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Category Archives: Family

#ThrowbackThursday – come ride with me

Posted on Posted in 2013, Family, Nostalgic, Throwback Thursday .

Because it’s still early January (in my opinion at least), I’m compelled to share this photo for #ThrowbackThursday.

Grandma and Papa Radford

Grandma and Papa Radford

It’s my favourite photo of my paternal grandparents. Grandma’s birthday was January 3 and every year I think of her; this year was no different. Her birthday was always the final party for my father’s family during the holidays. My father is one of three children, so they each took a day to host – Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and Grandma’s birthday. Grandma’s birthday was our evening to have everyone over and it was a nice way to finish off the holidays.

This photo was taken before I was born during a family trip to Disney World that involved my grandparents, my parents and brother, and my uncle (Dad’s brother), aunt and their three children.

There’s just something about this photo that I love. It’s a casual in-the-moment photo. Something you can’t catch if you try too hard. And this was back in the late 1970s, so there was no digital cheating or retaking available.

At first glance, I feel like the photo is from an old movie. I imagine Papa is a smooth talking stranger who happens to notice Grandma and starts chatting her up.

Imagine what they were discussing. The weather? What to eat for lunch? Reflecting on how nice it was to be on vacation with some of their children and grandchildren? Who knows.

My grandfather passed away when I was only four years old, so my memories of him are very limited. I really only have two that I can recall and even those are pretty fuzzy, but I cherish them.

My grandmother was a tough o’l bird and someone you didn’t mess with. She was with us until my last year of high school. Being the youngest of her grandchildren, she never did get to see me graduate. She also passed away just a couple of months before her first great-grandchild was born, but she was  always very proud of her “nine perfect grand children”. No doubt she would be very pleased with her 13 fabulous great-grandchildren that our family now has.

More photos like these to come down the road. I plan to raid my parents’ old photo albums in the coming months.

 

Mommy Musing Monday – Jet setter

Posted on Posted in 2014, Baby, Family, Holidays, Monday Musing, Ontario, Parenting, Toronto .

So this is my first Mommy Musing Monday for 2014. Keep your expectations low so that they’ll only get better.

I have some draft posts in my head covering other topics, but those will come another day.

This year for Christmas, we took Missy Moo to visit Matt’s family in Ontario. It was her first Christmas and boy were we busy! In addition to 12 fun days, we then returned home to have a second Christmas with my family. Between all of the excitement, I managed to let my guard down and my sinuses took advantage of the moment and held a coup… but I’m almost feeling 100%.

Lots of people fly with offspring, including babies. I now have a better appreciation for anyone who does.

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Mommy Musing Monday – Cheese!

Posted on Posted in 2013, Baby, Family, Holidays, Musing Monday, Parenting, Photography, Xmas .

Well, the holidays are upon us. It seems like as soon as Remembrance Day has passed, the next holiday (primarily Christmas where I live) tends to dominate all retail locations, television commercials and soon Christmas songs will flood the radio stations.

Not everyone sends out Christmas cards, but it’s a tradition that I still really enjoy. Since our wedding six years ago, I’ve basically kept a list that’s updated from time-to-time and modified with additions and deletions.

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#ThrowbackThursday – C’est l’Halloween

Posted on Posted in 2013, Family, Holidays, NL, Nostalgic, St. John's, Throwback Thursday .

If you’re Canadian and French was taught at your school (which is pretty much every school since I think they all had at least core French), then this time of year you would have heard the infamous song C’est l’Halloween.

I love that a CBC Music post from last year is floating around Facebook this week. It brings back an air of nostalgia where you can’t help but sing along enthusiastically when the song’s chorus starts.

Growing up, I always enjoyed Halloween. Whether I went trick or treating in Kilbride when we lived there, or in Cowan Heights after we moved; it was always so much fun.

One tradition I loved was going to my aunt and uncle’s house where we’d trick or treat in the neighbourhood and then go back to their house and enjoy some treats with family.

Halloween Outside

This is from the early 90s… not sure what year. But aren’t we so cute?!

Halloween Clowns

Based on how little my cousin Adam is, I think this photo is from 1987. So much cuteness!

Halloween in Newfoundland and Labrador often included costumes that were either extra big so that you could wear a snow suit underneath, or sometimes you incorporated your extra layers of clothes into your costume.

I mean, we didn’t have snow every year, but wow – it was pretty cold some years! Yet in the name of candy and the desire for a sugar high, it never did stop us and it certainly doesn’t stop kids today!

This year, we’re giving out some mini candy bars, but for the younger kiddos, we’re handing out little Halloween bags that have a Rocket and two mini Play-Dohs. Lots of candy will be acquired tonight, so I like the idea of giving something that will not simply give a sugar rush (OK so the Rocket will be guilty of that), but the Play-Doh is something fun.

Gobble Gobble

Posted on Posted in 2013, Family, Food, Holidays, NL, Nostalgic, Ontario .

This weekend in Canada is our Thanksgiving weekend. While our American friends celebrate Thanksgiving at the end of November, we typically celebrate the second weekend of October.

The Monday of the weekend is a statutory holiday (yay long weekend!) and traditionally there’s a feast of turkey dinner and other traditional treats depending on where you live or what your family enjoys.

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