Author Archives: familystoke

After a year of planning, several logistical rollercoasters, and an idyllic Americana summer of Buffalove, we finally arrived home. To our new home that is. We’re now settling in and ready to start our new life. We flew from Toronto to Panama which was luckily uneventful. We spent a few days in Panama City adjusting.Continue reading “Home.”

Before our big move to Panama, we spent 3 weeks visiting family in Buffalo. All my summers were spent here, and the area is filled with nostalgia for me. It also provides the boys with the quintessential Americana summer. We’re talking s’mores, parades, dinner in our wet bathing suits, ice cream cones, and lots ofContinue reading “Buffalove Summer 2018”

June was a whirlwind of a month. It was spent wrapping up our life in California and preparing for our transition. It was busy, stressful, bittersweet, and filled with heartfelt moments of saying goodbye to the community that we built while living in Santa Cruz. BC spent the first part of the month in PanamaContinue reading “Saying Goodbye”

This three day weekend was another opportunity to savor some of our last days in California. Brian left for Panama on Sunday night. He is going to be gone for three weeks and will spend that time completing the business transaction to take over our new property. He really wanted to take advantage of hisContinue reading “Memorial Day Memories”

The most iconic experience in Santa Cruz is visiting the Boardwalk. It’s a vintage amusement park experience right off the beach. To be honest, it’s super crowded and a bit trashy, but the essence of classic summer fun is still there. The boys love visiting so we decided to spend one of the first weekendContinue reading “Down at the Boardwalk”

Actually Easter was pretty mellow this year. Brian was in Panama for the week, and I decided to take the opportunity to potty train Parker. So most of our fun was had at the house instead of community events. We colored eggs, made cookies, enjoyed a bunny breakfast, did an Easter basket hunt (that lastedContinue reading “Easter Eggstravaganza 2018”

Mama Shelley and Papa John came to visit for Asher’s birthday. As usual, we put them to work. This time the big project was starting to get us packed and helping to purge. We also go to have some fun. Papa John and I took a special trip with Asher to the Hiller Aviation Museum.Continue reading “Fun with the Grandparents”

Asher turned 5! Asher’s last year has been his best yet. He has really blossomed, and we’ve seen his language and social skills explode. He has developed lightyears since turning 4. I usually have a strict no birthday party rule, but now that he’s 5, he’s super aware of having a party. Also since thisContinue reading “Happy Birthday to Asher!”

Next on our bucket list was one last trip to Tahoe. The kids were begging to see snow, and it delivered. So much so that we had to break out the old tire chains. We rented a small rustic cabin and got some sledding in. We were horribly prepared. The kids only had rain bootsContinue reading “Tahoe 2018”

It’s really starting to become a reality that we are short timers in California. BC and I keep talking about making a bucket list, but so far we haven’t put anything on paper, and the only things we’ve talked about involve food (not surprising). This weekend was a rarity because we had no swim lessons,Continue reading “Happiness in Happy Hallow”