Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Summer turns to Fall!

I was looking through my August photos and it feels like so long ago.  Fall is arriving quickly and what's left of the warm summer sun is leaving.  Andrew's sabbatical is over and things are crazy at church (as per normal).  We are all getting back into the hang of structure and the regular rhythm of our days.  We have been doing school and it is going well.  Not with out it's bumps and frustrations, after all we have a 2.5 year old and a 8.5 month old who need love and attention at exactly the same moment we sit down to read Charlotte's Web.  So here is a look back at one of our beach days while we visited Andrew's parents in Salmon Arm.  It was literally a perfect beach day.  I wouldn't change anything!

Beautifully warm and sunny but just enough of a breeze to make it lovely.

Andrew rented a paddle board and life jackets and it was so much fun. Also, so much easier than I anticipated.

Hannah and Ethan took to paddle boarding fast.  They both stood up too but preferred to ride together kneeling.  Andrew's mom has more pictures of the kids paddle boarding but of course on her camera not mine.

A leisurely cruise.

Elly loves being outside and enjoyed the water.  

But she spent most of her time between Grandma and Grandpa.

Picnic lunch.

 
Pulling out snacks.

Snagging a mouthful of Ethan's ice cream.

Hannah enjoying her cone.

Of course coming home everyone is so tired and happy to relax quietly. 
Andrew with his girls.

Ethan and his book.


Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Margaret Falls



While we were in Salmon Arm visiting Andrew's parents we went to Margaret Falls.  It  was so beautiful and fun.  Part of what made it great was the natural air conditioning because it was SO hot.  I could have stayed up there all day.

Elly is always excited to be outside.

This was the first little falls and the bridge.

My Hannah.

I could have stood here a long time had it not been for everyone else.

Ethan at the top of the walk and the main falls.

Isn't it pretty?

Clearly she was having a good time.

Nathanael was monopolizing Grandma's camera and wanted to take many pictures.  Here he is trying to take a picture of Grandma.

Hannah and her Daddy.

Yup still more picture taking.  Must take after his mommy.


Wednesday, August 24, 2016

It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To!

Well it is my birthday but I am not crying.  I love my birthday.  I have great memories of my birthday growing up.  My Mom and Dad always made a big deal over birthdays, and I can feel the excitement I had as a child as the big day approached.  One of my most memorable birthdays was the year I celebrated my 8th birthday.  

That summer we celebrated at my Grandma and Grandpa's house (Dad's mom and dad) on Pender Island.  Pender Island is one of the gulf Islands between the mainland and Vancouver Island.

Taking the ferry was nearly as much fun as visiting Grandma and Grandpa.  My parents use to let us loose to do whatever wanted until the Captain came on the loud speaker telling everyone to get back to the cars.  Playing on the ferry was so much fun.  We would buy candy, run around on the decks outside, play hide and seek, and roam the insides.  Looking back I think my parents probably enjoyed it too since they were basically left alone as long as we didn't get into trouble.

(Grandpa and Grandma's house -note those are not my grandparents)
I loved Pender and everything about it.  I have always felt most at home and relaxed at the ocean.  My grandpa's house was amazing and he built it himself.  It was very eclectic and I can still picture the swinging doors to the kitchen, the pattern in the carpet, the strange oven that my mom loved,and the decks with a view worth millions.


The view.

This was my absolute favorite spot at their house.  

The hot tub.  

Grandpa's Arbutus tree,  
I loved to peel the bark and Grandpa used to get so upset at us for wrecking his tree.  Outside was so much fun too.  

Climbing down the path to the beach to look for rocks, sea glass, and tiny black crabs.

Nick and I with our fish.

Anyway back to my birthday.  So this birthday was notable for a number of reasons.  First, I don't think I had ever had a birthday there before and I was so excited.  Second, my grandpa asked me to go out on his boat to go fishing for the first time.  It was really fun to go out on the boat and use the fishing rod with my dad, my brother, and my grandpa.  After catching our first fish, I reached out before my dad could stop me and touched the fish with my bare hands and it really hurt.  I don't know if it was a barb, a stinger or what but it hurt.  We caught two fish that day and we brought them back to show everyone.  You can see one of the two fish we caught in the above picture.  

(Amanda, Me, Teresa, and Nick) Ready for out fish dinner.

My excitement from the fishing expedition ended quickly that afternoon when my Grandma told me we would be eating our catch for dinner.  I don't eat fish, I can't stomach it.  Not now and certainly not then.  Makes me sick just thinking about it.  I was so upset as only a 8 year old can do well at the proposition of eating fish for her birthday dinner.  But it din't matter, Grandma was adamant that if we caught it then we would eat it and serve it she did.  But I didn't eat it.  

Blowing out the candles with Teresa looking on.  
Yes that is an angel food cake which is my absolute favorite.


Amanda, Chico (dog), Me, and Nick
Can't have a birthday without presents.  I think my bad attitude from dinner was still lingering because I remember opening my gift from grandma and grandpa and not really looking at it.  I think it was something really boring like clothes.  I must have put it down quickly and moved on to the next gift.  All I know is my mom was mortified and upset.  She took me downstairs and told me I was been awfully rude and ungrateful for the present that I needed to go back upstairs and say thank you properly.

The rest of the trip went very well and was a lot of fun.  Makes me long for the ocean.  But's it's all good since we are going for a picnic to the beach this evening.  But we are not having fish.








Monday, August 22, 2016

Family Camp

We had such a great time at family camp this year.  Hannah and Ethan love the freedom to roam away out of sight.  It's great to have time to relax and hang out with everyone.

It is so pretty at Cedar Springs. 

 Last year was so hot and dry but this year it was cool and very green.

My pretty little Elly enjoying the flowers.

Nathanael played hard and slept well.

Off to be with the kids.

Playing ball.

Andrew and Ethan playing soccer.

Waiting for the big group games to start.

Needing a rest with Daddy.

The big group games.  We played jumbo speed scrabble as well as a water game.

Nathanael pushing Ellyana around right into the beg game of football.

Paddle boating.

I was so surprised that Nathanael ventured out.  He generally refuses.  They all had fun.

Nathanael even went in the canoe with Andrew and Hannah.

Finally alone with Daddy. Hannah really wanted to go with only Andrew which is difficult to do with her brothers around.

"Fling me" all weekend long.  Josh was a great sport.

Kids playing their group games.  Sadie and Civia were amazing with the kids.

Andrew and I with our baby.

Balloon sword.

Bubble painting.

Ethan and Civia

 
Best friends.

Love these boys.


Asa and Ellyana; so cute.

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