Blocked Blogger

When we returned to Ontario, I was emphatic that I would continue blogging. Typically, I do my normal routine on the computer while my coffee is brewing every morning. This includes checking emails, facebook updates, our blog and blogs I follow.

But, for some reason, I appear to not know what to say or post and now a process I once loved is becoming rather disappointing.

I do believe a lot of it has to do with the fact that my camera is still in the shop. I have recognized how much joy it gives me, especially now that I am with out it.

My camera makes me pay closer attention to life I think...seeing the imperfect perfection of simple moments, scenes, people and objects.

So...last night...

as the sun was becoming that warm, glowing orange, I was driving along the country roads that surround our new spot in Stouffville, ON and I thought I must come back here with my camera! I just envisioned what I would shoot if I had had it with me... A foggy morning, a sunrise, a sunset.... hundreds of round hay bales, a mama and baby horse in the field behind a wooden fence, green pine trees and big maples... Vinyl Tap on CBC was playing 'Into the Mystic' by Van Morrison and all felt right in the world for a few minutes... and as I was looking around, I was amazed at how many roads I haven't driven along despite their close proximity to where I had lived for so many years... how many roads still remain somewhat untouched by commercialism; representing homegrown Ontario... giving me hope and prospects for new places of discovery ... right here...

No Camera No Computer No Internet!!!

Update:

So, not only did our plans dramatically change...

but, my camera stopped working...my computer needed fixing and Internet does not come free at the new park we are at!!!

Can you imagine???

On the road, these are all things I became used to using on a daily basis. My way to document, my way to connect, my outlet....Not having them all at once has felt different yet we have had so much fun seeing people we care about...I haven't really had time to go through serious withdrawal or anything :)

Well, we've signed me up for Internet now and Jeff had my computer fixed...still waiting on the camera lens to be returned. They say 4-6 weeks! eek! I have become so used to taking it with me everywhere and documenting our lives, this will certainly be a challenge.

So, the blog will continue despite these hiccups and changes...here's hoping the cameral lens gets back soon...:)

Surprise!

Well, I can contain myself no longer...

Recently, we have driven across Canada from Alberta to Ontario! Surprise!

Our traveling partners sold their home in Ontario which determined our destination choice. We are so pleased for them!

Everyone was excited to come back and see family and friends...We have managed to surprise Grandmas and Grandpas, acquaintances, friends and other family members. We have received a variety of responses from confusion, screaming, tears to quiet shock. :) We still have several people in our lives who don't know yet and who we look forward to seeing as soon as possible!

Photo of the Day for July 18, 2009

lucas's reaction to the news that we are going back to ontario!

Photo of the Day for July 17, 2009

Photo of the Day for July 16, 2009

RCMP Officer with Boyz at Lake Louise, AB

Photo of the Day for July 15, 2009

some pictures show you more than others

just

how

TALL

our

babies are GROWING!!!!

Photo of the Day for July 14, 2009

Photo of the Day for July 13, 2009

Photo of the Day for July 12, 2009

Photo of the Day for July 11, 2009

Photos of the Day for July 10, 2009

fossil casting

at tyrell dinosaur museum

all my boyz had fun making castings of fossils at the museum

lucas got a prehistoric sloth claw from the La Brae Tar Pits in California

matt got a t-rex claw from somewhere in Alberta (can't remember)

josh got an alligator jaw found in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta

we learned that fossilization is the replacement of organic material with minerals over long periods of time

fossilized matter is very heavy because it is literally made of stone

the kids felt the difference in weight between a plaster casting of a dinosaur fossil and a real dinosaur fossil

the replicas at the museum allow the scientists to manipulate the positioning of the parts of the dinosaurs with ease as compared to the originals because they can drill into them and not worry as much about breaking them

we enjoyed viewing some fantastic displays of dinosaur skeletons and especially liked the woolly mammoth! Wowzers!

Photo of the Day for July 9, 2009

kidz at royal tyrell dinosaur museum

drumheller, ab

Photo of the Day for July 8, 2009

Photo of the Day for July 7, 2009

Photo of the Day for July 6, 2009

It has gotta be a small world!

On Sunday afternoon, we ran into old friends at The Royal Tyrell Dinosaur Museum in Drumheller, AB.

Jeff, Daisy and Family live in Edmonton. It was by pure chance we ran into them today.

