Erin and Daniel's Wedding....

....it was a PERFECT day!!! Erin was a gorgeous bride......and Daniel was a handsome groom!! I was so honoured to be a part of their special day!

...while the Priest was giving the homily...talking about the 4 Loves and how they play a part in relationships...

..it's official!! These grins lasted all day and well into the night!!! :)

Practicing the 'look'....Erin seems to have this awesome ability to sense when a camera is going to take a photo and stop mid sentence sometimes...and strike a pose! (here Laura was showing us that she too has this skill!)

Erin made all the head pieces and flower thingys for the boys.....

..taking time off the dance floor...to strike a pose!

Trying to get a 'candid' shot wasn't going to happen....but love this pose!! :)

Friends....visits and MORE!!!

So my week in Toronto was filled full of visits!!! I had my camera out for some of them... and others I let the moment pass...

When I was in Haliburton I got to see my high school friend Emely....She and her husband and two children drove over from Huntsville to see me!! (lucky me eh?)... The last time I saw Emely her son was 6weeks old (he'll be 4 in September!!) It had been awhile... it was my first time meeting her daughter--a real charmer!!! it was such a nice visit.....I'm glad we had the chance to reconnect and we will DEFINITELY keep in touch lady!? ok?

On Tuesday I went and spent the day with my good friend Lisa and her 3 boys!!! we had a great time.. visiting and catching up...and organizing some craft corners for her boys!! (she just moved into a new house on May 1st!) It was so much fun to see your new place--and how much 'room' you have!!:)

I got to visit some of the kids I know from Swanwick Ave on Wednesday....I couldn't believe how much the kids had GROWN in the 2 1/2 months I had been away!!! The twins were talking up a storm!! The kids that lived upstairs to my apartment were uber cute too.... and so excited to see me...(as I was to see them!) they were short visits...but I was glad I got to do it!

Wednesday night I crashed youth group....it was awesome to see everyone again--and share a bit about what it's like to live just south of the Arctic Circle....

On Thursday Amanda and her friend Ian came to Toronto Thursday night for dinner--mmmm Thai...(i miss that already!)....it was great meeting/seeing you guys!! Convo was awesome---

I stopped by Chantal and Tarek's before I headed to London on Friday morning--it was great to see you and share stories... and see their youngest!!(he's soooo big--soon to be a full on toddler boy!)

I think I realized 1/2 way through this trip that there is NEVER enough time!!! I'm just thankful that I got to connect with SOOO many people that mean so much to me while I was in the south---even though I didn't get to see EVERYONE I had hoped to see...

Benjamin's First Birthday!

I was lucky enough to be back in Haliburton for Benjamin's First Birthday Party!! It was sooo great to see my Grandma, Bart, Aunt Anna, Jamie and Dana (brother and sister-in-law), Pam and Gord(Dana's parents) and of course my nephews!! :) Samuel was so excited to see so many people from his family at his house for the PARTY! We soon went outside to see his new cubby house...it was nice to sit in the sun...and the blackflies and mosquitoes were kept away by a slight breeze!!

Samuel is just like Jamie--he LOVES his tonka trucks..... at one point he even gave Benjamin a ride in the dump truck!! Benjamin had fun 'bum-scooting' around the grass...His hat is so adorable!!
My Grandma took time to enjoy the new swingset..swinging with the Birthday Boy!!


Inside waiting for cake!!! :)

What's a party without party hats?? (I took photos OF EVERYONE wearing a hat...but decided only to post me in one.....!)

Definitely the way to wear a party hat!!

The boys in my gift...a weird gift I know...but I gave Benjamin 2 books... one was titled "what can you do with a box?" so of course I gave Benjamin a box to see what he could do with it.. Samuel was all about jumping in and having Benjamin join him....

...CAKE...mmmmmm sooo good!! Dana is SUCH a good COOK!!! the BBQ was awesome too!!

So there you have it... Benjamin is now officially ONE!!!

I'm in Haliburton...

Just wanted everyone to know I made it to the south...the weather was good...and I was able to fly with NO problems! :)

I'm enjoying the weather... so nice to be in shorts and flipflops... tho the blackflies aren't so fun!!!

Happy Birthdays!!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY BENJAMIN!!!May 25, 2007...hard to believe it's been a year!
December 13, 2008...

March 12th, 2009

I luv being an AUNT... Can't wait to see you on SUNDAY!!! :)

Spring is in the AIR!!!

...yes that's right...Spring has arrived!!! When I flew in on Monday night I couldn't believe the changes in the ice, snow around town!! Water is starting to run off the hills... creating it's own path--often across roads making them very bumpy... or flooding areas! I have a bit of an extra walk to get to work---the parking lot in front of the GN building is well under water!! The temps have been between +5C and -5C or so....this morning when I walked to work it was raining... and on the way home for lunch it was snow/ice falling down... YAHOO!!! :)

..a brave person driving through the puddle...(there is a driveway--and mushy mud on each side...so you need to be sure where the driveway actually is!)

See the water running? into the parking lot at work.... my house in the distance!

The kids from the neighbourhood have been enjoying it though---riding their bikes through it

..snowmachines are still running---but there's more dirt in town than snow right now!!!

