Quotables

My main 'puter is in the shop currently, so no pics for a bit. But I do have a couple of funnies from the last few days. For those of you who have heard some of these already (or heard it 5 times already)...sorry!

Garrett and Maddy watching the movie, High School Musical.
Garrett: It is SO embarrassing when boys and girls kiss.
Maddy (obviously embarrassed): Garrett!!!
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Today The Bigs went to the dentist. If they are 'good' they earn tokens there that they can spend at the little token junk machines- for prizes like bouncy balls and sticky hands, ect.

Hygenist: Ok Garrett, now we are going to take xrays. You bite down on this and hold really still, and we will take a picture of your teeth. And if you do it really good you can earn another token!

Garrett (pauses, and then in his little deep, gravelly voice): How about 2?

I am not sure that the dental hygenist had ever been haggled with before. She gave in instantly. Nice negotiating, Garrett! And um, suffice it to say that Garrett left the office with 7 tokens (must be a record), and Maddy with only 4!
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When we were in Idaho a few weeks ago, Garrett informed my grandparents that he was collecting quarters. (Nickels and pennies need not apply! Smart kid!) So my grandpa got out some state quarters he was collecting. He showed Garrett one, I think it was the Idaho one, and Garrett took a good look at it.

Garrett: I already have this one at home.

Papa Burke: Well, I'll keep it then!

Garrett (pauses): I think I lost it.

I bet.
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We are having a fun last week of summer. I can't believe we send our Maddy girl to SECOND GRADE next week. W O W. She is so excited, and I know she'll have a great year. And the following week Garrett will start preschool. He is also excited to meet new friends and do lots of art projects (of course!).

Sunshine Day

Thursday found The Gibson Five taking things a little slower. We went to an old fort that is now a historic sight and walked around. Maddy was sure that it was dangerous to be there, despite our constant assurances that it had not been in service since 1956 AND that ships didn't just sail on over and attack the coastline anymore.
"Mom, are you SURE these canyons won't shoot?" (Yes, they call cannons, 'canyons.')




The one time they are allowed to play with guns they loved every second of it.



In the same area was an old lighthouse that we walked out to, and the kids were much more comfortable with that! On the way we stopped to toss some rocks in the water...and Garrett, of course collected a few as well. It was hot, (ok, 74 degrees, but so sunny!), and just gorgeous.

My sweet boy throwing rocks.


She even throws with style!


He picked a flower for Mama! (With Daddy's help.)


Awww!


Collecting...again.

A Few Random Things

-Pearly Jo Fans will be happy to know that she is behaving herself. However, I have a sinking feeling this may be the last trip Pearly joins us. Even last year Pearly joined us daily- in Maddy's PJ front pack- but this year, except for tea, this trip has found Pearly left in bed, or worse, hidden somewhere by, um, 'Uncle Carter.'

-Speaking of Carter. He is sick. Can someone please tell me the last time The Gibson Five vacationed and everyone stayed healthy? Even a weekend away? Me either. I believe it has actually never happened.

-Is a guinea pig baby called a guinea piglet?


-Why do some restaurants act like they are 'family friendly' and have sharp crayons and cute kid menus...but when you walk in they smile through gritted teeth? Then they bring your 17 month old milk in a glass, filled to the brim? And no straw? And they bring your Bigs hot chocolate in glass mugs that is so hot it will be sure to give you all 3rd degree burns? And the food is really good, and really the people are nice, but you just feel like you SHOULD. NOT. BE. THERE. Really, just put up a, 'please no children' sign and I will be so thankful for that. I like to go out to breakfast now and then, but I prefer to enjoy it and not be on edge and shushing everyone the entire time.

-And finally. I look like a local! I have been asked about 10 times since we've arrived questions that tourists ask locals! Like, "Um, excuse me ma'am? Can you tell me how to get to this beach?" Or, "Is this parking 24 hours?" Or, where is the nearest ATM?" How funny! Eh?

Flowers, Flowers and MORE Flowers!

Yesterday we went to Butchart Gardens. Wow. There are really no words to tell you what an amazing place that is. Just incredible. And I love the story of how the gardens came to be. In a nutshell, the dream belonged to Jennie Butchart. Her husband had mined the limestone out of the area and it was all depleted and ugly. She wanted to beautify it, and so he let her use his hired help for man power, and she, with the help of garden designers and lots of workers, made it into the beautiful place it is today. It all took place around 100 years ago, and I could tell there was a great love story underneath it all (that's what I am going with anyway)- just so romantic. Anyway- enough words...see for yourself.

