Day 5; Lunnenberg

Today was a busy day. We all had a quick breakfast and then it was off to the Lahave Ferry. The ferry is a cable ferry ( a thick steel cable is attached to the ferry and guide it across to the other side of the river.) and it only took about 7 minutes to cross to the other side of the river. The only other way to get to Lunnenberg is to go back into town ( 20 min drive) and then back down the other side of the river ( 20 min drive). Then it was another 15 min on the most serene winding road. Once in Lunnenberg we set off for the Fisheries museum where we learned some interesting things and the children got to do a lot of hands on activities. They were able to hold crabs, feel the feathery bristles of a whales ( teeth...filtering teeth...I can't remember what they are called).We learned that Lobsters can get enormous and are not always reddish/Orange. They usually contain more than one pigment in their shells, but sometimes you can find a single pigment lobster, like the blue one in the slide show. We got to explore a whaling ship and also a " tall ship" . The Bluenose 1 is the picture on the Canadian dime. It sunk, but they have since built the Bluenose 2 which happened to be docked while we were there. It is amazing to see the majesty of these big tall ships, with their sails and lines. It was beautiful.

I am having a problem loading my slide, but here is a link that will hopefully work.http://www.slide.com/r/r3GDhRay5T_oB20hcSRaqymrs697rDgw?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

It began to rain so we decided that it was a good time to grab a bite to eat. We went across the street to one of the seaside restaurants. It was up on a hill where you could enjoy the view of the harbor and the ships. I ordered fish and chips. You can't go to Nova Scotia without ordering real seafood. I am not a huge seafood person, but that was the best fish and chips I have ever had!

Now that we were all full and worn out, it was time to head over to the church for the official beginning of our Tustian/Hirtle family reunion. We had a nice BBQ dinner and then played games. That is one of our families favorite past times. Our favorite game is rook. If you are playing rook with the Tustians you had better be prepared to stay up well into the wee hours of the morning.

Day 4; Sand and Salt

I don't remember exactly what time I woke up.....or rather was woken up. Tui rises with the sun no matter how late we put him to bed. I got him out of his bed and took him downstairs where he made enough noise that my mom and dad couldn't help but wake up too. Mom made breakfast and then we took a walk down to the look-out point so the kids could see the morning sun glistening off the waves. Plus our cell phones didn't work at the house, we had to walk up or down the hill to get a good signal.

We were not out for long when mom got a call from my sister saying that they were almost at the house. So we all went to the road to welcome the rest of our family to the cottage. In all we had 13 people staying at the cottage. The whole family together again. That doesn't happen often. Not since Kendra and Doug's wedding 1 year ago.

The newest member of our family ( or soon to be newest on Aug 30th) was there as well. Renee is going to marry my brother, Kasson, and we could not afford to make 2 trips this summer, so she came to Nova Scotia to meet us and spend some family time with us. I am so glad that she did. She is wonderful! So kind and patient to my kids and just a sweet gal! Kasson is super lucky!

After a brief family hug session and unpacking of suitcases, we all jumped into our swim suits and headed for the beach.

Crescent Beach is a long, obviously crescent shaped, beach that you can drive your cars on at low tide. It is the traditional beach we always go to, but Nova Scotia is filled with magnificent beaches. Some of our cousins joined us there and jumped right in the water. Now keep in mind, these cousins are Nova Scotia natives. I barely stuck my toes in the water before I got goosebumps all over my body. That water is so cold! Only the bravest souls take the plunge. Sydney and Haylie didn't have a problem with the water and even Anthony got about knee deep. Tui was absolutely refusing to go in. He clung to me or Anthony the whole time. I however got up the nerves to go in. Once in it wasn't so bad. I am the kind of person who does not like the feel of slimy rocks or seaweed on the bottom of oceans or lakes, but the ocean floor was so soft and smooth. we would just dig our toes into the sand and let the waves bury them. Each wave washing more and more sad up around our ankles. That is actually Tuis favorite part of the beach....letting his feet sink in the sand and then wiggling his toes until he could escape.

The tide started coming in and we knew we had to go home before our cars got trapped on the beach. It was then a race for the ONE bathroom in the cottage. All of us anxious to rinse the sand out of ALL of the cracks( literally) and creases we didn't know existed.

Day 3; Hello N.S.

