4 stories

HELLO WORLD!

STORY #1: Baby Sylvia!!

Let's start things off with a brand new baby, shall we?  Anyone who has seen this blog in the last few months will have noted pictures of Clark's sister Theresa, getting bigger and bigger as she got closer to her own due date. Just like me, Theresa was decidedly overdue, but she went into labour on September 2nd, and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on September 3rd: Sylvia Leigh Gallant Richards (7 pounds, 8 ounces). We have yet to meet her (Theresa and Scott live on Prince Edward Island), but Theresa sent me a few adorable photos to share:

The new parents and little Sylvia, out and about and looking cool, calm and collected

Peaceful Sylvia

Newborn smiles!

STORY #2: The three simultaneous summer adventures

When I wrote my last post, the Clark-in-the-Arctic trials were just beginning. Clark was off to adventures up north, the kids were off to New Brunswick to hang out with their grandparents, and Faye and I were bunkering down for some sisterly co-parenting of then 5-week-old Hazel.  Here are some photos and stories from those three simultaneous adventures:

2(a): Co-parenting Sisters

I have to admit, I didn't take all that many pictures during that two weeks where Faye and I were trying to figure out how to make things work.  But we managed, and got into a pretty nice rhythm, I think. It involved a whole lot of taking turns wearing Hazel while she napped during the day, making some nice meals (and not having to bend to the will of children's tastebuds) and even though I was on full night-duty, I was able to have some reprieve in the early evening to sleep before Faye went to bed.  Plus,  I'm pretty sure I would have collapsed into a messy blubbering heap if she hadn't been here, so all's well that end's well!

Some aunt-niece play time

Hazel fell asleep in her swing one day (instead of wrapped in a carrier).  Even though it was only for 20 minutes, it felt so revolutionary that I took a picture.

Out for lunch before taking Faye to the airport

One last snuggle with Hazel (with some iconic Halifax/Dartmouth skies and scenery in the background), finishing up lunch at the Wooden Monkey

STORY #2(b): Kids in New Brunswick

The kids'  solo adventure was spent between Fredericton and the farm (ie, between my parents' house and Clark's dad and stepmom's house).  I, of course, did not take any photos, and neither did my mom, so the following all came from the farm portion.  But it seems as though they had a WHALE of a time.  Playtime with a bunch of second cousins, a day-trip to Upper Clements Park, and just the general awesomeness of farm life generally. 

No farm trip is complete with a little tractor action (Juniper and Linden in the back, Merrick and Elsie in the front)

Preparing for a huge beach-side bonfire

In full blaze.  Clearly, bedtimes are flexible at the farm!

Action shot with step-cousin, Zoë.

 That looks like some pure happiness

Upside down in the Zipper, at Upper Clements Park

Trolly ride...

... spinny ride...

... and a log splash ride.  Whew!

Gathering of almost all the second cousins on the Richards side

Wagon antics

Can't you see them in 10 years here?

I love this shot.

And here they are, back safe and sound!  Bill and Barb very kindly dropped them home the day after Clark arrived. Whew!

STORY #2(c): Clark in the Arctic

Clark here, with an update on the trip that I took to the Arctic (for which Faye and the rest of the family dutifully stepped in to help -- we couldn't have made it work without the help!). This was my second time to the Northwest passage, to continue the ocean monitoring program work that I am in charge of since starting my position at BIO. 

This year, because of delays, we ended up joining the ship (the CCGS Henry Larsen) in St. John's NL, rather than meeting it up North. So, instead of travelling through the Arctic by airplane, trying to meet a ship at a remote community (Pond Inlet was the original meeting location), we ended up with a (relaxing) 6 day steam up through the Labrador Sea and Baffin Bay. Thankfully, we were able to use some of the time to prep our equipment, which turned out to be the only reason we managed to get anything done once we arrived in the Northwest Passage.

Our route from St. John's to Barrow Strait. The was basically no scenery for the first 5 days of the trip, either because we were too far out to sea, or because we were wrapped in a thick fog. Thankfully, it never got too rough.

Our first sight of land, 5 days after leaving St. John's. This is Bylot Island, just north of Baffin Island. Most of the island is covered in a glacier, and is a National Park.

