Local Traditions

Every town has some interesting and fun traditions. 

Here in Victoria, in the days following Halloween many people bring their jack-o-lanterns to a particular road that winds through a park.

It's fun to take a stroll and see everyone's creativity. 

With the humidity and temperatures, the natural art stays around several weeks for all to enjoy. Then the district picks them up for composting. 

Fun.

Oh Yeah......

When we went to visit Stacey and Scott, I left my camera at home. Here are a few shots of our trip from the camera phone.


Always beautiful in Hawaii.....

Stacey and Scott showed us some places they had discovered on the island, 

like turtle beach....

Honolulu night life....

Giovani's shrimp shack.....(delicious!)

places to golf....

and stuff....(Yeah it's fun to embarrass the newcomer to the family!)

(Bryson wanted to be sure Scott 1.0 (aka Cindy's Scott) knew we ate at one of his favorite eatery's.)

Cool painted trees

 and of course the  Hawaiian rainbows - this was a double.

It was great to see Stacey and Scott 2.0 and spend some time with them exploring. We also had fun finding ways to create space in their VERY cozy apartment. University life....those were the days.

For the first few days we were on the island, we couldn't understand why people near us were whispering to one another and pointing at Bryson. Then we passed a magazine rack.

You be the judge...... is there a resemblance? 

In something other than the naughty department,.... of course

 OK now it's time for Halloween...

Pumkin pie anyone?

Autumn in Victoria

Sadly, after three months of clear skies, tons of sun and warmth, the clouds are becoming more frequent and the temperatures are sliding down. Fortunately the mists are replenishing the parched plants. The lawns and evergreens are rejuvenating and turning green again but the shorter days are bringing on all the fall colors. We are being treated to some spectacular eye candy. (No Mom, it's not Thor eye candy.)

Here are a few examples.

These guys made excellent blackberry syrup for 

our waffles.

With fall comes back to school.

It's Bryson's last year (insert whooping celebratory pre-empty nest last child on the down hill slide cheer here!!) His graduating class chose orange as their theme color. Through all our travels in the summer and visiting Scott and Stacey, he had his eye peeled for the perfect outfit that would match his classic '74 super beetle. You'll have to let him know how well you think he did.

Alicia decided to come back to Canada to finish her education. Hopefully a more vibrant job market will allow her keep a roof over her head and a little more than Itchiban in her stomach while she does. 

I was able to fly down and help her drive back from SoCal. We made a fun road trip of it, detouring off the main freeways often enough to catch: 

a local salmon festival;

(That's Alicia in the salmon suit in front of big mama salmon)

salmon being done an old native way (delicious);

some local entertainment;

lessons on how to bear hand some salmon from the stream;

and watch crawdad's look for lunch.

(Alicia tried to nab him and say hello, but he was too fast. She also learned that lobsters and their relatives actually swim backwards!)

Alicia's last few minutes in California.

(Just after we took this photo, we were able to watch some salmon swim by on their way to the spawning beds - cool!)

We went through the giant redwood forest.

(They have big trees there!)

Really big trees!

Really, REALLY big trees!

This guy (aptly named "Big Tree") is approximately 2000 years old!

We were even able to drive through a living tree!

Once back in Victoria, Alicia was greeted by this fellow at the end of our driveway!

The next weekend, Bryson and I made a quick trip to Calgary to help the family welcome Jordan back from his Mission in Mexico City.

It was good to see him and hear about all his experiences with the amazing spanish people and their culture.

Bryson had to rub in that he was now looking down on his cousin.

Time for Halloween!

Playing Catch Up

We have had a hectic few months and did not take the time to post our life happenings. So now it's time to play catch up.

January was all about Bryson. 

Basketball

and his friends throwing a Justin Bieber themed surprise birthday party.

At the end of January, Cindy, Scott and their boys also came for a visit and to see the sights in Victoria.

Stacey and Wilson were able to come at the same time, so we made a party of it.

They cheered their little brother on with more basketball

 Played and

 enjoyed some good food.

