Ahoy Matey - Baby Wearing Tube

I love to wear my babies (and toddlers, for that matter.) I've got a little bit of an addiction when it comes to baby carriers.  I have woven wraps and stretchy wraps.  I have ring slings and pouch slings. I have a structured soft carrier, and I even have a framed backpack carrier. In our move to Victoria we didn't bring any toys, any bibs or spoons, we didn't worry about cribs or high chairs. We didn't even bring a stroller.  But, we did bring my ERGObaby Carrier, and it's already been indispensable.  Silas has been in it on all our walks and adventures.

After four years of baby wearing I have finally solved a constant problem.  Inevitably as we hike/walk/explore, the weather changes.  Sometimes it's just walking in and out of buildings at the zoo.  Taking the baby in and out of the carrier just to take off a coat, and then put it back on, is more than tedious, it's downright annoying!  Never mind the fact that wearing a bulky coat in the carrier can be more than a bit bothersome.  So, on my long drive to Victoria I knit to solve the problem (if only more problems of the world couldn't be solved by knitting) and I came up with this:

Wonderful, eh?  It's a simple knit tube, with a hole in the middle for the baby's back.  Naturally I needed to make it manly for my little boy, so the skully was knit in.  I've got to make another now and actually make it fit him, but I'm totally loving my invention.  It's such an easy way to keep his exposed back and arms warm without the bulk of a coat.  And, it's easy to take on and off while he's still in the carrier, so you don't have to worry about the temperature changes. I think I might make a few more with girly prints and better yarn.  Oh, the cleverness of me! Stay posted for the perfected version and a pattern!

Silly Prairie Girl

Every time I go to Waterton National Park I can't help but chuckle at the throngs of people that follow around the deer that walk freely through the town site with cameras and coos of adoration.  Deer?! Now, I understand that to some, deer within touching distance may be quite a novelty, but to me they are really not that exciting.

Yesterday we walked along Fisherman's Wharf, and two seals popped their heads up from the water. I just about peed my pants with excitement!  Honestly, seals?!  I'm sure the folks there that see those seals every single day thought that the seals were just begging me for food, and I've no doubt that they thought that I was just as silly as I've ever thought the tourists in the Rockies.  But still, while I'm not proficient at seal... yet... I'm convinced that those two happy little seals actually came to harbor just to see me, to wave their little flappers and make my day absolutely magical. They don't do that for just anyone, you know.

Besides the seals, on the Wharf there were floating houses! That's right, real homes, built on floats, moored permanently in the harbor.  Some of them were for sale for $400000!  I have to admit, the idea of living like that is pretty romantic, until I realized that I was peering through the windows and talking about their decorating right in front of their front door.   I don't think I'd want to live like that.  I'm kind of a, if I can see my neighbors house they live too close, kind of person.  Still, maybe if I had lived here for school, without kids, I would have loved to live in a floating house.

We also went out to Beacon Hill Park yesterday (I've noticed that there are a lot of Beacon Hills around - Montreal, Newfoundland, Victoria...)  On our way we made a fortunate wrong turn right onto our own, private, secret beach.  We saw all sorts of sea life, explored tide pools and caught baby crabs.  It was amazing, and if we can find it again, we will definitely go back.

And then, as we carried on to the park we stopped at a "scenic turnout" I think everyone should stop at every scenic turnout they ever see, because they are always stunningly beautiful.  I found the community I want to live in. After we walked down the hill, spent time on another beach, climbed back up and admired the view I made Jared drive around it for another half hour while I dreamed of living there for the rest of my life.

Finally we got to Beacon Hill Park, where Eli found a dead duck, which he kicked into a pond, where we climbed the biggest tree I have ever seen, and where we found the greatest little petting zoo ever!  The goats were even more in love with Eli than he was with them.

I didn't take a picture of the dead duck, don't worry.

So I guess I'm not a true islander yet.  I've got to get over seeing seals swimming next to me, needing to stop at every beautiful home and take a picture, and learn how to dress warm enough to spend time on the windy beaches.  Have I mentioned that I love it here?

On Being an Islander

Six years ago we spend 10 days on Newfoundland with my family, and fell in love with the island. We have often dreamed of going back. Well, it seems that we have found another island to love.  Victoria, it turns out, is incredible!  We've been here just two days, and I'm ready to send for all my things and settle down.  Seriously. I think I was meant to be an islander.

