Gabriola....

So I am too lazy and time crunched to put these into the original order (my computer screwed them up) so I will just photo-journal as we go, ok? :)

We had the wonderful opportunity of staying in our family friend's cabin on Gabriola Island two weeks ago. A BIG thank you to Doug and Anita Bryce. We had our honeymoon in this rustic cabin and 11 years later, we had the amazing opportunity to take our three precious kids. Two ferry rides (a momma big ferry and a baby ferry) and we were living the ocean life. :) Out of order, here we go....

On the porch, we found a perfect wooden beam to hang Zanna from! Jump away, baby! She LOVED it.

We had three awesome evenings burning our paper plates while roasting our marshmallows (or smarshallows in toby's language) to make smores.

Toby wanted s'more.

Then, just about everyday, we went to watch the tide go out and in the afternoon, come in. We looked in every tide pool hunting for sea treasure and stepped on every crab found. :)

Toby found LOTS! He wanted to bring them home, but alas, no crabs in Abbotsford, unless you run into Promise mid-tantrum. :)

Zanna LOVED the beach and would squirm to get into those waves! No fear in that water baby!

Forest walks with daddy while Zanna had a nap....

Back to the ocean and Tide pools....Promise LOVES the ocean more than I have every witnessed a child love anything! Toby could take it or leave it....Leave it was more like it...

We visited some boats.....

Took the baby ferry....

Had a visit with cousins....singing.....

cuddles in the morning....we all slept in one room!

Walks to Grandma's cabin....

Baths in kitchen sinks....I have the same pic from when Promise bathed in the Gabriola sink 4 years ago!

Waiting for the ferry in our new van.....

FERRY TIME!

The momma ferry....

Windy!

 Story time.

Then Auntie Laurenn and Uncle Paso, Zeke and Amelia came for a visit, too!

 We showed them our treasures.....

 And found hiding places in the "Swiss Cheese"

 Then we cut the grass!!! Each kiddo got a turn!

 More S'mores....

 YUM!

 Walking to the sunset with Zeke....a foreshadowing of the future.....

 Loving the weather....

 A walk in the woods....

 Papa and Toby getting our beverages for the family BBQ

 On the ride home.....

 Daddy and Promise got a bit of playtime....

 Promise got a pinwheel to help with her relaxation breathing exercises....

 Zanna-goo in her new pool....

 We tried to re-create Gabriola S'mores with candles and marshmallows on kabob sticks.

 And Zanna went back to enjoying her swing.

The End.
Had I known Promise loved the beach and the waves of the ocean so much, I would have moved to a deserted island long ago....As I write, she has torn all the pictures off her wall and poured pee from her potty all over her floor. Sigh. This is the only 15 minutes I will have away from trying to stay 2-3 steps ahead of her...the triggers, the tantrums....Pray for me....Every night at the cabin filled me with tension and fear that Promise would push us again to the limit....parenting in hard...even on vacation.