Camping with the Dam Fam...

We decided to head off to the back country for a camping trip with some of my family while we were on vacation. We borrowed my in-laws trailer, packed it up, and followed Ben and the family into Hope. My aunt and uncle had found a little logging road that had been dug out into a few little camping spots next to a river.

 

They hung up a sign so we could all find them...

 

We love our little set-up. Aaron sets up our awning, the tables, the bbq and stove, the coolers under the table, and then I set up everything that we use daily. It works for us!

They were doing their "homework" as they call it. Calista is 6 and is so smart. She's going into grade 1 and goes to a French Immersion school. She must be reading at a grade 2 or 3 level - she read the baby multiple stories while we were camping.

After a grumpy Colby went to bed the first night, the rest of us went on an expedition. Nana, Papa, Calista, Ben (Dad), Uncle Aaron, and I went in search of bottles and cans. Yes, they are a recycling crazed family. Not only does this clean up the environment, but they also use the money from returning it all towards their college fund.

When we got back, I put my VERY swollen feet up for some R & R. My family took good care of me while we were away, and I kind of liked it.

The next morning, it was time for some fun on wheels! Uncle Aaron took Colby on the dirt bike while my cousin took Calista.

After some dirty fun on the 2 dirt bikes, trike, and quad, it was time for some play in the river. Bahar forgot Calista's bathing suit, but she made due with a tank and shorts. Ben loves camping and the outdoors, and he claims to be a red neck (even though we grew up in East Van). He got to work on trying to pan for gold. :)

 

I had a lot of time to read and hang out with my family, especially the women who couldn't get enough of talking babies. I also really connected with Calista again. Colby is obsessed with Uncle Aaron, but I was glad that Calista and I got time together to hang out. She was even excited to see me the next weekend! She even painted something for the baby, which I'll be posting separately.

I hope that we can make a tradition of doing family camping trips. Other than a bad spill Aaron took on the dirt bike which resulted in a pretty painful leg burn, he really enjoyed himself. He loves the kids, my cousin and his wife, and my Auntie Robin and Uncle Ted. He's not close with his own family so it's nice that he's become part of my family. He's even hung out with them since then on his own - seeing Planes with all them while I went home to sleep. I truly hope that our kids can grow up with them and they can all be close cousins!

Our trip South of the Border...

As part of our vacation, and I say it was combined with our 5 year dating anniversary but the hubs says it was just a trip, we drove down to Seattle for a night.

We started off at Sheri's in Bellingham which has turned into our go-to breakfast spot when crossing the border. They have good portions, tasty food, reasonable prices, and best of all, AMAZING pie!

After a quick trip to Costco for a tire check, the mall to go to Target for snacks and car oil, a stop at the maternity store for a new pair of pants, and a massage for Aaron, we headed towards Seattle.

We stopped briefly at the Seattle Premium Outlets, but we weren't in a shopping mood so off we went to check into our hotel in downtown Seattle.

After a brief nap, we found our way to their subway system and followed the crowd of Blue Jays jerseys right to the stadium to watch our first MLB baseball game - Seattle Mariners vs Toronto Blue Jays!

 

The game itself started out slow because of no scoring until the 7th inning, but it was an amazing experience because more than half the crowd consisted of Toronto fans from Canada! We took over that place, and there was a lot of commraderie in the stands!

 

After suffering heartburn for the majority of the first 6 innings, I finally made my way to the food carts and picked myself up some good ol' American nachos! Aaron had a hot dog and popcorn!

 

The game ended with the Blue Jays finally scoring 4 runs late in the game, and we made our way back to the hotel. 

The next morning, after an expensive breakfast (LOL), we made our way to Pike Place Market. We'd never been before, and I just wish we'd had more time and cash because it was beautiful and full of delicious, wonderful things!

 

This is the first EVER Starbucks location, and there was a line-up out the door. I would have liked to get a coffee there, but the line-up deterred us!

 

Aaron isn't a big flower guy, although he can appreciate them, but he stood in amazement at the assortment of flowers, their smells, and best of all - the CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP prices! He wanted to get some, but we were afraid they'd wilt in the hot car before we got home.

 

These were called Donut Peaches. Again, I wanted some just because they were cool but I refrained.

 



 

We ended up our trip with lunch at PF Chang's in downtown Seattle next to our hotel. We had Crab Wontons, Chow Mein, shrimp, and spicy green beans. We ended up ordering so much that we took the leftovers home and indulged in it for dinner as well!

 

My fortune cookie advised me that "Something new on four wheels will soon be in your future" - so I took it as a sign that maybe someone would buy me a new car. HA HA - ya right!

