Summer trip 2023

We decided that this summer would be a good time to drive to BC, but through the US for a change. It sounded good in theory, but Carrie didn't have the energy to plan it all, plus accommodations were crazy expensive, so we shelved that plan.

Off to the airport then. In the old days we used to take a cab to the airport, but with 3 kids and a bunch of luggage, we longer fit into a standard taxicab. I'd bought a fancy CAA membership (with a road trip in mind), which gave me an airport parking discount, so we parked the Suburban at the airport for a decent price. Flew out to Kelowna with a layover or two. One of the flights was nice, with an empty seat beside me for Charlotte to have her own space to be annoying in; the other flight, no such luck... Carrie and I took turns having her on our laps.

Lots of space

Free seat for the wee one

In Vernon, the in-laws generously insured an extra vehicle so we had our own ride during our stay. We mostly stayed local, except for one side jaunt: Carrie and I ditched the older kids and drove to Vancouver to visit my sister Karin and one of her boys who was in the hospital there. It was good to connect; we stayed only two nights before heading back to the Okanagan.

Charlotte meets some relatives

Enjoyed a stroll with a view of downtown across False Creek

We had to keep an eye on some forest fires but they didn't end up affecting our travels.

Fire! Well, smoke!

Oh, a couple of nieces on Carrie's side hitched a ride back from Langley, and we stopped to check out Bridal Veil Falls near Hope.

Blondies

The long weekend brought the hordes from the Fraser Valley. Lots of time was spent at the beach or boating, as Okanaganonians (can I trademark that?) and people who aren't me are wont to do.

Foiling

The cousins had fun reconnecting.

Cousins!

Cousins!

Cousins watching cousins!

Cousins burying cousins!

Cousins tubing with cousins!

Yep, lots of cousin stuff. Lily also got to enjoy another birthday party with her cousins. As we're invariably in BC in mid-August, she'd have another later during the school year since she never gets to invite her school friends to birthday parties.

Our preenager turns 11

Her most wanted item: a leotard of our local gymnastics place 

Couldn't wait to try it on

When the hordes left, we went with the in-laws to nearby Mabel Lake and camped for a few days. A near disaster occurred there when one of the group deleted all the photos from his camera. He and I drove straight home and, with some perseverance, recovered them all. Whew!

The bug-free zone

Ever the artist

Marshmallow drama

Just chilling

Silly sisters

Birthday ice cream

The girls enjoyed swimming, tubing, and getting too much sun/sand.

This is definitely not Ontario sand

Sunnin' on the beach!

Sunnin' on the boat!

Too much sunnin', too little hat-wearing!

Tolerating an oversized life jacket

We made a visit to the local kangaroo zoo. It has more than just kangaroos.

"A bird on the head is worth..." meh, I forget how the adage goes

It was a relaxing couple of weeks, with mostly good weather.

But not always (hello, all-too-familiar smoky haze)

And lots of time to relax.

Taking a break from drawing

Tired

Babies are cute!

Lily, Nora and Charlotte have each had their turn in the kitchen sink.

And thus ended our vacation... almost. Some travel drama erupted at the end when WestJet decided to cancel the first flight of our three-leg journey home. Hours of calling and being on hold later, WestJet figured they did good by having Carrie and Lily on one replacement flight, and Nora, Charlotte and me on another... except Nora was going to be put between two random strangers in another row. Really, WestJet? Your systems aren't smart enough to know that this isn't actually permitted??

In the end, they got us on one flight together, and our trip was reduced to two flights with only one layover. I think we arrived home later than planned, but at least on the same day.

Not the roomiest play area

And then when we landed in Ottawa, the Suburban's battery was dead. Fortunately I pack a battery booster in the car, so two minutes later we were good to go. Those gadgets are so worth it!