During our holiday visit to Victoria last year we learned that my cousin was planning his wedding for this summer up in Whistler. “Of course, we will go!” we said. We booked a room for two nights at the hotel they arranged special pricing with – Crystal Lodge. It was a nice place, but the room sizes were a bit weird. For some reason, our room with two adults had two queen size beds and a couch that was a hide-a-bed. While my Aunt, Uncle and cousin had a room with two double beds and barely enough room to walk. As the hotel states, they are very much in the middle of everything. As you can imagine, skiing isn’t a huge draw at the end of August. This time of year it’s all about mountain biking and hiking. Everywhere you turn there were people of various gear degrees walking their bikes along the stroll.

We stopped in Vancouver and visited my cousin Andrea at her hair salon. She was the first person after my dad on that side of the family to meet Quince. He seemed to think she was really interesting cause he kept staring at her. He also spent time smiling at her co-worker. We had a great stop. My Aunt and Uncle picked Andrea up from her salon, and we had a chance to say hello to them as well. From there we left to complete the drive to Whistler. For some reason our gps wanted us to drive around the backside of the mountian making the 2 and a half hour drive from Vancouver into a nearly 6 hour drive. Bad gps, and I was so annoyed with it I was ready to throw it out the window. Convinced that it was wrong, I finally turned on the data services for my phone and google mapped how to get there. We were both very glad I did!

Our first night, Friday night, we met up with my family in my Aunt and Uncle’s suite. They were sharing an awesome 2 bedroom suite with my cousin Tanya, her husband and son. It featured a kitchenette and washer/dryer as well. They hosted a gathering for the family who arrived that night. For everyone who attended it was their first time meeting Quince. He sat with Popo for awhile and hung out with Tanya. It had been quite some time since I last saw everyone. Before Quince was born I had planned on making one last visit to Victoria in April, when I got put on bed rest that foiled those plans and I never made it up. Andrea brought her hair cutting supplies with her and as the party was winding down her and I left for my room so she could cut my hair. A slight oversight but the best place for hair cutting was the bathroom, which was really small in foot area. I sat on the toilet while she worked and would rotate accordingly. Afterwards, Tanya, Chad, Andrea, Richard, Quince and I took a “romantic” stroll through the village. It was great fun to chat and walk around. The village was pretty empty and when we got to the Olympic Stage, we were able to take pictures how ever we wanted.

We then played in a park briefly, basically long enough for Tanya and I to use their weird circle swing that squeaked loudly, then headed back to the hotel.

Andrea, me and Tanya

The next morning we went for some eats next door and then spent time wondering around the village. Jason showed up and we met up with him. Being the tourist I am I had to get a picture of us at the Olympic rings. Jason and Richard waited in the sun with me to get the picture. Jason, Quince and I took a couple together. We went our separate ways shortly afterwards to get ready for the wedding.

Quince sported a nice plaid romper I picked up on a super sale from Macy’s. My dad and Joi missed their shuttle time so they caught a ride to the location with us. The dining room was very nicely set up, as was the patio. We were about an hour too late to see the a bear and her cub out on the golf green though. The wedding was really nice, it was a little hard to hear Ryan and Meaghann saying their vows but that’s ok – I’ve learned that’s typical. The vows are really for them anyway, we’re all just there to help them share the moment. Probably one of the coolest things I’ve seen at a wedding is a photobooth. Yes, those silly things you put some money into and get 4 crazy small photos from. It was awesome! Richard and I wished we would have thought of it for our wedding. Richard and I went in together and then later Andrea and I went with Quince. I wanted to get another one with my brother but they were packing it up when I asked him. After dinner I got a “generation” picture with myself, Quince, my dad and Popo.  Had I thought it of sooner, we could have done one outside in the natural light- Oh well! This one turned out pretty well. Aside from his reflective white skin, Quince fits right in! Not only that he likes to eat, as long as he keeps that up I know he belongs to this family.

Richard and I headed back a bit earlier than others as it was close to phenobarb time for Quince. Tanya and Andrea stopped by our room when they returned and the three of us headed out to continue the “romantic” stroll series. We sat next to the fire pit for a while before heading back. The next day we met up with Dad, Joi and Jason for breakfast after saying goodbye to everyone else. Richard and I are pretty sure the place we ate at was formally a Mexican place based on how the walls were painted; lots of bright colors. After we finished with breakfast we wondered around a little before meeting up with Steph, Ken, Sharon and Greg. It had been a really long time since I last saw them! We hung out while they ate lunch, chatting a bit about whatever. Richard and I then had to be off in order to make the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langley so that we could be at Kevin and Jen’s for dinner.