island living.

It's summertime and the living is easy! At least while you are on vacation! We've been thoroughly enjoying our time on Vancouver Island, and it if weren't for missing my puppy and my fast approaching due date, I might want to stay a bit longer.  

We arrived on Sunday and picked up Ryan from the airport. He had been working away in Saint Louis for almost the entire month of June, and this would be the most consecutive days we'd spend together since earlier in May.  Sunday was a rather uneventful evening, with my mom and I exhausted from driving and Ryan having spent the entire day in airports and planes faced with lengthy delays.  We called it a night early, like the true party animals that we are.

The next morning we awoke on Canada Day! Our first priority was (obviously) to eat, so we headed for breakfast in the hotel restaurant. I dined on fabulous eggs benedict overlooking the sea, and all in life was wonderful.  

Later in the day we dressed in our red and white attire and set out to enjoy the beautiful weather.

  

My brothers have been living in Sooke for a few months now, and like us to believe that they are experts of the area. They took us to the "Potholes", a popular swimming spot. My mom and I sat and watched as the boys played in the water, trying to keep calm as they jumped off of high cliffs. They survived, thankfully.  

Our next stop was Whiffen Spit, a long spit that extends out into the water and gives gorgeous views of the island. We walked down the path getting windblown as my brothers threw rocks at each other. For the first time in a long time, my whole family was together in the same place!

We also made sure to take a picture of my big old belly... at 32 weeks along, baby Shippelt is making me feel rather huge and his/her wiggling around is less of a tickle and more of a light beating. I feel as though it won't be long before I embrace the pregnant waddle. 

Hungry and tired after our long walk, we headed to dinner at a small but delicious restaurant down the street. As nighttime approached, we got ready to find a good vantage point for the fireworks. I was rather insistent that we watch them, because I'm really just a kid at heart.  We'd originally planned on going to Victoria for the festivities, but we opted to stay in Sooke for the fact that it was nice and close and much, much less busy. As per usual, Ryan stole my camera as the show began, but I didn't complain because he takes better photos anyways. 

The next day was the day we'd all been waiting for. Crab day! My brother's have invested in traps and learnt a lot about fishing through talking to locals and trial and error.  We were determined to have a feast that evening, so we ordered the boys to catch as many as they could.  

It was a slow start to the day, as every trap would be filled with females or small crabs, neither of which you can keep.  Eventually, they pulled up a few decent ones that we set aside for later. Dinner wasn't looking as promising as we'd hoped. 

Ryan had also purchased a fishing license for the occasion. As evening approached and we were almost to the point of giving up, he began to pull in some great catches, doubling the number of crabs within minutes. I was so proud of my fisherman... we'd eat well that night!

Back at the house, the girls gathered in the kitchen and cooked up a fabulous meal. The crab was great, and more exciting than usual because we'd watched it come from the ocean just hours earlier. I overindulged, and finished off with ice cream cake for good measure.  

Yesterday my mom, Ryan, brother Kaynyn and I drove to Victoria for the day. The weather was perfect and we spent the day wandering and exploring the city. Ryan would fly back to Edmonton that evening, so we tried to make the most of the time that we still had together. 

We drove to Mile Zero, the beginning of the Trans Canada Highway. Only weeks ago, I stood in St. John's, Newfoundland at the other end of the incredibly long highway.  We stood by the ocean and took in all of its beauty before heading back towards the airport. 

We sent Ryan on his way, and while his vacation is over... my mom and I still have a few more days to enjoy. Next stop, Vancouver! We'll pick up my amazing ex-roomie as she flies in from Dubai and bring her back home to Alberta for more adventures. I'm loving every minute of summer and trying to get as much fun in as I can before Baby Shippelt enters the world!