Faces. Friendly & Familiar. Family.

The end of my Ontario dialogue. 

Two weeks of fun, two weeks of visiting, sleeping all over, single parenting for one week. 
Two weeks jam packed with emotions, feelings, impressions. 
Two and half years gone from the only place in the world you've ever called home, then going back after making your home in a new but totally different part of the world. I've compiled a list of a few funny things that hit me hard, but hit me non-the-less.

Alberta needs Ontario's Red Hots.  How I've missed them!  Gaah.

I could drive for hours and hours in Ontario without encountering a single cop out to get someone for going a few km over the speed limit.  How refreshing.  I think I suffer from a bit of OCD, but *sigh* it's so refreshing to be able to speed a tad and not think of the police!  ;)

Stores and lots of of them, all being competitively priced is also a great thing.   I'm waiting for the wild west to be more populated for that to happen. 

Slow 80km per hour roads, filled with curves and cars!  I did not miss them!  Give me 100 or 110km per hour on a straight road anytime.  

The sunshine and dry air here, resulting in quick drying tea towels and face clothes.   I like that new found freedom;) 

All in all, it was a great trip, it was good to be there, it was good to come home.   Thanks to everyone for their warm welcomes and outstanding hospitality.  I feel blessed and loved and thrilled to know you all.

 *I wasn't able to get photos of everyone, and to those who I missed; you are just as special!

Cousin Henry treated Abby with much sweetness.

Cousins Derrick and Henry.

Cousin Douwe and Abby finally got to meet!  They are the same age down to two weeks. Special.

Sunday baking with cousins Sacha, Hailey and Aldrik.

Seth was thrilled to visit Silas

L-R, Niko Rietema, Tristan, Abby, Rowan and Alex Rietema.

Cousins Sydney and Norah

Great Pake Viersen and Uncle Micah. 

Amy and Elgin Hennessy - Drayton friends & awesome old neighbours

Ben and Tristan

Ben and Seth

Some Bijlsma and Post friends - too many names:)

Three lifelong mama friends got together and here are the kids: Rowan and Tristan with Tahlia and Michaela.  Abby and Denver Oostdyk.  Fun to have our kids together.

 

Fun with the Freemans!  Drayton besties. Erica and Seth, friends since birth.

Seth was happiest working with Uncle Micah collecting eggs. Quality time.

Wiener Roast with Opa and Oma - we had to! It's tradition.

And then... time to head home.  We were a tired bunch and ready to see daddy again.  After all that adventure, there's nothing quite like our own little corner of the world. 

Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home

 A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there

Which seek thro' the world, is ne'er met elsewhere

Home! Home!

Sweet, sweet home!

There's no place like home

There's no place like home!

Early morning flight meant breakfast from Timmies in the airport!

It was a good flight - Rowan had his head in the clouds:) 

Sister time

A trip to Ontario wouldn't have been complete without some quality time spent in one of my favorite and most beautiful places in Canada, Owen Sound.  It helps that my favorite middle sister lives there with her pretty awesome husband and kids.
I looked on Pinterest to find some good quotes about sisters and came up with waay too many hilarious (to me) ones, or one that only my sister would understand, so here are a few just for you Tash that show the depths of my feelings for you :D

1. Sisters are like thighs, they stick together.   {ahem, but them thighs!}
2. A sister is a little bit of childhood that can't be lost {right?}
3. We are sisters. If I'm mad at someone, you are mad at them too. End of story. {We are sisters}
4. There is no problem that sisters cannot confront, combat, plot against, ignore, make fun of, drown in chocolate or, drive over with a car.  {drive over with a car... so you;) }
5. Side by side or miles apart, sisters will always be connected by heart! 

I'm so glad we could spend some time together with our muchkins even though our one evening out got cut short by *someones* adorable screamer.  One more thing that proves we are sisters - pressed for time we have mad shopping skills;)  It was fun.
 

The boys, hempies and all.

We took our traditional trip to Harrison Park.  Always a good time.

And we both have little girls now! It's kind of sad we can't have them side by side more often, but this was almost too much cuteness for us to handle so this is where it's at. Side by side on a photo. 
Abby and Kyrie.

And before we left for Niagara again we had ice cream and fries for lunch.  Just because we could.

Look at that bunch of crazies!  Lots of smiles and giggles. Ice cream does that.  

Thanks for everything Huttens! We can't wait to come again!

 

Tim and Alyssa {married at last}

 ...it was a beautiful spring day on April 15, 2016 in Elora Ontario...

...a day we had all been eagerly waiting for.  Our brother Tim was marrying his bride Alyssa, my parents were losing another bird from the home nest, and we were all receiving another sister!  It was a day that very much reminded me of my own wedding, bright spring sun warming the earth and new life everywhere in nature seemingly making lovely promises for the future of this couple.  
Welcome to the family Alyssa, {we're glad that you have come} we know you will take very good care of Timothy, for he's a very special guy.  We are thrilled God brought you together and are so glad we could all celebrate it with you.  Even though we live far away and won't get to visit each other much we are confident the same God who looks after us will look after and sustain you in your marriage.  Thanks for the reason to party, dress up and revel in the goodness our heavenly Father.  Oh, and also for the reason to tease Tim unabashedly for an entire day about the other love of his life, John Deere. 

**Thanks to all who gave me their pictures as I was delinquent part of the day with my camera. Cell phone shots are also included, which explains the variations in quality of the above pictures.

Welland Canal Lock 3

The Welland Canal Sea Transit System is (according to some websites) one of the amazing man-made wonders of the world, and connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario thru a series of Locks, making a detour around Niagara Falls, by hoisting ships up (and down) the Niagara Escarpment.  Growing up, I'd seen this many times, so it was 'normal', but it had been many years since we were last there and Andy had never been there either. Lucky for us, the schedule had ships going thru right when we hoped to be there so we could see the locks in action.

And again... Ontario, which means Timmies everywhere... so lunch and snacks were in order :)   Abby didn't seem to mind at all.