They were touring their cousins around from Switzerland and brought them to Drumheller for some Hoo Doo and Dinosaur fun.

Jeff (our Jeff) happened to go out in the hall at the museum at just the right moment at the end of our visit...

---

Just days before, I had been trying to convince Jeff's brother Steve, Laura and family (our friends from high school) to come and see us in Alberta; suggesting they could see Jeff and Daisy as well as us. I had just read a response from Laura about their summer plans and the visit they would soon be getting from their cousins when they come to Ontario in August.

And lo and behold... don't we run into that crew!!!!

It was one of those, we could have gone to the museum on any other day, any other time...but happened to be Sunday afternoon... wild!

Wonderful to meet Jean and her kids as well as Jeff and Daisy's entire gang!

What a beautiful and lovely bunch!

Fun Times in Alberta

this was such a heart-warming scene to look at through the window of our home

jeff and the boyz playing with 25 sparklers

being magicians and sorcerers

on a warm summer's night

they loved it!

boyz at jasper on canada day

these kids are proud to be canadian!

ok i had to add this...i'm not sure if jeff believed that i would post it...but you know, it really is the epitome of jeff letting loose and having fun with his boyz on his holiday week...yes, he's waving and sticking his tongue out! :) gotta love it!

awww daddy and matt together...go boys go!

josh was a little speedy gonzales! is anyone really surprised?

he did crash not long after racing around-but he was okay and geared up for more...

this was his first time doing it on his own...it was quite exciting!

lucas had a great time racing around with his dad and brothers!

apparently a little faster than the last time he tried it :)

boyz climbing around horsethief canyon

matt and madison rock climbing at fossil world

lucas uncovering his first dinosaur at fossil world!

lucas doesn't want to meet this guy in a deserted alley-he can stay behind glass!

he was heat/motion sensitive and if you looked at him he would look right back and roar!

what big teeth you have, t-rex!

all the kids loved mining for special gems

this was so fun! the kids pretended to hit volleyballs and as they did, the ball would move in the direction they 'hit' it and make the real noise too...their shadows moving the 'wall balls'

there's nothing like a good park to hang out at with friends

goofing around

at maligne lake, jasper

Photo of the Day for July 5, 2009

fireworks at centennial park

jasper, alberta

these were the best canada day fireworks we have ever seen!

there was a live band

we danced

sang o'canada

and watched the light show!

it was awesome!!

Photo of the Day for July 4, 2009

a fave from athabasca falls

jasper national park

alberta

Photos of the Day for July 3, 2009

What is there to say? You can see from the pics....

MAGNIFICENT BEAUTY....

that's what you experience when you go to Jasper and Banff National Parks.

Quite simply, we were blown away by all of these places.

We all get something different from travel I suppose... I hope that we all look back on our visit to western Canada with a new appreciation for the amazing country we live in... just as immersion into nature is important to gain an appreciation for other living things and the environment, immersion and exposure to our home Country and all its wonders makes us grateful and patriotic to our homeland!

PROUD TO BE CANADIAN!

Photos of the Day for July 2, 2009

Medicine Lake

Jasper, AB

Maligne Lake, Jasper, AB

This road trip has provided marvel after marvel for us. The last few days have been extra special. Coming up to Jasper National Park was worth the extra hours in driving! As you can see, we saw wildlife common to the area....right at the side of the road! We saw all of these animals in one day! To just see one is amazing! It should be noted that Jeff was the one to catch the shot of the cariboo as it's just one of those unspoken understandings between us---when there is a gigantic cariboo at the side of the road, you've got to get a shot, but it will be Jeff to hop out of the car and cross the road and stand near it, not me. :))) That's okay, we like it that way! :) He loved doing it and being so close. The cariboo didn't seem to mind. He was just munching away, although when he looked right into Jeff's eyes, his heart pounded a beat or two faster I am told. :) Anyways, words can't really express how we feel about the huge amount of accessible pristine glacial waters, wildlife, trees and snow capped mountains... Let's put it this way, we were singing, 'the hills are alive with the sound of music' as we skipped happily along the trail at Medicine Lake ... gotta love it!

Photo of the Day for July 1, 2009

Happy 14th Anniversary!

We made it to Lake Louise!

Finally!

Love you Jeff

Photo of the Day for June 30, 2009

Horsethief Canyon

Drumheller, AB