Toronto 2015
The day we were leaving.. Penny decided to learn how to crawl up the stairs.. what a brave little girl!
We boarded the plane last Saturday (August 1st) to start this new little adventure.
We arrived to my Aunt's house where we were staying for the week around midnight. It was a long day but the kids were happy so it made it much easier! They all did great on the flight there. The boys were SO EXCITED to be going on an air plane.
On Sunday, we just hung out at her house and met some family. My Aunt has a pool in here incredible backyard, so the kids spent a lot of their time in there!
Monday was a day that Brian and I had been looking forward to! We were going to the Blue Jays game and it ended up being Price's first time pitching for the team and the crowd was AMAZING!
We went with Logan, Bob, Don and Laura and the day was great. We got on the train to get to the stadium and the boys loved it. As you can imagine, the kids needed breaks throughout the game. It was a super hot day sitting in great seats that were fully in the sun with three little kids and a long baseball game... so Brian and I each took a turn taking them for a walk and even Logan did as well which was SUPER nice of him to do! Penny was really hot and fussy for the first three innings but then slept in her carseat for the rest of the game which was awesome!
The Jays won and we seriously had such a great time! It was an amazing experience and Brian and I for sure would LOVE to go to another game!
After the game, we got back on the train and headed back to Sandy's house. The kids were exhausted and Bentley and Penny slept the whole train ride back!
Once we got home, the kids got right back into the pool.. of course...
(Hahahahahaa! Carter, he cracks me up!)
We enjoyed a quiet evening once the kids were in bed and just socialized with everyone, trying to get to know everyone.
Tuesday was really fun too! We woke up and headed back downtown to their new aquarium.
The aquarium was amazing but crazy crowded!! Like way too many people crowded! It was hard to walk around let alone look at the fish BUT it was still amazing and they did an incredible job with the new aquarium. It was beautiful and really interactive for children.
I was feeling so sad though because I left my Camera in the car so all of our photos are just from our phones.. which you can imagine.. isn't sufficient enough for me lol
I think our boys were overwhelmed by the amount of people because they didn't even look in all the tanks, but rather rushed through the entire thing. As long as they were happy, so were we though! Once everyone else finished, we all took a walk downtown to Wayne Gretzky's Resturant! It was like a mini museum. Really cool to see!
Once we were done there, Brian and I weren't ready to stop yet. We had paid for a pull day parking downtown (and prices are crazy in Toronto) so we decided to walk a few more blocks to the Hockey Hall of Fame! Everyone else was too tired to keep going so we split up and went our selves. I knew I wanted to go, but didn't realize how much I would enjoy it! IT WAS AMAZING. So cool to see jerseys and skates from way back when.. so fun to recognize names and really fun for Penny and I to watch our three boys just going crazy over hockey!
And ummm HELLO!!!! We got to touch the stanley cup! Cool! We also got to pay $10 for this horrible quality photo.. but it was worth it.. right!?
Brian and the boys did a mock Sports Centre broadcast too which was (hilarious) so fun for me to watch!
Here is the video to see it for yourself!
21150804232428 from Brian Reed on Vimeo.
It was really fun to go to and I am so glad we did! (Take a look at these cuties!)
Wednesday morning we woke up and didn't really have plans until 3:00pm so we decided it was a perfect day to play at the pool and hang out in my Aunt Sandy's backyard. I mean honestly, her backyard is like a dream yard! SO SO relaxing and entertaining for the kids, it is perfect!
And by 9am their feet were dirty and it was already a successful day!
Now, not only was my Aunt Sandy amazing, but she was also so kind and thoughtful and generous! Bentley really doesn't like cool water and as soon as she heard that, she took Bentley and "secretly" turned the heat all the way up in her pool so it became a super warm pool instead. It really was so sweet and thoughtful and I know Bentley loved it because he immediately became a water baby! Time to jump in the pool.
Carter started doing all his crazy flips and jumps again off her diving board and I think we were all in heaven!
At 3pm my cousin Laura was coming over and we were following her to her Dojo where she had set up a Karate class for the boys but we really wanted our kids to nap before then so Brian and I went out for a nice drive in hopes they would sleep in the car... and they totally did! We drove around the community and down to a little park. We parked right out front of Lake Ontario and the scenery was superb!
The Tiny Tigger's Karate class didn't start until 4pm but Laura took the boys early and let them all play around the Dojo with her. They loved every single minute with Laura and she was so great with them!