Lucky me....

I was soooo lucky to land yesterday!!! The plane didn't land this morning... on either attempt (see the regular flight goes Iqaluit to Pang to Qik to Pang to Iqaluit)... So I put this out to everyone.... my situation... I'm flying south on Saturday May 23rd... YEP in 4 Days!!! (well that is unless weather delays me----) that's where you my friends can help!... if you are someone that is a praying folk? please send up the request for GOOD weather ie) no fog, wind, cloud... so that the plane can land on Sat AM and then get out!!! I'd really like to leave as scheduled and arrive in Ottawa at 5ish on Saturday... rather than the 'next available' flight....which could be as early as Monday...but who knows if that one gets booked!!!! So send up a little request..... I'll keep you updated on the weather..... or you can keep checking it as well!!... http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/canada_e.html

Third Time's a Charm....

Happy VICTORIA day to me!! I can honestly say it's the first one that I have experienced that involved snow!! But it was a good day... here is a shot of my hotel that I stayed at in Iqaluit, the Nova...home away from home!

Well I finally landed back safely in Pang---got a bit of a taste of flying/travelling up north! The pilots landed on their second attempt... a momentary break in the fog/cloud cover... (so yes I thought for a few minutes after they turned and gained altitude that I would be indeed flying BACK to Iqaluit and have experienced another 'flyby'... I was happy to get home to my clean house!!!

The pilots brought us in REALLY low over the ice....because the ceiling was so low! the 'cracks' in the ice in a week have become HUGE.... It was amazing to see the differences a week makes in the snow and ice!!

This is hard to see... BUT it's the plane's wing... and all of Pang--you can see the fog/cloud cover....crazy but thankfully we LANDED!! :)


Another shot of the Wing/Pang in a distance.... The ice is soooo amazing... the colours are awesome!!! very watery...and bright blue in colour!!

I think this has a mixture of sand/rock as well as the ice.... pretty cool patterns... I think they'd look awesome as HUGE canvas prints.....

Flyby

Orgin: English
Pronunciation: 'flI-"bI
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural flybys

1. a flight that passes close to a specified location without stopping
2. a prearranged usually low-altitude flight by one or more airplanes over a public gathering (as an air show)
3. a : a flight of a spacecraft past a celestial body (as Mars) close enough to obtain scientific data b : a spacecraft that makes a flyby

***********************************************************************

Well today I did a bit of a 'flyby' of Pang....(number 1)... When I checked in at the airport things looked good...(weather wise)... boarded at 10am..had a lovely breakfast basket of muffins and other yummy things! The pilot announced that they were prepping to land---that the temperature in Pang was +4C...(i was excited)....and then 5mins later...it was our first BUMP....I was like, ok a 'bit' of turbulence....no worries.... then we dropped... and rocked (we didn't roll!) all of these bumps and rocking were accompanied by my own little sound track (not me!)...but lots of EEEEEEEs and Ohhhhhhs..... in the midst of this I was kicking myself that my camera was in the overhead bin---bc I could have gotten some AWESOME shots of PANG! we turned around...and headed back to Iqaluit....(after experiencing my first crazy turbulence)...we landed at 12pm....


..there has been a flight re-booked for tomorrow at 11am... so hopefully I'll get back home soon.... but then again... Iqaluit isn't a bad place to be 'stuck'.... All for all it was a good day! :)

Flying....

It's pretty amazing what you can see out your window from the plane isn't it?...Although most of the flight was just cloud!! I made it back to Iqaluit early this afternoon....and had a great day! Went out for $5 wings--and caught up with a friend that lives here!

24 hour SUN....

...makes it REALLY hard to sleep... I'm not sure if it was the NEW bed...or the fact that the sun was coming through the curtains...I had a really hard time sleeping.... FINALLY i put on my hoodie, pulled the hood over my eyes... .curled up and looked at the corner in the room... (that 'seemed' to work... and finally around 1am I was asleep!!

After I was done meeting the people I had to meet... Vera and I went up on the hill--it was FREEZING!!! and still blows my mind that it was 9:20PM!!!

Enjoy the photos... tomorow I fly back to Iqaluit!!! :)

Life on the road....

I arrived in Igloolik today just before 5pm... through the whole flight from Iqaluit--I wasn't sure if we were going to land...I might have gone on to Pond Inlet...BUT all that worry was for nothing...we landed ok... (silly airlines that decide to freak you out!--but really it's just so that if they don't land in a place due to weather---then they aren't responsible for meals or lodging or transport at the location you end up at..which I suppose is a fair policy to have!)

Once I arrived I called Vera (who works with me in Pang--but also was on work travel and in Igloolik) So we went for a walk around town...I was able to figure out where I had to be the next day....and have some good conversation!

Here's Vera and her son...isn't he adorable!!!

Yup... there is speed limits in Igloolik... AND also a lot of snow!!! Some cars aren't used in the winter...and are 'parked'...

...just a shot from the hill of some of the houses... Igloolik is really flat!

...This is just a building that was in Igloolik...I think that at some point that aliens 'might' have made contact...

On top of the clouds....