February was when the hectic fun started. Our house sold, but the house we were supposed to buy and move into ended up with some problems on the inspection. Just like that, we were homeless and living out of a suitcase in the HoJo (Howard Johnson). Yeah. We're trailer trash.

We decided to make the best of it and introduce the sister missionaries to a Prince family tradition.

PIG NIGHT.

The before picture.

They weren't too sure about the no utensils rule of the meal at first.

But loosened up and got right into it after a few bites.

You asked to pass the spaghetti!!

I think I'm still picking cilantro out of my hair.

In the end, it was one of the liveliest, food flingingest pig nights ever.

Whenever we saw the sisters after that, they burst out laughing. 

Go figure.

Even though we were homeless, it's still beautiful in Victoria year round.

To break the monotony, Brandon and Tamsin had to make a trip to Florida and invited us to come meet them. We decided to go for it. Alicia came too.

No trip to Florida is complete without a visit to Disney World,

a stroll with Perry the Platypus,

A family picture,

a nice meal together,

a butterfly

fireworks

and a romantic dance through the gardens.

Then there was Harry Potter World and

butter beer

and gingers on the hogwarts express.

It's so hard to host a birthday when you are far from home. By putting all our heads together we found a way to celebrate with Mom as she hit the big five-oh. 

Who better to help you feel young, vivacious and vigorous than your favorite super hero.

THOR to the rescue.  

Happy 50th Birthday Mom

We see that glint in your eye.

We hope you enjoy your fifty years young remembrance book.

On our return from the family trip, we were able to move into a rental house and step out of the ghetto. After some unpacking and rearranging we are at least comfortable again. We're still looking for a permanent place to put down roots. There's a very strong buyers market developing here in Victoria, so we'll see where that takes us.

June was my turn to blow out too many candles. 

Sue took me on a little getaway to the Swarovski resort in Vernon BC. We left Bryson behind for this one, and met up with our friends Rick and Sue Vermunt for some rest, relaxation and golf.

We had a great time renewing our friendships and getting a taste of the empty nest life stage that is coming.

Bryson was upset when I texted him pictures of the car show vehicles that were staying at the resort.

Then it was grad season. 

Bryson was invited by an older woman to be her escort for graduation. 

They argued over who was arm candy for who, 

but ended up making the front page of the local newspaper when grandma let Bryson drive her beamer convertible to the grad ceremony.

Mom looking great wandering around Hatley park.

As soon as Bryson finished exams, we were able to abandon Mom (right as she got deathly ill with walking pneumonia and lost her voice) and take a trip down to visit Brandon and Tamsin in St. Kitts.

Tamsin took us on a tour of the island.

To the grocery store

and market.

Showed us how the locals live

Offered to get us an appointment with the local witch doctor.

And showed us a swinging good time.

St. Kitts declared a national holiday as the country was hosting an international cricket match. 

We were able to go with one of the local families that B & T knew. 

It's the first sporting event I've been to where they have a lunch break!

Brandon and Tamsin showed us the island life and all the best places to eat,

and golf 

(yes, we are wet. Caught in a tropical rainshower) 

They also took us snorkeling, spear fishing for lobster (that were uber delicious), to play beach volleyball, paintballing with the locals (boys are boys the world around), into their local freinds homes for dinner, picking mango's and touring around the veterinary school and Tamsin's work, visiting the flea markets and local shops, relaxing in the infinity pool in their complex.

We packed a lot into a few days, and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the locals side of St. Kitts. 

The best was the last night - it was sea turtle nesting season. Although the nest that was scheduled to hatch didn't, we were still able to see hawksbill and leatherback sea turtles nesting. They wouldn't allow flash photography, so this isn't a great photo, but here is Bryson next to the huge leather back turtle on her way back to the ocean after laying her eggs.

Patrolling the beach in the middle of the night, watching the stars, talking with family, then seeing the circle of life ~ priceless.  

Now you are all up to date.
ps Congrats Tamsin you look absolutely glowing in a baby bump!