved it ... it's so nice now having everyone in the same boat rather than being the only ones with kids. We talked of future summer plans, getting together and watching this team of boys grow up. It's going to be awfully fun. The next generation.

being local tourists

Sam's 3 weeks off of work this summer are quickly coming to an end and though we didn't do even half of my hopeful around Victoria list we did get a biggee checked off today! We have been wanting to take a tour on one of the little water taxis that we see every time we've walked the Songhees ... just like we did two years ago at Granville Island for our 8th anniversary. And like last time, Henry and Walter were screeching "Look at that, look at that boat" non stop, they really really loved it! Felix was inexplicably clingy to Sam the whole time and the one photo of the three of them looking out the window was literally the only time he stood alone the entire time. And that only lasted about 94 seconds. Still we all had a great time and our decision to get off at Fisherman's Wharf partway proved to be serendipitous as you could buy a half dozen fish to hand feed some brazen seals right from the wharf. Talk about exciting! ... and though Walter never found his courage in time Henry did great bringing that seal right up to his level for yet another tourist-fed snack. It was a beautiful morning for a relaxing ride around the harbour and a success in adding that to our summer's memory box.

the chambers 2013

We're home again from our big holiday up in Parksville with everyone from my immediate family ... but really, let's just call it what it was: Cousins Camp. Those 5 little'uns just looooove each other. Isla and Henry only 19 days apart. A year later, Walter. A year later, Eden, and the next year, Felix. My sister's breaking this ironclad pattern by having her third bebe in the new year when Felix is 2 years and a bit. Boy or girl?? - we'll find out next month! We rented two cottages about 3 minute drive from the beach, all the kids in one house and my parents and two single brothers in the other. My mum had the grandkids over for a special breakfast three of the mornings which we all loved and the kids had fun running over to Grandma and Grandpa's house whenever they wanted. (The best was when they donned those crazy mustaches and shrieked surprise! to Grandma opening the door. Apparently Walter couldn't even talk as he had stuck it right over his lips!) We were at Rathtrevor Beach every day but one ... it's always been my vote for best beach on the Island. Gorgeous. And the best playground for the kids, with the tide going in and out. We had a family photo shoot at the beach one night as well, two years since our last one in Osoyoos when I was big and pregnant with Felix. Can't wait to see how those turned out! We had some rain over the 4 days but not much and it didn't seem to matter as we kept busy regardless. Bike rides, swimming at the pool, nightly mini golf competitions between Cale, Eton, Glen and Sam, nature walks, movies while the Littles napped, building sandcastles at the beach, playing frisbee or helicopters at the beach, setting up camp over and over while being chased inland by the tide at the beach ... and for me, starting and finishing my book! Thanks Mum and Dad for a great holiday, thanks to everyone for making the trek to the Island from Vancouver, Kelowna, Edmonton and San Diego, and thanks Isla and Eden for being such fabulous cousin-friends. Henry, Walter and Felix miss you already!

full circle

My very first post in this blog way back in 2007 was a picture of our newly purchased house in Swift Current. And as hoped for, I did indeed bring three brand new babies home to that lovely green and white house. Some of you are probably assuming we sold it long ago but no ... today was the day. After being on the market for 19 months and living empty since March 2012 we have finally, finally, finally sold it. What a ___________ that was ... I don't know, there's so many words to fill in the blank. Right now it feels a little anti climatic but now and then I'll remember that we're not waiting for anything else. Trying more options. Crunching more numbers. Needing more paperwork. At noon today someone else took the keys and walked into their newly purchased house.

I hope they are good to her. And I hope they'll be happy. I hope they don't wear muddy shoes on the carpet upstairs. And I hope they know I didn't leave my brand new red postbox for them willingly.

Goodbye dear house. The three babies we brought home will not remember you ... but I will never forget all the memories you gave us.

four hours spent here today