Where has the summer gone?

It seems like just yesterday we were packing up the van to head to the trailer for the first long weekend in July and here we are, heading into the last week of summer vacation!! What a wonderful summer we have had both weather-wise and vacation-wise...I guess that's why it has passed so quickly! We have one more week to enjoy our trailer before we close her up for the winter (oh i don't even want to say the word!) Labour Day is always a sad day for me...saying goodbye to lots of people until the spring (D.V.), going back to schedules and routines, making lunches, doing homework, waking up early, seeing the days grow shorter...however once you get past the first week of school, get into a routine and accept the fact that summer is over, you can begin to revel in the beauty of fall and look forward to Thanksgiving...kind of a gentle transition from one glorious season to another...

At the fishing hole...

At the water park and the trailer

Vacation Bible Camp 2006 - Our classroom

I Corinthians 13 - Sharing God's Love

I was assigned to the 5 year olds, we had around 9 kids everyday in our class (7 boys!) It went really well aside from the fact that by Thursday (today) I'm exhausted! The kids are very "enthusiastic" but it amazes me how much they pick up even though it seems they are preoccupied with other things. Looking forward to the closing program when my class will be singing for their parents...i love hearing little kids sing and they are quite excited to have their moment to shine! So impressionable at this age, hoping and praying that the seed was planted in their hearts and God will nurture it as the kids grow!

Calgary cousins come to visit

Welcome to the world Baby Jaden!

God has given Kev, Carole and Ashleigh the gift of a healthy baby boy. He is absolutely beautiful and we are all so thankful that everything went well and mom and baby are doing wonderfully.
Baby Jaden William was born August 3 @ 2:20 a.m. weighing in at 7 lbs. 12 oz. Ashleigh was beaming!!

Thrilled mom and baby

Kelsey and Connor fell in love with him at first sight!

The family

Kevin and his son, isn't he a proud looking papa!?

Auntie Mare takes her turn....

Connor and Kelsey still have the knack!

Celebrating Oma and Opa's 45th Anniversary - Port Severn, ON

God has truly blessed Oma and Opa with many years of marriage, we were all thankful that we could spend a weekend together at the Neven's cottage(s). The above picture was taken at Christie's Inn where we dined. It's not too often that everyone is in one place at the same time. It was so nice for the 15 grandchildren to swim, boat, play games and hang out with eachother and just as enjoyable for us adults. Enjoy only a hand full pics of our weekend. It is truly a beautiful part of God's creation. Thanks to Mom and Dad for everything, all the siblings for the organization and most of all to God for all our undeserved blessings!!

On the porch of Gary and Brenda's new cottage

Beautiful weather, beautiful water, beautiful girls...

Handsome young men at dinner

Enjoying some R & R

All tuckered out...

Brandon, Jordan and Mark taking it easy

CONGRATS KELSEY!!

Kelsey received her mark back for her Grade 2 Royal Conservatory of Music Piano Exam and are we ever proud of her accomplishment...all the hard work paid off! She ended up with 87% which is First Class Honours!! Way to go Kels! Continue on with your God-given talent my dear.

HAPPY (37th) BIRTHDAY BRI!!!

Cake and ice cream at Papa's house after a refreshing swim in the pool. Happy birthday Babe...you're lookin' fine!! Thankful for another year of health and happiness together! I must say, 37 looks good on you!

They forecasted a high of 37 degrees today and FINALLY Dad went in. Just wanted my siblings to have a visual because this only happens about once a summer!! He didn't believe us that the water temp. was 85 degrees...lol.

VACATION, VACATION, VACATION

We were blessed with amazing weather our entire 9 days. The Canada Day weekend was up in the 30's so we hit the beach and lounged by the poolside. The campground was packed with people and there was a flurry of activity all weekend long. There was a ball hockey tourney, wagon rides, a Kingsway Quartet performance, a fireworks display, a singsong, and mom's birthday. It was so enjoyable. It was just nice to escape reality for a week!

Mom's 59th birthday

Enjoying the yummy cake!

Connor playing frisbee golf...ending up with a fabulous score!!

What form!

The hazy, lazy days of summer...

Sleeping in...

Hanging with cousins

Relaxing in the pool

The candy store

Unfortunately when we arrived home Saturday night we were smacked right back into reality...there was a message on the answering machine that mom had been taken by ambulance to the hospital due to a stroke/seizure at suppertime. I went immediately to Emerg. to find mom and Aunt Mare. They told us it was a small seizure that didn't cause any more damage and Mare and I took her back to Extendicare (Dad was in Toronto helping Kev and Carole). Please continue to keep her and our family in your prayers. Dealing with this tragedy is unexplainable. Words are unable to describe the pain, the loss, the "trying to accept", the "trying to cope" etc. of losing her mentally. All I can say is that I hope none of you ever have to go through this. Thank God everyday for your health and eachother!

School's Out for Summer!!

Mags and Trent eagerly awaiting Kels and Connor's homecoming on the last day of school, ready to head to the trailer soon! We hope to leave on Friday (30th) for a 10 day holiday. Hooray!! Happy Canada Day all!

To celebrate we made Strawberry Daquiris (slushies) and lounged around!

A small glimpse into our gardens...the amazing beauty of God's creation...Enjoy!