Oh we do love to be beside the sea side!

 After our taste of fresh, sea air on Monday, I knew I wanted to go back to the ocean on Tuesday.

We fed the kids lunch and packed up the cars. It was gorgeous!

Some of us were more eager to get down to business than others.

 Griffin started collecting crab parts. There were a great number of crabs tangled up in the seaweed.

Me? I planted myself firmly in my chair to enjoy the view.

The girls, who had planned their beach outfits with great care, were straight of exploring the shore line.

David was feeling unusually pose-y that afternoon.

What you can't tell in these pictures is how very, very cold it was at the beach. Even bundled up in layers and winter coats we were frozen right through after about two hours.

 I loved how the kids sorted themselves into groups and then got right down to building. Griff was a bit of a floater, wandering from one establishment to another. Then you had Haylea building a most elaborate village. Elisabeth in the middle with her large castle mound and moat. And finally the two older boys working on their deep trenches.

Eventually the wind picked up even more, and we decided to move to Redwood Park. It was more sheltered there, yes, but also the sun hadn't picked its way through the trees yet. We played for about half an hour, then called it a day...


...because we had tickets to see Star Wars!!

Head for the hills!

On Monday after Christmas, we decided that we were going to head to Grouse Mountain to find some snow. However, when we got there it appeared that everyone else in Vancouver had also decided to go to Grouse Mountain. It was quite apparent that we were not going to find a parking spot, never mind the very, very long line up for the gondola.

So we decided to head for Whytecliff Park instead.

It was an absolutely stunning day.

At first, the kids wanted to play at having battles.

But then the boys found a driftwood house, and decided to renovate.

And so, the two littles found their own place to set up camp.

I wonder if we will still refer to them as the littles when they're 16. Or 18.

We finally persuaded them to head back towards us, and they found a little cave under the cliff.

I love her little pouty face.

We appeased the two youngest children by taking them to clamber over the rocks.

Still, they insisted on clambouring all over the edges of the cliffs.

Wouldn't this be a most wonderful spot for a picnic?

We decided to try our luck again at Grouse Mountain. Alas, it was still far too busy for us to find a parking spot. And so we went this time to Cleveland Dam instead.

And it was simply magnificent there.

The Lions especially were beautiful.

The last day

Just as Charlotte was getting used to her crazy Aunty Andrea, it was time for Rob's family to be on their way. It was so much easier to visit them when dad lived in Sidney and we had free lodging on the island.

Ah well. Thankfully they are very dutiful about visiting us here in Langley.

There was a lot of playing with dollies.

And lots of giggling with the cousins.

And some crazy snack time.

Where I may or may not have had some good conversation :)

Merry Christmas family. Thanks for a lovely visit <3 p="">