Sunday, July 12, 2015

Newfoundland Trip 2015 (part 2)

To continue our NL adventures!

Thursday morning I had an orthodontic check up. Then we went to Sunrise Animal Hospital again to see a few people that hadn't been in the previous time. After an hour long appointment somewhere else that didn't get anything done, we went to Momma and Daddy's where Momma was making PBJ sandwiches for us. We threw the rest of a picnic lunch together, changed, and picked up a very excited Adalyn. Then we picked up Sierra and Renae before heading to Pippy Park playground.
picnicAfter eating and playing on the playground, which included jailing Uncle Matthew, being pushed on swings by Uncle Matthew, Uncle Matthew helping to do the monkey bars, Uncle Matthew helping do the stepping stones thing, Uncle Matthew....yeah, you get the picture! We had contests rolling, running, hopping down the famous hill.rollingBefore heading out, we stopped by the bathrooms and this was out front so of course each girl had to have her picture taken in the duck face!duckAfter getting stuck in traffic all the way up Kenmount Road, (St. John's traffic is CRAZY!) we finally surprised the girls by arriving at Menchie's (frozen yogurt) instead of home! After the two younger ones finished, I took them to the bathroom to wash sticky hands. Soon as hands were dried, one hand to go potty 'very bad'. So of course the other one wanted to go as well. Then three sets of hands washed and ready to go, but wait, water is dripped all over the floor and they felt like they needed to clean it up! We didn't, but Matthew said there was someone waiting outside the door for a long time and then finally gave up and left! As Matthew kept saying, "At least you grow into this and don't usually start with three kids all at once, and a 3 year old, 4 year old, and 7 year old!" None-the-less, it was a blast having the three boys and then the three girls all at once, for a few hours! :)candaThat evening we went to Caleb and Amy's for dinner. I loved watching the clouds change. After dark, there was a thunderstorm at the end of the bay and Matthew did something very close to Amy's 'Snoopy dance' in excitement! Then we dashed home through the rain!

Friday, after a morning appointment, Matthew and I went to Signal Hill to do the hike there. We hadn't gotten to do it while courting, but I really wanted him to experience it, it is such a classic!queens batteryWe parked at the visitors' center and walked up Queen's battery to the top of the hill. I've probably done that before, but I don't remember stopping at Queen's battery before. For those of you who have been to Signal Hill before, you might remember that beyond the fog out there is a point of land which is Cape Spear, the easternmost point in North America.
harborThe Narrows going into St.John's harbor.
gunsI thought it was interesting how the wheels of these guns were on a track so they could be rotated. I don't know all the history here, but these guns have been used for protection! And during the wars there was a metal net hung under water across the Narrows to stop German U-boats.signal hillCabot Tower. Normally you can go inside to the top of the tower. It is a lot of fun, but they were doing construction to the inside so we didn't get to go in.stairsThen begins the stairs going down! and down and down and down!towerstairsnarrowsThe trail along the cliff.penny slotI'm sure this has a name, but since childhood I've always called it "The Penny Slot". Like the top of a piggy bank, ya know?! You can hear the waves gushing in and out.narrowsbattery roadblue housebattery roadA few pictures of Battery Road. We had gotten Matthew to drive out here one day when we were courting! The trail ends into Battery Road, then you walk to the main road going up the hill, and hike back up to the car. As we were leaving, the actors/tresses were gathering to practice for the Signal Hill Tattoo. Check it out here.  They played "Jack was Every Inch a Sailor" as they marched out to the field. That brought back memories for me as all of us kids sang it for a HomeSchool program years ago. Matthew got a kick out of me singing along. It isn't often I know a song that he doesn't! :)

That evening Daddy and Momma took us to Chafe's Landing in Petty Harbor for fish, Matthew's first time for fish 'n' chips in NL. We had a 45 minute wait for a table, so we toured the village and explored all the little windy roads!Petty Harbor

 

petty harbor

 