Seven and a half hours after leaving that dreaded hotel ( and skipping the even worse Continental breakfast), we arrived in Nova Scotia. YAY!!!!! We pulled into Bridgewater where we met up with my mom and dad and aunt Gloria for dinner. Then we drove down the most twisty seaside road to the cottage mom and dad rented for our whole family. It was an older home, but well kept. It had that old home smell mixed with the smell of the ocean breeze.

We took our bags upstairs, got the kids ready for bed and hit the sack ourselves. We were pooped! Ah, but the relief of finally being there and the amazing views were enough to warm my heart!

Tui after the long trip

what is this look?

Yes! we are finally here!

This is the cottage we rented.
View from the look-out point across from the cottage.

Day 2; New Territory.
Well, we got a late start on Tuesday ( Aug 5) due to a late night. Once on the road things began to change. The somewhat flat land that you see as you drive through the middle states starts to become rolling hills covered in green.I say hills because that is what they are to someone who grew up at the base of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. It is a very beautiful drive! At one point as we crossed into Mass. , my husband ( who does not enjoy traveling) looks at me and says in an almost giddy voice " I have never been in this state before". As we drove we looked forward to crossing into the next state. It actually goes by really fast. Some of those states aren't very big.

The scenery was not the only thing that changed during the day. Our little angel boy was changing too. He was fed up with everything by the end of the day. He was throwing everything I gave to him.
It was a 14 hour drive to Bangor Maine where we had planned to stop. By the time we got into Bangor it was 2:30am and the only hotel we could find open was a.....how do I put it kindly? A DUMP! It smell of smoke, the sheets felt waxy ( Don't ask), we had tui in bed with us ( which was only a double bed) so we were squished and so tired! As we climbed into the waxy bed and told the kids to be quiet because people were sleeping, Anthony whispers in my ear...." I wonder what breakfast will be like if the rooms are like this?" I don't know if it was because of all the mountain dew I drank or because I was so exhausted, but I just started cracking up! Then Anthony started followed by the kids. We all laughed for a good 10 min and then crashed. I wound up sleeping on the floor because my boys took up the whole bed. Oh well, one more day before we get to Nova Scotia!

Day 1; Here we go!
Day 1 actually turned out to be night 1. We decided that it would be easier on the kids to travel at night. That way they got to sleep and it would seem like one less day on the road. It worked out well since it is a road we know well. Anthony's mom lives in Erie, PA, which happens to be on the way to Nova Scotia. We got into Erie at about 10:00 am and spent the rest of the day there with Anthony's mom and grandparents. We then got a GOOD nights rest for the next days travels.
side note: As an extra surprise, Anthony's sister had her twins an hour after we arrived in Erie, so we got to see two knew nephews while we were there.

Nova Scotia Is probably an unknown place to most people. For me it is a second home. As a child, my family would travel there every 3rd summer. We would start on the west side of Canada and travel cross country, sometimes through the states, all the way to the east tip of Canada. Nova Scotia is a beautiful mixture of forest and ocean. The cool fresh air is invigorating and the views are breath taking! Once there, life becomes slow paced and relaxed as you take in all the small world charms this province has to offer.

But getting there is a whole other story! Traveling with my family was, to say the least, interesting. We had a van that we lovingly called the " Mormon Extenda- Van" It was huge and had a bench in the back that folded out into a bed. It had no air conditioning, so traveling through the the central states in a heat wave was almost unbearable. Especially on those hot sticky humid nights when we drove so long that none of us wanted to get out and set up the tents. We would end up all sleeping in the van, curled up wherever we could find a spot. We left a window open once and we had the pleasure of meeting the state bird of Illinois.....the giant mosquito. Never again would we sleep with the windows open.

Our trips were never quick. My dad is a genealogist and so his planned route to Nova Scotia always included as many pit stops and cemeteries as possible. We would travel as far down as Kansas to find cemeteries of importance to his work. He would send out us kids with a name to find and we would each take a section of the cemetery and search for the name. It did not end there though. Because record keeping was not always so great, we would then make a copy of the stone by rubbing a charcoal stick or a crayon over a piece of paper laid on the grave stone, thus making a carbon copy.

Sounds like a wonderful time, eh! Actually those times we were traveling as a family are some of my most cherished memories. It was hectic some times and there were plenty of fights, but I loved it all the same.

Well now that I am all grown and have children of my own, I took the opportunity to travel to Nova Scotia again. My husband, myself, and our 3 kids jumped in our van ( actually our friends much nicer van......tanks Jolley's!!!!) and took a 3 day drive to my beloved Nova Scotia. It was the first time any of them have taken a trip like this!

