I'm going to miss this ....

Nov 13 was a beautiful day... clear blue sky, extremely warm sunshine, and no wind... so off to the beach, one last time. It was so calm and beautiful... I am going to miss the water, the ocean, and all its beauty. Nothing is the same as the wide open ocean...

With few people around these days
... rippled sand lay virtually untouched
... seaweed scattered about
.... kids playing- having forgotten how much they love playing in the sand
....hearing their little voices laugh and play
.....a calmness falls over me
.... something sends peace through my heart
....nothing will replace that feeling.... etched in my mind, forever

Alexa and Shaun with their new discovered treasures of the sea...

Fall 2010 ... a little late, considering it's now Nov!!

I still LOVE fall... it is my favorite time of year. This year, I wanted to capture the East Coast beauty, as it may be a very long time before I can experience this again. Unfortunately, the colors this year were odd.... some trees turned really early, but were not vibrant colors. Than, still at the end of Oct, it seemed there were yellow leaves and fully green leaves. It wasn't until the very last few days of October that the final leaves turned and were blown away. I did manage to get a few pictures of the kids... despite all of this!
This was Oct 23... in Bouctouche... it was SO cold, and the kids were not impressed it was time to get pictures... I tricked them into a few, but not exactly what I was looking for... :)

This is what I mean.... Alexa wanted NOTHING to do with pictures!!

but she did hide it a bit, to get one quick one of the two of them!

These were a different day, at a park in Moncton...

1 tree in the whole park was red... :)

The leaves turned much earlier in Edmonton. These were taken the last week of Sept... I was quite surprised to see dad out with Shaun raking leaves, filling bags and bags and bags of leaves, only to dump them out to make Shaun a little hut!!! hmmmm I don't seem to remember being allowed to do that as kids.... must be a grandchild privilege!

Shaun LOVED it!!

This past week we have had tons of wind and rain, and I am sure winter is now on it's way. It is a time of change for us, once again... we are getting ready to move back to Calgary!

It is with such mixed emotions though. I am excited to be near our friends/ family in AB, but I am finding it very difficult preparing to leave the friends and family here... we have had such a wonderful 2.5 years out here and there is so much I will miss. I know, that part of my heart will remain in the maritimes.... and it will always be our 'second home'.

Sept 1 beach.... as promised!

I did muster some energy to head to the beach that night. It was a gorgeous night, and we were so thankful we went. It did feel a bit cooler there, and the water was perfectly warm!

As predicted, the sky was beautiful. I always love being out at sunset... the grand finale shot...
on its way down...

random shot of someone's legs... thought it was pretty at the time

Shaun practising his swimming... he has his back float down, with his lifejacket on... he's getting there!

water fight 6 year old style! Savannah and Shaun throwing water- but looking the other way- wouldn't want to get any water in your face!!

Sandy Girl!

so concentrated

gathering water to save the hermit crabs!

I love the way the sunlight brightens everything up at this time of night...

Making a pond for the hermit crabs!

Welcome to our world...

I didn't realize I was moving to a tropical country 2 years ago.... however, it feels like it now!!

This summer has been phenomenal... we have had many many many warm days, little rain (well, after a very rainy June)... and .... summer doesn't seem to be letting up on us yet. I have to admit - I'm not a huge fan of 30+ degrees... but I need to get used to it... fast!!!

The last few days have been quite hot and humid. To give you an idea, here's the forecast for the next few days:

Today: 33 C (humidex: 40) lows tonight: 23 c (humidex 29)

Tomorrow: 31 C (humidex: 39)

Friday: 26 C (humidex: 33)

Then Saturday- welcome to the tropics... Hurricane Earl will be passing through, with approx 50 mm of rain, wind, temp: 25 C (humidex: 31)

See what I mean... I don't think I'm in Canada... :) We have had some similar warm days in summers past, but not for this long and we have definitely not seen a summer like this since we've moved.

However, I know so many people out west who have pulled out their sweaters, and thinking about winter coats already, so I should probably suck up the heat, enjoy some rays for all those who are missing them, and have several cold (and I mean cold !) showers a day, camp out in the basement, and call it a vacation!!!