My team prepping equipment on deck while steaming. The yellow torpedo-shaped floats are the frames that hold the instruments we put in the water, and the big orange float is for a special instrument called an Icycler that was designed and built by engineers at BIO.

In Gascoyne Inlet, on Devon Island. This was our first stop for working, which involved recovering moorings and instruments that we put out last year, and replacing them with new ones.

It turned out that it was a very heavy ice year for the Northwest Passage. I think (not sure yet) that this was a result of early breakup of much of the Arctic multi-year ice from further north, that was making its way down through the Archipelago on its way out to the Atlantic. The downside is that it made it much more difficult than usual to do the work that we needed to, but additionally, it made for a logistic mess for Coast Guard, who handle all the ice breaking and escorts of ships through the Arctic.

Because of a general trend of decreasing ice, many people (including large cruise ship operators) have realized that they can make a TONNE of money taking tourists up into the Arctic on ships that really have no business being there. When they get stuck, they call the Coast Guard to help. That meant that during our 5 days in Barrow Strait, we ended up having to do a number of "ice escorts" which, because of the logistics, take priority over the science work.

Aside from the cruise ships, there was also a search-and-rescue (SAR) call to assist two sailors who were trying to sail their aluminum hull sailboat through the Arctic, only to have it crushed by ice and sink. They had managed to abandon the boat onto an ice floe, but with no immersion suits and no gun (to keep the bears away) were in quite a predicament. Our ship responded, and ended up sending the helicopter to rescue them after they had been out on the ice for about 12 hours. You can read about it here:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/coast-guard-sail-boat-rescue-1.4804102

We were all glad that nobody was hurt, but it definitely was a downer for our program to lose more time, and a wakeup about just how the Arctic is often not a safe tourist destination.

The helicopter returning with the two sailors.

One of several polar bears that we saw while looking for a hole in the ice big enough to put some of our instruments through. Much of Barrow Strait was filled with ice like this, which would crush a small boat in seconds, and which is why the cruise ships required so much help from the icebreakers.

We found a lead (i.e. a hole in the ice), and managed to get the Icycler in the water! Yay!

But then when trying to recover some of the moorings of course they came up right in the middle of a mess of sea ice ...

All in all it was a successful trip, even with the delays. We had to leave a bunch of moorings in the water, but they should all keep recording data until next summer. The trip back (flying from Resolute NU to Halifax NS) was made successfully in one day, so I was home on schedule, just after Faye left and just before Juniper and Linden came back from the farm.

Story #3: Judith and Simon visit

Not long after Clark got back from the Arctic, and the kids had begun their new school years, we were treated to a lovely visit from our dear friends, Judith and Simon. We met Judith and Simon back in Newfoundland when Clark and I started our Master's (a lifetime ago!), and have since only very briefly lived close to each other (that year and a bit we were in Kanata, as Judith and Simon are now in Gatineau).  Anyway, I dearly miss living only a short walk away, as we did back in... oh, 2003 (!?!), so visits are always a huge treat.

Hazel and Judith were instant best buds, clearly.

The other kids also enjoy snuggles when they can get them

Out for a woods walk through Hemlock Ravine

Slightly wonky group shot

Hazel was super into the scenery (though it was obviously much more interesting from her dad's arms than from the stroller)

Adventure #2: Polly's Cove

Eating a picnic at the Swiss Air Memorial before hiking 

The view from our picnic spot: there's the Peggy's Cove lighthouse in the distance

How cute is this? Judith, Linden and Juniper all holding hands as they stroll the Polly's Cove boulders.  Linden had already fallen twice at this point, both incidents requiring bandaids 

Dad Hiking level: expert. 

I think Linden is actually sitting on Juniper's lap here as they rest on a rock edge

No, Linden did not fall down this cliff. 

We found the most delightful little swimming hole, though none of us had brought swimming attire or towels, sadly

The beautiful, clear Atlantic

Everyone at least got to dip their feet in! (even Hazel, at one point)

Clark finds a crab

A girl who's always up for whatever adventure we throw at her

Hiking back

How cute are these two? (both, incidentally, wearing borrowed hats - it was a sunny enough day that I got burned!)

Hanging out at piano lessons right before we had to say goodbye and take them to the airport.

And... speaking of visitors, look who we got to have lunch with that same week! We met up with my cousin Julia, who was in Halifax for a conference (all the way from the west coast).  

