summer...so far

This summer, like so many in my life has been hectic and a little crazy.

We started July with one of our favourite summer activities - Canada Day in Pugwash.

Celebrating Canada Day in Pugwash is a bit of a Nova Scotian tradition for us. It starts with a parade...

heavy on the pipe bands - we all love the pipe bands. Then lunch with one of our favourite ladies from church - she is always so generous in taking us in and feeding us...and then a visit to the highland games.

The highland games are always fun to watch. The boys are always impressed with the strength these men have and I think it is fun to watch a bunch of big guys twirling around in skirts. 

My mother-in-law is from Scotland so all the kids feel a little connected to their Scottish roots every time we visit the games. 

Some of my boys want to try it and prove to everyone that they are the strongest. See that blurry kid back there on the wrong side of the ropes heading for the pitch...the one who had to be moved out of the way before this guy could throw...that's right...he's mine. 

I've been trying to let the kids have a bit of fun whenever I can. I'm trying to loosen up a little and let them enjoy the little things in life more often. They only get to experience childhood once...

You would think this kid won the lottery when I caught him blowing bubbles in his milk and asked if I could take pictures of him. He obviously thought he was going to be in trouble. It made me wonder...how mean am I usually? Yes milk spilt all over the table and the kid...but he really had fun and I had another opportunity to teach him about cleaning up - win/win. 

I've been feeling little guilty because most of our summer has looked like this. My kids...especially my youngest...have spent so much of their lives living out of boxes. This summer we moved back to British Columbia...new city this time. I am hoping our moving days will soon be over. At least the big moves. 

The only thing that I like about moving is the opportunity it gives me for road trips! (and yes I do realize that it is probably much cheaper and a lot easier to just take a road trip - my entire life has been a little like choosing the shortest line in the grocery store...you know the one...that short line that always takes the longest to get through...a constant lesson in patience). 

I love driving across Canada. And it is a good thing I do because this was our fourth time doing it! 

On this trip we were able to stop and visit some new-old friends in Manitoba. The boys had so much fun - well, we all had fun, but my boys in particular had a great time. 

We all learned a little about shooting guns...

riding quads...

and catching frogs.

As always the trip was beautiful and we loved being back in the mountains. We missed them.

It has been two weeks since our arrival and I am exhausted. After cleaning our new home, unloading boxes, beginning to unpack, visiting family, and getting in some canning...I am ready for a vacation. 

Yesterday, we took the afternoon off to have a bit of family time at the local heritage village. 

It was kind of nice heading back in time for an afternoon. But, that is all the vacation I am going to get for awhile...more boxes are waiting to be unpacked and I refuse to be the family that lives amongst piles of boxes. Maybe I'll have time to sneak in a bit of fun next week...

Life in a Whirlwind

I just realized that it has been almost exactly six years since we packed up and moved our family of six from BC - driving across Canada - to Nova Scotia. We were so excited for our new adventure. I didn't even mind getting rid of most of my stuff.

Since then:

-we had the best summer of our lives exploring the maritime provinces and enjoying the incredible beauty that is found here.

-my husband spent two years commuting two hours in each direction to Halifax to attend school. We barely saw him. But, we were so excited when he received his Master's Degree.

-We then moved back to BC - driving across Canada - again getting rid of half of our stuff - and spent a year living in a 600 square foot cottage. It was a great experience and I'm really glad we did it. We were able to spend a lot of time with my family.

- We then moved to Vancouver (about a five hour distance from where we were). We were so excited for my hubby to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming an architect.

- Our first week in Vancouver we both knew we were not supposed to be there - this was not the path for us. One semester later we moved back. We spent a year and a half living in the town we both went to high school in. My entire family (parents, sister and family, and brother and family) were all living in the same town at the same time. My kids were able to spend a lot of time with their cousins, which made me really happy.

- Last year we got rid of half of our stuff, packed the family up and moved back to Nova Scotia. My hubby taught at Acadia university over the summer and loved it. We were so excited for him to finally be starting a career he loved.

During all that time I worked on and completed my bachelor of Arts degree majoring in English, minoring in History.

I started a photography course in September while completing my bachelor's degree (I finished my BA at the end of October and received my degree in March).  I finish my photography course in July.

We've shared our home with exchange students over the past year and have enjoyed spending time with a 16 year old girl from Italy, an 11 year old boy from South Korea and a 13 year old boy from Colombia.

We've loved spending time with the missionaries from our church and have had them in our home for many, many meals over the past ten months.

