Here and Now

Well, it's been seven long months since I last posted in here. I left off with a few of our adventures in South Dakota and I plan on finishing the documentation of everything that we saw in 2016. After all, it was the most exciting and adventure filled year of our lives. For now I wanted to get back into blogging by sharing a little bit about our new life and our new home.

West Mabou Beach, Cape Breton, September 2016

I imagine most people who read our posts are coming from Facebook, but I'll share some background on where we are and how we got here, just incase. 

Our little family did indeed end up on the east coast of Canada, however in a completely different province than we had initially anticipated. Over the Labour Day long weekend we found out that the house we had put an offer on in Prince Edward Island had sold to another buyer. That same evening I saw a story on CBC about a country market in Cape Breton that was looking for people to work there, and if we stayed for five years we would receive 2 acres of land. We knew we had nothing to lose so we sent in our resumes, along with a short cover letter detailing who we are and what we were searching for. After a few days of emails and our Skype interview I was offered a position with the store and we began to pack up and head east from Ontario to start our new life. 

West Mabou Beach, Cape Breton, September 2016

We arrived here in mid September and it has honestly been a whirlwind. Settling into our rental home and a routine with work, meeting new friends and exploring this beautiful island have all taken time but we're doing our best to enjoy absolutely every second of it. There was a lot of media attention when we got here. The job offer, as well as the new employees received attention from local news outlets, CBC Nova Scotia, CTV (Nova Scotia and BC), Vice News Tonight, CNBC, and even The New York Times!

Life moves at a different pace here, and it's not for everyone, but I do know that there has to be more people like us out there who want the same things we do. A slower pace of life, fresh air, green grass and trees. A chance to grow their own food and contribute to a small community. Friendly people, who are happy to hang out at home with friends and don't need to be busy to be happy. I know they are out there, but I think the people who could come and help repopulate this little island don't know enough about it or are too afraid to leave their "stable life" to find this.

Along the Cabot Trail - October 2016

We are enjoying the outdoor lifestyle here during every season, and learning to love winter again has been much easier than we imagined. On Brett's birthday the two of us drove to the Cape Breton Highlands to take part in a snowshoe hike on the Skyline Trail. It was a wonderful day and a beautiful hike. We can't wait to see more of the park this year!

At the top of the Skyline Trail - February 2017

Enjoying the snow - January 2017

When we left our suburban home in BC, we didn't know exactly what our life would look like a year later. Now we have most of what we were looking for, we just need to find the perfect spot to build our forever home and begin growing our own food - hopefully for us as well as this community. We have big dreams and hopes for all four of us, as well as this great little business we have become a part of. I can't wait to continue to share this journey we are on, as well as the remainder of our adventures from 2016. Keep your eyes here for more updates soon!

Reflecting on Life on the Road

Well, I'd say this post is long overdue as it's been almost three months since we left behind our home in British Columbia to embark on life on the road. Over these two months I have had a lot of time to think about what this journey means to not only me, but also to our family. 

Nolan loves being thrown in the air! {Washington - April)

When we first left BC I thought to myself, "what if we made a mistake?", but since that first time that question honestly hasn't crossed my mind since. There was some adjusting for me to things like showers in the trailer and sometimes at RV resorts (not always as nice as showering in your own home) and laundry at RV resorts (we've had some iffy incidents), but overall I adjusted better than I had expected. At the end of the day, the adventure and time together outweighs anything that we may perceive as a negative.

Back in BC - May 2016

We're still working on living with less. I mean, we did sell the majority of our stuff, but some things didn't sell and some things we wanted to keep for when we do settle down in one place again. Since we're unsure of where we will end up, we've managed to fill a 5x10 storage unit until we find our home. 

As we go, things have left the trailer as well. Living with access only to a small closet, both Brett and I have realized we only wear a very curated collection of clothing. We definitely don't need as much as we had before. Out of season clothes are stored under our bed in suitcases and then our small selection of favourite seasonal clothes are in our closet. 

It's harder with children, we don't want to, nor can we force Halle to get rid of things that she loves, but considering she is only four she is very good at donating items she no longer loves or plays with. She got a lot of nice toys while we were in Florida, and once we got back to BC her and I went through all of her toys and she picked a lot to donate which lightened the load a little. This has also helped us to realize how little they need. Halle uses her imagination far more when we are just out in nature hiking and exploring the natural world around us. 