Near the entrance


Famous 'Sunken Garden'




Garrett, our observer, was always several steps behind the rest of us...and don't think that it was because his legs are shorter than the rest of ours- he was stopping to take pictures! His camera saw a LOT of action yesterday.


"What do you mean I have to stay off the grass??"


Mmmm, dahlias. I will be planting many of these in my yard (and investing in slug bait), in the coming seasons.





Besides taking pictures, Garrett's other obsession is coins. We happened to walk by this little fountain several times, and every time Garrett was sure there was enough 'moneys' for everyone, and couldn't he just have a couple of quarters? We said he could take just a few.

Just kidding, Mom.


Japanese Garden


Italian Garden


I made that skirt!


As soon as I saw these statues, I remembered that there is a picture of Sara and I on them when we came here with our moms in jr high. I'll have to dig that out when we get home and scan it in.


Coleus and Canna! MOM!!


That's just how we roll.

Hot Bellied Pigs!

Joel and I have decided we love being on vacation. Big shock, huh? We would like to do it professionally! Ha. I have read 2 books in the 3 days we've been here. We've taken naps, walks, and watched movies, of course along with the tourist-y stuff. It is so fun to have Joel with us all day, every day. (Plus, he has done 90% of the cooking!) I am going to be in for quite a shock the next few weeks with Joel returning to work and Maddy starting 2nd grade...

We started today out with a walk down to the BC Museum. We heard it was awesome and also good for kids. But when we got down there the line was SO long...so instead we did Miniature World. It may sounds a little cheesy, but it was SO cool! The kids loved it. Then we headed back to the condo, with a stop at the Old Spaghetti Factory (Canadian Style!), and posing at Parliament for pictures.



To get back to the condo from the downtown area, we walk along the boardwalk next to the bay. That is our condo in the background, silver with flat roofs.



Still on the boardwalk/path deal...and THIS is how Maddy gets Carter to laugh.


And, here is the view from our place...


After luxurious naps we headed to Beacon Hill Park to a petting zoo Joel had been pushing since we arrived on Sunday. If you know anything about me, anything at all, you know that animals are, ahem, not my favorite. But in the spirit of 'for the kids,' I agreed to go. IT WAS SO COOL! I had to completely apologize to Joel for being reluctant. It was very clean, as far as little zoos go, and the animals were actually pretty cute. The best part about it though was how excited the kids were about the whole thing...especially Carter. Oh my word- he was just so cute and funny! See for yourself...

He loved the baby goats!


I know this photo is blurry, but I love how he is pointing. It looks like he is pointing at his reflection, but really he is pointing at the Mama 'hot belly pig' (according to Madeline), and her litter of hot belly piglets. They were all getting Mama Milk, and so I think Carter felt a bond with them.


Carter watching the sheep. I have been trying to teach him 'baaaaa' FOREVER, but he just growls anyway. He did love them though!


Carter deciding life would be more fun without his shirt. Really?


Not the pants! (I believe this is what my mom is referring to when she mentions, 'payback.')



With Teddy Bear the pony in the background, Maddy (as usual) strikes a pose, and Garrett, smiles. At least I think that is a smile?


Next we (ok, not me exactly- I had to take photos!), visited the Petting Zoo, which was acutally soley minituare goats. I've decided that minituare goats are pretty cute, and I think I could like them. Carter though, wasn't so sure.

"Quick Dad! Help!"


"Ok, Dad. I am not sure if you realize this, but YOU ARE PETTING A GOAT!"


There must be a nursery rhyme that goes with this!


We've come a long way, baby!

Oh Canada!

Joel has been singing that song for the past 24 hours...well actually just those 2 words over and over. But that is because the Gibson Five are in Victoria, BC this week for our family vacation! On Saturday we drove up to beautiful Port Angeles, Washington and spent the night. Yesterday we were up by 5:30, to the ferry dock by 6:15, (after a Starbucks stop for Mama), and the ferry for Victoria left at 8:30.





Once we got to Victoria we had a few hours before we could check in, so we ate lunch and then went to the Butterfly Gardens. How amazing! There were thousands of butterflies and they were just so gorgeous. We all loved it. Joel had a huge electric blue butterfly land on him about 5 times!



Our condo looks over the big bay where the ferries come through and it is fun to sit out on the patio (deck? lanai?) and watch.



Today The Bigs and I went to tea at the Empress Hotel. It was so fancy and special and Maddy and Garrett were so good and fun. It was yummy too! I wished Joel could have joined us, but Carter is still too young to do it, and it would have been hard to enjoy while wrestling him. Next time!

Summer Fun

We got to play with Grayson and Molly today. After naps we headed over to Nana Pam's for some fun slip-n-slidin' and popsicles! (Can you tell which children are siblings??)