Oh Deer! What a year!

Happy Halloween!

It really was a happy Halloween at our house this year. So much fun and laughter.

This little reindeer looks to be in training. Maybe one day she will be strong enough to pull Santa's sleigh? Let's hope so!

Dad the make-up artist? Don't worry, I won't quit my day-job (I have to admit I did enjoy it).

Mom and Arabella have some pretty good ideas. With all the beautiful fall decorations and costumes this year, it sure looked festive.

Well done, ladies!

Arabella only visited one house this year, and it was ours. Trick or treat! We had a glow-in-the-dark toy hunt, danced around our living room, and simply enjoyed each others company. This Halloween will surely go down as one of the best I ever had. We had a blast!

Pumpkin spice and everything nice

Smile, Pumpkin! The warm weather is over, is that right? It's time for hoodies and headbands.

On the plus side, it's perfect walking weather. And if there's any place we can walk, hike, or bike around, that's where you'll find us.

"Just look at all these leaves placed into a neat pile. It would be a shame if someone...

...THREW THEM ALL OVER!"

We always try to squeeze every last drop out of a fine day. We just can't let good weather go to waste, now can we?

We'll use any excuse to stay outside. Even if that excuse is washing the car (which is my least favourite thing to do) but it beats staying inside!

"Sweetie, I think you missed a spot!"

Outdoors is when I'm most at peace, and Bella is very much the same. Especially in times like these, fresh air and mother nature are a sanctuary.

So if you're feeling low, there's only one place left to go. And that's up, up, up!

Bella yells, "Come on, Mom! You're almost at the top!"

Now for a quick rest and a glimpse of the view.

"Going down is much easier, right Mom?"

"Let's do it again tomorrow?!"

A warm autumn walk

There's nothing like a nature walk on a warm autumn day. The tail-end of September always looks so marvellous.

Want to come along with us? We'll show you!

Let's gooooooo!

"Come on guys, I know the way. Follow me!"

"Bella, can you please pose nicely with Mom? I just want to get a nice shot of the two of you."

CLICK 💜

Wherever we go, we must take Bella's leopard cub and Peppa Pig backpack. It's a requirement!

What a great way to say farewell to the summer.

The winds of change are upon us, and soon we'll have to make way for another season. Ah, that's life, ain't it?

So long, summer! So long, fall! See you again next year.

We learned a ton and grew so much over the past months, didn't we, Bella?

We spent so much time together too. It was nice having dad around the house, huh?

I had the best time with you too. We always know how to have a great time, don't we?

It's interesting because you likely won't remember this global pandemic when you're older. You'll ask us, "What exactly happened mom and dad?"

All you will remember are the people that love you and surround you.

All the memories that we shared.

All the moments that defined us.

That's how I'll remember it, too.

Barefoot in the sand

Feeling stuck, Bella?

As the pandemic continues, I bet most of us are feeling the same way.

The summer was solemn. Quiet. Reflective. We made the best of it, of course, but it wasn't the summer anyone was hoping for. Typically the summer months are a chance for Kiera and I to finally forget about colds, the flu, and other such things that keep us anxious regarding Bella's health. The summer is our big chance to let down our guard.

We socially-distance every winter (regardless of Covid-19), and this spring and summer was basically an extension of our winter routine (but with even more restrictions).

Limited visits to see family, only outdoor hangouts, and no physical contact. No hand-holding, no hugs or kisses from Bella's grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins. It was a real shame, and it had a profound impact on all of us, whether we realized it or not.

Love from a distance can be unbearable and heartbreaking, and unfortunately a lot of families found themselves in similar situations.

Besides that, everything felt so strange this summer. The masks. The rules. The distancing. The way people interacted with one another. The overall uncertainty that followed you with every passing day.

Learning to accept and adapt to this new reality was the biggest obstacle everyone faced.

Some days would offer the perfect distraction. An activity. A trip. A temporary thrill. You'd forget about the craziness of the world by getting swept up in some fun. Those were great days, of course.

But in spite of those good days, the very next day could turn out to be the complete opposite. You could be swallowed into hopelessness, and you wouldn't even know why or how.

The emotional ups and downs were draining. They were a huge test of mental strength and spiritual resilience. We had no choice but to grind it out, much like the rest of the world.

Arabella loves the Toronto zoo. It's our favourite place to hang out. So when it opened up again in July we were excited to head back and experience all of the wonderful things we missed.

It was was fun, but it wasn't quite the same, you know?

Barricades, one-way paths, closed attractions, sanitizing stations - we were constantly reminded that things were far from normal. It was like that almost everywhere you went.

We needed more distractions...

So that's exactly what we did.

We went everywhere we could just to get lost in some fun.

Petting zoos, for instance.

Bella was obsessed with donkeys this summer. She just had to bring her donkey figurine to show the real donkey.

We hit the local beaches.

Bella got her first taste of yoga, and loved holding poses with mom.

Lots of car naps.

Plenty of activities at home.

Spaghetti faces 😁. Bella started to enjoy eating a little more this summer, which was a pleasant surprise to us.

Playtime at the local parks.

Lots of nature hikes.

Lots and lots and LOTS of nature hikes!

Best of all, towards the end of August we got a chance to go on a week-long cottage vacation up north. It's the same cottage we always visit every year (usually with Bella's grandparents). Due to the pandemic, however, it was only the three of us this year.

Even though we were by ourselves, we had a great time. It was just what we needed. This is where we really broke away from the world. An opportunity to unwind and re-calibrate.

So we did what we do best. We got lost in the activities.

We got lost in the sand.

The vast wilderness.

Got lost in one another.

We made a ton of great memories.

And made some new friends too.

We disconnected from the outside world and got a chance to look deep within ourselves.

It wasn't the summer anyone was hoping for, but it had it's share of wonderful moments. Most importantly, we all stuck together and made the best of a strange and sometimes difficult time.

I'll leave this post with a short video of the view from the cottage shoreline. I'll be dreaming about that view until next summer, where hopefully we can see it once again.