Wordless Nothing

You know how many bloggers have "Wordless" days where they just post pictures, with no words? Well, I’ve never been very good at being wordless, ever. So, here’s my broken attempt at updating you on some of our doings via the pictures we’ve been taking. Life is fun, even if we aren’t adventuring big time all the time.

 We are so glad that we co-sleep!

 Duck eggs!

 

 

Blogger Blows

So, I don't know if anyone else noticed, but Blogger was down for the last 24 hours.  Of course it happened when I wanted to post a million posts.  So, bare with me as I overwhelm you with Wiebe adventures.  Have fun.

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?