Trivial Pursuit To End Trivial Moments

I'm not sure if the stars are out of whack or what, but recently it has definitely felt like it's Jon and I against the world, and the score isn't pretty.  It's so easy to get swept up in all the difficulties that seem to be in your path sometimes.  But then, there's moments like this that make us realize that all the stuff that we convince ourselves has any long lasting effects on our life really does not.  

Last night at 3:00am after trying to figure out some plans for things we've got in the works right now, Jon and I were still up and still felt like we were in an endless uphill battle against the world.  Then Jon turned to me and pulled out the Trivial Pursuit from the coffee table.  Ahhh, beautiful Trivial Pursuit.

I have always been a board game lover, but there is something about Trivial Pursuit that really does make all the problems of the world seem... trivial.  I love this game so much.  I mean really... who can focus on any of life's "problems" when you're trying to remember "What state on the Mississippi River boasts the only diamond field in North America?"  (If you're thinking Arkansas, you're right!)  And what's the point of worrying when you have to think of "Is a Pumpkin a fruit or a vegetable?"  (Clearly, it's a fruit.)

The thing that I really love about Trivial Pursuit, is that the one we have is the one I played growing up.  The "Young Edition" version that my parents bought circa 1980.  A lot of the questions are out of date and the game itself looks very... loved.  Playing it now, over 30 years since its creation, it's kinda retro.  Like a historical Trivial Pursuit.  :)

When we play this though, I love that not only is it one of the best distractions from all the day to day stuff that is so easy to get caught up in, but also the time that we spend together playing and just being care free.  I love that the memories I have of playing this game with my mom, dad and sister are now being enhanced as Jon and I create new memories every time we pull those pie pieces out.  No matter what life throws at us, we will always have each other, and we will always have Trivial Pursuit.   

Thanksgiving With The Monahans

This weekend we headed down to Jon's parent's place in Lockeport.  The few weeks leading up to the weekend have been a little stressful for Jon and I.  Lots of things going on with his work, and hopefully things leading to good news in the future, but still stressful at the moment.  At any rate, we both really needed a break to be home with family.  I've said a few times I'm so grateful to truly have family in my in-laws.  It really is a home away from home, and I'm always happy when we're able to head down there.  This time was no different.

Dad prepared a beautiful turkey dinner with all the fixings and I brought down a pumpkin pie.  Dad has recently been making home made wine (He's actually got me into the wine making this summer too!)  So after supper, we all got in to the wine and shared the most precious thing of all... family time.  :)  I love moments like this to remind us what's really important in life, and to give us renewed strength to keep pursuing the things that we desire from life.

It being thanksgiving, I also have to say that I am so thankful for all our friends and family who have supported us in tough times and celebrated with us in great times.  Without our friends and family we would be no where.  I'm also thankful to be blessed with a husband who is truly my rock.  He's such a good man, with such a sweet soul and I couldn't be happier to share my life with anyone else.  Together I know we'll be able to conquer anything we set our minds too.

These are some pictures of Lockeport.  Possibly a glimpse into why I feel so much peace there.

 

Christmas Comes Early In Canada

While growing up in New Jersey, it was SO painful waiting all the way through November before you could get to thanksgiving before it was finally time to get ready for Christmas!!!

Oh... but not in Canada!  That's right my American friends, Thanksgiving comes early in Canada, which means that so does the hype up to Christmas!!  This weekend is Thanksgiving Weekend in Canada and it could not come a moment sooner for The Monahans!  It's been a relatively stressful few weeks for both of us and Jon and I are desperately looking forward to some time in Lockeport with the family.  It's been a little while since we've had a proper visit down and with everything that has been going on it'll be nice to take a moment to relax and focus on what's really important - family time!!  :)   

I have to say what I'm most thankful for this thanksgiving is having amazing family around me.  Especially my in-laws.  My parents live in New Jersey and very rarely are able to make their way up here to Nova Scotia so it makes such a huge difference to have in-laws that truly are family.  I feel so bad for friends when they grimace at the thought of spending time with their in-laws.  I'm so grateful to have an additional family in them, and a home away from home.  Can't wait to share some wine over board games... Me and mom in law are huge board game fans so hopefully I'll be able to talk hubby into some board games while we're home for the weekend.  I'll also be taking the first pumpkin pie of the season down with us!  YUM!

Although it's definitely easier some times than other....there's something beautiful in stopping and thinking about the things we're thankful for in our life.  