Nolan loves finding sticks and rocks and just playing in the dirt

We still have a long way to go before we are truly "minimalists". You can't just get rid of all of your stuff overnight, it takes time and effort but we'll get there since our focus at the moment is our family. 

To me the best part is the adventure, the unknown and the time spent together. As I have mentioned previously most days we start out and see where we end up. Brett drives and I keep my eyes on the Road Atlas to direct us to our next destination. 

Halle had a blast fishing at the trout farm we camped at in Mission, BC back in early May

When I think of life before everything changed, I know that we were happy. Life had found a happy routine for the most part but Halle and I missed Brett on those long days that he was at work. Is that "normal"? Yes, for most people, but it's not the life we want to live anymore. In the months surrounding Brett leaving his job a lot happened to remind us just how short and precious life can be - so why aren't we together enjoying it and doing the things that we love? Will we spend the rest of our life on the road travelling? No, probably not. Will we find jobs we love that still give us plenty of time together and to see great places? YES! Will we spend money on travel and experiences instead of "things" and "stuff" that take up time and space! Absolutely! That will always remain our focus moving forward.

Hiking at Rolley Lake Provincial Park in BC

Admittedly, not every day is perfect. Somedays we are tired and cranky, and somedays our children are a handful to deal with... just like any other kid. Our lives are still not "perfect", but we are all so much happier at the moment. We're exploring and seeing sights that some people may never see in their lifetime. For that, we are extremely thankful. 

Rolley Lake Provincial Park in BC

The other day I said to Brett, "At the end of each year, I always wonder how the next year will top it! I really didn't think 2016 could be better than 2015, but look at this! How could 2017 possibly be any better?". Yes, we still have half a year ahead of us to enjoy and soak up... but I'm already intrigued to see how our future plays out after this. All I know, is we'll continue to live it to the fullest.

Family, Disney and Fun

One of the best parts about being in Florida to me is family time. It's even better when you get to spend it with family you don't see too often. While in Florida we made time to visit some of Brett's Aunts and Uncles that we haven't seen in a while and it was so nice to catch up. 

On our first Tuesday, we loaded up the rental car and drove to visit Brett's Aunt and Uncle at their home. We enjoyed a delicious lunch, took a tour of their lovely community and had a little celebration for our birthday boy. 

Seconds before he turned around and got Brett with his icing covered hand

Halle loved helping him open his presents

It was so nice to see familiar faces and catch up with them. The kids had a wonderful time, and it was nice to have such a relaxing day on vacation. It's not always that way while you're visiting Disney World.

The following day was the exact opposite! We were up early, and preparing to leave the condo by 9am. Our first stop - The Magic Kingdom. This was the day that all of us (grandparents included) visited a theme park. We met lots of characters, rode a ton of rides and even stopped for a character lunch.

Nolan was sleeping when we went to meet Mickey, so it was just the three of us

Cooling Nolan off in the mist... Lion King style

It had been ages since I was last in the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse... Halle LOVED it

I had booked our lunch back in early March, and we had a wonderful meal at The Crystal Palace. I cannot stress the importance of making a reservation if you want to do a character meal, especially with a small child! When we arrived for our reservation there was a huge lineup of people waiting for an open table. It was nice to be able to just walk in and sit down, especially since everyone was feeling hot and Halle was already asking to go back home because she was hot and tired.

Lunch seemed to turn everything around. The food options were fantastic! So much good food we all went back for seconds (some of us even thirds). The service was friendly and attentive, and Halle was so excited to meet Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and Tigger. It totally revived our cranky 4 year old... especially the all you can eat soft serve ice cream! I highly recommend doing a character meal, especially with preschool aged kids. The cost can be high, but the food was much better than any of the counter service places and we all left feeling really happy about the choice to do the lunch!

The rest of the afternoon was filled with so much more fun! Including the new Little Mermaid ride (our favourite), and meeting Ariel in her Grotto. We had booked a fast pass for it in advance because I knew she was a princess Halle REALLY wanted to meet. When we arrived there was no wait and we got to walk right in, but I'm glad we didn't leave it to chance. 

Nolan got a big kiss from Ariel and wore it proudly the rest of the day

For the light parade we bought Halle "Made with Magic" Ears and a wand that changed their colour. She refused to wear them so Brett and I had a good time with them instead!