This is fun shot was taken tonight at 10pm as I flew from Pang to Iqaluit...While madly trying to get my camera out and on... I missed the shot of the BIG ROUND SUN in the middle of the sunset!! but still think it looks pretty cool.....Still trying to adjust to the light or should I say 'abundance' of light!!!

HAPPY MOTHER's DAY!!!

*June 2008 At your Graduation for your BSW!!*

*October 2008, at my Graduation for my MA*

Happy Mother's Day to the worlds' BEST mom!

Thank you for the THREE packages you have sent me this far up north---you ROCK!!

Thanks for listening to me complain about silly things and putting life into perspective for me.

Thanks for being an amazing role model about so many different things in life.

Thanks for giving me support over the years and letting go--to allow me to fly on my own wings!

There are more things than I can list that I need to say thank you for....

Mom, most of all I'm thankful I can call not only my mom--but also my friend.

*close to the Arctic Circle...May 2009*

When I was in Australia that year, you sent me your heart, around the globe to me...have no fear I still hold your heart close to mine.

I love you...Sarah

Road Trip....

This week I'll be on the road again...heading to Igloolik and Iqaluit...Check out the map at the side if you need to know where they are!!!! I'm heading out tonight on the evening flight---and will be back Saturday morning---except if the weather doesn't cooperate!!


I've had a pretty lazy but productive weekend so far. I've cleaned my whole house--dishes, bathroom, floors AND laundry!! (yahoo for clean sheets when I come home!!) I've also succeeded in finished watching Grey's Anotomny season 4---THANKS MOM for 'lending' it to me and mailing it up at Easter!! (Dana don't worry I'll be bringing it down in 2 weeks time for you!)... AND i have finished knitting a baby sweater--well ALMOST finished...Stil have to do the button bands and sew it together BUT it's pretty much as good as done!

That's the news from up north!

You might have noticed my 'lack' of blogging this week...it wasn't intentional it just happened, life has been surprisingly busy this week!

So what can I say about work/life this week? Last night I went to a potluck...let's just say my brownies are making the rounds in Pangnirtung...accompanied by frozen vanilla yogurt..such a good combo! I ate some 'new' things...(someone brought sushi---so that made me smile!) I also ate caribou that was wrapped in bacon, and in a maple syrup/brown sugar sauce... mmmmm sooo good! I also experienced a first...Arctic Hare...someone was hunting and was successful about 4 hours before the potluck---they took it home and deep fried it and it was surprisingly yummy!!!(but isn't everything that's been 'deep' fried??) There also was a some Arctic Char, lasagna, salads, and pasta salads and more!!! All the food was amazing it was great to be out!

What else is new? Some of you might remember how I broke my big toe last fall...and was in an aircast for a lot of weeks... well this week it really started bugging me again....That's a bit of a downer-I went to the Health Centre here; had it x-rayed and got some 'more heavy duty anti-inflammatory' but basically the pain and swelling hasn't really gone down....I've been trying to limit my walking/ activities...but it's hard to in a place where EVERYTHING is accessible by feet!! Although some great friends have driven me home on occasion...that's been wonderful. I have an appointment at the Fracture Clinic in Toronto in 2 weeks time...we'll see how it all goes!?

This week I was 'dog' sitting.... it was my second time hanging out with 'Nanuq'...we had a great week....Nanuq is a really great dog!! A bit of 'high' energy but just likes to have a lot of petting!!!

3 Random Things....

1. This photo was taken Thursday at 11:52pm....bring on the midnight sun!!

2. No photo for this one...but I learned a little lesson on Saturday.... NOT to put out the garbage in my pjs while I was cooking bacon... Just so you get the FULL mental picture of what happened I'd first like to describe my pjs...are you ready? Think ripped pj bottoms that are OK to sleep in..but not be seen in public, a white spagetti strapped tank top... thankfully I pulled on a hoodie at the last minute on my feet were just my slippers....) So you might ask..why don't you put out your garbage WHILE cooking bacon? Well it's b/c you might get LOCKED out of your house...HOW? well that could be due to the HIGH wind slams the door shut.....(as you are coming UP the stairs after successfully putting the trash in the trash box).... Now don't get too full of panic...there were NO flames or BURNING at any point in time at my house.... just lots of smoke..... I went to my neighbours... and we tracked down the Housing "emergency/after hours" guy...and he had a master key.. and with a bit of luck and a screw driver we were able to enter my SMOKE filled house and turn off the burner....and open windows to try to get out the smell of charred bacon.... well to be honest... It didn't even smell like bacon at this point---just well Charcoal...and that's all that was left in my frying pan too!!!! So to date my house is still smelling like a place that Cinderella might enjoy.... and NO the fire department OR the RCMP were NOT called at all during this little lesson.... and I won't be leaving the house (even for a minute) in those plaid pjs bottoms again, lesson learned!

3. You can't even see the footprints from when I came in 15mins ago! YES it's been SNOWING here for about 24 hours or soooooo.....I can honestly say it's the first time I've seen snow in MAY!!!! Perhaps I should be happy that it's WARM enough to snow eh? Gotta luv mother nature!!!

... did I mention it's 20 more days til I'm in the south!!!