Halifax 2 (Which is actually PEI )

Saturday had been the day I was most excited about.  I was going to Green Gables. It was a 3.5 hour drive each way.  We had rented a mini van so we could all travel together.  Good thing as Frank needed the work truck while we were all gone. We picked Ammon up after 10 and drove.  I had thought he would sleep the whole way, but he only slept about 15 mins two times.  We dipped into New Brunswick a bit and went over the Confederation Bridge.  It is a 13 km bridge over the ocean that connects NB to PEI.  It was really neat.  Right on the other side we went to the visitor center and got some maps, used the bathroom, ate some snacks, and climbed around. 

Honestly I was SO disappointed with Green Gables.  I had so badly wanted to stand in the kitchen and say, '20 lbs of brown sugar'  It was a neat spot and I love going through old houses, so I was trying to be ok with it.  But I felt I had dragged everyone on this very long journey for a house.  I wanted the whole movie set and the lake and the haunted forest.  I had great expectations.  It was the inspiration for the books, but I felt it was very much advertised wrong.  Should not have been billed as Anne of Green Gables, but Where LLMontgomery who wrote Anne of Green Gables got her inspiration.  Very different. Everyone was nice about it and we did explore some.  We did try raspberry cordial, which was good.

We had some more snacks and drove a beautiful route along the ocean.  Dave thought it would be fun to take the ferry back, rather than the bridge.  I was nervous of getting sea sick and it was a bit longer.  But it was a great idea.  The ferry totally made up for Green Gables.  Blake said it was the best part.  The sun came down as were were on the ferry.  The sunset was beautiful, it was great to walk and stretch our legs and talk. 

It was a bit chilly and we stayed inside the ferry for part of the ride.  After docking we still had a couple hours to get back.  Everyone was quiet and tired.  Most of the food was eaten and it was very dark. I felt like listening to the Test Drive from How to Train Your Dragon.  As soon as I hit play, Leah was like Yes, this is the exact vibe.  The girls proceeded to send me songs, some from the boys as well, while I interjected some.  Despite my earlier disappointment it ended up being one of my favorite days. It was so fun chilling and listening to music.  Seeing the requests come in and everyone singing along.  It was a gorgeous drive with my awesome family.  LOVED every moment.  Memory making moments. When got back to the Airbnb, we just dropped them and went back to the hotel.  Dave and Blake went for a swim.  I pulled Dave off the slide to talk to Braydon and then we all waited a very long time for Leah.  But more on that later. :)

Halifax 1

Months ago when Cora mentioned that they may be going to Halifax for work, I was very excited.  I had a brief trip to the Maritimes before I meet Dave, but we got snowed out and couldn't go to a lot of things.  I had always wanted to go back.  We started making plans. Flights were more pricey then I thought we would be able to do.  Then I discovered Swoop. We got 4 tickets for the price of one on most airlines.  It was kind of funny as we learned more about the airline.  Our bag allowance was very small, we had to pay for bathrooms and seats.  No power on the plane etc.  But it was cheap.  Everything I booked I made sure we had free cancellation on, just in case.  We also didn't know for sure until about 2 days before if Cora and Ammon were actually going to make it.  Montreal was taking a little longer than expected and we waited to hear, hoping they would be there with us. We flew direct from Edmonton to Halifax. So we picked up Blake from school Wednesday and drove to Edmonton.  Leah had some friends drop her at our hotel near the airport so we could leave early the next morning. Not until we were in the air did I truly believe we were going to make it to Halifax.

We landed and picked up our mini van.  Cora and Leah had been texting to find a place for us to eat.  We were going to go to the temple first, but Blake was very hungry. Cora had flown to Halifax on Wednesday.  She worked in the morning, went to airport from temple, flew to Halifax, got picked up and drove straight to the temple to continue working there.  Their hours amaze me.  Anyways, so Cora was there.  Cora and Braydon came and met us for food.  Leah and Braydon were very excited to see each other.  I was instantly in love with Nova Scotia.  It did not disappoint. After food we took Cora with us and Braydon took Leah with him, we found our hotel, scooped it out and explored, then went to the Airbnb that everyone else was staying at to make some plans. They were there to work and we did not want to interrupt that, we thought we would just see them in the evenings and weekend. 

Leah learned about toll roads and bridges, she had not idea and we teased her about it the rest of the trip.

