Category: Summer

Salt Spring Island – camping!

To date our camping experience has been isolated to the safety and comfort of our back yard and Wendy’s house in Sooke. If somebody was scared, we could go inside. If someone had to go to the washroom, it was right there complete with a flushing toilet.

We thought we would venture further this summer as we recently acquired two tents. We decided to camp at Ruckle Park on Salt Spring Island. On the day that we choose to depart, Jimmy had to go into his school for an early pre-school work date. That left me and the kids to ferry over by ourselves, find the campsite and set up the tents.

It was fun. Rhys was terrified of the small ferry and was impossible to get him out of the van but once we made it to the island all was good. It was sunny and hot. We parked at Ruckle Park and had to walk around to find out reserved site which turned out to be next to the outhouses- ewww. So we found a first come first serve spot (#11) that was nestled in the woods with a view of the ocean.

Claire & Rhys were amazing with helping to carry everything from the van. They had wheel barrows that we used to haul everything. It was a lot of work but we got it done and still had ample time to adventure before we had to go pick up Jimmy at the ferry. It is a very pretty camping location- right on the water with the ferries passing by. We went for a long hike to a historical farm. We saw turkeys, sheep, birds and chickens. It was a nice hike along the water. Then we returned to camp and cleaned everything up before we departed to get Jimmy. At the terminal we bumped into my Mom’s best friend (Crystal) and her family which was so nice. We snacked on gummy bears while we waited.

The kids were so excited to see daddy! We drove into town for dinner which was yummy. Before it got dark we drove back to the campsite and got settled in for the night. Jimmy had to take Claire to the outhouse in the middle of the night because she refused to go earlier. Outhouses were a new thing! Jimmy’s mattress deflated but not before he squeaked and honked on the taut, slippery surface throughout the night 🙂

We awoke early,packed up and headed to the ferry terminal to return home. Our one night camping trip was a blast 🙂

Tofino! summer trip

Last August we arranged a group trip to Tofino with some really wonderful friends and their children.

There were six families with each family having 2 to 3 children. We were a large group! We stayed at the Tofino botanical gardens where you can rent out a large house. It was perfect. The kids roamed freely and had fun together. There was a fire pit outside so after bedtime the adults could get together and have some drinks and catch up. Of course we visited the wonderful beaches and the local skate park.

It was so great that we are booked in for this September 🙂

  • Port Alberni

  • Beach day!

  • Tofino harbour
  • Tofino skate park
  • Cathedral Grove

Horticulture Centre Of The Pacific – summer workshops

Claire & Rhys are super keen to do some fun 1/2 day or a few hour long camps during the summer.

I found out that the horticultural centre, which is beautiful, hosts some kid classes. I signed Claire & Rhys up for two classes in the summer- a fairy garden workshop and a tea making workshop. Both were on very nice sunny days and the staff who ran them were amazing. Always great to spend some time outdoors.

tea workshop

fairy garden workshop

Annual Sooke trip!

Every year we do a night or two in Sooke at Wendy & Chris’ house. Normally we camp out in a tent but the past two years we have been traumatized by their cat named Joe! Joe loves to attack the tents which doesn’t work well for us camping out 😉 We tried this year again and set up the tent and the attack happened. Claire & Rhys went inside the tent to read and Joe with his sharp claws attacked. We quickly abandoned that idea and we stayed in the Boler instead.

We ate, we went swimming in the local river and we relaxed 🙂 Always a fun time! Thanks Wendy, Chris & Senna!

Miller-Cole homestead
an annual tradition!

Summer in Sooke

Towards the end of our summer vacation we organized a trip to Sooke. Every summer we spend a weekend with Wendy, Chris & Senna out at their home in Sooke. There is so much to do and see. Jimmy wasn’t with us this year as he had a skate board event in Port Alberni. While he had his fun we had some as well.

So the kids & I packed up and went on a mini adventure! We had such a fun time in Sooke…making delicious homemade ice cream, playing with Senna’s old toys, visiting the Sheringham lighthouse, camping out on the back porch, hitting a fun playground, walking Whiffen Spit. I cannot forget our epic movie marathon once Claire & Rhys went to sleep… the cheesiest but oh so good vampire movies–> The Twilight Saga. Getting called out by my niece for using my phone was pretty funny too!

We did SO much in just two days. I am so grateful to have such a great sister-in-law, brother-in-law and niece so close by. We always have a good time.

Ice cream- Yum!:

Sheringham Lighthouse:

 

 

Playmobil/ Lego & playground fun:

 

Camping out:

 

Whiffen Spit:

Another successful Pedalheads summer camp!

Claire & Rhys have been doing Pedalheads summer camps for the past three summers & they always have a great time! Their biking skills improve so much over one week.

Claire was in level 4 this year and she was able to bike on the road with her group- Wow! Jimmy drove to pick up the kids and passed Claire with her group. She sure is growing up & is so independent.

Rhys was in level 3 and did awesome. He no longer jumps off his bike to stop 😉 He learned all his hand signals and is so confident on his bike.

On the last day they have a bike rodeo where they get to dress up like princess’ or pirates. Parents get to come watch them bike a circuit. Always a fun time and we love seeing how proud they are of their own successes.

 

Click on links to watch:

Claire rodeo!

Rhys rodeo!

Art camp with Sandi

Several years ago when we first moved back to Victoria from South Africa we had registered the kids in a children’s art class  at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. The kids had a wonderful instructor who they adored. Her name was Sandi Henrich and she is a wonderful art teacher.

Claire & Rhys love art and this summer we enrolled them into a summer art camp at Poppet Creative. The week long class was taught by Sandi 🙂 The kids were so excited and they had a great week!

Learn to Fish at Elk Lake

I enjoyed fishing when I was a kid (I even won a trophy for a fishing derby in Sooke that my Dad’s work put on) so when I saw that there was a free learn-to-fish night for kids I signed us up!

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC runs free two hour sessions throughout BC. They stock lakes throughout the province with fish for fishing purposes so teaching children & adults the rules and how to properly handle fish makes sense.

On a sunny evening at Elk Lake we gathered with several other families to learn to fish. We learned about different types of fish, how to hold a fish, types of bait, fishing rules and then we had over an hour to use fishing rods to test out our new skills. The rods were pretty large so Rhys struggled a bit. There were so many kids in a row at the lakes edge that fishing lines were getting tangled etc. The bait was worms which was a gross factor for the kids. Rhys went for a walk with Jimmy to the nearby dock to take a break. Claire had her sights set on catching a fish. Those who were positioned nearby the reeds kept catching fish so Claire walked over and somehow found a spot there as well 🙂 The instructor called out last fish of the night and Claire caught a fish on her very last try! She caught a Bass fry.

Not sure if we will fish again anytime soon but we had fun on the lake that evening!

 

Can you spot the little fish?