There is something magical about the word, "Summer." Hot dog breezes, salty sea fragrances, warm wind softly brushing against tank-top skin, tousling wind waving through sun-bleached hair, bright colored summer dresses and tanned arms contrasted against big white shell necklaces looking up at brilliant sunny smiles.
At the time of our marriage we thought that it might be impossible for Maurits to work for the minth if August due to visa processing times, but we were very thankful to hear that he could still work throughout the month of August and on! In fact we just received a few days ago that our visa was received, and therefore Maurits can keep working for the next two years that it takes to process. Hopefully by the end of those two years Maurits will be a Permanent Resident of Canada! Although we had a major scare with the entire application being returned to us after the deadline to send it in, we were able to send it in again with the missing paper and they still accepted it, despite it being thirty days late. Thank you God!!
Because Maurits is working, we no longer had August to spend on our honeymoon as planned. Although Maurits (and his bosses) were so glad to keep working, I still wanted my honeymoon. So, off we wandered to Vancouver Island.
Fan Tan alley, narrowest street in BC we found while exploring Victoria.
Victoria's Parliament buildings
This was the day of the free tour of Parliament! Woohoo for free!
First Heinekin since Holland!
Hiking Mount Benson, getting lost in bicycle trails but finally making it to this amazing view.
Nanaimo sunset shenanigans
Exploring coastal caves
Obligatory honeymoon shot
Great food in Nanaimo
Walking Pipers Point
Our next door beach
Back in Chilliwack on a day trip with our landlords
Maurits ;)
Maurits again, a little more succesful this time!
Driving with the boat two feet from the cliff, our depth sounder read 160 feet deep. Perfect for cliff jumping!
Home made blackberry wine, Maurits latest project!
12 liters of squeezing towels. This is Maurits' "next time we buy wine from the store" face. Way more work than we thought, but after a few weeks of fermenting it tastes amazing!
Quick business trip to Smithers. Playing Twister in style with the sista's!
Boating with Marion
Downhill biking in Smithets, keenly aware of the bear that makes his home on these trails that my brother was five feet from smashing into last week :/
Second sewing project on the new sewing machine! So fun to design my own clothes.
Another project, made out of an old but beautiful pillow case!
Nannying these kids throughout the summer, this is what happens when you trust me with your kids ;)
Maurits made sushi!
August 4, officially one year since leaving Holland!
