well, well, well......i haven't spent much time here lately. let me tell you about my summer and you'll know why!

one of the big perks of teaching at a university are the long vacations. i had just over 8 weeks off this summer and due to the arrival of my first niece in april (and my last post!!) and my dad's 60th birthday and retirement this summer---i decided to book my trip home for the whole 8 weeks! i couldn't wait any more to see mallory and leaving canada before mid-august and missing my dad's special party wasn't in the question.

so here goes a quick run down of my vacation:

june 27th(in the very early hours!) to july 2nd:
i arrived in the saint john airport to my eagerly awaiting family. they had a surprise belated birthday party for me and i got to, finally, meet mallory.......and she's simply perfect!

july 6th to july 25th:
amy and i spent most afternoons and evenings helping friends plan their wedding. (long story short---immigration gave them 3 weeks to get their wedding done!)

july 11th:
listened into the paul mccartney concert in halifax from leesa's apartment across the street. much more fun than i expected! it was a great evening.

july 16th to july 20th:
amy and i set out for a 4 night-5 day camping trip around the southwestern part of nova scotia. it was a great time and on our last day or the trip we put our feet on about 10 beaches! i love nova scotia!!!

july 25th & 26th:
the big day finally came and we celebrated karla and adam's wedding. adam's sister and brother-in-law were able to come and they live about 15 minutes from wendy, michael and mallory. lucky for me because the next day i hitched a ride to new brunswick so i could spend some more time with pretty girl (aka mallory).

july 26th to august 3rd:
i had a great time learning who mallory is and appreciating everything about her. she truly is an amazing little girl. i can't wait 'till she can talk to me through skype.

august 2nd & 3rd:
amy arrived for just one night in saint john so i could have a ride home. what a great sister!!

august 7th to august 10th:
amy and i drove to grand lake nb to spend the night with the thorns and steal wendy and mallory so they could join us for a flying trip to pei. it was mallory's first time camping and i'm sure she's hooked!!

august 11th to august 15th:
these were the last days before dad's big party to celebrate his 6oth birthday and very much anticipated retirement.

august 16th:
the day of the big party. it was a lot of work but very fun---my family has so many good friends!

august 17th:
recovery, clean-up and relaxing. the thorns were home for dad's party but michael was kind enough to let wendy and mallory stay in nova scotia for the last few days before i flew back to korea.

august 18th:
this was my day to get any shopping done.....clothes for work, hair products to tame curly hair (which is almost non-existent in korea) and any treats i needed for friends and students.

august 19th:
my mom's cousin was visiting nova scotia from calgary and we spent the morning together for one last enjoyment of the south shore for me and so she could meet us. this is the actual date of my dad's birthday so when he got home from work we all went to the fundy shore for a lobster picnic. it was delicious and a beautiful night.

august 20th:
this was a busy day! i packed all morning. said good-bye to my nannie and mom's sister---janet. packed the van. (my flight was out of saint john so we were driving there. we returned wendy and mallory to michael and mom and dad spent a couple days with them.) on the way to new brunswick we stopped in falmouth to visit annalise (a friend from university) and her parents. we had supper with my aunt in moncton and finally made it to saint john with barely enough time to play a game of settlers with wendy and michael.

august 21st:
after napping for a few hours 330am came pretty quickly and my time was over. mom and dad drove me to the airport and my epic 24hr journey of flights and airports began.


whew!!! that was a busy 8 weeks! also packed in there in the days i was actually in kentville was strawberry and blueberry picking (yummy!!!!!!), visits to see my grandparents, hanging out at halls harbour, and a day trip or two to the south shore (can't ever get enough!).

when i was booking my trip home i never imagined 8 weeks could have been so busy. i sure missed teddy (and will never leave him again for that long!), but it was a great time and it was so wonderful to get to know mallory.

i will post some pictures soon!