Over the past six years we have learned so much, made many new friends and we have been able to spend a lot of time with old friends and family We have loved our many adventures and all of the things we have seen and experienced. I have felt the love of a Heavenly Father who has guided our path.

During this time we have also experienced many challenges, trials, and hardships. Our financial burdens have often been heavy. We have always pushed forward having a great desire to do what we feel is right for us. Over the past six years I have felt more joy than I have ever felt in my life. I have also felt a lot of fear and frustration and guilt.

My hubby has been out of work since October. This has been very difficult for him but he has been incredibly supportive of me and has (mostly) happily played the part of Mr. Mom while I have been at photography school. I have felt a lot of guilt studying photography, but for some reason we both feel strongly that this is something I should do. I have learned so much from this experience and not only about photography. This has been the first time I have daily left home and spent some time alone in fifteen years. My hubby has increased his appreciation of all mother's do...

We are currently planning and praying and trying to figure out what we should do next... I have been accepted into a Master's of Libraries and Information Systems program. I think this will be a good fit for me. It's an online program so I can do it from anywhere. I think I know what I'll be doing for the next two years. My hubby's career is not so clear. University jobs seem to be getting fewer and harder to get. He has been looking across the country and the few that have become available are very competitive. He couldn't find any available for the fall in his field. He has been looking into trucking...there seem to be more jobs available in that field than any other. But...he needs to upgrade his DL and courses cost money...so we're not quite sure what he is going to do yet.

We need to make some definite plans soon. Money has to come from somewhere...we're just not sure where yet. Right now I'm feeling a little scared...but, I do have faith that something will work out for us. Hopefully, soon. I've been feeling a lot of stress and varied emotions this week.

Mostly - today - I'm feeling a little tired.

Historical Architecture and a Little Perspective...Summer is Winding Down

Over the last few days I have really felt the summer winding down. I have been trying to cram in as much learning time as I can in between all the other things that need to get done.

My kids are noticing dinner taking a little longer to get to the table as I play around with recipes and my camera - always trying to improve and learn new things. (Today's dinner was a pounded chicken breast stuffed with a mixture of swiss chard and feta wrapped in bacon and glazed with a mixture of maple syrup and dijon mustard, potatoes, and market beans)

I will be honest with you...the chicken was a little overcooked.  I still haven't mastered my timing and while I usually use the touch method to check for doneness I didn't take into consideration the soft filling - so I was fooled into cooking it longer thinking it wasn't quite done as it still felt too soft. On the plus side it tasted good and an extra glass of water never hurt anyone.

But, the potatoes... cooked in the same roasting pan as the chicken, crisping up in the bacon fat and picking up a little of the maple dijon glaze...oh my. yum. I have just raised the bar on potatoes in my house. There were people wiping their fingers in the serving bowl trying to capture the last little bits of deliciousness.

 In the kitchen I am really enjoying the peak of summer produce and looking forward to the huge fall harvests. I love this time of year.

We are at that time when the busyness of summer is beginning to collide with the coming of autumn...

The boys are coming to the end of their swimming lessons, I am frantically trying to finish up portfolios for my next educational adventures, fewer and fewer boxes remain to be unpacked, our pick up date and time for the Italian exchange student who will be spending the semester with us has been finalized, and I am gathering all the papers necessary for registering my kids for school this week.

In the midst of all of this we are trying to sneak in all of the exploration time that we can.

There are so many places left to discover... and so little time and money to do it with. (We are hoping that this is the week that my husband's job is finalized so I can put the finishing touches on my plans for September).

I am trying to avoid stress and still take time to relax and enjoy the little things around our neighbourhood.

I love being able to go for walks with my family (and I especially love that my boys are young enough to still get a thrill at picking wildflowers for their mom).

One of my favourite things about my neighbourhood is all of the old homes.

I really enjoy looking at the architecture and imagining what life was like here a hundred years ago.

This is probably one of the few neighbourhoods in Canada that hasn't changed much in the past century.

While there are a few newer homes (and by newer I mean about sixty or seventy years old)...

Most of the houses were built around 1900 when this was a thriving city. There are dozens and dozens of historical homes down the beautiful tree lined streets where I live. It is relaxing just to take a walk around the neighbourhood and as I do I am reminded that life continues. Things that seem stressful today will probably be forgotten soon. I love living amongst all of this history - it helps me put my life into perspective and prioritize what is really important. Life is short...and I need to take the time to appreciate what I have...and to keep learning. There are so many things that I want to do and learn I don't think I will ever get to them all in this lifetime - but I will die trying!

