Return to Canada

Halifax holds half of my heart and earlier this year the longing to return got strong. I've always wanted to go back in a general sense, Levi and I talk all the time about taking all the kids and sharing it with them, but I started to feel like I really needed to get back there myself and sooner to feel whole again. Levi as always finds a way. We were able to use his frequent flyer points and next minute I was booked in and making plans. I was going to be able to see all my favourite people, do all my favourite things, eat all of my favourite food and just exist in a place that I love. 

La Dame Blanche

There are some people who are written in the stars for you. I'm sure that somewhere up there, someone is in charge of aligning things just right, so that you are exactly where you need to be, to meet exactly the person you need to meet. The stars aligned just right for Blanche and I and now I can't imagine my life without her in it.

Forever Friends

Finding fast friends is one of the true highlights of moving. It reminds you that your people exist the world over and that wonderful people truly are everywhere. I can't help feeling though that some relationships are meant to be. That there are just some people that are meant to come into your life. I felt that time and time again in Canada and it was such a beautiful experience.

House of Dreams

Oh lovely house. What a gift you were to me. You were most certainly meant to be ours, even just for a little while and you were our home, so loved and cherished. Never to be forgotten. I'm just sorry that I couldn't uplift you and take you with us, but you belong right where you are, perfectly at home on our lake, all windows facing to meet her for fun and adventure but walls within that tell stories of families, love and happiness. 

Girls Just Wanna have Fun

I was so lucky to meet so many amazing women in Halifax and be welcomed so wholeheartedly into their lives. There was something about the culture and the combination of personalities that generated the best ideas for having fun. I honestly don't think I've had so much fun or made so many girlfriends since high school. 

Unexpected Treasure

Canada afforded me so many incredible opportunities. Who can forget my lifelong dream to be Anne of Green Gables? Then there I found myself in Halifax, where Anne attends University and not to mention my three wonderful trips to Prince Edward Island it’self. There really was so many details to life there that were dreams come true. I've written about so many of them but there are a few left that I can’t leave unrecorded.

All in White for Halloween

 

Canadian holiday traditions are pretty great. I must say that I wouldn't mind if Australia cultivated a bit more of a celebratory spirit. Until such a time, I'm learning all I can from the pro's and plan to do my utmost to get into the spirit of the holidays that come along. I haven't always been a Halloween fan, but in Canada it really does make a lot of sense. The last leaves of fall cling to the tree's and there's a crisp nip in the air, it starts to get dark early which all adds to the ambiance of the holiday.

Baby Mine

Seven weeks today, I love getting to know you, holding you close and singing you off to sleep. You are such a beautiful boy. We are seeing little smiles now and you love being cuddled in close and sung to. Your hair is starting to look very strawberry blonde and you love sucking everything insight especially your hands. Know little baby that you are surrounded by love. 

A Perfect Fall Day

 

When your time in a place is quickly drawing to a close, those would have's, could have's, should have's start to rear up. Nova Scotia really is so packed with beautiful things to see that I would have needed a good few more years to get through all I would have liked to see, but with just over a month to go until we would be leaving her shores a few old favourites and a few must do's became the focus. One of which was Victoria Park in Truro, best admired in fall when the leaves are just so and the air calls for rugging up in your finest.

Knit in Love

You are growing so fast little Quill. Just one month old and only just fitting into the knits I made you. I worked on the little hat and bloomers for you in the last few months of my pregnancy and thought of you and and holding you in my arms all the while. I love seeing them on you. You are such a sweet and gentle baby. You feed and sleep and come along on all the adventures with your aunties, uncle and cousins. They are all here in Canada at just the right time to see you as a newborn babe, fresh from heaven and sent to us. Oh how we love you.

Around Town { Courtney's Visit }

The weather really held strong for Courtney's visit. We had beautiful blue sky, sunny days and even though the chill was starting to creep in, Halifax was still at her most beautiful and we made the most of exploring her. Lighthouses were high on Courtney's list, so we planned to check a few out and I wanted to show her downtown Halifax with it's lovely public gardens and other fun hot spots. Of course there was lots of cuddles with beautiful baby Quill and great chats and catch ups on the lounge. 