The first thing we did when we got to Victoria was find a place to live. It was pretty easy, seeing as we are only going to be here for 2 months, and we didn't need much.  We found a furnished basement suite off Kijiji, went straight there, signed the lease and moved in!  The entire apartment is not much bigger than the room we live in in my parents basement, but we don't plan on spending much time in it anyway, and it is clean and cute.

Then we went to the only place that Eli really wanted to see: the beach.  It's just a few blocks from our house, and it is lovely! It wasn't that warm out (albeit, warmer than Calgary) so we didn't jump in, but we enjoyed it nonetheless.

The majority of Silas's aunties would be disgusted by this beach, due to all the sea weed. Silas and Eli didn't seem to mind. In fact, Silas was quite excited by being able to throw the sea weed back to sea.  Eli wanted to know if he could eat it.

There was a park right off the beach, so we spent a few moments there in hope of wearing off some of the sand before we climbed back in the car (a losing battle, I suppose.)

Then we did our grocery shopping, setting ourselves up for life on the island for the next 2 months.  YEAH!

Yesterday, although Eli asked to go back to the beach every half hour, the weather was less than accommodating , so we spent the day exploring indoor adventures.  We went to the Pacific Underwater Gardens, a boat with aquariums around it that you can view from the inside.  We saw octopi, sea stars galore, and a scuba diver.  Eli and Silas's favorite part was the tiny pool they could reach their hands into to hold the sea stars themselves.

The Trip Across the Ocean

Alright, I'll admit it, I don't actually know what we travelled across, but the sea was salty, there were islands everywhere, and we traveled, so I will call it the ocean. It was probably a strait or something...

Anyway, after our night in Abbotsford, we reloaded the car (not an easy feat) and carried onto our destination.  We did take a minute to stop and see the LDS Temple in Vancouver.  We enjoyed the good weather, the beautiful flowers and sang I Love to See the Temple several times.  I have always loved visiting temples, but I love it even more now that I can bring my children there and know that I will be with them forever!

Then we carried on down the Trans Canada until we reached the sea and could drive no longer.  Eli thought it was pretty cool that we would be able to drive our car onto a boat, but that's the way to get across an ocean!  We got to the ferry just as one was leaving, so we had to wait for 2 hours before ours would leave. It was cold, right there on the ocean, and the boys coats were packed, so we wrapped them up in our own and explored the very commercialized shore.

Don't tell, but we even had a little gelato while we waited.

Nothing like running on the road. Chicken, anyone?

Eli was in love with all the ships.

On the ferry we stopped for buffet lunch (kids eat free!!!) and went to the highest deck to see the ocean.  Honestly, it was amazing to sail (there were no sails, but I'll call it sailing anyway) right past all the little islands, and see the snow capped mountains in the distance.  We kept our eyes peeled for whales, but all we saw were a few sea stars stuck to the wharf.  Nevertheless, it was amazing.

And thus we made it to our new home, Victoria, British Columbia.  The adventure continues, and we are so excited!

How To Pick Up and Move Across the Country in 5 Days

Or, Too Stressed to Take Pictures, So This is All You Get

The last five days could not have been more stressful. But, I am writing this from the hotel we stayed at in Abbotsford, BC.  We are only 4 hours away from our destination (assuming we make the ferry on time) and I am feeling good.

So, wanna know how to do it?

1. Make sure your car is in working order. Of course, if your back breaks have needed to be replaced for the past two years, do not attempt driving. Instead, spend an entire day changing them.  Get lots of help from your three-year-old, so it is done well, and enjoy!

2. Agree to take care of your friend's three children the weekend that you are on call for a birth that is a week overdue, and when you get called to that birth, leave those three kids, plus your own two, with your husband for 15 hours, two days before the move in question.

3. Pack up everything you think you might need in a city you don't know, with a climate you aren't familiar with, and hope you don't forget anything.  But know, it doesn't really matter anyway, because it wouldn't fit anyway!

4. Understand that driving so far in a huge Suburban, while definitely more comfortable, will definitely cost more money to do so. So, load up your little car fuller than it's ever been, pile in, an GO!!!

Um, I think that about covers it. Any questions?

Another Wiebe Adventure

So... we're going to Victoria.  That's right. Victoria. Jared got into the University of Victoria for Spring term to take the last exam he has to take, and so we're going. On Tuesday. To Victoria.  Crazy, eh?

Actually, I'm not going the whole time.  I've got commitments, you know. I teach Speech Arts, and I have a mommy who is due at the end of May, so I'll go with him to get him settled in, come back to Calgary for a few weeks, and them join him again after the baby is born.