We often walk until the darkening skies remind us that it is time to go home and get the kids into bed. The pace of life is slower here and I already feel myself adjusting to the difference. In spite of the busyness - I am calmer, more relaxed and less worried about my troubles. Things will be okay. 

Just think of all the troubles these houses have seen... and they are still standing strong and beautiful.

On the Right Path...

Another happy day here in Nova Scotia...

It is difficult for me to describe how different I feel knowing that I am where I know I should be. I have an inner contentment. Stress is non-existant. Not that my life isn't stressful - I mean, my husband and I are both unemployed and the bank account is very quickly dwindling away to nothing - but I feel good. 

I have been walking a lot lately - feeling the breeze, enjoying the sun and just being with my family. 

I have loads to do - but I have not felt stressed at all. 

For those who have been around me over the past three years you know how strange that is. I have been constantly frazzled - I feel like I have aged at least a decade. But, coming here has been a big sigh of relief. 

I am not oblivious to the challenges that lie ahead but I feel prepared to handle them. I feel like I am on the right path. 

I feel lighter, happier, more optimistic...basically, completely content. It has been awhile since I have felt so good.

The best part is I can feel a change in my family too. I don't know if it because I have changed or because our situation has changed but it is good. (my 8 year old is feeling very proud of his bicep and is loving showing it off - posting it for the world to see will give him great pleasure and I am trying to be a  supportive mom!)

The boys have been LOVING it here. 

They are really enjoying all of our explorations. 

And my girl...is growing up so fast. Life isn't always perfect for her - having three younger brothers is not always a 13 year old girls ideal - but I have less of her hiding away with her iPod and

more joining in on family explorations as I give her more independence - SO hard to do! But, I really am trying to allow her more freedoms and to step back a little more. As I do, I notice small changes. And while the early teen mood swings are still there...

I am seeing more smiles and hearing more laughter...

which makes us all happier. I am so grateful to be able to follow the path I know I need to be on and thankful for everybody who has supported me in my decisions. I am so happy to have these experiences and to be given the opportunity to learn and move forward. I am putting the finishing touches on my next step and am really excited for what is coming up in September!

Hopefully everything works out for all of us here. I do know that we are headed into another very busy year full of changes and new experiences and I can't wait...

Feeling the Love this Week-end...

Lately, we are feeling more like locals and less like tourists - and it has been raining off and on this week-end - so staying home and having some family time sounded like the perfect thing to do.

Friday evening we went for a family swim at the YMCA - there was us, and one other kid in the pool so maybe we are not quite like the locals - then we came home, made pizzas and had a movie night. I love being able to relax and spend time with my family. It feels like it has been a long time since we were able to really relax and do that. 

This morning I had the absolute luxury - for the first time in forever - to wake up just because my body wanted to. Seriously, I almost couldn't believe it. It was about 7:15... nobody else was awake... and I just woke up... actually feeling rested. I think I am still in shock. This is the first time in months that I haven't woken up exhausted and feeling like I could go back to sleep for another week and one of the few time ever that I haven't been woken up by one of my kids. Crazy! There is hope that one day I may actually live the life I imagine for myself.

Anyway... today I decided to have a relaxing day. Just because I could.  Before lunch me and all my boys went for a walk around the neighbourhood and I thought I would share a bit of what I saw...

Our neighbourhood has some beautiful houses. I always love walking around looking at the architecture...

Today, I was loving the brick...

and stone.

Some of the neighbours are starting to get their wood ready for winter - lots of people around here heat with wood - it made me think of how quickly the summer is passing. And when I looked around at my boys they looked so big. 

Time passes so quickly. 

I realized that I need to spend more time just enjoying the everyday moments with them.

I am thankful that this little guy- although getting so big - still has a long way to go before he grows up. I need to remember to give him time to be young...

and enjoy all the things little boys love. I love watching the curiousity in their faces. My boys have taught me so much about the joy of exploration. I am so thankful that I had three of them. I think I really needed those daily reminders to look around me and find beauty in the little things. I am very blessed.

And I love that I can - sometimes - still outlast my kids. I feel so happy today. Just look at them - how could this not make a mama happy? I love my boys - all four of them.

And because I was feeling a little sad that my girl didn't want to come on our walk - shocking I know. 

(Why wouldn't an almost 14 year old want to go for a walk with her family around the neighbourhood? I no longer can entice her with a visit to the park. The chance to stay home alone in a quiet house is just too tempting these days.) 

Since I was feeling the love when we came home I decided to make my girl her favourite lunch... 

so yummy...

Hope your week-end has also been great!