This is going to be a disorganized, rushed post, but I want to get it done so here goes!
Dave and I were offered a suite in Creekside Village in Whistler for the week of July 23-30. It's a 2 bedroom suite, so we could have brought the kids, but my parents offered to take Dom and Emilia for 4 nights, from July 23-27. Dave, Eva and I packed up last Friday and headed off to Whistler for a 4 night vacation! We had no plans, no agenda, and just hung out with the three of us. Eva had a great time feeling like an only child, and we did lots of relaxing, eating, drinking, and hot-tubbing. We were both hardly on our phones at all, but we did watch the Olympics for a bit each evening. We spent our evenings sharing some drinks and playing games - a lot of poker. My poker game improved greatly throughout the weekend and by the end we were 50/50 for who won! Doesn't help when you're a few beers deep and all strategy goes out the window haha.
Eva slept okay while we were there, but was up at least once each night. Usually just chatting and playing in her bed, but I couldn't sleep, so I fed her more than I would at home usually. I was sort of okay with that though, because I wanted to use this weekend to focus on her and my breastfeeding journey since I am starting to struggle with supply again. I didn't manage to eliminate our evening bottle, but I am feeling better about things anyway I think. (Trying to tell myself that haha. Breastfeeding, weight gain, and especially milk supply are triggers for me!)
I think she is the perfect age to travel with (other than the actual travel in the car part because that was less than ideal in her mind apparently). While we were vacationing though, she slept tons, and was happy, so we got to actually enjoy ourselves.
The day before we were supposed to leave, I wasn't feeling quite ready. Dave and I talked, and we decided he would drive home the next morning and pick up the kids and bring them back up here for a night. It was a lot of driving, and a different kind of vacation, but we had so much fun with them that we decided to tack on a second night with them! We did lots of swimming, a few walks, played games, and they watched a movie for quiet time both days. I took more pictures those two days than I did the whole rest of the trip. It was a wonderful balance of time to reconnect as a couple and bond with Eva, and time as a family.
Jeff and Marta so graciously offered to take Sherlock for us while we were away, even though Marta is almost 37 weeks pregnant! He always has a blast with them though, and its wonderful not to have to worry about him.
The kids had way too much fun with Opa and Oma too. They went to the pool, they went on the skytrain, they went on the aquabus to Granville Island, and they went to Uncle Jeff & Aunty Marta's for another swim. So fun, and I only had a little bit of Fomo! I think maybe that's what made me want to have them up with us. I feel like we never do anything fun with them, and the times they finally do go do something fun it's when we're away. It was great to be a fun mom for a few days. It's still work, and less of a restful vacation when they're there, but I wasn't carrying the mental load that comes with being home.
It was weird in Whistler; it was like there was no COVID. No one wore masks, there was no hotel rules about pool bookings or anything. The only awkward moments were when the elevator had someone in it and of course we didn't want to share. Or if someone tried to join our elevator and we quickly shut the door haha.
Anywho, here's a photo dump from our week!
We borrowed Mom & Dad's Subaru so they could have our van with the kids. I'm not known for packing lightly, but my gosh we barely fit everything for 3 of us for 4 nights in there! I have to say though, I thoroughly enjoyed the extra comforts from home that people may have rolled their eyes at haha. I did miss my slippers though for the evenings.
She fell asleep perfectly on the way there, but was woken by a bump in the road and proceeded to scream for the next hour. We stopped in Britannia Beach to feed and change her, and then she screamed so bad we stopped again in Squamish just to take her out for a second, and rock her around. Then she screamed sooo bad for another 10 minutes, but drifted to sleep about 10 minutes before arriving at the hotel haha. Poor girl. She was officially the saddest baby on the Sea to Sky that day. Once we got there she was an angel though.
Staring and smiling at all the green trees
I panic baked a loaf of sourdough before we went, and was so glad I did. Made for a great snack right when we got there.
Next to the hotel
A walk down to Creekbread Pizza to retrieve our dinner the first night
The moment I first realized how happy I was to have brought the comforts from home like Eva's play mat and chair
We brought three bottles of wine, and all three were fancy wines :)
This was the Hester Creek Cabernet Rose. We also drank the Ex Nihilo Pinot Noir, and a Da Silva Muscat. Aaaaaamazing!!! I am now completely out of wine at home.
Eva drank lots too, but she stuck with the house white
And we drank lots of beer... and 3 batches of margaritas... haha evenings were fun! The drinks go quickly when you have one by the pool, one or two at dinner time, and then have some at the hot tub and while playing games for hours at night.
Harry Potter duels game
A little walk up the path beside the hotel
This is what I'm talking about!
Facetime to tell us they went on the skytrain!
Dave creeping from our balcony
A walk for groceries and ice cream.
We saved a TON of money by bringing most of our own groceries and making our own food. The only take out we got was the pizza the first night, and then some Tim Hortons coffee and a treat with the kids.
Our first homemade meal together. I prepped steak, corn, asparagus, roasted potatoes, bearnaise sauce, and we opened our Ex Nihilo! Ohhh my gosh. So so much yum! Thankful for a very early bedtime for Eva that day :)
The moment we realized the baby monitor reached to the hot tub. Ohhhhh yaaaa!
Eggs benny with our leftover béarnaise sauce
We walked to and along Nita lake one morning before it got too hot.
