We left there & headed to the MCC store where Gram volunteers once a week. We got to go down in the basement where they do the sorting & pricing. Gram showed us all they do & what her job is. It was really neat for the kids (& meJ) to see where she works. After the kids each picked something to buy there, we headed back to Gram & Gramps’ for lunch. I got to make lunch for Gramps & the kids…the first meal I had cooked since we arrived (thanks Gram!)J. After lunch we headed to the Orchard Industry Museum…it was fun to see the history in how they used to package apples…and it had a REALLY COOL train set that had all different industries from the area with amazingly intricate detail!
From there we went to the Sunrype warehouse. Nearly every time I’ve gone to BC Debbie has told me I should go there because everything is soooooooo much cheaper, but they’re only open limited hours & I’ve always missed it. The kids had a blast digging in the big bins for their favorite flavors of Fruit-to-Go. From there we headed over to my cousin Rachael’s house…so we could see where they live & have a little more time to visit. The kids had a wonderful time playing…and eating fruit. They even learned how to eat cherries & get the pits out themselvesJ…weird…I thought I’d always known that…but I guess they didn’t grow up there quite as much as I didJ. Amanda was thrilled to get to hold Safia this time... 
This time it was Simeon who just woke up from a nap. It took a little bit, but in the end Kirby & Simeon had fun playing together...
After an early supper with Gram & Gramps we headed to the beach. We had decided to leave the beach till later that day so that it wasn’t as busy…not quite as hot…and so I could get the other stuff in. I was very ready to get wet by the time we got there & it felt wonderful. 
We swam & went on the zip line for nearly 3 hours…after 9:00! The kids had a blast! It was great to be able to go with Gram & Gramps one more time before we left. It was very nice to have Gram there to help...she helped the kids onto the zipline (it's built for bigger people & they could barely reach it to sit on it)...while I took pictures & made sure they were OK in the water. 
I love this picture!!
And this one!!!
Once the kids were done getting wet they wanted to play at the playground that was next to the waterpark. I decided to let them play for a little before we went back for lunch. 
There were kind of 2 separate areas in the playground…one that was obviously for a little older kids, one for younger. On the older kids part there was a zip line. Benjamin right away wanted to try & did great. 
Initially when the other 2 asked I said no because I didn’t want them to get hurt…but then I remembered the zip line at one of the beaches that goes into the water. I thought if they could figure it out on this little one, then they could do that one…and it’s so much fun! So I decided to let them each try once. As they started up the ladder (like big bars for steps…quite far apart & set out from the playground…hard to explain) I turned my head to watch Benjamin go down the zip line. Manda screamed…I turned to see her laying in a heap at the bottom…scrape on her forehead & shoulder…still not sure exactly what happened, but the best I can figure, she slipped…as she fell her leg got caught between 2 of the bars…& she landed on her head. She was really upset & I was really unsure of what to do. I hate wondering about head injuries & part of me just wanted to take her in…but who wants to waste a holiday sitting in an emergency room? The worst part is, she was half upset just cause she wanted to go on the zip line still. Long story short…I let her go on the zip line once, keeping my hands ready the whole time…both her & Kirby loved it…and I watched her really closely for the rest of the day & the next…she was fine. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do the rest of the day on Tuesday…but when we got back to Gram & Gramps’ there was a phone message waiting for me from my cousin. She came over that afternoon. It was sooo good to see her again. We were always really close with their family & it’s been a long time since we’ve seen them…she has 2 kids now…and I haven’t even seen her since her first was born! Kirby & Amanda were sleeping when they got there...once I woke them up Simeon was trying so hard to get Kirby to play with him. It's too bad that Kirby was ready to play about the time they had to leave.
Manda was pretty quiet after waking up too. She had a pretty good bruise on her forehead from falling & a big scrape on her shoulder...she mostly just wanted to lay low...
It was great to catch up & just be able to hang out! Thanks for coming Rachael! Cuddles with Gramps create a precious memory...
After supper that evening we headed to the beach with Gram & Gramps. I put swimsuits on the kids just because I knew they were going to get wet anyways…but I didn’t think it would be that hot, so I was just going to put my feet in. I was wrong… The kids had a blast swimming & playing in the sand…and I wished I was in the water with them…but it was still good to get my feet wet & take pictures!
We spent the rest of the day with Gram & Gramps. It was so nice for 2 reasons…just to be able to hang out with them…let the kids get reacquainted…have time to visit…it was also really nice because this was one of the first times in a looong time that Ben has been able to stay in BC with us for over 2 full days. 
On Sunday evening my aunt & uncle came over to visit for a bit. It was good to see Dan & Carol again (it’s been a long time). Ben always enjoys talking hunting & vehicles with Dan…and I just like catching up with family