 

fishnchips

Saturday was our last day in NL. In the afternoon, Matthew and I took fresh pumpkin bread around to visit the neighbors. We ended up having some great chats and special times!bell islandI love lupins in Ca, but I do miss NL lupins!lupinsiceburgMatthew took a picture of the iceburg through the binoculars.
daddy's fish dinnerDaddy's fish dinner! Mustard pickles, broccoli, Momma's coleslaw, NL beets, and NL turnips (rutabagas). Titus found his sunglasses in the toy box! I couldn't stop taking pictures of this little guy!titusLloyd and Linda, Patrick, Orrin, and Titus. (NEWS ALERT: baby girl Evelyn was born July 12!)
landlandkidsdandbandgirlsDavid, Becca, Sierra and RenaecandaandadalynCaleb, Amy, and AdalyndessertDesserts! Momma made a gluten/dairy/soy/egg free coconut cream pie and chocolate pudding pie. Also glutenous blondie brownies and pumpkin bread. Nicole, Hailey, and Julie also came over for a little bit and to say good-bye.onthewayhomeSo tired on the way home! Matthew was awesome as usual. I was exhausted and emotionally drained, but Matthew was very considerate and supportive.almosthomeLeaving NL at 5:something in the morning.homeHome!?Getting ready to go to town. I think I was still asleep!


(No, I didn't actually go out the door like this!)
usThank you to everyone who we were with!


It was a wonderful time reconnecting with family and friends and neighbors.


Now I am itching to go back and meet my newest niece!


EvelynCongratulations to the family


and we praise God for her safe and healthy arrival!


Until next time, and life is happening fast!

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Newfoundland Trip 2015 (part 1)

Exciting post! Come with us on our trip to my homeland!


It was a packed 8 days with two looong days of travel. I'm very glad Matthew was with me, he is a great traveling companion and uncle! You'll see :)


We did carry-ons and backpacks, but I had so much room that I brought my pillow! And on the way back, two things of molasses, NL honey, and two jars of mustard pickles!


luggageWe left Atascadero Thursday evening driving to a hotel near the airport in LA. We got settled a bit before mid-night. With a few hours of sleep, we got up in time to catch the shuttle to the airport and fly out by 7:something. We got some breakfast right before leaving and ate it on the plane, then slept an hour or two.airplaneIn Montreal we had 3 hours, which was perfect for getting through long lines at customs and security. We had time for a nice meal and then boarded our plane to Newfoundland. montreal

planesFlying into St. John's was strange. You know when you get home from a trip and are almost back in familiar territory and routines and things? That feeling when you're almost back home? That is the feeling I was used to having then, but instead it was excitement of going somewhere, visiting people and places away from home, new experiences waiting. Not a weird feeling, just having it at that time was backwards! Lloyd and Linda and boys and ?, Caleb and Amy and Adalyn, Momma and Daddy and Jude and Sonja and Ian were there to welcome us. All the kids were holding up this sign:signSaturday morning after a late breakfast and doing a few things around Momma and Daddy's, Matthew and I headed out for a little walk.blurberry bloomsI love blueberry blooms! I'm positive the fairies use them for skirts or bonnets or something!sceneLooking back to West Point where Caleb and Amy, Daddy and Momma, and Lloyd and Linda live. The road we walked out on is called North Point.sceneMatthew climbed up the hill a ways while I sat on the rock in the left/middle of this picture.usthe hills are aliveSo greeeeennn!

Saturday evening all the family came over for dinner. This is the sun going down (well, yes, technically not DOWN, but whatever).early sunsetlate sunsetSunset and the ferry.
TitusTitus enjoying Grandmomma's homemade chocolate pudding!RenaeRenae is very shy, especially around men. By the time dinner and dessert were over, she was pretty normal and finally chatted with Matthew, and then could NOT leave him! She talked his ear off! It was really special and she continued to be his friend, each time taking a few minutes to warm up. After a long time, she finally got down and said something about playing with the kids now. But in less than 5 minutes she was back, "I do etch-a-sketch with you again!"

