Ottawa to Paris: 2014

Home in Ottawa

Our shipping container arrives!

When the movers had unpacked half of our container they said they had as much trash as they had had for a full container twice the size of ours. Our French packers were a little crazy with the wrapping.

Sylvia and Lillian had a grand time with the boxes.

Ottawa

to Paris

and back again.

We are glad to be home.

Thank you to all of our friends and to our families who have supported us throughout this experience and who have helped to make it all a lot more fun.

oxox!

Ottawa!

We arrived back in Ottawa to an empty house. Friends set us up with everything we needed to camp out and wait for our things to arrive. Lillian was whisked off for a birthday sleepover. I was e-mailed photos (like the one above) from time to time. Not bad!

We headed to the National Gallery.

Lillian and Pierre spent over an hour attempting to creating Tom Thompson's The Jack Pine with fabric.

It doesn't get too much more Candian that that.

Grambee and Jim and the U.S. of A!

We stopped in for a fast forward visit with my sister, her family, and her dogs, and drove up to my see my parents at their cottage. We had not seen them since last summer and it was time.

Paris coloring poster we picked up in Orleans.

Necklace making

Thanks to my sister, we completed this puzzle. It was so nice that she came up for the weekend.

Mexican Train!

Cool art barn where you can make almost anything. This year, the girls made spin art t-shirts.

Lunch delivered by electric train

Aunt Dee came to dinner and brought a game.

Whipped cream and hot chocolate at our favorite Swedish pancake restaurant.

We were sorry to miss my brothers and their families this year.

I am so grateful for my childhood summers and I am so happy I get to share this place and these people with Pierre and the girls. In fact, Pierre and I were married here (not at the Swedish restaurant) 12 years ago.

More Spain

I am so grateful that Michelle is my sister in law and you wish she was your child's teacher. What lucky kids! She was well prepared to entertain our girls.

Lillian painted the view

This guy is a pro. Family resemblance??

It was HOT. When we were not in the pool, the covered patio was the perfect spot.

Aunt Michelle made signs for the girls' rooms!

I am so grateful for the time we all had together. Thank you to everyone for making it happen. Much love to you all! We miss you.

Spain with Fabulous Family

We flew to Malaga and drove about an hour and a half to a little piece of family paradise. We made no attempt to take in any Spanish culture (luckily we had visited a couple times--it is one of my favorite places!). We visited, swam, ate, ate some more, swam with the baby, opened some presents, kissed the baby, and were very spoiled. A big thank you to our fabulous hosts and to Pierre's wonderful parents.

Moving and traveling had tired us out and this was perfect.