Friday morning as Cora and Braydon went to work, the rest of us went to the Maritime Museum.  It was very cool.  We spent a very long time there.  Cora text at 1 and said they were done, we hadn't expected them to be done until 3 at the earliest. So we had not eaten.  Haha that started a pattern Blake didn't love, but we seemed to just keep skipping lunch most days because we had so much to do. 

We finished at the Museum and went to the Airbnb to get the others. After picking them up we got on the road to Lunenburg.  We walked around and explored alot.  We were a little to late to go to the other museum, but the town was so neat to just walk around a be there.  Dave had hoped to see the BlueNose II and it was there. Braydon served his mission in Halifax and it was so fun to hear some of his mission stories and see places he had tracked.

He had great spots for us to see. And knew a fun restaurant that we could all eat at.  A little local hole in the wall that was so good. 

Cora had heard from Ammon in the mean time and we knew he was coming in Saturday morning.  He was working through the night and we would pick him up from the airport on the way to PEI.  As we were driving to Lunenburg we listened to some great sea shanties and had a blast.  On the way home there were a few more shanties and we decided to make a stop at the grocery store to pick up things for Sunday dinner and lunches on Saturday.  We got back late as always.  Dropped of the Airbnb people and Leah (Leah ended up always staying and hanging out with them, Braydon would bring her home later each night, also we invited Frank/Mark to come on all our adventures but he was content to stay home) Blake and I listen to a lot of Dateline and it was fun to find one on TV that night and actually watch instead of just listening.  When Leah got back we all went to bed and got smart and started sending her with her own key :)  But she had a blast hanging out with everyone at the Airbnb, she has been missing Cora and Braydon.  The four of them, 5 when Ammon arrived, made food, had debates, played video game, read scriptures and just were together. 

Thanksgiving 2022

Cora had a birthday.  She just loves life.  Trying new things and wants to do it all.  Her job is fun, her and Ammon are always up for an adventure and work long hard hours.  She makes up recipes and loves keep up with the boys.  (She is currently in Halifax with Ammon and two bachelors, right in her element.  They all travel to the temple together and work all day, then travel home and cook together, play games and have deep discussion.  She loves it.) .  I love hearing her stories and listening to her contagious laugh.  She just is always happy and ready to go. Anywhere for anything.

Happy 23rd my beautiful first born.

We had a nice Thanksgiving again this year.  Leah was able to come home.  She is the only one around and we had fun hanging out with just her.  She had some appointments Saturday morning so couldn't come Friday after work.  But we still got her for 2 full day.  We hung out and made some plans, watched a movie and helped with the shop.  Called Cora and feed the sister missionaries. Monday we went to Puzey's for dinner.  Excellent turkey and good company.  We built, ate, chatted, built, ate and chatted then built some more. :)  Leah left right after dinner as she had some FHE stuff to take care of and had to work the next morning. It was a lovely long weekend and we enjoyed getting together with everyone.  And of course love when every any of my kids get home.

So Behind, Computer Died

Our computer died the death. It did this the same week that Blake and tons and tons of homework.  Dave was bringing his work computer home in the evenings for him, but also needed him to help with the shop.  It was a really fun week. (Sarcasm) I was very glad that they guy we took our computer too was able to get all our files and pictures off.  He just transferred right over to our new computer.  It was awesome. We have got some gains made with the shop.  A friend let Dave borrow the their skid steer and he rented a drill for all the footings.  We co-own some scaffolding with Jared and Dave rented a few more.  Then got hit with more homework, a service project, Thanksgiving, rain and co-op went down twice.  Dave was a little frustrated. But we have been blessed with very warm weather 

Things are coming along.  Slowly, this will not be a quick project, but it is coming.

I was the air hose switcher.  Dave and Blake each had a side, after we cut all the boards and got them up to the top of the scaffolding.  Each had a nail gun and Blake would nail his side, I would switch the hose, and Dave would do his side. Then any thing they needed I ran up and down all day.  More nails- I gotcha, measure to the bottom-on it.  I am an excellent gopher.  At one point I was grabbing something Blake had dropped and I ran smack into the cross bars of the scaffolding with my eyeball.  Really felt like I squished it.  Was a bit dazed, and extremely shocked the next day when I did not have a black eye. 

Girls wanted an updated picture on our progress.  I got this Sunday and thought it was cool.  

That Saturday Blake invited a few friends over and they went star gazing. He took his orange truck and went down to the sand.  They had gym mats, blankets, hot chocolate and cookies.  Just layed under the star and hung out.  It was a beautiful clear night and not to cold.  Dave and I just turned on the spotlights and kept working. 

