Back to School

There are so many wonderful events to remember this August,
but I haven`t found the time to write them down yet.
Our lives are back to busy with Justin starting his 3rd year of Dental School.
Now that we are all back to waking up at 6 am the days seem so much longer.
Also, let us not forget, that August is considered Early Fall here in the Maritimes.
With Justin in school now, and the leaves all starting to change, it does feel like Fall is here.

Justin on his first day of School.

This year Justin will see patients every day.

He has been oriented and knows there is a busy year ahead of him.

As for me and the kids...

We are just enjoying the dog days of summer while they last.

I`ll catch up again when the rain starts to fall.

A Favorite Missionary and a Canada Girl

Miley loves it when we pass a Canadian flag. Sometimes when she sees one flying she will break out singing the Canadain Anthem... `O Can-a-da!` ...
The other day she spotted this large flag flying in the air, and she told me we needed to `hurry and take a picture of it!`

Her enthusiasm over the flag opened up a conversation about where she was born as well as her younger brother. We told her that Scotlin was Canadian because he was born in Canada, and she was American because she was born in America. She couldn`t belive us! She insisted: `I am not American! I am a Canada Girl!` Her heart is in this Canadian land.

Often, people will ask me how I like living in the `mission field.` I do love it, and without a doubt my favorite part about it is the Missonaries! Of course, they come and go, but there are some who we are truly sad to see leave our area. This week Elder Smith ( the one next to Miley) called to let us know he was being transferred. :( Elder Smith has been our favorite missionary so far. He has been more than a missionary to us, and has actually become one of our great friends. We are sad to see him go, but we are excited for him to serve in other areas of the mission- and we know we can see him in the future when he no longer serves as a missionary. So we look forward to that day. We had him and his companion (Elder Drake) over for supper for a proper farewell.
Elder Smith and Elder Drake have served as a wonderful team. They have been a favorite in our area, and especially for our family. They have been Miley`s great friends. They are always excited to see her, and share their secret handshakes. Miley will often call the Elder`s during the week and invite them to supper, and on Fast Sunday she told me she wanted to get up in Sacrament meeting and tell everyone over the pulpit that she is `thankful for the missionaries!` We sure do love them! We are so proud of their hard work and dedicated service. Watching them has strengthened my testimony so many times. It has been a marvelous wonder watching the miracles take place as they plant the gosple seed in the hearts of those who want to listen to the message.
We are grateful to have the missonaries in our home so often, and as such a big part of our lives at this time. We think of our younger brothers serving missions across the world, and hope and pray someone will look after them, open their homes to them, love and support them, and share in the exciting work of their missions.

Dooey- 22 Months

Justin says Scotlin and I are like the Mom and youngest son on The Christmas Story.
I baby him. He gets aways with everything. I just laugh when he is being naughty. etc.
It`s NOT ALL true, but... let`s face it. It`s true.
What can I say... He`s my baby. And, just look at that face. How can I resist.. How can I ever do anything other than chase him around, tickeling him, and making him laugh... I can`t do anything else. :)
Scotlin is a funny, little man all crammed into this shrimpy body. Sometimes, the kid is going to drive me crazy!- But, then I can never get enough of him.
I love hearing him as he follows right behind me:
Him: `mommy...`
Me: `Yes, Dooey...`
Him: `mommy...`
Me: `Yes, Dooey...`
Him: `mommy...`
You get the picture.
I love this boy more than words could ever decribe. I love his bright eyes, sweet little smiles, and his tender disposition. I love his tiny little body, and I love to squeeze him, snuggle him, tickel him, and read to him.
He is my little buddy.
I am so grateful to have this little Dooey to love. He fills the day with so many smiles and so much excitement.
I am so in love with my son, and I absolutely love having a little boy!

Halifax Waterfront Buskers Festival 2011

*******

This week marks the 2 year annivery of our move to Nova Scotia.

The first week we arrived we ventured down to the waterfront for the Buskers Festival to watch the preformers and be apart of the crowd, and we have returned every year since.

This year we chose to go early and enjoy the boardwalk before it got too crowded.

We were joined by a few friends; the White`s and Peacock`s. We had a great time together laughing, talking, walking, enjoying the nice weather, and letting the kids play.

We stopped for Canada`s best: Cow`s Ice cream!

Scotlin wanted to get up on the cow, but once he was up top he was too scared to lift his head and look at us. When we stood next to him he still wouldn`t lift his head, he would just look at us through the corner of his eye. He was so nervous.

 Trying to be still as a statue! Get me off this thing!

He came down, and both he and Miley enjoyed their ice cream! MIley kept telling us she wanted `PINK!` We let her try the flavor before hand, and she said she didn`t like it, but she still wanted it because it was PINK. She`s a pink lover.

