A Surprise Trip to BC and Point Roberts!!

It was sooooo hard to keep things a secret from the two people in BC who I talk to the most. But, months of planning paid off when my parents walked through the door of our family's cottage in Point Roberts and I was there to wish them a Happy Anniversary! Sunday, July 22nd was their 40th wedding anniversary and they thought they were just meeting up with my brothers for a casual anniversary brunch but we had something better planned!!

After photographing Abbie and Dalen's wedding on Saturday I went home and did my usual post wedding thing, and then packed my suitcase, had a 20 minute nap, and then hopped in the car to drive to Saint John to catch my 5:30am (NB time) flight to Vancouver! My BFF Candice and her new baby met me at the airport at 10:30am (BC time) and delivered me to my parent's cabin in time to surprise my parents upon their 1:30pm arrival!! Both parents cried, they had no idea, NONE! (We chose not to video or photograph but rather just be in the moment but now I wish I had at least made my brother capture something with his iPhone!!)

Here are (other) highlights from my trip home!

My nephew Maxwell!! He is getting SO BIG!! And in October he is going to be a big brother so he is practicing being gentle and kind with Candice's baby Nathan.

And Maxwell is obsessed with tools, especially tape measures and power screwdrivers that look like the drills his Daddy and Grandpa use!!

Anniversary BBQ with the family!! I brought lobsters from NB with me and together we all cooked up a great summer feast!!

Maxwell's first encounter with a lobster... he tried to bite right into it and received an unpleasant tasty surprise!

Fun glasses for the 40 year love birds! Thank you to my sister-in-law Kristina for picking these up and for decorating. Apparently the traditional gift for a 40th Wedding Anniversary is ruby, hence the red decor!

I know Maxwell, but you better get used to it; embarrassing other is apart of my parent's DNA.

On Monday my mom and I spent some time in Vancouver City and went out for our traditional "we're in the same place at the same time let's have a really good food experience." We went to this lovely Japanese Bistro on Granville Street, where the food was as excellent as the service.

Served tapas style, we dined on salmon gyoza, asparagus wrapped in beef and BBQ'd, a delicious chicken and cucumber salad with a white sesame sauce, a shrimp and lotus root "tempura," and a real crab meat california roll. I paired these items with their featured wine "Joie," a lovely white blended wine!!

I had sometime to kill one afternoon so I did one of my favourite things... enjoyed a latte with some raspberry and black-pepper biscotti and chilled out in a coffee shop with a book!

Had lunch at my cousin Edward's with his family. What a treat! (Is is just me, or does it appear that I ate and drank a lot while I was home?? Trust me it was just that a few of my meals were great "food experiences" accompanied with great people!!).

Me and Maxwell. The only picture of me from my trip that I care to share, and it's more because of the cute boy in the picture!!

Maxwell throwing rocks in the creek by his house!

Maxwell with Daddy and Grandpa, and his drill!! And below, is Candice and Nathan. They came to Point Roberts to stay with me for a few days and this was Nate's first trip to the beach!!! 

Maxwell loves Grandpa's tool bench and workshop... often he would walk into the garage and stand next to the counter pointing and growling "up! up!" One of his favourite things to do is pull the tools from their place and them put them back!! I cannot get over out cute he is!!

For some reason I felt compelled to document various elements of the cabin and the life we have experience there. It is the only place I call home now as my parent's sold their home a couple of years ago and have been enjoying retirement like gypsies!! Above is an ariel view of the house and property I grew up on in Langley BC.

A few treats  I picked up to bring home with me. Kicking Horse coffee is so good.

I took a walk by myself and spent sometime capturing some of the natural and architectural beauty around Point Roberts. The colourful row of houses as been a favourite site of mine - these are actually on the Canadian Side (aka Boundary Bay).

I gave Maxwell a fudgicle. More of these pictures to come!!

Friends came down with their little toddler Shayla, and she and Maxwell checked out the trampoline together... Shayla was way more into whole jumping/bouncing/flying thing than Maxwell!

One last view of the Pacific Ocean and Maple Beach before I leave!

Chances are I will be going home in October when the next instalment of my brother's family is born, but until then I will work through the heartache of being away from my family and oldest friends. You would think that after nearly six years, it would be easier to board the plane and say "See you later" but I just find it getting harder and harder! I guess it's a good thing.... after all heartache only happens because you have known and experienced love, so I should be glad to experience heartache because then it means I have known love and joy and all that goodness!!

Love & Sunshine,

Shannon-May