I will be slowly posting pictures and details from our trip so as not to overwhelm you all with one big post.

Out Smarted!

I have to laugh when my kids think they can out smart me! Do I really look that dumb? ( don't answer that).

Last night's Bath routine was pretty normal until it was time to let the water out of the tub. Tui is in the habit of waving bye-bye to the water as it goes down the drain. Then when it is all gone, he lets me take him out of the tub....but not till all the water is gone.

So last night as the water was going down the drain, Tui was piling his bath toys on top the drain. I didn't think too much of it until he looked up at me with sad eyes and said...no bye-bye. I told him it was time to come out. So what does he do. He moves all his toys and then places his bare little hiney right on the drain. The water stopped draining and he looked up at me and smiled....put his hands on his hips and said again....no bye-bye. I couldn't help myself. I let out a giggle, which put the biggest smile on his face. He was so proud of himself for outsmarting mommy!

I've Got Chocolate On The Brain!
I have come to a conclusion. A most definite conclusion! I am fully capable of changing my exercise habits and eating habits to include more of the first and less of the other. I think I am an over eater and I hate the gym! I would much rather go hiking or play a sport to exercise than walking on a treadmill! But like I said before....I can adjust! I can walk on a treadmill....I don't like to, but I can. I love food! No I am not constantly eating, but when I find something I like ( steak...mashed potatoes...cookies), I have a hard time eating a child's size portion. I can eat less, I just like to eat more.....but I will adjust.
However, there is one thing....and only one thing I have found that is impossible to change. My love of chocolate! At first I started telling myself that I could eat chocolate once a week. Kind of a cheat day. Who was I kidding. Once a week! I can barely make it through the day without chocolate of some sort. I have actually done the science on this one.
There are receptors in your brain, or rather on things in your brain, called Peptides. These receptors act as magnets...sort of....to attract certain substances. The more of something you eat, whether it is chips, chocolate, or a coke, the more of those receptors pop up on those peptides, causing you to " CRAVE" more of that thing.
So I have a billion receptors on all these peptides and all of them are attracting chocolate. I can change that. I can train my body to slowly cutback on the amount of chocolate I eat and gradually those receptors will decrease as well. BUT....this is what I have concluded. I don't want to!!!!! I love chocolate! And if I have to go to the gym everyday and eat like a child with no appetite, then I deserve chocolate. I will not give it up!
So if anyone has any particularly delicious chocolate recipes....I am all ears ( and hips! :)

This is for Anthony!

You Belong in Rome

You're a big city soul with a small town heart Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand And gorgeous Italian people - could life get any better?

What City Do You Belong In?

Fun Tests.

You Are a Blue Crayon

Your world is colored in calm, understated, deep colors. You are a loyal person, and the truest friend anyone could hope to find. On the inside, you tend to be emotional and even a bit moody. However, you know that people depend on you. So you put on a strong front. Your color wheel opposite is orange. Orange people may be opinionated, but you feel they lack the depth to truly understand what they're saying.

href=">http://www.blogthings.com/whatcolorcrayonareyouquiz/">What Color Crayon Are You?

I found this site through another frien's blog. It has all kinds of fun little tests you can take. Try it out. It was spot on about what color crayon I am!!

Tid Bits I've learned.

Many of you may know that 2 and a half years ago I almost died of a pulmonary embolism. I had 3 large blood clots that got stuck in my right lung and caused my lung vessels to burst and my lung to fill with blood. For a 29 year it is a rare thing to happen. I have a greater chance of forming blood clots due to a genetic disorder called " Factor V Leiden" .As a result of that situation, I was put on blood thinners. I was also pregnant at the time and therefore needed a special blood thinner that does not harm the baby. I was lucky.....blessed.....incredibly blessed. First of all because I did not die in my sleep ( this is usually what happens with PE's), secondly, because I did not have a miscarriage( which also usually happens with blood clots).

Well 2 and a half years have passed. I have been off blood thinners for almost 2 years. Now I find myself wondering if that is a good thing. I was given the choice of staying on the blood thinner for the rest of my life or waiting for the next blood clot to hit, at which point I would not have an option. I was in bed Sunday night when all of a sudden I took a deep breath and POW! I had a sharp pain in my right lung and I could feel my lung tightening up. I decided to play it safe and go to the E.R. For those of you who think I am a calm and collected person, you should have seen me that night.