After a busy day at The Magic Kingdom, Thursday was a chance to slow down a little again. Brett and I, along with the kids, joined his parents at Disney Springs to meet up with Brett's Aunt's and cousin. We enjoyed a yummy lunch, walked around, chatted and caught up and of course grabbed some ice cream at Ghirardelli.

Halle loved throwing coins into every fountain that we passed

Our little photographer capturing a family photo

In the evening Brett and I put on something nice and had a fantastic dinner at Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs, followed by a show of Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba. We ate at the Sushi Bar for dinner and it was a very intimate experience, and sitting beside one another gave us a great opportunity to talk. The show was incredible and at the end Brett told me that he wanted it to keep going. I felt exactly the same! We highly recommend seeing La Nouba if you're visiting the Walt Disney World Resort! Great for a date, or even to visit with some older kids. I think even Halle may have enjoyed it, but we needed some time for just the two of us.

The best part about this trip was balancing it out between doing a lot and taking it easy. While somedays seemed rush, others were pretty laid back, giving us a chance to catch our breath a little. Always the way we would recommend doing Disney World. There is so much to see and do, but it's best not to exhaust yourself and just enjoy every second!

Magic Through Her Eyes

As we were packing up to head to Florida, Brett seemed slightly amused by my excitement to return to Walt Disney World. It made me stop to think about why exactly I was so excited for this trip. For me, Florida holds so many special memories starting back when my parents first brought my brother and I there when we were eight. I remember visiting the timeshare resort that they bought in, and having so much fun riding in the limo around the resort after they purchased a unit. 23 years later we're still going back to Westgate Vacation Villas in Kissimmee and have created so many wonderful memories there with family and friends. It was also the very first vacation Brett and I took together back in 2008. With all of those wonderful memories there and more to be made with our two kids, I just couldn't wait to get back this past May.

We arrived in Florida shortly after 6pm the Saturday before Mother's Day, and after a late dinner and catching up with both sets of Grandparents at the condo we all passed out, exhausted from a long day of travelling. The next day we had a slow start, then headed down to enjoy the water park at the resort. Shipwreck Island is located inside Westgate Vacation Villas and offers a large pool with a variety of slides for kids of all ages, and on the second level you'll find the splash pad and lazy river (my favourite part). There was something for everyone, and I always enjoy the extra large drinks you can purchase at the bar! Perfect for a day relaxing by the pool! Brett made sure I had one in my hand the minute we arrived - after all, it was Mother's Day!

After a day of fun in the sun, we went out to dinner and then Brett's Mom surprised us all with a ride on the Orlando Eye. Though I am not particularly fond of heights, I figured I would do fine as I had no problem riding the London Eye when I was in England. About halfway up, I learned that I now had a stronger fear of heights and had to sit in the middle of the pod with my eyes closed until we were on the opposite side on the way down. Thankfully my Dad was there to man my camera and take some photos.

The last photo I snapped before I just could not take anymore...

The next day we spent more time down by the pool, enjoying the water and a free lunch for owners at the resort. We played and soaked up the sun until it was time to get ready. That evening we had reservations at the Rainforest Cafe in Disney Springs, followed by Halle's appointment for a Princess Makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

Sadly, our little princess only wanted to be Snow White but there was a Disney-wide shortage of Snow White dresses. Her little heart was not broken for long, and she opted for an Anna dress instead, a princess I find much more fitting to our girls personality. She waited patiently for her turn and I couldn't help but smile as she sat mostly silent as her Fairy Godmother in training talked to her about all of the princesses. I found all of the ladies here so lovely to deal with and they were so fantastic with all of the little princesses, making sure to refer to them as such each time they addressed them. It is definitely the type of experience that will make any little girl feel truly special. I especially loved the book they had every princess sign after their makeover!

The rest of the night we spent wandering store to store, giving Halle her first taste of Walt Disney World. She picked out a couple of toys to buy with her own money, and enjoyed riding on the carousel with my Dad and then the train on her own.

We had so much going on during this vacation, it will make for a few posts (which may be spotty with using RV Park Wi-Fi here and there). I'll do my best to share as quickly as possible. I can't wait to get to this trip and share photos from Alberta, Montana and Wyoming!