We're Home!

Well the girls and I are home safe and sound. Dean was busy early this morning with his conference so we were on our own at the pool which was a little more challenging that way. Bella really wanted to go in the big pool for a bit so I figured out that I can hold Becca with one arm and hold my other arm out straight so Bella could hang off it like a noodle float and swim along. We were able to get away earlier than usual for breakfast and found a new little cafe at which to have hot chocolate and pastries outside. Bella found it too cold and Becca was asleep so I hurried through my chocolate almond croissant and we went back to the room.

I finished packing up except for a few last minute things - like wet bathing suits and we waited for Dean who thought he would have some free time around 10:15. We are all coming down with a cold, however Becca seems to be suffering the worst with a runny nose and cough. She didn't want to eat any breakfast food, only bottles and she was quite fussy. By 10:30 we hadn't heard from Dean so we decided to head down to the courtyard outside our room (which Bella cutely refers to as "the backyard") and I sent Dean a text to let him know. It's off of the Victoria Conference Centre so I knew it would be a good place to meet him. By the time I got the girls all packed up and ready to go, he was waiting for us in the hallway so we got to head out together.

Bella ran around and burned off some energy - however she still had lots, and then we walked around the grounds of the Hotel. The gardens were beautiful and there were lots of neat little areas to visit. Bella wanted to throw a coin in the fountain and when I asked her what her wish was she said "I wished for Becca to be a grown up." What a cutie - as an older sister I feel her pain, but all in all she has been a great girl on this trip and really helped a lot with Becca.

We walked down Government Street to Sam's Deli where we got some great, freshly made-to-order sandwiches for lunch. I got shrimp and avocado! We walked back to the courtyard to eat outside in the sun. It was about 11:30 and I wanted to leave for the 20 minute drive to the airport at noon so we headed back up to the room. Housekeeping was working on it, and since it was our third day there they were changing all the bedding - it's too bad we hadn't gotten back sooner to let them know they could just leave it one more day. Anyway, I know it's our room, but I just didn't feel comfortable in there while they were working so we waited a few hallways back (there's 5 in all between the elevator and our room) on a sofa and kept checking, but by noon they were still in there and I couldn't wait any longer so I gathered all my courage (it's our room after all) and I went in there to finish packing. After 5 minutes we were all ready to go and Dean helped us into a cab - what a great guy! I'm so jealous he gets another day in Victoria - I loved it there.

Both girls fell asleep in the cab which made for a relaxing drive for me where I could enjoy the scenery. We got checked in at the airport and through security with no glitches. We arrived at our gate 5 minutes before we boarded which was great since the less time we stand around waiting the better. We sat in the second row and had it all to ourselves. If only I had known I would have kept out Becca's car seat because I'm sure if I had strapped her in it she would have fallen asleep. As it was she drank her bottle (still no solids - or runny solids) and sat playfully on my lap. Bella watched Treehouse on the TV screen and was very well behaved.

The turbulents coming into Calgary were really bad and I actually got quite nauseous and just kept concentrating on holding it all together. The girls, thankfully, didn't seem affected at all. We got off the plane, grabbed our one suitcase (or suiscase as Bella has said all trip) and headed to our car in the parkade. Becca fell asleep on the way to the car and both were asleep by the time we got home.

Victoria was awesome and I can't wait to be back on Vancouver Island in 2 weeks, but for now it's great to be home. This trip was great in boosting my confidence for how the sailing trip will go - and we will have Rachel with us then to help out too, so it should go smoothly.

Join us for our next Adventure - Sailing the Gulf Islands - departing July 1st!