To kick off the summer (and celebrate Astrid’s birthday), we spent a week vacationing on Gabriola Island with Emily’s extended family.

We spent one day kayaking around the smaller islands off Silva Bay, with Astrid navigating.

We saw seals, oystercatchers, starfish, and sea snakes.

We stopped on two public islands to walk around (Carlos and Saturnina). The water was clear and warm and beautiful for swimming – it almost looked we were in the Caribbean.

Gabriola is famous for its sandstone shoreline and the cool formations that have formed.

Astrid and her cousins had lots of fun at the big house we rented, with many epic rounds of hide-and-go-seek. There were all kinds of board games and backyard games (like kubb) to try.

But we mostly just relaxed and enjoyed the beaches and the beautiful weather.

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