Nanaimo

Since we were so far out west we drove our red sienna an extra 2 hours, hopped on a ferry and traveled to Vancouver Island, to visit my grandparents. We had so much fun taking in the beauty that the island has to offer.

We had a great time riding the ferry over with our friends from Calgary. They had the same idea that we had, so we continued our caravan to the west coast. Do you see the picture of me and Karen?? This woman is an angel on earth in more ways than one. The Manerikars met with us the first week that Evan was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. They brought us into their home, allowed us to meet their children and ask them anything we wanted. They gave us hope for the first time. We could look at our lives differently after we met them.

We arrived in Nanaimo quite late, but not late enough for the boys to miss being showered with gifts from their great-Nana. She made them these adorable oreo cookie blankets! They loved them and Evan kept trying to eat his :-)

Grandpa and Nana took us to "Goats on the Roof" in Combs again. We went with them last year when we saw them at Easter. I have to admit that it is probably my favorite place to shop .... EVER!!!

Just outside of Goats on the Roof there were two girls offering pony rides for a donation. Evan really wanted to do it and since the ponies were little I was able to hold him on. While Evan was getting used to the feeling of sitting on a horse "by himself" the horse was sleeping. When I started to move the wheelchair a little the horse spooked a bit. Let me tell you about the terror that I felt as my baby turned into a rag doll and flung backwards off the horse. I caught him and he actually didn't even go that far, but man alive ..... my heart didn't calm down for about 5 minutes afterwards.

Needless to say, Evan was a little freaked out but he was a brave boy (a real cowboy as we say) and he got back on the horse and had a great ride!

Grandpa and Nana also took us to a professional sand castle competition. It was GORGEOUS!! We had a great time!!!

We also were priveleged enough to see Cathedral grove! WOW, all I can say is WOW!!! It is just like the Red Woods in California but on the island. It truly feels majestic and we all were overwhelmed by the beauty of this gem.

We spent our last night picking cherries together from my grandparents cherry tree. We gorged ourselves on fresh BC cherries, reveled in our discovery of a frog in Grandpa's pond, and celebrated my Grandpa's 70th birthday!!!

We were sad to leave the next day but we are so grateful we had so much fun together.