Oh hi there.

Like all things, the best place to start is the beginning.

It was a great summer. The best in many years, one of those awesome, fun filled, carefree summers from your childhood.

So the Mother in law came out for a visit in June, she enjoyed Yellowknife and that was nice. Two weeks later my parents came to visit us. Dad always wanted to travel to the territories, he was offered a promotion here back in the day but the crying children and flat out refusal from Mom thwarted that dream. So they too loved it here. Even with the prehistoric mosquitoes and 15 degree weather, they thought it was awesome. We fished, we checked out the shops, the restaurants, picnicked along the Ingraham Trail and had so much fun. Dad and Hubby went for the fishing trip to beat all fishing trips with Hubby's coworker and they came back as excited and happy as two kids in a candy store.

Normally leaving my parents is really, really sad and hard for me. However, two weeks after their departure, Hubby and I (and Malcolm & Olivia of course) had airline tickets booked to go to Newfoundland. Mom and Dad were joining us there, we were going to my university roommate's wedding and taking in Saint John's. So seeing them go wasn't as sad as it normally would have been.

Saint John's and Marystown, NL were simply too much fun. Visiting the Rock was the happiest traveling experience we had in a long time. First of all we were stunned by the friendliness of the people. Example: "Thank you!" "Oh my dear, you are welcome, and you have a great day lovvie." It was simply wonderful. Plus the Terre-Neuviens LOVED my dogs... everyone stopped to exclaim, laugh, pat and just love them. Even in the face of the derelict Marystown Motel... it was a busy, fun filled and happy 11 days.

Then we continued on to the Motherland, Nova Scotia. I hadn't been to the Motherland in the summertime in years, so it seemed extra fun and special. We hung out at Mom and Dad's cottage, spent time with our family and friends and just enjoyed every second.

When I started projectile vomiting all over the place... I thought clearly it was the H1N1. (Just kiddin' Megan!) Well, the cause of the illness was not from any germ or flu to say the least. Hubby returned to the North and I decided to stay home a few more days after him. However, I was so ill, there was simply no way this body was going to make the trip back to the North. In the end, I stayed 3 weeks longer than previously expected and returned as I had a new, awesome job lined up in YK. More good news came from Hubby, he had received an department transfer and is now working in a position that is much more professionally satisfying for him.

After the wonderful summer and three WONDERFUL new things in our life we felt like we had won the lottery of good fortune. Mom joked that we should run, not walk and actually buy a lottery ticket! Have you ever had that feeling sneak up on you when things are going really, really well that it isn't going to last? Something really bad will HAVE to happen to even out the good? Hubby and I commented on that upon my return to YK.

Back in YK, I started my first week at my new job. Things went very well and I was again, very happy and content although still struggling with first trimester sickness. By the Friday of my first work week, I was so excited to be off with Hubby and have some quality time together over the weekend. Again, I couldn't shake that "something horrible is going to happen" sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

When we rolled home that Friday evening, after being back in Yellowknife for a mere seven days, I received the news that my Dad had been in a terrible accident in Nova Scotia. He was killed instantly.

Because I love my little blog, and my blogging friends and even the one reader left, I wanted to share with you where I have been. When I am super happy, I don't really feel like blogging. When I am super sad, I really don't feel like blogging either. I may talk a little bit about the past events, but I do hope to keep the same feel to the blog. If it is a while between blog postings, please keep checking back.

Signing off... over and out... Natalie