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving... whether you're celebrating this weekend or in November!   :) 

"Hurricane" Earl

Those who know Jon well know that he's always had a thrill of adventure.  Most notably he loves checking out natural disasters... while they are occurring.  Immediately after the 2004 Christmas Tsunami that hit Southeast Asia, he headed down to Sri Lanka and ended up helping with the relief effort, and checking out the destruction that had occurred.  So, it was no surprise to me when he woke me up this Saturday morning to check out the destruction we were expecting from Hurricane Earl.  We woke up at 9 am and it looked just like a regular cloudy day.  When we left the house at 10am, there was still really not much going on...   We drove around the city and went to Halifax harbour.  There were a few broken branches and business signs knocked down, and the seas were rough for sure, but it still didn't really feel like a hurricane.  So then we headed up to Lawrence Town Beach, where they were predicting 30ft waves.  Although RCMP officers were blocking off the beaches and really dangerous areas we did still get a glimpse of some pretty crazy waves.  Definitely not 30ft waves, but I can see why the RCMP was blocking off the area.  We got out for a short bit, but I almost blew away so we decided to get back in the car.  :) All in all, although there was some damage and quite a bit of the city was left without power, it just felt like a heavy rain storm for us more than anything... Didn't even loose power.  Glad we didn't get what was predicted!!

The Cotton Anniversary

I have to start off again apologizing for my slight absense... My computer has really had a case of the sickies recently and spent another two weeks at FutureShop.  Hopefully we're all resolved now though...  :)

So a few weekends ago Jon and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary, which is apparently "The Cotton Anniversary".  Luckily, we did not exchange any cotton.  Hehe...  Instead we headed up to Cape Breton for the weekend, and two nights of camping!  It was so much fun!!  I have to say we've been really lucky with how much camping we've gotten in this summer.

We started out towards Glace Bay, N.S. for the Cole Miner's Museum and were lead down into the caves by an ex cole miner who told us some stories of what it was like growing up in Canada during those times, and then growing up to follow a long family tradition of cole mining.  It was very inspiring.  After the 6 hour drive up there, and spending about two hours at the Cole Miner's we were very anxious to get to our Campsite and relax!

After a nice swim in the pool, two bbq steaks and some relaxin by the fire we rested and hit the road again the next morning!  We went on to the Cabot Trail which I completely fell in love with.  I have no idea how I've been living in Nova Scotia for 9 years now and have never been to that end of the province!!  The scenery was unreal, the pictures really do not do it justice at all!!

The second night we camped just at the end of the Cabot Trail in the Highlands National Park.  The second night wasn't as relaxing as we were exhausted and it was seriously freezing!!  We then headed back home and stopped at the Glenora Distillery for a tour of the only single malt scotch distillery in canada.  And at the "Red Shoe Pub" which is run by the Rankin Sisters.  All in all, a wonderful anniversary trip.  The more I see of this province, the more I fall in love with it.  Funny thing, I feel the same way about my husband.

Quick Hello From New Jersey!

Normally long gaps between my postings mean that not much is really going on but this time it's been quite the opposite.  Things have picked up fast in the last little bit, in a good way!!  Jon and I (Okay, me more so than Jon... but still)  have been getting alot of chances to just really focus on us and take some time back for ourselves.  After a trip down to Lockeport for my sister in law's grad from high school, Canada Day celebrations and now spending a week with my family in Jersey it certainly has been go go go!!  I'll blog again once I'm home about my Jersey trip, but for now I'll say that words cannot even begin to describe how theraputic coming home is.  I truly love mine and Jon's life that we've built together in Halifax, but there is something about the home you grew up in that cannot be replaced or replicated.  It is what it is, and exists only in that one place, and needs to be cherished.

These pics are mostly of my niece and her mommy and daddy!  (And we have a nephew on the way as you can see!!)

Happy Birthday Canada... And The Navy Too!!

Canada Day is Jon's FAVORITE holiday, hands down.  He loves it more than Christmas and his birthday... combined.  I haven't quite figured out why but he absolutely loves it!!  So I was thrilled that he got in from sea early and we were able to enjoy the festivities for it!

This Canada day was very special because it was also the 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Navy, and I have always had a fascination with the Navy.  The morning of Canada Day Jon and I headed down to the Halifax waterfront to check out all the amazing Navy boats from all over the world in town to celebrate with us!  We actually also got a tour of a Danish ship.  It was the largest in the Danish Navy, and actually had two docks for helicopters on board, and had one helicopter there.  Pretty cool stuff!!  :o)  Unfortunately I had forgotten my camera so these are pics that I looked up of the ship online, from the Danish Navy website.

After checking out the waterfront, and grabbing some burgers on the boardwalk for lunch we headed home for a nap.  (It was at this point that we realized we are officially old....hehe.)  And then we were off to the Joel Plaskett concert at Alderny Landing on the Dartmouth Waterfront.  It was good music, fireworks and a great time enjoying a beautiful and very special Canada Day with my hunny.  Luckily, this time I remembered my camera!

Feeling Nostalgic...

I've been thinking a lot about family recently and feeling nostalgic, so made a video that I wanted to share. Enjoy!

Holiday Travels

So we are finally back from our holiday travels, and back into the swing of things in Halifax. We're both really excited about 2009 and what this year will bring. The holiday treats were delicious. The new recipes for the stocking stuffers came out perfect, and were a hit!! Here are some quick snapshots of our holiday adventures!