November 29th, 2008

Being thankful seems like it's a lot easier these days. We're reminded all too often about people less fortunate than ourselves, and it seems like there's a lot more hurting in the world lately.

So it was good to get some time off to spend close to family. Nicole and I drove up to her parent's house in BC to spend a week with her sister, mom, and dad. And, of course we brought Elliot along with us just for kicks.

The first weekend, Nicole's cousins Michael and Nick came over for some extended Rock Band 2 sessions. Nick brought his girlfriend, Kelsey with him, which was good because I blew out my voice the night before singing for 5 hours.

After spending 5 days with the family, Nicole and I left Elliot in the safe care of her parents (and Jacqueline), and drove up the coast to the ferry terminal. From there we sailed to Sechelt, BC -and then drove another 45 minutes to the Rockwater Resort... on BC's secluded Sunshine Coast.

We had a very relaxing time doing nothing for the better part of three whole days. The only thing on our schedule was a massage. We started to really feel thankful.

It was really good for Nicole and I to get away and spend time alone. As much as we love Elliot, one of us has always been with him for the past 17 months. So we didn't know how much we needed some time to ourselves, but we needed it badly. We felt a little younger for a few days, and it was a good reminder to keep feeling and thinking that way, even when we're with Elliot.

We missed him a lot while we were gone though. We kept looking at pictures of him on our phones. We even found a toy store in town so we could buy him a bunch of Christmas stuff. It felt good to get him things since we couldn't actually be with him.

We returned on Saturday, and had another good weekend with family before heading back down to Bellevue...

-Rob and Nicole

Mike explains the how to tell the high-quality dandelions from the cheap stuff.

Chris, Elliot, and Jacqueline watch Michael scale a steel pole (not pictured)

One of the many, many rounds of Rock Band 2

Elliot watches one of his "Signing Time" DVDs... totally engaged and transfixed. I snapped my fingers a few times with no effect. At least he's learning something useful.

One of the "cabins" at the resort. I didn't take this picture, I lifted it from their website.

Our view was insane. 180 degrees of whisper-calm ocean surface.

The ferry ride back was only 40 minutes, but that didn't' stop mom from catching a few Zs.

He really seems to get into painting and was very careful about it.

Putting on the final touch.

Mom, you're the best "elevator" a kid could ever ask for!

"Jacqueline, yank down one more time, you almost popped my back into place"

"Grandma, how much were these giant gloves?"

"No idea, I walked out without paying for them -Ha Ha Ha!"

Nicole pauses on the long elevated walkway through the treetops at the Rockwater Resort.

This was our cabin, the last one before the water.

Nicole takes a few minutes from her busy chocolate-eating and reading schedule to look at pics of Elliot on her iPhone.

Elliot gets introduced to the world of painting, and takes right to it.

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"So dad, we got some of these paints back home? I'm gonna go ahead and touch up the hallway, the sofa, and maybe the kitchen cabinets as soon as we get back, just FYI..."