finally, i have some pictures to share of my trip to canada to visit family and friends. kai and i travelled together to toronto and then vancouver. he was over the moon delighted for this trip, especially since we decided we would stay on a little longer in sweden. a trip home was necessary and so good for the both of us.
so lovely to see you vancouver!
our home base was with alexia and darrin. they prepared a cozy room for kai and i. it was relaxed, perfect for taking it easy. hanging out in the garden to enjoy homemade pizzas or slow cooked meat. a skip and hop away is a familiar park, where we would play. it felt right to be there - even before alexia and darrin had their kids, kai would request to visit, it's a second home and i should have known we would fit in like no time passed. morning cuddles from kara. the kiddos hamming it up... kai was engaged, playful and patient with the kara and leo... it also tore at my heartstrings that we took him away from this, being a big brother. deep breath. vancouver will be our home again, soon.
the very first thing i wanted to do when we arrived in vancouver was go to the beach. stockholm is full of great spots to swim but no real beach, at least not like the ones in vancouver... a looooong coast of sandy beach. alexia obliged my request and off we went with the kiddos.
i finally met grayson! what a sweet and happy boy. it was a weird feeling to be a stranger to suji's little guy when the opposite is true of suji and kai. she was such a big part of kai's life, from the moment he was born and continues to be one of his favourite people. but i know i will get my time with little grayson, he hasn't seen the last of me.
we walked in pacific spirit park one morning with her trio of dogs - we took kai here often when he was a toddler to run around and get the wiggles out.
i also got some one on one time with his mama. we spent a day together shopping on main and 4th - a dress, sandals and silk road tea followed me home :-) we ate at anh and chi for lunch - make sure to order the vietnamese coffee! and for treats, jj bean makes a lovely vegan zucchini muffin and trafiq, well, has lots of cookies and pastries to choose from including fresh juices. i miss these days with suji, she is such a beautiful old soul, smart, and caring. sigh. i miss her.
home! kai and i popped into our neighbourhood to say hi to the neighbours and then returned a couple of days later for dinner. to be sitting on the grassy knoll hanging out with my neighbours felt so right. we still belonged, us gossiping about the strata and kai running around with the little ones. and simone! seriously, we wanted to pack her up and take her home with us but rita and randall wouldn't let us! i love our little oasis and it's filled with new kiddos and dogs too. we are so homesick.
i was so happy kai fit right in with his school friends. he misses leif, jack, and charlotte, to name a few. there was a sleepover and after school hangouts too. he even went to school to be with his friends. he loved his time with these sweet friends. there may have even been a first kiss.
and, there was swimming with jacob at hillcrest which is his favourite indoor pool, rain or shine ice cream with liam (a new canadian friend found in stockholm!), and thomas haas treats with kayan, our littlest friend.
deep cove with the weinsteins was such fun! they couldn't get rid of us, we came for an afternoon of lunching and kayaking and ended up staying for dinner. i really enjoy deep cove, beyond the honey donuts! deep cove has the best shops - ahoy, room 6, and sunnyside - where you are sure to find something perfect like those coasters pictured below. and then there's that scenery and being on the water with the sweetest friends who make you feel special and you know there will laughter (but thankfully no bears!).
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| boys who don't want to shop :-) |
when canada day rolled around, i took kai and kara to celebrate on granville island. granville island is such a special place and i miss it tremendously. we walked around the market but not for long, too much activity was happening outside! balloon art, coloured popcorn, dancing and so much more. i may have been more excited than the kiddos :-)
the day with patrycja was lovely. it was a beautiful ramble in the woods with my friend and our sons. her greyson is a runner, down hills and up steep ones, my heart was having a fit but who could blame him, he wanted to be a big boy like kai :-) i am sad that i won't be present when she has her second baby boy... supporting and laughing and crying together, being mamas. so, it was extra lovely to have her (and her beautiful belly) all to myself for one evening, just the two of us. patrycja is one of the most supportive and wisest women i know. she's my personal cheerleader and how i have missed her!
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| baby bump! |
a day of treats, aka, sugar! cream puff at beta 5, earl grey donut at cartems, croissant and london fog at thomas haas, and rosemary cookies at beaucoup. all his favourites. ok, mine too.
of course, when at thomas haas you must stop into kidsbooks, an awesome bookstore with the best staff and now they are right next door to thomas. and you cannot go to beaucoup without stopping by oliver and lily's - a beautiful clothing store - and heather ross's natural eclectic - a gorgeous shop filled with light and lots of moody and serene colours (hoping to be able to purchase one of her paintings one day!). and there's a new shop too, selling swedish brands!
our last day was spent at jericho with alexia and her clan. after a lazy morning we sat by the water and enjoyed the views, ate hamburgers from the jericho sailing club, and the kids had fun with water and sand. after the i'll see you soon's, thank yous, and i'll miss you's, kai and i left them - it was so hard to walk away! - to pick up our luggage and head to the airport.
kai and i cherished our time in vancouver... collecting west coast memories with our beautiful friends and favourite city spots.
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