I've never been to Victoria. I don't know a soul in Victoria. We don't have a place to live in Victoria.  But, we are going to Victoria!

So, now here's where I need advice.  We are planning on renting a very small, furnished place, and I don't plan on being there very much, because I really want to explore. For anyone who's been to Victoria, where do I go, what can't I miss, and what should I do?  Fill me in, people.  At the most I've got 4 weeks, but likely less than that, and I want to see it all!

Victoria, here we come!

The Caverns Lewis and Clark NEVER visited

So, if you are ever driving through Montana, just east of Butte, you really should stop at a place called the Lewis and Clark Caverns.  You might think that it is named such because the famous Lewis and Clark found the caverns, perhaps with Sacajawea herself.  You'd be wrong.  They never even knew the caverns existed.  Instead, many years after Lewis, Clark and Sacajawea had passed through the area two cowboys were hunting a deer and found an opening into a mountain, and in that mountain they found a cavern, and in that cavern they found... some pretty cool limestone, which, 118 years later we found too. Too bad the park wasn't named after those guys, or I might know their names.  I don't.  But, I like them all the same.

The last leg of our Paxton-Wiebe adventure took us to the Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park.  It was really cool.  We went on a 2 hour guided tour through the limestone caverns. We hiked up the mountain to the opening of the caves, and then descended down 600+ stairs inside the mountain to come out level to where we started.  It was truly awe inspiring.  Here's some shots.


Outside the mouth of the caverns:

Down, down, down:

 Check out the couple behind us.  I think they are making out.

Nursed Silas half the time:

Amazing what millions of years can create:

This tunnel took no time at all. Only 18 months in the 1930s and a bunch of guys with sledge hammers, so we were told.  I like those guys too, seeing as how it meant we didn't need to hike back up those 600 stairs. 

And, from their we said goodbye. Boy oh boy are we going to miss those girls (not to mention their parents, and Baby North).

Hole-in-the-Wall Gang

There they are, folks, the only known picture of The Violet Storm, Eli "Rustler" Wiebe and Ava the Scalper, Butch Cassidy's toughest gang members. You can tell by their hardened looks, their haggard appearance and the blood stains on their hands just how tough they were.  These three, in their time, were not to be messed with by the toughest of lawmen!

While traveling Wyoming we spent a day exploring the town of Cody, Wyoming.  It was a blast!

We visited the most run down, thrown together museum I've ever seen, Old Trail Town, where they had the actual cabin that Butch Cassidy and his Hole-in-the-Wall gang actually stayed. It was there, as I was signing the guest book, that I realized that Jared and I were celebrating our sixth anniversary. That's right, six years!  Should I be embarrassed that it took seeing the date at the top of a dusty guest book that made me remember?  No, I think I'm okay with it. Happy six years to us!

We saw the worst gunfight ever, but entertaining nonetheless.

We found an obscure LDS visitors center, The Cody Mural, (obscure because I've never heard of it before and the website has no reference to the church, and the missionaries didn't even bare their testimonies, but cool regardless.)

The best part of all, we went to the Cody Nite Rodeo, a full rodeo that began at 8 pm.  I LOVED it!  I was pretty much the expert on all things western, as Sarah had never seen a rodeo before, and Tyler only when he was a boy. The competitors left a little to be desired (very few actually got qualifying times/scores in their events) but they had five year olds competing in steer riding and barrel racing, so I wasn't complaining! The best part of it all was when they called all the children under the age of 12 to go down into the arena to pull bandannas off calves tails, who were running wild.  Eli and Ava went down.  Ava ran straight in and lined up with the other 100 or so children.  When Jared let go of Eli's hand at the gate, he went running toward the throng of children, but when he realized that he was the last child there, so all eyes were on him, even the rodeo clowns, he got a little scared and stopped dead on his run.  The clown, over the microphone, told him to come along, that it would be okay.  He was so scared!  Jared ended up having to walk him over to the other kids.  As soon as he found Ava's hand he was happy, but I was sure he would burst into tears up until that point. The two of them were the youngest for sure, and they just kind of followed blindly behind the older kids, chasing after the calves.  It was the cutest thing in the world!

Next time I happen through Cody, Wyoming, I am definitely going to go to the the Buffalo Bill Historical Center.  Like the Calgary Stampede, Cody has a rich history that media images of Buffalo Bill just don't do justice to. Next time I'm going to ride in the rodeo, too.