Penny loved it too!
Once the real class started only Taytum and Carter were really listening or into it (which makes sense because it was for 3-5 year old which is right in their age group) and they were adorable to watch!
lol Taytum's bum was so high in his push-ups and I wanted noting more than to give it a pinch.. HE WAS SO CUTE!!!!!!!
Thank you so so much Laura, you have no idea how fun it was so get to know you better! My boys are still talking about their "Senpai Laura"!
I was feeling most excited to go to Niagra Falls and that was on the list for Thursday! I have always wanted to see the falls and knew that they were huge but was blown away at how beautiful and grand they were!
I had a few minutes while everyone else was getting ready so before we left I took a sweet moment with my baby girl, just her and I cuddling on the front step telling her how in love I am with her. She really does have my heart.
The drive to Niagra Falls was just over an hour. The boys fought and whined the entire way there and finally fell asleep the moment we got to the falls... of course, but they were in pretty good spirits when we got there.
It was lunch time so we first went out the rainforest Cafe with everyone and it was such a cool place to eat for the kids.
Oh my gosh, Taytum... you're cute!
The walk to the falls was fun. In Niagara Falls, the streets were busy and cramped but every building was so fun and different!
The moment we saw the falls, Brian and I fell in love with them. They were even better than we imagined and the pictures don't do it justice. They are incredible!!!!
We all spent so much time look at them. I felt like they took my breath away.
-----> And can I just pause for a moment and get a little sappy... Seriously, the falls were amazing but sharing it with this man was the best part by far! Brian you are so handsome!!! I love this picture of you! You mean everything to me and I love that we get to live in this beautiful world and share these once in a life time events together. You make me so happy!!!! I love you sweetheart! <-----
Ok, its out of my system! Our little family was for sure not done with the falls yet, but Amanda and her family and Bob and Grandma were so we all split ways again.
I feel like I could have spent a week at the falls! We started walking towards the Canadian side of the falls but got distracted by a nice green field calling our names to let the kids run around. It was perfect!
With the falls in front of us and the kids running around while I sit beside the love of my life.. it was a perfect afternoon!
And these two little turkeys of ours have a really special bond. They stick together and sometimes want to physically fight each other from being so upset or angry at one another but at the end of the day they are friends, the best of friends and they share a bond like no one else. It is special.
We decided to keep walking and as per usual.. turned our two children stroller into a three children stroller... I'm sure people stare at this thinking we are super weird.... but creative lol
I really could have stayed there forever but it was getting closer to dinner time so we looked at the falls one last time ... for an extra hour.. and then headed back.
The day was amazing and so nice to get to know Bob and Grandma a little better too!
Friday was another busy day. We woke up, packed and headed out to Sharon and Niel's new cottage on Pigeon Lake.
Sharon and Niel are my Aunt and Uncle and are amazing people. They are also so kind and generous and super fun! The moment we arrived, Niel was ready to play. We all jumped on the boat and I think Carter was the most excited lol
Uncle Niel even let all the boys have a turn driving the boat.
Penny wasn't sure what to think of the boat but I think she would have loved it if she didn't have to wear a life jacket lol
And not long after we left, she totally fell asleep in Amandas arms.
Niel even took us out tubbing. And although there are no pictures of me on it.. I was on it with Brian and it was really fun... we did't go fast because I was freaking out but it was still fun!
Brian took Carter out first... with his hilarious goggles on of course..hahahahahaha
and then he took Taytum on with him!
And when Taytum came back we were all laughing at what the wind did to his hair.. Aunt Sandy said he looked like Kevin off of the movie home alone and she was totally right! lol Cutie pie!
Niel didn't stop the fun there though.. the moment we got off the boat, he hooked up his quad to a trailer, threw in a couple of air mattresses and took us all on a ride in the trailer around the dirt roads where we eventually ended up at the corner store. He treated all the little boys to a popsicle and everyone was all smiles!
And as if that wasn't enough for these kids. As soon as we got back from that, he got out his John Deere Lawn Mower and started doing wheelies with it!! WHAT!!?
He gave each boy a turn doing a Wheelie with him. It was awesome and so funny to watch!
And after day one at the lake, the kids were beyond tired... Penny didn't even make it through all of dinner...
Saturday morning on the lake was absolute bliss. The water was calm and warm, there was dew on the dock and we were all completely relaxed.
Brian started the fishing off at 7:30am and caught the first fish of the day!