After taking some blood tests and monitoring my oxygen levels, the very patient doctor sent me home. We had ruled out a blood clot. Thank goodness! What we did find out is that my right lung has a diminished capacity as a result from the PE. The bottom of my lung won't inflate. So when I am stressed of breathing hard or have pulled a muscle, that lung will feel the hurt more than the left.

I am not meaning to write all this to show you what a freak of nature I am, but rather to let everyone know that this disorder is a lot more common that you think. There are simple blood tests you can take to determine if you have this disorder. Even if you don't have Factor V Leiden, you ( especially women who are pregnant or over 50) can get a blood clot that can move to your heart, lungs, or brain. Sitting too long ( ie; traveling), being over weight, injuries, and even child birth or surgery can all increase your chances of getting a blood clot. I found a web site that gives you more information and support if anyone has questions. www.fvleiden.org

I have seen the effects of blood clots first hand. I hope that no one else will have to go through what I did. The more you know......

Sweet Memories!
I am really bad at responding to tags, but this little game is really neat to do. I have seen many friends blogs with this on it and thought it would be fun. Here it goes.

1. As a comment on this post, leave one memory that you and I have had together. ( At the bottom of this message click on comments, or remarks). It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember will do.

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see these responses. If you leave a memory about me, I will assume you are playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of yo in my comments ( or send you an email). Just let me know what you prefer.

Curious!

Oh how I love the curious stage of toddlerhood. The stage where they have figured out they can do things on their own without mommy's help. This can also lead them to do things that get them in trouble. Like climbing. We have a deck in our back yard that sits on a hill. So if one were to fall, it would be quite a drop. Does this frighten my son? Not a bit....which frightens me a whole bunch!!!

Pennsylvania Trip

Lake Erie.

Ahhhh.....there is nothing like Erie water. ( for anyone who lives near the great lakes, you know that I am being sarcastic). It's not that bad...it just is not like the ocean!

We had gone out to Pennsylvania to visit family and attend Anthony's high school reunion. While we were there we decided to take a little dip in the lake. It was a bright, clear, HOT day. Maybe that is why the water did not seem so repulsive to me. It was my kids first time in " moving water". Sydney was in the water before I could even get my camera out. She is not afraid of anything! Haylie was at least willing to put her feet in the water. Tui.....well, Tui took one step in the water and a wave came rushing up. He grabbed Anthony's short and was begging to be lifted up. Once he was up in Anthony's arms, that is where he stayed. I finally convinced him to sit in my lap. I sat close enough to the water that the waves would touch our toes. My poor little boy. He had better get used to it before we go on our trip to the ocean next month.

Not Gonna Say Bye-Bye!

I know that some of you have been better at posting your pics than I have been. I finally have a moment to sit down and blog. So I have a bunch of pics from the Farewell we had for the Williams Family. I had a hard time even wanting to go to the open house for them. I think I was actually in denial about them leaving. The moment we moved here to " W'loo", we had instant friends in the William's family! More importantly, they became family....family where I had no real family. Through all the good times and the bad ( near death experiences), they were there for me to do what family does. I couldn't have asked for a better place to be. I am so thankful to them and love them so much! And I am not gonna say bye-bye! We are not that far away after all.

Bling!!

I am loving making jewelry! Here is an example of a bracelet I made for a friend. I like making jewelry so much, I am thinking of taking orders and making my own web site. It may take a while to get it going, but I would love to do it! I can custome make just about anything ( colors, style, etc). The only thing I can not do yet is weld my own jewelry, so I am limited to what I can purchase pre welded.

Anyone for some bling?

Playing

This was a fun day for the kids to play in the pool and a fun day for me to play with my camera. I am still trying to figure out all the cool little dohickies and knobs. I love the setting where you can pick what color you want to show up and the rest of the picture is black and white.

A Day for Daddy.

Anthony had to work on Father's day this year ( bummer), so the kids and I decided that we wanted to make the most of our time with him. We got out the grill and made steaks and potatoes......Anthony's favorite. And yes, I know how to grill! We had dinner all ready for him when he got home. After pestering him to scarf down his meal, the kids told him that we were going to play a video game. Also one of Anthony's favorite things to do. We had a Mario Kart tournament. We all took turns playing against Anthony. In the End, Anthony won.....go figure. The kids presented him with a hand made paper mache' trophy that we had made the day before. Anthony was quite impressed, as he should be! That was not as easy to do as I thought it would be. Very messy!!!!! After we got the kids in their jammers( pj's) we all enjoyed another of Anthony's favorites....Root beer floats. Yummm. Nice and cool for a hot evening.

We love you daddy! Happy Father's Day!