 At the festival the kids played on the wooden ship, and then of course threw their rocks into the ocean. We strolled around until I realized Scotlin was doseing off...

 and then Miley started giving me this face...

So we decided it was time to go home. ;) ha!
Despite completely wearing the kids out, it was a very nice morning spent outside enjoying the harbor. :)
Only 1 more Busker`s Festival to go to next year, and then we`ll have been to all four!

Skype

We try to skype with our families back home at least once a week. Lately, Miley has been asking to skype the family more often. She wants to turn on the music and dance for the family over the computer.
Scotlin loves to sing songs for the family, and just last week he sang all the way through his songs by himself for his grandparents. A few days ago he was singing his songs in the kitchen, and then he stopped, turned to dad, and said... "I want to call grandma!"

The sweetest thing I have seen lately is Miley literally hugging and kissing the computer screen and monitor to show the family how much she loves them. We love our sweet and tender girl!- No distance will keep her from showing her affection.

 

XOXOXO Hugs and Kisses XOXOXO

Love, Miley

14 Again

Last week one of the YW leaders from our ward asked if they could host their cooking activity at our house. Of course I agreed!- And I have been looking so forward to having the YW in our home!
I have enjoyed, SO MUCH, getting to know these sweet girls. Each one of them means so much to me, and I am so proud of the women they are becoming!
Tonight they were able to come to my kitchen where their leader gave them a little cooking class. I rounded up as many aprons as I could find, and we got started... Miley got to join in with the girls too!

Miceala. Allison. Annie. Elaina. Emily. Miley

Tonight the girls made pizza's! They learned to make and roll out the dough, and then smother all the goodness in delicious toppings! They also made desert pizza's with cookies and frosting- that was Miley's favorite part. ( and probably everyone else's too!)

Sisters! Emily and Elaina. Cutest, sweetest girls ever!

Beehives!

Allie, and Annie. Two of my favorite girls!

Mmmmm.... The finished Product!

We had such a fun night together. We talked about everything the girls are interested in right now from Harry Potter, to running track. The girls were all so sweet to each other, as they always are. I admire the little family they are for each other. By the end of the night they were giggling over boys, and laughing themselves to tears! I was so happy to see them here having such a great time together. I am so excited to get to know the rest of the LDS youth in the province, and attend girls camp with them next week!

Welcome August!

August is my birthday month!- And I remember as a kid I looked forward to August all year round. As an adult, it is still my favorite month of the year! What makes it even better now though, is that Miley and I get to have the same birthday month and get to celebrate it together!!
We love August! And we are very excited for what this month has in store!

The first day of August is a holiday here in Halifax, so what better way to welcome the most favorite and beautiful month than a trip down to the Halifax Waterfront to celebrate!!...
Justin has been studying for his boards all summer. His test is actually TODAY! - So soon enough he will be joining us for these fun summer outtings. His summer is beginning, just when ours is coming to an end!

I took the kids dowtown for a monring stroll along the boardwalk. I wanted to show Scotlin the big ships coming in and out of the harbor. He loved it! Espceially his favorite- Theadore Tugboat of course! He waved at the tugboat as it rode through the waves, and then when it was out of sight Scotlin repeated 100 times `where are you, tugboat... where are you, tugboat...` just like I knew he would.

Justin and I have reflected so many times lately at how we have become accustomed to living here at this point in our journey. The distance from family doesn`t phase us as much as it did, although we still miss them everyday. I think it is beacuse above all we have come to understand the culture here, and now `fit in`a little better because of it. We know how to roll with the lifestyle and lingo a little more, even the weather! We had a HUGE storm last night. I drove to my meetings in the pouring rain and could hardly see a thing. I remember thinking `this would be a serious flash flood warning in Utah!` Here- there is no such thing as a flash flood waring. Everyone here is so used to the rain, and all the many different ways it falls from the sky. Even me. I never thought it would happen, but I have become accustomed to the rainy and wet weather. I find myself feeling like a sunny day is uncommon and out of place instead of the other way around. Rain, somehow feels comfortable. It`s really the strangest thing to explain. 

Today is August 3rd, and it`s actually quite cold outside. This kind of temperature in August is still something I haven`t come to understand.

I tell all my friends here that I would love to turn the heat on in my house!- And then they tell me they already have! 

We are getting used to this though. I know we are definitely much more climatized for the cooler weather, because when it gets hot, we are melting! 

 When things warm up outside, we are only fit for bathing suits! Oh, and water slides too...

 One of my favorite things about this summer has been spending time with our friends!

...And watching the kids have so much fun!