Then it was time for a quick boat ride.. and who can seriously resist the CUTE CUTE CUTE life jacket bums!
Tatum Loved showing this auntie his muscles.. this is him flexing them for me ....
And Carter and Bentley LOVED walking Sharon and Niel's little dogs, Eve and Cosmo"
Once Paul and Joyce around (Another Uncle and Aunt of ours) the fishing began! Paul and his family are really into fishing so he brought fishing rods for everyone and we all got really into it with him! It was a really fun few hours!
Of course when a fish was caught, before we thew it back in the lake... all the kids needed to "pet the fish" .. every single time.. haha poor fish!
Taytum was a natural! He could reel in that fish like no ones business and caught the biggest bass of the day!
I think the best part was that within two minutes of every cast, each fishing line would have a fish so it was fast paste for the kids (and me) which made fishing so exciting!
I cannot get enough of this cute picture of Carter .. his first fish and he was so proud!
Pucker up fish lips!
And while Amanda held my Penny-Girl..
.. I cast a line and caught a fish too!
And then she did as well!
After fishing, it was time for the older "kids" to have some fun! Brian went out with my cousin James on the tube and they looked like they were having a blast!
Then it was Logan's turn!
Then James went alone...
And then Brian went alone too. They all looked like they were having so much fun. Saturday night consisted of amzing drawing from my cousin Alisha to the boys.. I mean seriously.. look at her dump truck for bentley! Sure beats my rectangle with wheels!
She really is very talented. We had a lovely dinner, and a huge birthday cake for Grandma and quickly took some reunion photos incredible fast because my camera battery was about to die and I forgot to bring the other one from Sandy's house. So it was fast and for sure not perfect, but it will do.
My Aunt Sharon has a quote on one of her bedroom walls that was so sweet. Im not sure I remember it word for word but I think it said something like "No matter when, No matter where.. its always home if love it there". The thing is, I was nervous to go on this trip to meet everyone. I didn't want to talk about the past, I wanted to just look forward. I didn't want to rehash anything from when I was little. My parents, their divorce, or feelings that were left unsaid or felt over the last 25 years. I wanted a fresh start and genuine relationships. I wanted to feel like I was apart of something, apart of a family I was getting to know.
There was a small little hiccup on Saturday evening. It could have changed everything for me, but it didn't. Things were said and it was left at that. But when it came down to it, I felt loved, and respected. I felt cared for and I felt like I wasn't alone. It did not refelct on everyone and the one person I was trying to get to know best, had our back and that means so much.
So back to the quote on my Aunt Sharon's wall, its true. As long as there is love, you will feel home. I must express my gratitude for Sharon and Niel and Sandy. They used their aeroplan points to get mine and Amandas whole family out there. Sandy let us stay in her house and James and Laura gave up their bedrooms and bathrooms so we could use them. I am so very grateful. Sandy had everything ready for Penny too.. A highchair, a crib a change table and an insane amount of diapers to use so I didn't have to pack them.
Sandy even made Penny's crib with her daughter Laura's crib bedding! How special!! Here is Laura in it 24 years ago..
And Penny using it, just last week.
I am thankful for Bob, for taking time off of work and driving from Winnipeg to get to know us better too. For everyone else as well who drove from all over Toronto to come and say hi!Sharon and Niel invited us out to their brand new cottage for the weekend. Made us amazing dinners, snacks, drinks, and really made us feel right at home. They shared everything they had with us and we are so thankful. They were patient with our children and were so kind to them. Even Carter said "MOM!!! These people are so nice" after the first day of being there.
I am so thankful for Brian and for having the personality to get along with everyone. He is calm and caring and sees all sides of the story. He can calm my troubled heart and make any situation ok. He is GREAT at starting conversations and getting to know people which was awesome this week. Thank you babe for being there by my side the whole time!
We are so thankful for getting to know everyone! We really wanted the trip to be possible to get to know everyone and it was just that! We are excited to see where these new relationships go and how they develop. Thank you so much Sandy for organizing so much despite your crazy hectic life, we appreciate everything everyone did for us.
We had to be up at 1:40am Calgary time to catch our flight from Toronto to Calgary early Monday Morning. We said our goodbyes and gave hugs and headed on our way. The flight was exhausting! The kids were tired, we were tired and every hour seemed extra long. Penny was super fussy too on the way home, but we made it and are happy to be back home.
Until next time, we are thankful for everything and hopeful for what the future holds! Onto the next adventure with this little Reed Family.