Easter Weekend

With Spring Break done and dusted, our Easter Break consisted of a four-day long weekend. Good Friday we sat out the fearce Spring storm that hit the island and west coast with wind gusts up to 98 km/h recorded at the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal! Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oozH6Veba-Q&feature=related for a short news video to see how bad it really was. The historic Mill Bay Marina near Victoria was destroyed with many boats tossed ashore like toys. Although our marina in Nanaimo had their hands full dealing with lines and wandering boats, TyDewi, thankfully weathered the storm well, needing only a few extra lines to keep her safe and secure.

By dinner time Friday, the front had passed, making way for a beautiful, albeit cool Saturday. We were very grateful for the turn as Cumberland was holding their 2nd Annual Easter Egg hunt down by the No. 6 Mine Park. As part of Cumberland Community Schools Society, I was one of the volunteers, donating my time to help set up , hide eggs, and of course paint a few faces. Issie wanted to help too, so she painted my face! It was a superb event, with a bunny, donkey, music, and of course many smiley faces!
In our family the Easter Bunny arrives on Sunday morning. Issie and Max felt it only right, that if Santa and his reindeer can get cookies, milk and carrots, so should the Easter Bunny! So they left out a plate of goodies before heading to bed and hoping for dreams of giant chocolate Easter eggs! Well, the Easter Bunny did not disappoint. The kids spent a good portion of the morning, looking in boots, under chairs and in the book shelves to fill their baskets with goodies. Even Mummy and Daddy got a few treats!

Now, not that we did not have enough Easter delights, we took the children to the annual Comox Valley 'Easter at the Barn' event put on by the Therapeutic Riding Society. We had no idea what to expect. The kids passed on the egg hunt in favour of horse rides and games that guaranteed a winner every time. Whether it be a free pony ride, a bag of crisps or a stuffed animal. The later adding half a dozen to our growing collection at home!

To top off this wonderful family oriented weekend, the weather brightened up on Monday afternoon prompting us to explore someplace 'new'. Seal Bay Regional Nature Park did not disappoint. Only 20 minutes from Cumberland, it has very well layed out trails, especially designed for those in wheelchairs, that lead us through an amazing second growth forest down onto the beach. It was all so vast, beautiful, refreshing and wonderful. The kids came alive and all at once I realised how much I missed the ocean. Unfortunately, with the promise of a family swim (at the Aquatic Centre!!) our time there was all too short. We look forward to returning and exploring many more of the park's walking and cycling trails, especially as the weather warms up.

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter too!