Sandy McFadden

Epic Road Trip 2023

Though this might not have been as far as a trip as some of our past Epic Road Trips like 2017 and 2018, it was still an epic trip.

Jen was her three month sabbatical from work and I took some vacation time so we could take the family trip. For years we had promised Caile and Ella a trip to Broadway to see a show and for Christmas this year we had bought tickets. So the first part of our trip was based on this, so we started making our way to New York.

Paterson NJ

We stayed in Paterson NJ which is close enough to get into New York City pretty easily, but affordable, and a little less busy. We were meeting up with family friends who were going to go to Broadway with our family and hang out a little in the beginning of the trip, and then again on the way home. We had a day or so before they arrived so we explored the area a little including Paterson Great Falls.

New York City

When our friends arrived we all went in and spent a day in New York City hitting some of the common tourist spots. We took the train in which was really easy right into Penn Station. We walked all around going past the New York Public Library, Rockefeller Center, and into Central Park. The next day me and the boys hung around our AirBnb while they all went back in to see Chicago on Broadway.

When leaving NYC we stopped in Jersey City Liberty State Park which was pretty cool. You have some great views of the NYC skyline and are very close to the Statue of Liberty.

This is where we ended up separating from our friends for a bunch of the trip. We did stop in Philadelphia to grab some lunch together though first. After that we made our way to Martinsburg, West Virgina, where we had our next AirBnb booked and we’d make it our home base when we ventured out and explored.

Harpers Ferry

One of the first places we went was the historic town Harpers Ferry WV. It was beautiful though we were pretty hot and ended up walking up and down some good hills. We walked around the town some and also were able to jump on and do a tiny bit of the Appalachian Trail.

Washington DC Area

We made a day of heading into Washington DC. We’ve been here a number of times but it’s a nice city. We especially thought that Ezra would like the zoo as they have a lot of great animals. One of the things Ella really liked from one of previous road trips was the big sky wheel we went on in Chicago. They have one near Washington in National Harbor Maryland so we went and did that as well.

Luray Caverns in Luray Virginia

This was one of the highlights of the trip for me. It was an amazing huge caverns which you can go in and explore.

Frederick Maryland

One day we planned to meet up with one of Jen’s teammates and friends and visit a state park to go to the beach there. We made it there and they closed because they were full. So we changed plans and went into Frederick MD to explore a little bit. We first went to this cool little arcade Spinners Pinball Arcade. From there we explored a bit of the downtown.

Hershey, Pennsylvania

When leaving West Virginia we were headed to Hershey where we were going to meet up with our friends again. On our drive we stopped in Harrisburg PA and did a boat tour and little train ride on City Island.

The next day we went and met our friends in Baltimore MD to visit the National Aquarium. We had been once before a while back, but were excited to take Ezra there to see everything.

Hershey Amusement Park

The next day we spent the whole day at Hershey Amusement park. So many great roller coasters and other rides.

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

On our way home Noah and I stopped in to the Basketball hall of fame which was a cool experience.

The trip home

On the way back we did a few stops. We of course had to stop in Boston which is Jen’s favourite city. They visited the Franklin park zoo, we went into the Public Gardens and Boston Commons, and stopped at a bakery Caile had wanted to visit for a while.

Here are some random pictures from the rest of the way home.

Jen also has a bunch of pictures and a great recap on her blog post Miles of Memories.

New York Public Library

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The lions out front of the New York Public Library are called Patience and Fortitude. It felt like I needed both today, but didn’t have them.

I like New York City a lot but it’s a city I’d like to visit with just my wife, or friends. Having our whole family including a 3.5 year old was exhausting. Walked a bunch and a great deal of it with him on my shoulders.

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Sir Sandford Fleming Park – The Dingle

Yesterday we went and visited Sir Sandford Fleming Park again. Ezra loves this place. He calls the Memorial Tower a castle. It really is a beautiful area that we only recently started visiting.

It’s sometimes embarrassing the things I don’t know about our local history and area. Sir Sandford Fleming was an accomplished man and he donated the park to the people of Halifax. The park is also known as Dingle Park apparently named after the town of Dingle in Ireland.

