Much Love Monday {blog friends}

Good morning, my lovelies! It's Monday and I'm writing once again from my couch in Canada. After a long, long day of walking and riding trains and planes and buses and ferries, we arrived late Saturday night and have been getting settled (and doing laundry, so much laundry...) Thank goodness I've got one more week until I'm back at work!

It is so good to be home. Though it's always sad when holidays come to an end, I can't help but be happy that we're back. We had a fantastic trip, jam-packed with visits and sightseeing and activities every day of the week. I'm not sure how I'm going to cover it all (we literally took thousands of photos!) but over the next few weeks, I'll do my best to tell you all about it, shall I?

In the meantime, how about a Much Love Monday to kick things off?

Today I'm loving that I got to spend some time with my friend Cassie. On our last day in England, we took the train to Ipswich, so that she and I could finally meet. Sadly, our weekend together in the countryside the week before didn't get to happen and I must confess I cried! Alan said to me, "We cannot leave England without meeting Cassie," (isn't he lovely?) and so we booked more rail tickets and off we went on the train to meet her and her adorable husband James for lunch.

It was wonderful! It really did feel like we were the "oldest and dearest of friends." We chatted away easily, laughed and joked and caught up on all the gossip. It was great.

We posed for many photos.

The boys adored her, which was no surprise. They're always excited when we skype with her. So to see her for "real-o" (as Sawyer says) was very exciting! The poor girl had little boys climbing all over her.

She was such a good sport and happily joined in with all of their shenanigans. And her hubby did too. He was tickled quite relentlessly!

Dylan took this one just before we headed back to the station. Ipswich is on a huge hill as you can see! ;~)

Two and a half hours went by far too quickly, but we had to catch our train back into London so we could finish packing and get to bed early for the big journey home on Saturday. It was sad to say good-bye so soon after saying hello, but I am really glad we did it. It would have been much sadder had we flown home without having met. Now we just have to make a plan to get together again soon! And for longer. Come visit us in Canada sometime, Cassie? Please? Bring James, too. He's quite good fun!

It's lovely to be home, and I am happy to be back blogging. I've missed it, and all of you. I'm looking forward to catching up! Tell me... what's new with you?

love E xo

PS: I'm so out of practice now, I almost forgot! If you play along this Monday, be sure to link up on Anna's beautiful blog.