STORY #4: New normal
 4(a) Day-to-day

Freshly back from their return to NS - the first thing they both wanted was a photo-op with their sister.

Typical meal-time scene

Both kids spent their hard-earned money on some Alderney market-day face-painting. Related occurrence: Linden discovered he was allergic to face paint, at least in large quantities

Sometimes the thrills of the library are just too much

Sisterly hang-outs

The new special exhibit at the Discovery Centre: Lego!

A friend I met one rainy day

I remember specifically staying away from Bumbos with the other two kids (I think maybe it had to do with developing certain sitting muscles or something?), but we were gifted this one, and Hazel LOVES being part of the action at mealtime. I'm sure she'll sit just fine on her own some day. #thirdkid

Juniper had been asking and asking, so we finally rigged her up to carry Hazel in the Boba wrap. She went for a walk with her like this, and even got her to sleep for half an hour!

Out on the walk! One person actually stopped Juniper en route, and asked "is that a REAL baby in there?"

Hazel's first swim

What happens when Linden is in charge of Hazel...

... or this (Linden reads to her from his freshly written book)...

... or this. Sometimes he's a *little* bit like his dad. 

Close-up, because who can resist a 2-month old hipster in a Pink Floyd onesie?

Ready and excited for their FIRST DAY back at school! Grades 4 and 2, respectively.

This is how Hazel looks at you when you smile at her, which is basically 100% of the time she's awake.

She is one hefty, strong little kid!

Both kids are always asking to hold Hazel and play with her - it's hard to say no when they enjoy each other so much!

Just look at these cuties.

Usually, Hazel's hair is at least a little bit crazy. Sometimes, it defies the laws of physics.

4(b): Clark's birthday party. 

A couple of weeks ago, Clark turned 39. We had a very intimate little party (as in, the 5 of us), but at least there was homemade cake and presents.  Actually, truth be told, I floated the idea of getting a DQ ice cream cake to the kids (Clark had suggested it), and Linden practically started crying. Apparently, we do not do store-bought cakes in this family. I mean, in retrospect, how could we have gotten so many gummy candies on a DQ cake? Clearly I wasn't thinking properly.

Juniper needs to organize all things at all times. Notice each plate has its own name tag.

The whole party crew (including me, behind the camera of course)

4(c) Outings

We always try to spend at least one day of the weekend going on fun outdoorsy adventures, which is especially wonderful on glorious, crisp, fall days.  Luckily, having Hazel around hasn't changed this at all - in fact, she's pretty much always game to go along. Here we have Point Pleasant Park, Ross Farm, and the Salt Marsh Trail.

Gorgeous day at Point Pleasant Park

Close-up of Linden, recording some nature observations

Tree cameo!

Waiting for a horse and buggy ride, Ross Farm

Posing nonchalantly by some pretty yellow flowers 

Off we go! (Clark followed along behind on foot)

A cool shot at the blacksmith shop (this one was Clark's photo - Hazel and I weren't able to handle the smoke)

On the Salt Marsh Trail - Hazel's first experience riding in the stroller itself (rather than in her carseat in the stroller).  She thought it was great!  (though she did get stung on the cheek by a mosquito, which made me irrationally mad)

A couple of cormorants, hanging out

It was harsh light to be taking photos, but it is so lovely along the marsh

Racing sticks

 4(d) Jane and Mike pop by!
Our friends Jane and Mike were visiting Halifax for a very whirlwind kids-free weekend (a law school reunion for Jane), but managed to pop by for an hour to meet Hazel.

Hazel brought her cute game to the table

Jane quickly went in for some baby snuggles...

... and Mike became reacquainted with the whole infant thing as well!

 AND FINALLY...

When a four-year old (our neighbour Zoë) invites you to her birthday party, and instructs you to "dress up", you interpret that in your own way:

Juniper decided, after we were all dressed, that she was the queen, and we were all in her employ (sorceress, ninja, and lawyer!)

And that is, as they say, that.  If you made it this far, congratulations!  You are officially a very devoted Makeshift Story reader. I needed to make sure I got this post out before the weekend, as we are headed to New Brunswick for a week. It is going to be a TIME, trust me. Therefore, there will be a boatload of photos and stories, which will most definitely deserve their own post. Stay tuned!