We’ve still only seen a bit of the park. There is a playground, water front area, great walking trails, but the main feature is the tower. Yesterday was the first time I was able to go up to the top. It’s really cool inside and also offers great views in all four directions.

A warm welcome home

Earlier today I made it home after my first work travel since January 2020. It’s been a long time since I’ve been away from my family like this, and I’ve never been away from Ezra like this. It was awesome to get to see my team in person. Most of who I hadn’t met in real life yet. But it was also very hard being away.

It felt weird getting on a plane after so long. I still love the actual act of flying, I still don’t like airports and the rest of the process that it takes to get to that point.

We traveled to Orlando and had a big place to ourselves. There were some Disney-themed rooms, a pool, a pool table, other games, and a theatre room. We didn’t leave the place much at all. We ordered groceries and made breakfasts and lunches, and then usually ordered in for dinner. Probably the healthiest I’ve eaten on a meet-up yet. I really think the in-person time is going to help our team be closer and work even better together.

We had one activity day that we spent at Animal Kingdom. It was again strange to be there without my family and kids, but we still had a good time. The Avatar ride there was, and confirmed this visit, as my favourite ride I’ve ever been on. I wish I could have done it multiple times. I guess I could of, but I didn’t feel like wasting all my time waiting in hour-plus long lines.

The trip home which started yesterday wasn’t as uneventful as the trip there. I had a connection in Neward which arrive on time, and all seemed good right up until it was time to board for our 12:35pm flight. There were a couple short delays and then just canceled. We were all put on a flight for the next morning. After a bunch of confusion and lots of waiting we finally received some vouchers for a close by hotel and instructions to walk to a bus, to get to a train, which would take us to a shuttle, to get us to the hotel. The shuttle held about 15 people, and we were a plane full, so it took a while for us to all get there.

Once we started to fill the lobby more fun. The vouchers weren’t working. There was no payment information attached, so the hotel couldn’t check any of us in. The lobby kept filling with more people and frustration. People tried to call the airline, people talked to the hotel managers and for a long time no one was able to help. This is already long past the time when we should have already landed at home. Many of us had been up for long hours. Some people gave up and decided just to book rooms at their own cost, almost $400 a night. Thankfully the hotel really stepped up and offered us all the rate they would have charged the airline $95 a night with the hopes that once they received payment from the airline they would refund us.

Come morning others in our group said that the hotel received payment from the airline so hopefully I really see a refund come through within a few days like they said. Back at the airport and then some more delays, but we eventually took off and I made it home about a full 24 hours later than I should have.

Ezra has had an imaginary friend for a while now. He has the creative name “Little Guy”. Jen has told me that apparently, Little Guy was on the trip with me he was even sad yesterday because his flight was canceled. Upon finally arriving home today I could hear Noah as I walked in the door asking Ezra, “Who’s home, who’s home?”. He came around the corner and looked at me, then looked to the side and yelled very excitedly “Little Guy!”

Division 2 Champions

Years of hard work paid off today for our basketball team the Valley Spartans. The young men captured the Division 2 Championship today for our Metro League basketball season. We finished the regular season in second place having lost to the first-place team twice.

We had two tough games today where we first played a team that we beat during our league play, but lost two games to them just recently in exhibition games. It was a battle today and our boys just didn’t give up or let off. They played some excellent defense, the shots were falling, and we ended up winning 77-66. That took us to the championship game against the first-place team. They are a great team and I always enjoy our games against them. We practice hard and expect a lot, it all came out in this game and we won 60-46.

For some of this team, I’ve been helping coach them for seven years. Almost half their lives. They’ve grown from boys into confident, hard-working, dedicated young men and I couldn’t be prouder of how they handle themselves. We’ve had this Spartans team for about five years. There have been some changes in players along the way, but a lot have been consistent the whole time. While I think these boys have gotten a lot out of this program I know I have gained a lot from being a part of this group myself.

I’ve Learned a lot about basketball, and coaching, but have also gained friends with the other coaches and parents. It’s a true community. We come together for fundraising and occasional fun as well. Everyone has the best interest of the boys in mind, and it’s just so nice to be a part of it.

Earlier this week I went and got a little tribute to this team. My second tattoo is our team logo. One of the parents owns Everlasting Ink, he had given me my first one and did a great job on this as well. I’m so happy with it.

