24.10.07

after much anticipation; much excitement & much preparation, lois, ché, willow & i returned canada as a family for the first time since we left to our new home.

okay. okay. so its only been a year. but with willow only being 15 months old, and there being salivating grandparents awaiting, there was much spoiling to be to done. a whole year's worth.

for me, the trip was a whirlwind. so right now, i want to make a blanket apology to all friends. i didn't get to see you cuz this trip was all about the fam'. i left lois & kiddles in kingston to bond with their nana. i — on the other hand — was only in the country for 9 days. within that nine days the following took place:

• 12 hour trip to arrive, from door to door
• i drove over 1600 kms
• we enjoyed 2 (or was it 3) thanksgiving dinners
• we had pancakes at least 4 times
• we traveled by plane, car, train, wagon, bicycle, swing, giant ball, trampoline, hammock, shoulder & swing
• we went to chuck E cheese, harrison park, balls o fun, movies, restaurants etc
• 18+ hour trip to return (for me), from door to door (did i mention i missed a plane + they lost my luggage?!)

tired out yet? it was a special week because my sis' tracey & hubby bill also flew up from texas to meet us. and a bonding with the breadners wouldn't be complete without a wagon ride through the breadner apple orchard and down to the beaver river. its a place where time stands still. i recall watching the beaver river rat race float by in my early days. hell, i actually hopped into my uncle's boat: "the leak freak" one year. it took a few minutes of watching me vigorously paddle to the finish line before my uncle dennis casually leaned forward and told me it wasn't really a race... but i digress.

we enjoyed a night in oakville where we were generously hosted by lisa, darren, connor & liam. meanwhile, i spilled over to H-town to tip a few with the boys. then it was off to settle in for a couple days in kingston-town. lois' brother rap & his beautiful wife had big news of their own. lois will soon be an aunt, which made her very excited.

i was reminded how stunning the autumn is in canada. the trees were just changing colours which caused plenty of ooo's and ahhh's in the back seat where ché was sitting... and then it was over. i'm not joking. next thing i knew, i was back on a series of airplanes & heading back to my new tropical home: antigua.

enjoy this photo gallery of 9 crazy-fast, wonderful days in canada. (click here)

many thanks for everyone's hospitality, gifts & warm clothes which we definitely needed. i'm back (alone) in may 2008.