2023 in Pictures

I dare you to not fall in love with the newest member of our family, Sheilagh Rogers. Can’t do it, can you? Told you so. She’s too cute to resist.

Lunch time on a ski strip to Cape Smokey. Everyone is feeling like they look their best, and therefore are smiling for the camera.

One of many beautiful pictures of my girls at this year’s trip to Disney World.

Mia and Charlotte taking a much needed break after a big day of fun.

Charlotte, with her permanent 1,000,000 Watt smile, not really believing we finally actually went to Disney.

My with the girls and the Tower of Terror in the background. I’m pretty sure we went back to do that ride twice. The girls both made it clear they were adrenaline junkies on this trip.

The Minnie to my Mickey.

At the top of the hill at Cape Smokey with Leonne, Charlotte and Mia’s bonus grandmother.

The girls took to skiing like they were born to do it. This lead us to buy season passes and get our own gear this year. Can’t wait for the first real snow to fly…

Charlotte proved to the world that love for one kitty doesn’t have to take away from love for another kitty.

Despite a rocky start with Stuart being a less than gracious host at first, our feline friends found a way to set aside their differences. I think they’re friends now.

Ness and I went to go see Steve Patterson put on a live episode of CBC’s The Debaters. If you’ve never been, I can’t recommend it highly enough. I laughed so hard I needed my puffer. Also, Steve made fun of my shirt all night. It was an awesome time.

I sneakily took this picture of Vanessa when we went to Toronto for our good friends’ (Darryl and Brittany) wedding. This is possibly my favourite picture of her, ever.

Happy Canada Day!

We really wanted Mia to see all that Canada had to offer while she was with us. Obviously, then, we forced her to sign a liability waiver and took her rafting in the Shubenacadie River. It was amazing and cold and we could have died but didn’t. Good times were had by all.

Part of the river rafting experince was mud sliding. Somehow, mud sliding became mud… burrowing?

Fun fact #1: I only own one belt. I wore that belt on this adventure. I needed to wear that same belt with my suit not long after this. I think the means I’m not a grownup yet. Fun fact #2: If you put clothing *this* muddy in your washing machine, instead of your clothes being cleaner, you turn your washing machine into a mudding machine. Forever.

Charlotte went to Atlantic Cirque for a couple summer camps this year. This is her, doing the things she normally does at home, but in an environment meant for that kind of thing.

On one of our visits to see Leonne in Cape Breton, we stopped at Fortress of Louisbourg. In one of the houses. there were clothes for kids to try on and get into the spirit of things. Before long, not only was Charlotte dressed the part, she was seconded to work there, too!

A quick stop at the Groovy Goat in Ingonish.

Here we are taking a break on one of our camping trips to Keji. Mia hadn’t done backcountry camping before, and, given how much the mosquitos loved her, this may also be the last time she ever goes backcountry camping!

Charlotte and Mia out on a paddleboard during our first trip to Keji for the season. The girls really only came back to shore long enought to eat and sleep.

Awwww, look at us being romantic! Cute, right? Well, what you don’t get from this picture is the 8-year old behind the camera shouting directions at us – helpful things like “No, no, no! You need to look like you’re in *love*!”

Charlotte in her happiest of happy places. On a paddle board in Keji.

Charlotte and her little cousin Nora. Charlotte loves her cousins more than I can explain, and I’m pretty sure the feeling is mutual.

Mia, just a little ways away from heading back to Mexico 🙁

We had an absolute blast seeing our dear friends the Gunderts. Here, we’re hanging out at the Tatamagouche ice cream stand at Alderney Landing. Best ice cream anywhere.

Had a blast impromptu evening at the Nutars – I may still be recovering from this. Don’t think I can share much more here…

Charlotte with some of her besties, Harlowe and Aila. The three of them have the kind of curls that would make a Vidal Sassoon model jealous.

I don’t know when it started, but Charlotte and I will, from time to time, descend into complete hysterics and shout in Bostonian accents to one another, so I had to bring her home this shirt after a trip to Boston.

Why does Charlotte love Keji so much? Well, I’m sure its a combination of things, but there’s something about having your parents tell you to roll around in the dirt to each your lunch that must contribute.

Dusk at Keji. I don’t think I need to add anything more.

We’ve lost track of how many frogs Charlotte has caught on our camping trips. She’s going to have to move on to something harder, like squirrels or eagles or something. Now *that* would be something.

Some happy campers on our longest-ever portage trip. We learned a lot from last summer, making this trip *much* smoother.

I’m just going to leave this here. You’re welcome.

We also got to see our dear friends the Kings for the first time in ages. Here we are at library taking in some tunes 🙂

Charlotte’s annual picture with Massey on the first day of school. It’s hard to believe how much Massey has shrunk over the years.

Charlotte’s annual first-day-of-school milkshake at The Armview.

We hosted a BBQ and outdoor movie night at our place to celebrate another wonderful summer coming to a close. We had a blast and will be doing this again next summer for sure.

Charlotte and her best friends from Wesmount having fun on a cute little lake tucked away in Spryfield.

Charlotte and friends… hanging out.

The Westmount kids, lead by our dear friend Jenn, gathering food for Feed NS this past fall. All told, the kids collected and delivered 489 kg of food to the food bank, an unreal accoumplishment.

This is the food that the kids donated to Feed NS – 489 kg in all.

The Wanderers had their first ever home playoff game this year. Guess who was excited??

Charlotte working away at a family portrait.

My Christmas light extravaganza!

Charlotte’s nativity scene for 2023 – her best yet!