Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Almost Here

BIG changes coming on Thursday, May 1 - so be sure to check back!!

My kids always like three clues for surprises, so here you go...

1) Yellow
2) A Bright Idea
3) Eden + Madison

Huh? You just have to wait and see.......

Monday, April 28, 2008

Amy's Song

You have to watch this most creative speech to the happy couple! I found this when I was blog hopping - watch to the end (get past the cue cards). I cried, I laughed.. I love it!!!

LINK

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Marky Mark

15 years ago this Fall I saw a guy at the bus stop near my college reading a book I recognized from one of my classes. He was cute - so I introduced myself and we started gabbing.

This same guy is downstairs right now pulling his hair out as he does our taxes. I'm trying to stay out of the way.

One thing that Mark does love to do is ride his motorbike he got last year. He got it out this past week and tonight I snapped a few pics of him after church as he rode home. So, in the spirit of stress relievers for my favourite hubby... here's a few pics of him!

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Mike & Kristen Engagement

This morning was a perfect Spring morning! So nice to be outside and enjoy the sunshine and the signs of life all around. And even better was spending it with Mike & Kristen who are gtting married this Fall! We met in Burlington and wandered around exploring and getting to know each other better. A fun morning!

The trees were just stunning this morning!

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Then we headed over to the Village Square in Burlington - what a great spot! So many neat shops and restaurants!

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Then we walked over to the water - great way to end the morning!

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And we saw this bird... is it one legged or just standing on one leg? Either way... what balance!!

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Saturday, April 26, 2008

Headed home

After my journey to Nestor Falls for Grandma's funeral, I'm on my way home. It has been a great time of seeing family - lots of laughs mixed with lots of tears. The journey to Nestor Falls is a familiar one we took many, many times as a kid. It is my favourite place on earth filled with good memories. It is a place untouched by time or technology where I can still walk in almost any store (of the 3 or 4 there - ha!) and know the staff (and be related to most). Because I look like my mom, I get recognized most places. It is a community that supports each other and considers people who have lived there less than 30 years a newcomer. It's home to my family and I love being there!

Here's a bit of my journey....

Marcie and Eden on their way in the Toronto airport

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Got to love planes where we can all watch our own show!

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Persians - you can only get them in Thunder Bay and they are heavenly! They are so bad for you - and true Thunder Bay folks make it even worse by frying them in butter. Mmmmmm..... This is one thing I miss about living in Thunder Bay!

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Nestor Falls (where my grandparents lived) is 5 hours from Thunder Bay. The drive is pretty barren so you stop where you can. Quetico is always our "pit stop" as it's about half way and there's no where else to stop!

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The girls were bushed by the time we got to my aunt and uncle's in Emo. It was good to have a BBQ with the family - they are such a cool family! We'll be back in 3 weeks for my cousin's Kathryn's wedding!
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Eden loved the view in the morning - their house is right on the river (with teh USA right across the river)

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And Madi loved this dirt bike at Uncle Dave's Kawaski dealership

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Finally we got to Nestor Falls - we were fortunate that the Helliar's family opened their resort for us to crash at (they're not open for the season yet). They have been good family friends for a long time - my mom grew up with them.

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And how nice to find a stocked fridge - thanks to family in the area!

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Marcie and the girls exploring the room and resort

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Then we wandered down to the falls where Madi loved the cray fish claws

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Madi wanted to make an inukshuk after seeing so many along the drive - she couldn't pronounce it though and called it a "suction cup".

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My cousin Ralph is this big tough biker looking guy - who charms any kid. He works in a kindergarten class actually. Within 30 seconds Eden was cuddled into him and announcing she thought he was handsome.

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The first night in Nestor Falls the ladies at my Grandma's church did a big supper for all of us.

Here are my mom and her two sisters - still goofs even in the midst of sorrow.

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Aunt Marcie and all her nieces and nephews - love how Cohen is sitting away from all the yucky girls.

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Some candid snaps from dinner

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The morning of the funeral Marcie and I walked down to Grandma's home - she sold it 4 years ago so it lacked her personality. She had flowers everywhere when she lived there and gardens galore - it seemed very symbolic to be back at the house with no flowers or signs of life in sight. But there was still signs of Grandma around... (fortunately there was no signs of the owners around as we wandered the yard!)

The road into Grandma's house

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Some of Grandma's things left behind at the house

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The view from Grandma's - lots of ice still!

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This is the camp my grandparents met at 60 some years ago. It is now owned by a family member - and they opened the camp for us to have a celebration at after the funeral.

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I come from a family of bush pilots - always lots of great stories!

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And some random candids of loved ones..

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Now I'm on my way home today from Thunder Bay. After a long trip emotionally and physically - I'm ready to be home!