Finally, an update! I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted. Safe to say it's been a busy few months, especially those last weeks of school in June. The kids were all happy to wrap up the school year and start summer holidays, especially with a trip out to BC to see my parents and the beautiful coast. We left almost as soon as we could, and enjoyed five days on the island split between Comox and Thetis, getting our fill of ocean and nature without the crowds. It was great to spend time with my mom and dad, and the weather was incredible! Highlights were a waterfall walk and (chilly) swim, ocean swims and nature walks on Thetis, and great meals together with family. We took the float plane over to Vancouver (thanks to a mishap with cars - this included an early morning run in PJs and Hendrik's Crocs for me), and Hendrik literally got a front row seat! Lucky. Views over the Island are just spectacular. We bunked up with Rod and Colleen and family in the city, but the bad news about the Vancouver leg of the trip was me getting very, very sick. We arrived Thursday evening and had a great meal chez the Tukkers, but I woke up feeling a bit off on Friday. We met my youngest sister Claire and her family in Deep Cove for a hike (still felt so-so) and lunch and donuts in the village after (the fare at Honey Donuts was delish), and enjoyed some afternoon down time at the house before heading down to Spanish Banks for a cousin reunion in the early evening. It was great to see cousins from my mom's side that I never see! Claire and I got to spend more time together (along with the kids - it was the first time they'd met each other), but I was still not feeling great. That night I had all of the bad feelings - fever, chills, body aches, wonky heart rate, no sleeping, etc. so I went to the hospital early Saturday morning and was diagnosed with pneumonia! Ugh. Longer story short, I had to go back to the hospital and was lucky to be able to fly home a few days later. I don't think I've ever felt so sick! I had a little cry while at VGH, and the nurse thought it was because I wasn't feeling good, but the real reason was that I wouldn't be able to see my best friend from high school Lindsey (in town from Perth)! Ugh, so sad! No one else got sick, and it took me three weeks to feel fully recovered. It was horrible! Anyways, the first five days were great, so let's just focus on that (photos below).
The rest of July had been busy, but great. Hendrik has had a lot of baseball, done three camps (sailing camp at Fanshawe, a volleyball camp, and Bronze Cross this week), and is staying busy with a few nights of umping and a night of beach volleyball every week. Alana is busy with camps too; she's doing her second volleyball camp this week and has a horseback riding camp next week, and evening activities of soccer and beach volleyball keep us on our toes with logistical challenges (two parents, three kids' schedules). She has beach provincials in Toronto this weekend, and her and her partner Maddie are coming off of a big silver medal at a 14U tournament! As 13U players who struggled to win a set earlier in the summer, this is a big deal! They've improved so much. Jordan did one week of camp at Spencer Lodge (a YMCA outdoor camp), and five days was enough for him. This week he's been tiring Steve out with activities and jobs galore while I'm coaching a volleyball camp. With full days and evening activities, this week has been a reminder to really enjoy the rest of the summer holidays - schedules will be busy when September rolls around.
Steve has been putting time in upstairs in the attic, and will hopefully get to put the pedal to the metal in September when he has more time to dedicate to finishing the bathroom and closet. A move-in date isn't in the near future yet for us, but he's working on it! Here are some photos - this has to be short and sweet, that's all there is time for!
