The Atlantic Canada Whirlwind Trip - Part 1

Grand Falls Gorge, Grand Falls, New Brunswick

We are in the midst of a 11-day whirlwind tour of Atlantic Canada.  Beautiful! Amazing! Exhausting!

Little Miss had received acceptance to the AVC's (Atlantic Veterinary College) summer camp for the middle of July, which is on Prince Edward Island, so we jumped at the chance to go as a family.  Unfortunately, Mr. Man could only get a few days off, so much of the trip has been zipping down the TransCanada Highway, racing the clock (time change and all) to get to a new province each day. We keep saying the two of us will come back another time after the kids are grown.

So far what we have learned:

1. Mr. Man wants to move to New Brunswick.
2. Many Ontarians move out East from the Toronto area and open bed and breakfasts.
3. Nova Scotians drive slowly.  And have fabulous accents.
4. UNESCO has taken over.
5. Islander Canadians apologize much, much more than Ontarians...
6. You can get around Atlantic Restaurants without eating shellfish (Mr. is allergic).
7. Speaking of driving: Nova Scotian drivers need signs on the highway stating "WRONG WAY" as they tend to merge in the wrong direction.
8. Cows Ice Cream IS indeed the best.
9. The ocean is a fascinating place.
10. Little Miss will develop a bruise for each province travelled: falling down stairs, tripping on rocks....why STEP into the ocean upon your first look when you can FALL in it while completely dressed??

More to come!

Erin

"Rools," by Little Miss

[Read with one hand on her hip and the other hand chopping the air with every word.]

1.  Everything has to be fair:  if he gets 3 cookies, then I get 3 cookies.  If he doesn't need a bath, then I do not need a bath.  If you're going to carry his backpack, then you have to carry mine, too.

2.  If I cry really hard, and hiccup a lot, I should get what I want.  Especially with daddy.

3.  No teasing me, no embarrassing me, no lecturing me, no bossing me, no correcting me, no complimenting me, no looking at me....

4.  Definitions:
'later' means 'now';
'next day' means 'anytime in the future';
'last day' means 'anytime in the past';
'the thing around the thing' means...well, it's your fault you do   not understand me!

5.  You must drop everything to listen to what I have to say, even if I say obscure definitions like  'the thing with the thing that's big, and, you use it for the thing', and even if I say it three times.

6.  What you are doing is not as important as what I need you to do.

7.  I may be 5 1/2, but in my mind I am 36, and must be treated as such.

8.  Any colours go with pink.

9.  Hair does not need to be brushed.  If I wet it down, that is enough.

10. I know where everything is, what the answer to everything is, and who's responsible for every mess, even if I only just woke up.

And that's a wrap!  Have a great week!

Erin

A List of Smiles

After several weeks of the "black dog on my back," I have decided to list some of the things that make me genuinely smile:

1.  Upon opening the kitchen cupboard, I find sparkling clean, hand-washed water glasses (instead of the cloudy, soapy dishwasher washed ones).

2.  Upon opening a second kitchen cupboard (not necessarily on the same day), I find the sugarbowl has been filled and the crusties cleaned off the adjoining spoon.

3.  A fresh snowfall, and the sunshine afterward.

4.  A friend stopping by.

5.  A friend stopping by with one or all of the following:
   - flowers
   - latte
   - pie/cheese cake (NOT CAKE)

6.  Watching my kids read.

7.  Picking up my dog from the groomers.

8.  Opening a new tub of margarine and getting the inner swirl first.

9.  Finding out my purse is big enough to fit an entire bag of Fudgeos inside.

10.  Eating those fudgeos.

11.  Tulips.

12.  Opening a new book.

13.  Rereading an excellent book.

14.  Listening to my children sing.

15.  Working with my hands.

16.  Jimmy Fallon's impersonations of Neil Young and Bob Dylan.

17.  Any episode of "Chuck," "The Big Bang Theory," and, I confess, anything with Colin Firth in it.

18.  Kittens.

19.  Good coffee.  Large double double at Timmy's.

20.  Making someone laugh.

And these are just a few.  I may have to remind myself of this list in the future, and possibly add to it now and again.  What are some of the things that make you smile?  Try and list three.  Or tell me how many are on your list.

Photo taken from http://pixtalpeep.blogspot.com/  Great site for smiles!