BC visit August 2015: Part 1

During the first week of August, Jason was out of town coaching his cross country team, and Grandma came to visit.  Early on Saturday, August 8, we all went to the airport.  Grandma went East on her plane, and we went North and West to get to Seattle, then Victoria.

Uncle Jeff, being silly

Rachel swam by herself with noodle out to wharf and back

We spent our first night at Uncle Jeff's house, with Auntie Janelle and cousins Teagan, Griffin and Cooper.  Sunday we all drove out to Janelle's family's cottage on the lake - one of our favorite places to be in the summer.  We swam, played in the water, finished a puzzle, and visited.  Teagan, who is a very talented swimmer, and I swam across the lake length-wise while Jason and Jeff paddled a support boat nearby.  The kids had a great time with their cousins.

Cooper and Ava

Cousins Teagan, Cooper, Griffin

intense puzzle action

Monday we visited Uncle Tony's house.  He was out of town, but we had a nice visit with Auntie Adrienne and cousins Ella and Benson.  Benson taught Rachel how to use a skateboard!  We picked lots of blackberries while out walking with cousins and Pops.  We also went to the Beacon Hill park petting zoo, where we got to brush the goats.  Rachel was very upset that we couldn't bring a goat home to be a pet, and has been asking us to get a pet ever since.

Blackberries!!

 Jason had to fly home on Tuesday to return to teaching school.  He took our rental car with him, and we moved into Nana's house.  We played at the beach and in Nana's house and garden, but we also borrowed her car in order to get out and visit others.

Rachel, so tired she fell asleep in this closet playing 'hide and seek'.  She was hiding and we couldn't find her for a while - it was very scary... until I opened the closet door and saw this sweet sight.

Thursday we went to Vancouver - upcoming blog post
Videos here of Ava playing peek-a-boo at the ferry terminal

Friday we drove to Duncan to visit my 94 year old grandmother (GG) and meet up with friends Andi and Giles and their 3 beautiful children at the BC Forest Discovery Center.  We had a fun time catching up and playing on the train and other logging equipment.

Saturday was my cousin Emily's wedding - upcoming blog post, and Sunday I flew home late with the girls.

I can't begin to express how much time with family and time in BC at the lake warms my heart.  I love Jeff's family and Tony's family and getting to spend time with them so, so much.  Being far away from all family is very difficult, but these trips help us stay closer and have our kids get to have a relationship, and that is precious.