I’ll be sad when our time with this team comes to an end, but there’s still lots of basketball left this year, and I know regardless of what happens a lot of these guys will be playing basketball together for years to come.

Lazy Sunday morning

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Though it isn’t this way all day there have already been a few lazy moments to today. They day started off with my three year old bit waking up I till a quarter past seven. What a lovely treat to just lay in bed after waking up and ease into things.

But then things got a bit busy with morning routine and off to get pictures with Santa. That didn’t take too long even with an uncertain little one not knowing what to think of this man in red.

When we got home I was able to sit up with a coffee while he was playing. The dog took advantage of a bit of quiet time as well, even if it was in my preferred seat.

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Starting back

Tomorrow morning I’m starting back to work after the second part of an extended parental leave. I’m so thankful that I was able to have this time to spend with my family.

Throughout the leave my emotions ran across the spectrum really. Especially in the beginning it was all great. Jen was still off on leave for some of it as well and it was summer so the kids were out of school. We were able to explore and travel a bit, just more flexibility.

Once the kids were back in school the monotony of days and routine settled in some. Get woken up early by Ezra, try to keep him quiet but entertained so the rest of the kids can sleep a bit more before they have to get up for school. Get him and I some breakfast and dressed and hustle out the door to get the kids to school. Most days someone either goes in late or gets off early so it’s multiple trips to the schools throughout the day. Some times it felt like a lot of just hurry up and wait for the next errand that needed to be done. There were times where it just felt like I needed some kind of adventure to break things up, but there wasn’t much adventure to be had.

There were all kinds of great things though. Really getting to bond with Ezra and see him grow and learn what seems like new things every day.

I was able to get back into a good exercise routine. I’m much fitter again and exercising regularly. I’ve dropped about 30lbs. Was able to include both Ezra and Noah some too. Ezra has come on bike rides and runs with me. We would work in trips to playgrounds as part of it. Noah started running with me as well. He is much better then me and enjoys it. So much that he joined the cross country team with his school.

Ella and I ended up spending a lot of time together driving to and from school and to and from dance. I love our drives together. She’s so funny and such a loving person. The way she is with Ezra is something incredibly special s well.

Caile is so very self sufficient. She graduated and is taking this year off. She’s still running her baking business and taking some online courses to prepare her for what she wants next. So driven. She also just contributes so much to our home. Trying to take on things to make it easier for others, sometimes to a fault. I love when she needs my help in understanding or figuring out parts of what she’s learning.

Looking back tonight I love that our family loves to spend time together. Even if it is just sitting around in the evening to watch TV together. Despite my desire for adventure it doesn’t matter what we do, being together is what really matters.

Photo blog

A few weeks back I started challenge for myself. I wanted to take more pictures mostly as a way to force myself to pay attention to the things around me a bit more. Sort of like stop and smell the roses. So I started a new photo blog where I’ve been posting one photo that I took that day, every day.

I may change my own rule and some days post a picture taken in the past, but I’ll try to keep it from the day I’m posting.

As I mentioned before I’ve been into black and white photos lately so a lot of the ones I’ve posted so far have fit that. With fall upon us now here though and the changing colours in the trees that’s likely to change for a bit, like todays picture.

Sunset at the shore

One of the things we do with our friends and family that I love is having evening fires at the shore. We have a great group so the company is good no matter what and being at the shore it’s always so peaceful. Put those good people together at the shore and it just makes for a nice time.

Tonight seemed even nicer than usual. It was a spot on the shore that I had never been to yet, it was cooler autumn feeling weather, and there was a gorgeous sunset. Great way to spend a Saturday night.

Color vs black and white

I’m far from a photographer but I take photos often from my iPhone when we’re out and about enjoying nature.

For a long time I’ve found I really like black and white photos instead of color. I’m not sure if it has to do with me being color blind and not seeing color as they should be. Even in my clothes I keep things pretty basic with a lot of blacks and greys.

When ever we are choosing colors for things in the house I always leave it up to Jen because color don’t matter much to me and they do to her.

Here’s a sampling of some resent pictures in both color and black and white. I like the black and white best in all except the sunsets.