All in all, it was a wonderful trip that was the first road trip for baby! We spent our third anniversary two years ago in Seattle, and it seems to be a place that we love. I can't wait to take baby back there someday for a game, good food, and some flowers! :)

Memories

I've been told that I have an incredible memory for details. I remember things, people, places, events, and small insignificant details that others may forget. I have one of those brains that can retain strange facts and absurd information, and yet sometimes I forget that every Monday is garbage day. It's a curse.

Lately I have found myself gauging my life as BA and AA - or before Aaron and after Aaron. I have always had that kind of mind - using a year or event to remember when something else happened. For instance - I remember when my cousin and his wife got married because it was the same year I was training for my Hawaii marathon. It was the same year my cat died and my friend died on NYE. So it's easy to remember. My aunt was sure that Aaron met Colby after he was born, but he was definitely born AA because we met him at the hospital. Aaron started coming around when Calista was a year and a half - I remember because at her second Christmas, cuddled in her pyjamas, Aaron was already reading her stories on his lap and she was already comfortable enough with him to tug on his beard. It was our first Christmas and my aunt whispered to me that he was a keeper. After Aaron. Sometimes Aaron will wonder when he last saw someone - and we can think back by years - before Tara or after Tara.

I've always used memory techniques for things, whether studying, planning an event, or helping munchkins learn to read. In high school to remember the periodic table - AU vs AG: AU - Hey U - come back with my GOLD! vs AG - Ah Gee, you got away with the SILVER. Ha ha! A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

Anyways, I'm bringing up this subject, in a long winded way, because I realized on the weekend that my life BA was amazing and fun and crazy and fueled by long nights of dancing and drinking and... things my future child doesn't need to know about E.V.E.R.! But my life AA is the best time of my life. He is everything to me and BA was just wasting time until AA arrived. I never thought that as a woman who believes whole-heartedly in the feminist revolution I would say that life just wasn't complete before a man, but he makes the pieces of my puzzle fit properly. And I'm not ashamed to say that. He fills me up and gives me the kind of satisfaction you only get from whole, complete love.

We are getting ready for a change - BB and AB - before baby and after baby. I'm sure this will change all my memories going forward. I'm sure I will forget a lot too. I'm sure this child will break me down to the core and make me a better human being and woman and give me reason to change my thought process. Bring it on, baby. I am ready for new memories. 

My fur babies...

Aaron and I frequently say that we don't know what we'd do without our fur babies... they make us laugh every day! Keiko just turned 10 and Halo just turned 9, although they both still have moments of acting like kittens.

I got Keiko from a friend who had a 6 month old kitten give birth to a litter of 6, and I took one to give him a good home. I've loved him since the second I laid eyes on him! Aaron, much to his own shagrin, got Halo from a pet store. He walked by and saw the little puff-ball in the window and had to have him.

Keiko is 100% a mamma's boy - he follows me wherever I go and sleeps at my feet on the bed. He won't go downstairs in the morning until I'm ready to go, and then he runs half-way down, turns around to make sure I'm following, and then continues on. He likes to cuddle on his own time, and has developed a fascinating habit of kissing on the mouth and rubbing his mouth along your toes. He's weird, but I love him! He is crazy and unique with so many quirky traits. He loves all seafood, doritos, ranch dip, olives, yogurt, milk, and blue cheese. He loves jingle balls and cat nip and treats, which he'll ask for with much determination in his voice. He's stubborn and strong-headed. If he wants something, he'll get it (much like his momma!). He learned early how to open doors, he shadow-boxes mirrors, he drinks from the tap, he will pretty much sleep anywhere and get into any bag, box, or open drawer. He will rip your hand apart if he is having a bad moment, but he will also shower you with love and adoration and the most adorable loud purring appreciation.

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Halo is a whole other story. He's pretty calm, except when it comes to food. He's become a piggy wiggly since moving in with me and his brother! He's bigger than Keiko with a puffier tale, even though most can't tell the difference. He's sweet and docile and a hippie through and through. He likes cat nip and food and sleeping and food and sleeping and more food and sleeping! :) He likes to sleep with one leg hanging down and often sleeps on his back. He's a creature of habit - Keiko can sleep anywhere and eat almost any food whereas Halo has very specific sleeping areas and likes very specific food. He's got very soft fur and the face of an old man, a very high-pitched voice and one missing tooth which often lets his tongue hang out the side of his mouth. He loves good pets and his brush, cat nip mice, fabric shopping bags that he licks until you shoo him away, and lunch meat and chicken. He is skittish and scared of loud noises. He will demand attention with meows and a clawing paw, and thinks that if you're in the kitchen, it's time for his meal. He's adorable and funny and sweet - very much like his father! :)

We are mom and dad, through and through, and the little monkeys give us so many moments of pure, unadulterated amusement and unconditional love. They greet me at the door when I get home from work, and seem to know when I need their presence around me. They are probably two of the best things that has ever happened to us as individuals, as a couple, and as a family. They are sometimes a foundation for us, but most of all, they are our fur babies!