If I can stand the heat tonight,I hope to take the kids to the beach for sunset- it has been hazy in the evenings, which will hopefully make for some good pictures??? :) I'll post them if I survive!!

Missing him...

It has been 2 weeks already since we came home, and we have been here without Andrew... the last week has been busy with Eryka and Dovie here... Here are a few things we've been doing... but there is definitely a big piece of us missing...

Sunset over Shediac Bay last night...
Alexa pondering the greater things in life... including... where's daddy... when is daddy coming home?

Shaun seeing the bigger picture... Shark attack!!

being goofy at Shediac Bay Cruises...

Shaun at the beach- with Mark and Rose- Mark dug a hole and tried to get the kids to 'fall in'... Shaun loved it!

Shaun is growing so quickly... he is now very brave at the park, and is working hard at mastering the monkey bars...

This was as far as Alexa would go into the splash park...

Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh..... water bucket!!!

Shaun flying his kite he made at the kite festival

lobster cruise....

someone is definitely missing... we miss you Andrew... and can't wait to see you again... 5 more weeks... Love YOU!!!

Happy Birthday Alexa!

Wow... our little girl is 3! This has been a big year for her!! She has grown so much, and is learning at a phenomenol rate! It is amazing for me to see such a difference from last year! She is still such a beautiful little girl, with SO much personality, humour and get up and go! She is a very affectionate girl, hugging and wanting to snuggle, especially at bedtime! She is more a mommy's girl now, and I am enjoying it before it reverts back to daddy... I'm sure it's just a matter of time! I love her so much, she keeps us smiling and laughing all the time, and her tenderness is so wonderful. I love you little girl!

This year we celebrated her birthday in Alberta, with my side of the family. As she is only 1 day away from mom's birthday, they share a special day together!
Still too shy to blow out her candles... memere had to help!

Pizza party at Aunty Mo's ... with all her cousins!

pretty excited.... :)

Emily with one of the twins... maybe Luke?? - it was hard to tell them apart at that age!!

Playing house with Emily at memere's... with our old cabbage patch kids, and toys!

Two very sweet boys...

Here is a picture of Luke and Brian- at about 3 weeks - June 29/10 I am not sure who is who but they are so darn adorable anyway!!! I can't wait to see them... 7 more sleeps!!

Happy 6th Birthday my sweet boy!

This week, my sweet boy turned 6. He has grown so much in the last year, and is losing his 'baby/ little boy' 'ness about him... He is growing up...

We had a party for him July 4 ... It was a beautiful day... hot hot hot!! He invited a few of his friends, and they had a blast! One little boy slept in until 1015 the following day... I guess we tired them out!!

It was so nice to see them having such a nice time, and I am so happy they had fun with the treasure hunt we had planned for them!!!

They had to read to find out where the clue was hidden (a letter) and had an activity to do at that station. Then, at the end, the letters spelled out a clue, where the presents were hidden. They loved every bit of it, and I'm so glad !!

Here- they had to build towers...
...make playdoh dinosaurs ... this is Tommy's triceratops!

.... egg on spoon race....

They also had to play basketball, make puzzles, and the grand finale was throwing water balloons at Andrew!! I think I missed the photo opp with that one, and took video instead... sorry!

then it was time to open presents...

A few gag gifts from mom and dad... before he got his 'real' present... he actually thought it was kind of funny... ! (this was an empty box with pencils!)

Time to refuel before heading out in the water! (Savannah, Ethan, Shaun (of course wouldn't look at the camera!) Tommy, Brooklyn)

Finally!! Water fun to cool off (while all the parents were dying in the heat!!)

And the grand finale.... CAKE!!! (dinosaur, of course!)

We had all the families over for a barbeque following the 'party', and so it was a busy but fabulously fun day!

Shaun is still such a kind hearted boy. I hope he always keeps that sense about him! He is definitely growing up... and 6, and 45.5" and 43 lbs, he has grown a lot this past year. He has also matured a lot. I enjoy so much to see his personality mature and change. I love him still to bits, his sense of humour, his kind heart, and his zest for learning. You're an amazing little boy Shaun!!