adalynAdalyn having a snack to fortify her through the trying process of getting family pictures taken! Seriously, I think this was one of the last smiles of the day! She wasn't naughty or unhappy, she just would NOT smile the rest of the day.

us

titusTitus is such a cutie and so sweet. Linda and Lloyd say he is a grump for awhile when he wakes up, but it is hard to imagine!dawnSunrise! Taken around 5.

bedroomMomma and Daddy gave us the master suite. Sitting area to the right, bed to the left.bedroombathroombathPardon the mess, please, I didn't know that Matthew was taking pictures!CP

Monday Matthew and I took Patrick, Orrin, and Titus to a park. We played on the playground equipment for awhile, had a picnic, feed the ducks, and then surprise!!! (Ice-cream!)picnicpicnicfeeding ducksducklingicecream

 

Orrin

 

patrickbarnCaleb gave his old barn to Patrick for his birthday. The 5 'boys' had fun playing with it before Lloyd's birthday dinner, which Tom Turpin enjoyed with us.birthdaytitusTrying on Uncle Matthew's glasses. After dessert, Tom had to go home to get some things inline for his travels to Tx. We visited for awhile, Lloyd opened gifts, and then the boys went to bed. We stayed late visiting and then took a very brisk walk to Momma and Daddy's. 


Tuesday morning I made some muffins to take to Sunrise, my old work place. It was fun to see some familiar faces there and catch up with a few co-workers. Not everyone was in that I was hoping to see, so we stopped in again on Thursday morning. Here I am trying find things in Momma's huge kitchen!
baking

After visiting Sunrise, we grabbed some lunch to eat on our way to our 2:00 appointments at LasikMD. I had my eye checkup first. 3 years post-surgery and still better than 20/20! Then Matthew went in for his assessment. He has keratoconus. (Definition from Wikipedia : "is a degenerative disorder of the eye in which structural changes within the cornea cause it to thin and change to a more conical shape than the more normal gradual curve.") After some research several months ago, we had found that there is a procedure they have been doing in Canada for 4 years, but is not yet approved in the U.S. Assessment is free so we made the appointment with lots of hope and anticipation.

While Matthew was getting that done, I went to meet Linda at a Spa to get pedicures. It was fun to get some one on one time and relax together. I felt like I got to know my niece/nephew a little better as she/he kept sticking its foot into Linda's side and she would tickle it to get it to move! After that, I picked up Matthew and heard all about his appointment. He is definitely a candidate and they would recommend getting the procedure done ASAP! Still praying about it and need to look into the logistics and timing some more, but are planning that direction! That evening we went to David and Becca's for a delicious dinner of hamburgers. Matthew jumped on the trampoline with the girls while I talked to Becca until David came home. After dinner, we played Uno and ate dessert. Sierra made me this:bracelt
I was hoping she would make me one, but I didn't even realize she was working on it!

Wednesday, July 1st, Canada Day, we went for a hike from Outer Cove to Red Cliff. It was a new hike for all of us and super pretty! I hope I haven't included too many pictures! But the grandeur just can't be captured.hikehikematthewMatthew is in this photo.meAnd here's one of me watching him scramble over rocks trying to get close enough to the water to stick his GoPro under!hikehikehikeHard to get the perspective of how far down this is, but it is a LONG ways!
partridge berry bloomsPartridge berry blooms. They are kind of like a small cranberry.greenpathHiking through Newfoundland 'forest'.brook

sweet peasviewView from where we ate lunch.waterfootThis is at the end of the hike at RedCliff. I took this picture for Vanessa:) I was definitely sitting down!
graffitiviewdandmOur tour guides!everyoneAll of us at the end of the hike, all sticky and sweaty from the humidity!cliff

That evening we went to Boss and Mary's to partake of Hailey's delicious Canada Day cooking! Uncle Eric and Aunt Lenora were there as well.dinnerboss and mary and familyThat evening after meeting, some went to see the fireworks at Quidi Vidi. We wanted to go, but figured sleep was more important at the time!



To be continued!