2017 in review



This year has been another big one for the Smootenns clan. We didn’t travel as much as last year, we didn’t have to move at all this year, and we are feeling more at home in Kitchener.

We lived through our first Ontario winter (though Bekah remembers some close calls when it snowed, yet again, after having melted and warmed up). 
pretending it's spring
Bekah became a cake baker to help us keep warm and much deliciousness was enjoyed by all. In February we got to welcome Josh and Laura (Bekah’s brother and sister-in-law) as they moved back to the area after a few years of living abroad. In March, Bekah got garden fever and started seedlings while there was still snow on the ground. House highlights were hosting a cocktail party for Valentines Day and a salad feast for Easter.

Bekah's baby seedlings in the window sill. 
In the Spring we took two weeks in Virginia where we attended a wedding of a good friend and spent a rainy weekend at a cabin with some of Bekah’s college friends. When we returned we enjoyed the first sprouts from our garden before Bekah made a solo trip to Philadelphia and another friend’s wedding in New Jersey. 
Anniversary meal with fresh garden squash. 
And before we knew it summer was here. We ate squash, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, kale, and more from our backyard garden. We got to explore Southern Ontario with two camping trips (one with housemates and one with family) and a first anniversary get-a-way to Tobermory and the Bruce Peninsula.  We saw Niagara falls twice (once with Matt’s parents, once with Matt’s sisters), tubed down the Grand River during the partial solar eclipse, and even spent a day in Toronto. Matt rejoiced that the heat was much more bearable than a Virginia summer. But the most exciting part of our summer was welcoming a new crewmate.
Exploring Niagara Fall's with Rachel and Kaity
In July our family expanded with the adoption of Curzon Dax Smootenns. 
adorable. 
He’s a cuddly, rambunctious, and adorable 4-year-old lab mix rescue. We love him, our house mates tolerate him (just kidding, they love him too), and the chickens don’t fear him enough (we had an adventure with escaping chickens and overly excited puppy that ended with one less egg layer and a day of chicken fence reinforcing). He keeps us active, has figured out who to wake up for walks when (Bekah in the morning and Matt at night) and does his job protecting  the household by barking at the doorbell and jumping excitedly on visitors.

Curzon Dax: Trill, Federation Ambassador to the Klingon Empire
 
Our fall started with a week of intensive canning projects: peaches, salsa, stewed tomatoes, and crabapple juice. Bekah started her research for her Master’s Thesis on volunteers with Restorative Justice and Matt got a work permit to work and live in Canada for the next two years. The warm weather lasted well into October, allowing for lots of beautiful fall days exploring with Curzon. Matt celebrated his 33rd birthday with a surprise visit from Tania and Sean (two wonderful friends from Virginia) and a surprise hobbit party. 
Matt's birthday ham! 
We also celebrated two Thanksgivings, which is becoming a tradition. We hosted Canadian Thanksgiving in early October and got to be in Virginia with Matt’s family for American Thanksgiving (and early Christmas) in late November. Thankfully Matt had finished the 3 week long overhaul of our vehicle before we made the drive down south. 
Our Trek family Halloween costumes. 

As the year wraps up, we are looking forward to having Bekah’s parents join us in Kitchener for Christmas. Our life this year has been filled with love and joy, spending time with people who matter to us and enjoying the beautiful world we live in. We hope that as your year ends, you too are surrounded by loved ones and able to look back on 2017 with joy and forward to 2018 with hope. 

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