The Best Birthday Present Ever

OK, so Cumberland is not the same as the beautiful blue waters of the British Virgin Islands. Nor can I ever repeat the magic of celebrating my 40th with friends and family on the tiny island of Marina Cay as we did last year, however, the surprise 24 hour visit from my sister and her family is more than I could have ever wished for. Her husband and three kids had planned to come for a few days after Christmas, but she was unable to join them due to work commitments. Ironically she was actually flying into Vancouver...so close but yet so far. However, thanks to the weather gods out east, her return flight was cancelled, she negotiated some days off, and joined the rest of her family for the remaining trip to Vancouver Island. Fog stopped them catching a flight into Nanaimo, and they couldn't get on their first choice ferry. Many, many hours later, late Sunday night, they finally arrived! The cousins played, the adults chatted over wine, and we all collapsed into bed at midnight.

The following morning was my birthday, and with only one day together, no lying in was allowed. While Nick fed the troups on home-made waffles, Anke and I slipped off into Courtneay for some quality sister time. We enjoyed coffee, some shopping (Anke always loves checking out the thrift stores!), and picked up my rather decadent mocha birthday cake from Hot Chocolates: http://www.hotchocolates.ca/index.html (not just chocolates but an Artisan Bakery as well).

On return we bundled everyone up and headed out for the tour. Town was incredibly quiet with most of the shops still closed for the holidays. My sister was last here in August when we were just starting negotiations in renting the Old Post Office (what would become the Wandering Moose Cafe http://wanderingmoose.ca/), and sadly she never got to see the cafe in operation. But on this visit we got to go in and show them the space. Well, at least next time they come, they will be able to get a coffee now that it is open again (smile!). Here is a lovely write up we got back in November http://fireflynewbeginnings.blogspot.com/2009/11/wandering-moose-cafe.html

My sister's kids don't get any sort of this outdoor life in Montreal, so they were wide-eyed and energetic, loving the playground round-about and the walk in the Community Forest. Although it was quite funny to watch Anika, her eldest, exhibiting classic teenage traits, where fashion takes precedence over common sense! After our walk we all warmed up with coffees and hot chocolates at Tarbell's Cafe http://www.thecumberlander.ca/cgi-bin/show_bizsponsor.cgi?ID=16 before coming home to watch the final Harry Potter on the projector and devour my birthday cake.

All too soon the day was over, and by 8am the next day they were packed and back in the car and on their way to catch the ferry. In the meantime, we dressed in our old clothes ready to help move all the cafe stuff out of our garage and back into the Old Post Office. But I did it all with a smile on my face! There was alot to be thankful for.