Lizard Lake

 Our first family camp this year was at Lizard Lake on the way to Port Refrew. 

It's a great place to camp with kids. Once again we lucked out and arrived early enough to grab a group site. It's a nice, quiet place where we can let the kids all run around and not have to worry too much. 

The Cole family came for the first night with the rest arriving on the Friday. The weather was fantastic although it was in the midst of a huge heat wave. Thankfully it was cooler out there than it was in town. 

Patiently waiting for his cousins to arrive and the real fun to begin! Which it did! 

The lake is great for swimming and anything else. The kids had brought their canoe and paddle board so we were able to explore the rest of the lake this year. The boys love to catch the lizards and then let them go. 

We all went swimming in the mornings and then spent the afternoon hanging around the campsite. The kids also went swimming in the evening. The little ones had so much fun being together and playing. I managed to go out in the canoe with Adam and the boys. It was a bit scary when they leaned over to see the lizards!

Mom and Dad were even able to come down to the lake and watch the kids swim this year so that was just great. The love being around the great grandkids and see them all having fun. 

I had brought lots of paper and felts so much time was spent in the shade with the older kids making their own little books. 

The hit with the little ones was of course the bubble machine.

Meals as always are shared affairs and we enjoyed some really great breakfasts and dinners. It's great having Mom and Dad there along with their camper as it makes washing up really easy. 

We tried to do an afternoon hike but the heat was just too much so we only made it part way this year. The kids were really good sports about it all. 

It was an awesome weekend and I am so thankful that my kids all get along and that the littles are so close in age that they love to play together and enjoy the same interests. 

Evening time is a time where lots of stories are read before the little ones get tucked in. Sometimes it does take a while before they all settle down.

Hopefully we will go again in the fall!

Littles Galore

Covid life continues on and its been a long winter for so many people. We haven't been able to gather as a family for months now and the kids haven’t been together since August of last year.  

So this past weekend with the youngest grandchild turning one we decided to bend the rules a little.

All the kids and the grandkids came up to Comox and gathered for the afternoon to celebrate the big day. 

It was so good to see all the kids together playing and having fun. We spent a good portion of the time outdoors on the swings or playing ball. 

Later in the afternoon after we had had cake we all walked down to the beach to explore. It was very cold n windy do we didn’t stay very long. 

Coming back the kids played downstairs n then we had pizza for dinner before the two families headed for home. 

What we did was wrong we know but we were very careful in the weeks before and again now. It’s important to stay healthy n keep everyone physically safe. It’s also important to take care of ourselves mentally. 

In the eyes of many people gathering with your family is not Covid safe but I’m so glad we did. The little ones need to have fun and see each other. Sharing in laughter is good for the soul. 

January Outdoor Life

As we near the end of this month of January in a somewhat lockdown due to Covid I can't help but notice all the gifts creation has blessed me with in the outdoors. I love being outside and spent most of my childhood playing in the woods and fields across from our house. It was a place to run and be free and use our imagination. 

I do my best to share my love of the outdoors with my family and friends. I want to explore and find new places and new things to see. 

During this month I wasn't able to travel anywhere but there were many new things to find along the local trails.

 

There were cold sunny days, rainy days and days that felt like summer. This life on the island really couldn't get much better!

 

I managed a couple of trips to Bright Angel park with the boys to check out life along the Koksilah River,

bubbling blowing at the playground with the kids and many hikes down the Cowichan and Trans Canada trails.

Each time we go out we always find something new to see and share with each other. There are always smiles and laughter and moments of intrigue. 

Creation, people, trees, fungi,

insects, birds and plants, they are so amazing and wonderfully created.

 

I truly hope that my grandchildren and some day my great grandchildren will be able to explore the woods and forests as I do and get the same enjoyment that I have found by being out in nature. There is no better medicine for one's soul than to be outdoors especially when you can share it with family and friends.

When You Can't Party

 Even when you can't party to celebrate someone turning 85 you can still gather and share in a little fun. It's good for the elderly and it's good for the young and all those in between. 

So even though we couldn't really celebrate my Dad turning 85 we did have a little fun outdoors to mark the very special occasion. 

We all just have to do what we can safely do to make the most of out of life and each day that we are gifted. 

Happy New Year 2021!

 What a great way to start the new year. Up in Comox with my daughter and family we managed to get out and go snow shoeing up Mount Washington. It was a little cold when we headed out but we were blessed with sunshine and blue skies.

I so love being out in the snowy mountains. Everything is so bright and every year it looks so different. 

The snow on the trails and the crispness as you walk. 

The kids were great getting carried in packs and there rosy cheeks and smiles just warmed my heart. We did the easy green loop which took us an hour so perfect time to be out with young ones.

Hopefully I will get out once more this year when it warms up a bit but if not I am glad I was able to start this year off up in the snowy hills with snow!!