Grand Pre' and Pumpkins { Courtney's Visit }

Courtney was the last of my siblings to arrive for some time with us and Nova Scotia. The timing was just right, crossing over with Shannon and his family, so that she could hit some of the big to-do's with them like Lunenburg and the Valley, while I was home recovering with baby. But I saved some special spots I'd been wanting to explore with her just for us and although swimming at the lake was coming to a close she got to experience the very beginnings of fall.

Family + Fun { Shannon and Mireille Visit }

This summer was our busiest yet. Holidays were had, our baby was born and all of my siblings visited. There is nothing more beautiful than Nova Scotia in summer and I was so glad to share it all with Shannon, Mireille, Taylor and Cierra, and then later Courtney joined us all too. I gave birth to Quill on the Tuesday and then the Ryan's arrived on the Saturday! The timing was actually great. I had a few days to recover from the birth and then I had lots of people to cuddle Quill, keep me company and clean my kitchen! (my least favourite household task). The Ryan's are great at seizing the day and as seasoned adventures took off in the directions I suggested and found the fun. I joined them for the shorter trips and some of my fav spots and in between there was lots meals together, making smores by the fire, lake swims and paddle boarding, reconnecting and sharing.

Our New Baby

'Our new baby, our new baby!' The kids meeting their new brother for the first time was such a joy. They had been waiting a long time and now the wait was finally over. That afternoon, just a few hours after I'd given birth, they came into the hospital for a visit, baring celebratory cupcakes for mum and huge smiles in anticipation of meeting their brother. They came into the room so excited and then looked at Quill with the awe and wonder that abounds at the sight of a new baby. 

Welcome to the World Quill

Reflecting on Quill's birth now, a few months later, it feels completely surreal. Did I really do that? Birth is such an intense experience and when it's all through it really does feel like a victory - with the best prize of all. This pregnancy was definitely my hardest. It felt like from day one symptoms, all too familiar to me, set in and the next 9 months became a battle against my body to function in every day life. The only thing I can really say I gained from the experience (aside from my sweet babe) is an empathy for people who live with chronic pain. Some days it's hard to get even the bare minimum done. My family was patient and loving through it all and it was all in the name of a new baby, much wanted and anticipated by all, and loved before he even was. Will I do it again? I don't think so but I'm glad I did for him.

The Sun and her Flowers

Summer this year coincided with the last few months of my pregnancy and despite not feeling great I was really determined to enjoy every moment and opportunity that it presented. As we came to the beginning of September and very close to our baby's arrival, the weekend of his due date in fact, there was two things I wanted to do from my summer bucket list. One was to visit the sunflower farm in the valley and the next was to eat pasta and bread and butter pudding from our favourite little restaurant set on the banks of Williamstown river. So we set off on Saturday, our last adventure as a family of four and took the beautiful drive once more to the Valley.

Summer in Nova Scotia

There are all the BIG moments of summer, weekend trips away, visits to other provinces, visitors coming and exploring but there are also so many SMALL moments that put together the story of living summer in Nova Scotia, a whirlwind of fun, beauty and adventure. A time and place that will be in my memory and my heart forever and ever. 

Sweet as Can Bee

If there was any occasion to celebrate in Halifax, the girls here would find a way to celebrate it! So even though I was having my third baby my two beautiful friends Camille and Jen put together a sweet little baby shower to celebrate, complete with sunflowers, treats, games and presents. With little baby's birth just around the corner it was so nice to spend an evening thinking about his arrival and spending time with lots of the women dear to me in Halifax.

On the Road { Tate and Hanna Visit }

I think that the Cumberland Shore is one of the best kept Nova Scotia secrets. Just a few days early we had been on one side of the Bay of Fundy, now we were on the other, winding our way along the shore and stopping at all the treasures along the way. 

So Much to Love { Tate and Hanna Visit }

Any and every direction you travel in Nova Scotia will bring you to amazing and diverse beauties. I love that you can travel just an hour in any direction and find beautiful things to see and do, so unique and quintessentially Nova Scotia. I had spent the previous few years compiling a list and seeking out the very best of Nova Scotia and the Valley is right up there as one of my favourites.