A Little Update

This year really has gone so fast.  Blake had a neat experience a few weeks ago.  Bro Ballard from the YM general board was coming up.  He did some training with those that work with kids and had a fireside for the youth.  Many areas were invited to zoom in for the fireside from Canada and the US.  There were 12 stakes in our area that were invited to attend in person.  Each of those stakes were asked to have their stake presidents invite one YM from their stake to attend a dinner with Bro Ballard before the fireside.  Our stake president asked Blake to attend with him.  He said it was a really neat experience and he felt so honored that he would be given that chance.  Blake said he was so nervous it was hard to swallow dinner, his throat just felt dry the whole time.  But he felt he gave ok answers.  The questions were in regards to the current Youth programs and what changes needed to be made.  Blake said he was nervous because whatever they said had the potential to change parts of the program world wide.  It was a lot of pressure.  After he said the fireside was also excellent.  I love that our youth get these experiences. 

Leah's job has been going better.  Some of her leads went in and demanded some changes.  Things started to change and the next day she got two calls for interviews.  Funny how things works out.  She has decided to stay where she is at, it is a great place, especially if they can hire a few more people.  This last weekend at work they attended a healing circle and smudge ceremony.  I had to look up what that was.  She said yes there was sage and tobacco burning, she had to swish it around her and there were dancing and such.  She said the rest of the day at work she smelled like sage and tobacco.  Lovely! 

Cora's job is also well.  Her and Ammon seriously have so much fun together.  They just love every moment.  Some set backs with the latest project, but that is not unexpected.  Most days they are working from 7am to midnight trying to hit their deadline.  She sent me a short video of her 10 min walk to work and it is so beautiful.  The fall colors are out in Montreal.  Their BNB rental was up yesterday and there is a kind lady in the ward very close to the temple that has taken them in for the next 3 weeks.  Cora said she is great and makes them breakfast and is so kind, but she does miss having her own space. Every story she tells us, I just say, you are keeping a journal right, your posterity is going to want to know this.  

Blake is getting into a system at school.  He truly is exhausted all the time and is concerned about basketball.  He will push through for the love of the game, but he is going to be tired.  His ankle is still bugging him and we have got him into start physio coming up soon.  I made the mistake of saying therapy instead of physio once and he was like, mom don't call it that. :)

We moved cows home yesterday.  I was completely useless.  For the first very short bit it was great, then suddenly they just took off.  Even with my little jogs I couldn't keep up.  Calum was on the quad and he kindly came and got me.  TWICE! So I would help for a bit and then get behind again.  I see no reason why they thought they needed to hot trot it for 3 miles.  Blake has a friend that has an exchange student staying with them.  A really nice girl.  Always up for and adventure and to do anything. I asked him is he thought she would like to come help us.  I thought if she was in farm country she should experience some farm work.  The two girls came out.  Blake is such a hard worker all the time and gets right in.  Seems like most times he can read Dave's mind and know what is needed.  Even with his friends around they get right in to help.  Not so much with these girls.  They did great, but Blake was a little slacking.  Part of it was he was trying to be careful and make sure they didn't get hurt or injured and helped them know what to do.  We were gently teasing him that lesson learned, he can't invite girls again.  But they had a blast and the exchange student loved it.  She said she can't wait to come in April and see the new born calves.  

Dave has been wanting to build a shop for years.  It was in the original plan with our house and we decided to wait on it.  Wood price is just going up and so he made the decision that it is only going to get worse, might as well get it done.  What put the decision over the edge was at work there have been wood that can't be used for the trailers.  Dave offered to buy it at cost and they gave him a very very good deal.  Has saved us an unbelievable about of money.  I love how Dave works.  He is a perfectionist, a planner, and very meticulous.  Every step is thought out before, drawn up and planned out.  He made jigs for repeat pieces and cut out lots a head of time.  So when he actually starts, it is all laid out in order and there is a very precise system that is so fast.  I went out to let them know conference was about to start and just watched for a few minutes.  Blake and Dave work so good together.  It was like watching a dance, every movement is planned before and efficient. 

Dave keeps all the needed tools in this wagon and just wheels it out ready to go whenever he has free time.  When he is all finished it is going to be great to have the extra place to work on tractors and cars.  He designed it and we are excited.  Not that it will be done soon by any means, but we are excited.

Conference is this weekend.  I love conference weekend.  So many good messages, good solid family time and good snacks.  Leah was going to drive down and join us but in the end it was such a long drive for such a short time and we will see her next weekend. 

Still loving the fall weather.  We are getting some perfect warm days.