Cruise to Canada ~ part 8

Day Six ~ Day at Sea and a Gala Dinner

So mostly this post consists of too many photos of us on deck all dressed up and ready for a special dinner. Because the day at sea consisted of us enjoying everything on the ship. {and me not carrying around my camera or phone or anything}

With the exception of Abigail in right after breakfast swimming.















I always love the silly in between photos the best. Real happiness. The stuff I want to remember.





Oh these two have my heart.



and he does too...







We've had many many late night talks since we got home about how to have a spirit of laughter and joy in our home more during the school year. Just like we are in the photo below, laughing and having fun. I know that we can't live on vacation always. I know that there will be trying days coming up. Growing days but I want to look at the silly and the laughter and have more of that September-June, not just on vacations.





And so our 'day at sea' was absolutely wonderful. I want to always remember our dinners on the cruise and having that time together, just us. A gift.

Cruise to Canada ~ part 7

Day Five ~ Prince Edward Island



Prince Edward Island (here) is a beautiful place to visit and one day hardly even came close to what we would have wanted to explore. But this cruise was perfect to get our 'feet wet' in some new places that we might want to visit again another time.

We decided to take an excursion that the cruise line arranged since we wanted to see some of the other side of the island. (and Anne of Green Gables)

I'd read the book myself as a young adult and then again a few years ago. I started to read it to Abigail at night but it just didn't sit right with us. (sometimes a read aloud just isn't working - sometimes it's the book, sometimes it the child) We'll revisit it again I think this winter now that she has a bit of background knowledge of the landscape and the places described in the novel.



I can see why L.M. Montgomery was inspired by living on Prince Edward Island.

When the book was written in 1908 and became popular world-wide no one even knew about Prince Edward Island. They wondered if the magical places described in the book were real.

We were told that there are Anne-related attractions all over the island but going to the Green Gables Heritage Place is the most traveled. (here)





At Green Gables we toured the house...





walked along the 'Haunted Woods' (as described in the book)





and strolled the Balsam Hallow Trails (also in the book)





It was a lovely day with my family.

On the way back to our cruise port we stopped at the famous P.E.I. Cavendish Cliff and Beach. Known for the red sand, the Cavendish area is unique and wonderful to see. (another place we would like to have more time for)

Cruise to Canada ~ part 6

Day Four ~ Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia 

(if this was the only photo she took that day I would have been satisfied) 


Our most favorite day of the entire trip. Unforgettable. Maybe because it was exactly what we pictured northern, shoreline Canada to look like and it took our breath away. Maybe because of the cool weather where the sun felt so good, and we even to to cozy up in blankets on the deck of the ship that night. Cape Breton is just spectacular. (here) A must go someday and an I sure hope we can go back again someday!

When we got off the ship we met up with a local family photographer that I had booked for our family. I really wasn't sure what stop on the trip to find a photographer. I wanted to capture that northern Canada look. Not a perfect family photo. More like a travel log. And she did exactly that for our family. So I didn't take my camera out and she perfectly captured such a beautiful place; one that I was hoping find on this trip.





Against the backdrop of water; oh so blue - and cliffs.











These two so much love. Adore her hand in her daddy's.



Cape Breton's Louisbourg lighthouse



I love our big summer vacations mostly for the memories of fun and laughter we can hold on to all winter long.



Oh this one!























Us.

























When I first saw this photo I gasped out loud. THIS was exactly what I wanted Canada to look like.



Oh how I love this landscape!





Lucky us... 22 year Anniversary

























It's hard to imagine after all of our time together this summer that next week we'll all go off to our schools.











...just stay little, just stay little, just stay little...





























This photo below is the cover of my teacher planner this year. My girls - my heart.



A word about hiring a family photographer on vacation - this crazy idea I had back when we went to Hawaii has become a family tradition - and one that we love, all love. Sometimes I think about our summer vacation as a moment in time. One year Hawaii, one year in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, one year at Disney. It's like it's the one thing (because it's big) that we remember. We all remember. Yes, there are the most precious memories of life - the in between days, the normal days - those are by far the most wonderful. And that's why I still blog - so I have the best days, the regular ones - here, forever.

But the big family trips I just need to 'preserve' them. And that's why we do this. Sure, it's a bit of a tricky thing. First finding a photographer. Talking them (a stranger) into my idea. Finding outfits that capture us, etc, etc. etc. But our photo shoot days are always our favorite on our trips. Because they take us to places, beautiful places we wouldn't have known about. We have fun together and explore. And then we have these. And I can hold on to them for life.

Hawaii photo shoot is here
Disney photo shoot is here

If you ever go to Cape Breton, look up Candace. She was wonderful. Picked us up in her car at the cruise terminal, drove us 45 minutes to the location, showed us around the island and was just the sweetest to work with.  She gave us such a wonderful day, and we are grateful!