Little thumb sucker <3
Brought her out to stretch her legs and prevent her from falling asleep! I wasn't about to waste precious nap time out and about. I need that time to relax! haha
We didn't get a picture of it, but I was carrying her like this and she was watching the trees and giggling more than we've ever heard her giggle. Not sure what was so funny about the trees going by.
There was a pool, and a big hot (warm) tub, as well as a small adults only hot tub. We brought Eva into to pool and the warm tub. She loved it! Her favourite part was going in the bath afterwards though. Splashing around like crazy.
Her face kills me. Also I'm so glad I randomly bought this one piece bathing suit after having Emilia. I never wore it really until now, but I actually love it. Also love that one piece bathing suits are "in" again haha.
While Dave and I relaxed in the tub, she relaxed on the sidelines. Another plus about a baby this age, you can just plop them down and they'll stare at the trees, and not roll or crawl around dangerously. Super easy supervising.
Chatting it up with Daddy
Sweet potato skins for dinner. It was nice to be able to cook for just us; not having to think about whether the kids will like it, or how long it takes to prep. It reminded me how much I actually enjoy cooking.
Watching some Olympics together.
Another walk on what was supposed to be our last full day. Walked down to Nita lake again and decided to try Eva in the Ergo forward facing for the first time. She enjoyed it, but I couldn't quite keep her awake the whole time. Had to fight with her the last 5 minutes or so haha. Didn't help that her bonnet kept sliding down over her eyes.
I could definitely see the draw to living somewhere in the mountains, or more near them anyway. I'm not outdoorsy or adventurous, but gosh it's so peaceful and beautiful.
That evening we played poker, and Dave won this game with quad 8's. I guess I'll take that loss! Clearly I was bluffing because I had crap all haha.
My early lunch while Eva napped and Dave went off to pick up the kids. I finally started the book I brought too!
Reunited! Let's go get donuts!!
Lots of play, reading and cuddling to catch up on
Watching the pool intently. They swam twice the last 4 days with Opa and Oma, so they were raring to go!
The warm tub came up to Dom's shoulders which was perfect. It wasn't such a challenge being outnumbered by 3 kids that can't swim haha
Before this week, he'd been "swimming" only a few times in his life. He was always a little nervous, but this week he's just been excited to show us how brave he is. Still doesn't love to get his face wet, but he's improved so much!
Emilia preferred to sit on the steps or on the side for the most part. Again, made it easier with 3 kids who can't swim!
Oma sent along the Playmobil hockey game. Of course we didn't know they were coming up, so we didn't have any toys for them at all. Luckily they already had suitcases packed for staying at Opa and Oma's, and Oma grabbed a few things from home before we picked them up. It was a nice, less stressful way to do it.
Back to the pool after dinner
Emilia made sure all the rocks were well hydrated
Star of the show. Everyone thought she was hilarious just laying on her towels beside the pool while we all played. They watched us with these three little kids like we were crazy. There was one other kid at the whole place who was under the age of 5, so we did look a little bonkers.
The big kids slept like a dream that night after all that excitement, and Eva slept pretty well. We put her playpen half in the closet in our room so it would be dark enough haha. Since everything went so well, and the kids were having so much fun, we decided to stay a second night with them, extending our whole vacation by 2 nights from 4 to 6. Fun mom continued by playing some Crazy Dice with the kids...
And taking them for a little walk to the "tunnel" that goes under the highway with the creek running through. Dom figured it was too loud in there.
Before quiet time we walked to see the gondola.
This picture is garbage, but while Dave and I sat outside and the kids watched a movie for quiet time, a BEAR walked right by the property. It sat in the bushes just on the other side of the fence munching berries, and for a long while, we were the only ones who noticed it. It hung around for probably 10 minutes before sauntering off into the woods. We showed Dom & Emilia, and they were less excited than us. I guess seeing a bear at this distance, on the other side of a chain link fence can be done at the zoo any time haha.
After their movie we went for another walk and got some ice cream! Fun Mom doesn't care about sticky fingers and messy faces and clothes. Or all the extra sugar ingested. Just the memories made.
Again, silly Eva trying to go to sleep.
Fun little playground that led to some Berenstain Bears game of course.
Eva says this was fun, but now I'm ready to go home!
This morning we left after Eva's first nap, at 1115. We spent the morning packing and gathering things, and these two just played on this cart for a long period of time. Ahhh novelties!
Dom entertaining Eva during a (much too rare) tummy time.
We put a movie on in the van on the way home for the first time ever. They watched the Jungle Book. Dom thought it was hyyyysterical.
Back home and settling in.
Now for some pics that we were sent of the kids time with Opa and Oma, and Sherlock's time with Jeff & Marta! They are in extreme disorder because that's how they saved to my roll, and I want to go to bed so I don't have time to sort them haha.
Nervous children while Opa reads a book with sneezing in it haha
Dom rocking his Megamind chocolate goatee
Emilia's first time swimming in probably 2 years
Skytrain to the New West Quay
While I got to be fun Mom later in the week, Oma was fun Oma making crafts with the kids
It's been Dom's dream since before COVID to go on the skytrain.
Emilia has hardly napped the last week, but she did get one or two at Opa & Oma's house <3
Checking out the beautiful city
Aunty Marta used to teach parent & tot swimming lessons, so she's the perfect one to help get these kids comfortable/safe in the water! Between her, Uncle Jeff, and my parents, they were well set up for fun by the time they got to us!
We feel so so lucky to have had this opportunity to get away. We really needed it. I really needed it. I'm hoping I can get a handle on home life and continue to feel refreshed and motivated to keep working out and getting back into control of things!
