July 2011 Nova Scotia Trip - Part 2

We spent the second week of our trip With my mom and Trent. It was also so much fun! We are so lucky to have so many wonderful family members to visit!

We LOVE spending time at my mom’s gorgeous ocean front house. We also love how much she spoils us with her amazing cooking, and does everything she can to make our visits perfect!

I think my mom adores Payton more then anyone I know! She spends every second she has with him, reading, playing, and teaching him. I wish she was closer. Payton absolutely LOVES “nanny” and made sure she was always with him.

We went and picked Raspberries one of the first days we were there. Payton ate as many as we picked. He had fun running up and down the rows, eating as many as he could grab.

My mom put up a swing for Payton to play in. He loved it, and always wanted someone to push him.

We walked down to the shore, and played on the rocks. The water by their house is way to strong and dangerous to swim in, but Payton made sure to get wet in all the puddles.

Of course we spent TONS of time with Jasmine. I miss this girl tons! She is the best Aunt ever, and Payton loved playing with “Jazzy.”

One of the reason’s we decided to go when we did was so I could be at my friend Nadine’s wedding. We have been friends for as long as I can remember. I think since we lived next door to each other when we were 1. It was so great to be able to be at her absolutely beautiful wedding. She was breathtaking! We loved being able to attend!

The day before we flew home, My mom planned an early birthday Party for Payton. She made a some delicious sides and a cake, and we had a cookout on the shore by my Grandparents cottage.

It was fun to spend some time on the shore I have so many memories of. We had tons of cookouts there, so it was fun to have one with Payton

Payton loved blowing out the Candles on his cake. The cutest thing is that my mom taught him to say “I’m two” and hold up two fingers, one one each hand.
We loved visiting my grandparents! They are so wonderful, and I miss them so much. We were able to stop and see them a few times. My nanny spoiled Payton rotten with toys, books and puzzles.

Everyone was so kind and gave Payton some wonderful birthday presents. He had a blast opening them, and we brought them all back to Idaho. He loves playing with all the toys he got!

We got a few pictures of family. My aunt Gail and Uncle John were visiting, and they FINALLY got to meet Payton. We enjoyed spending time with them, and hope it isn’t another 3 years before seeing them again!

The last evening we were there, my uncle took us mackerel fishing. Devry finally has a Nova scotia fishing story. He caught 4 all at the same time. Talented guy! It was amazing to see how many fish people were catching at high tide.

We had such an incredible trip! It was so great to see family, enjoy Nova Scotia, and have a break. We wish we could go more! With Devry’s new job, our trips home may get even more difficult, but we hope to continue to go at least once a year.

July 2011 Nova Scotia Trip Week 1

We had a wonderful trip to see my family. Payton did so well on the flights, and loved every minute of being spoiled rotten. The First week we stayed with my dad. We had such a fun week visiting family, going to the beach, going to the wildlife park, and just relaxing at their beautiful ocean front home.

Payton loved visiting "Grampie" and "nan." It is so confusing for him though, to know who is who. He has a Grandma and Grandpa (Devrys Parents), A Grampie and Nan (my dad and Elizabeth), Nanny and Grandpa Trent (My mom and Trent), plus Grammy and Grandad (my grandparents on my moms side), and Great Nanny ( my dads mom). It's confusing enough for me, I can understand why Payton constantly called people the wrong name.

Here are some pictures of the week we spent with my Dad and Elizabeth.

Payton was a bit shy at first, but within a few minutes was loving every minute with Grampie and Nan.

We Visited my Nanny, and my little Sister Kayleigh came too. I'm glad Payton is so social and warms up to most people so quickly. He loved both of them!

We took Payton the the wild life park. It was a lot of fun because I went there SO many times as a kid. It really hasn't changed.

We Fed the ducks.

And Saw lots of animals. Payton Loved the bears the most.


The next 2 pictures were actually Devry's idea. Growing up in Nova Scotia, the tides were never something I thought much of. The Bay of Fundy (the part of the ocean both my parents live on) has the highest tides in the world. Devry couldn't believe it when he first saw it, and wanted to take some pictures.

So here is Low tide.

And here is high tide.

We enjoyed watching the tides, and also Playing in the water. Well.. Payton enjoyed playing in the water. It was WAY too cold for us, but this tough kid will play in water at any temperature!
He loved throwing rocks with Devry. Devry was skipping rocks and Payton would try to copy him.

Walking through the freezing cold water.

The only one brave enough to get in the water was Kayleigh. Payton is lucky to have such a great Aunt!

He Gradually got deeper and deeper in the water, until he was dunking his head under.

Rocks are definitely a favorite toy!

Payton was combing the beach with Grampie and Nan. They collect beach glass and are always combing the beach.

I just love this guy. Isn't he just so hot!!

And now you get to see true excitement of being in the water....

I love this picture of Payton and Kayleigh. Payton was copying her when she plugged her nose. The part of the picture I missed was when Kayleigh dunked under...so did payton. It was too cute!

Daddy and Payton digging on the beach.

And here is a picture of me. Just to prove that I really AM there. I just prefer to be behind the camera.

We got to visit my Nanny a few times while we were home. We also got to see my aunts and uncles! Payton finally got to meet my Aunt gail and Uncle Joe. I am kicking myself for not taking a picture of him with them. I am a horrible photographer..taking pictures is always an afterthought for me.

We had so much fun visiting my dad and Elizabeth. It is always so nice to go home and spend some relaxing time with them. Payton LOVED every minute of our trip, and was so entertained with all the new things to see and do. I just wish we could go more often!

Today

Yesterday I spend a lot of the day cleaning. It still amazes me how quickly a 2 year old can mess things up.
Today I went visiting teaching, took Payton to his 2 year well check, came home made lunch and just barely put him down for a nap. I looked around and felt overwhelmed with how messy my house had become since yesterday. I was thinking I should get to work cleaning.

But....instead. I'm going to take a nap. Because I have to work tonight. Because I'm tired. Because I don't NEED to clean. So Today I am leaving my house like this....


And this.....

And I am not cleaning the bathrooms like I should, or mowing the lawn, or doing laundry.
But I AM taking a much needed nap.

Adjusting.

I promise I haven't disappeared. We are slowly adjusting to the new changes in our lives. Payton and I are missing Devry so much. It is amazing how much more I notice all the things he did around the house, that are now my responsibility. I am learning how to pretty much be a single working mom. There never seems to be enough time in the day for everything, so blogging has taken a back seat. I NEED to get caught up and post about our trip to Nova Scotia, Payton's Birthday, all the silly things payton is up to, and our quick trip to visit Devry in Rock Springs. I am hoping I can get a bit caught up this week.
Devry is doing training all of this month, so he left August 7th and probably won't be home till the end of the month, or next month. We can't wait till he actually starts his schedule of 8 days on then 6 days off. I am still working full time nights. Hopefully that will change in November. It may be a few difficult months, but we will make it. Thankfully Devry's family is close, and his parents have been wonderful about watching Payton for me while I work. I don't know what I would do without them.
I hope I can get adjusted some more and be able to find more time for blogging.