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!