Yes !!!  We have accepted a job at the Powell River Paper Mill.  I will be the new mechanical maintenance engineer starting this Monday!!  They would have given me two weeks notice before starting, but after having 14 months off, I was ready to roll.  Start date March 26th.

We visiting Powell River a few weeks previously, here are the pictures!!

Check out the Skinners new hardwood floors!  Those edges near the stone would have taken forever. . . Looks amazing.

Téa and Aunty Lisa having a ball

Téa found something to chew about

Cousing Allisons new home, she was busy painting the upstairs

What a view!

Soccer Mom at it again

Shayla on the soccer field

Happy Birthday Uncle Moe, looking great!

Happy Birthday Aunty Michelle, great that we could be here!

Téa loved Shaylas new Dog Molly.  She saved and bought her by herself  . . for $300.

Cousin Steven’s place, we had a quick visit.

A great short day hike

Téa fast aslleep by the rushing falls.

Neat signs put up all around the trails.

Allison still has some energy left !

Sheenas midwifery application seems to always land on important dates.  Her first interview was scheduled on Sept. 1st, her birthday, while we were in Ethiopia, and her second interview is now on Téa’s birthday.  So Sheena could not come on our walk at English River Falls.  We had a great time, check out the birthday smiles !!

The falls drop a couple hundred feet into a rocky canyon, and then turn 9 degrees.  The photo stitching is a little rough.

We arrived home and had a little nap, all of us, and then it was birthday dinner and party time.  Sheena made a South African lentil dish named Babooti, perfect with Ross over for dinner.  Our house mate Marcia also joined in with the festivities.  She got Téa all the essentials for a two year old birthday – Her first helium balloons, a princess tiara, a kite, kids book, and all wrapped up so fun to open!!

Excited with her Tiara

Princess and her loyal steed

We got the kite up just before the sun went down

Our princess did not like the sea foam sticking to her boots, Off Dada, Off.

She especially loved her custom vegan cake.  Her mommy made it especially for her!!

On the phone with birthday calls, she had her cousin Liam on the phone for over ten minutes!

I found her this all wood xylophone that sounds really good! Coombs country market.

Sheena found her this rabbit organic cotton snuggly.

We had been in Qualicum Beach for about two weeks before her birthday, here are some memorable pictures.

Téa’s rock throwing technique

Toffer inspects if what she threw was edible

Self exercising dog chasing the gulls

Intriqued with crabs

Happy times

Munny the bunny shares breakfast

Potty training starts !!

She loves all her stuffed animals!

So we aren’t actually in Courtney yet, but Ross and Cara from Courtney were down in Victoria for the weekend and we got to meet up.  We decided to go out to Sooke and check out the local Meadery, where they transform honey into something way more complex and drinkable.   Tugwell Creek Farm and Meadery has been making this goodness for a long time, and we all thought it was delicious.  At first you think it is a bit sweet, but then you think, hmmm I think I will have to try that again to be sure. . . and then the bottle is gone.

Oh, and I was so excited to see Ross and Cara that the van ran out of gas 2 kilometers from the place.  The house by where I stopped lent me a gas can, and we went back to Sooke to fill er up . . woops

They also sell potent honey

Ross knows how big an All Blacks (rugby) fan I am so he was delighted to see me wearing a springboks touque.

Pretty Cara Brighton, soon to be a Whelan!!

Poser Dog

When in Victoria, you must play frisbee !

If you thought Ross was fun, wait till you meet Cara.

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So we are now in Courtney in their place near the puntledge river.  They let us all stay, and their cat was so pleased to have Toffer around.

We went for some great walks here when it wasn’t raining

Some classic Téa faces

Mmmm Gnocci

Yeeeaaaaaaaah, Mt. Washington.  This was our second day up here this week.  We tried earlier, but it was raining, so we did two runs then went home.  Today, the groomers were nice and fast, and the visibility was infinite, good to be here.

A random girl Ross knew, who had very shiny goggles

Téa loves her baba’s

Ladies love their yoga

Ross is great with the little one, and check out their view of the river in the background.

These next pictures are from a trip one week later, Téa was happy on Ross’s shoulders

For a little while . ..

Very happy sitting dangerously on a railing

The recently engaged couple – future husband Ross, and future wifee Cara

Linda, Danielle, and their future family has the warmest spot in the womb!

Anne Price enjoying the wind

Wheres that bus?

Preparing to scuba dive !!

The great sea lion whisperer