Do you know how hard it is to choose photos for a vacation album? In fact, selecting the best photos isn’t really the issue. Knowing which of the others to delete is the problem because you never know when you might want the blurry one for an edgy feel or the one with a kid’s nose photobombing in the corner of it for blackmail later or all ten goofy face photos because they are just different enough that they all seem deserving of a spot in the album.
That being said, the pictures from our Nova Scotia vacation indicate an amazing time was had by all. Normally vacations are for relaxing, but when Grandma’s love overflows for you from her kitchen, you must move a few buckets of sand from here to there, wheel a barrow full of rocks from there to here, and spread some sod everywhere to maintain the status quo. After the h yard work was done, Danny showed up.
For fun, we enjoyed a two and a half hour family hike around Crystal Crescent Point, where some members of the crew learned how to make screen art on their phones by dropping them on the boulders. Then on another morning, for more fun, the kids and Danny woke up nice and early to go on a deep sea fishing adventure where one could simultaneously lose their breakfast while catching their supper. Continuing the fun, we brought pink eye with us, so each morning we could play Conjunctivitis Roulette, never knowing which child was going to wake up crusty and contagious.
In between all of the work and play, there was relaxing in the living room, relaxing at the dining room table over a slow breakfast or a late supper, relaxing on the deck when the sun was out, and relaxing at the beach where you could comb for sea glass, swim in the Atlantic, dig in the sand, or try to read your book. With all the work and the fun and the relaxing, there was very little time left for practicing music so the kids had a great time.
Our time in Pennant came to a close on a sunny morning, but our fun wasn’t over yet. We made our way to another town dear to our hearts to visit Dad and Mum Allan. Because our children are fish, we continued to spend time at favorite beaches nearly every day. In fact, James said that one of the nice things about visiting his grandparents is that he gets to go out and do something each day. By night our fish turned into musicians. Grandpa and Grandma Allan have the patience of Job (and hopefully really bad hearing) because they allowed several of the kids to try their hand at the accordion and autoharp.
Though Grandpa and Grandma do not live within walking distance from a Tim Horton’s anymore, Jake was undaunted by the drive and managed to get himself caffeinated on large amounts of sugar every morning and acquired a taste for A&W each evening. A teen’s idea of a good time may be wrapped up in what they eat (Anna was particularly fond of the homemade rhubarb pie and ice cream), but the younger children were excited about where they got to eat: on the roof of the shed, next to the deck!
There were no qualms about the new house. With rooftop dining, nearly tame deer and their loved ones wandering the lawn, mid-day ice cream treats, late night music classes, delicious meals at a table we all fit around, and memorable outings to local parks and beaches, we almost ended our vacation with no calamitous stain.
Alas, on our last evening, Ellie just had to put her shoulder out there, where it didn’t belong, earning another ER trip and hours of pain. Not only was she sore, but she sorely regretted throwing that football with all her might. Last time this happened, I wrote her a little poem, a la William Carlos Williams-style, and it seems apropos still.
So much depends
Upon
An intact
Shoulder
For bouncing
The ball
To hold the
Trophy
All in all, we did have a truly wonderful vacation. It had more “fun relaxing vibes in a new location” than “just discipling your kids in a different location” and now that we are back home, immersed in our typical daily routines, we are already wistful for that New Scotland air.
* Click here to browse the chosen photos from the trip.