Rock Lake Lodge 2011

Another fabulous year at Rock Lake Lodge.  People have been asking me if it was good to be home.  Honestly?  I think most of us could have stayed longer (though I think we left just in time weather wise!!)

We did start out with cooler than normal temperatures, but I think I still swam every day but one, and if I'm swimming . . . probably everyone is swimming!  We swam day and night, in rain and in sun . . . and actually the one in the rain was probably the warmest and one of the most enjoyable ones was the night one (and that's b/c it was so quiet and peaceful . . . nothing more!)

My fondest, funniest memory of this year was the appearance of the bear.  It came to welcome Jeff (probably less than an hour after he arrived to the "meet" the family).  It was hilarious!!!!  I think Jeff nearly had a heart attack, but he was a super good sport after we all finished laughing at him.

We enjoyed great volleyball, wonderful singing, lots of food, lots of chats, new games, old games, and all the other things the pictures below tell about. So without further ado . . . 2011!

Kade and Jeremy fishing off the dock . . . these boys are passionate about their fishing . . . or at least their casting!

 Uncle Nate came with lots of fishing gear and everyone loved getting a turn going out with him!

 Kade and Christiaan

 Stephen and Jenna . . . if I recall correctly, Jenna was no longer dry when she arrived at shore . . .

 The boys (and a few of the girls) love the little critters that roam (or hunt to find them).  Nate found this turtle and Kade quickly made it his own.

 Yeah. It's what it looks like.  I think this is Christiaan holding it . . .at least he was most of the time.

 The bullfrog they found.

 It was bitten by a snake (that's the word from the boys anyway). See the scar on the side of it's face?!!

 Boo!

 Kevin with a leopard frog . . . not sure if that's a real name, but that's what they called it!

As I said earlier, there was lots of good volleyball.  The boys played 5 on 5 plenty over the weekend and it was fun to watch!

 The girls also played lots of volleyball. We were very dedicated in fact. Why else would one continue to play in the pouring rain . . . .  I'm afraid there are no action shots . . . I'm sure there would have been some real beauties!  (as it is, I'm not even sure how this one picture got on my camera, though I'm glad there is some evidence of our many games!)

 There were also a few soccer games again this year, though not quite so many as last year if I recall.  There was lots of other things (headhunters, forts, and hikes) that took precedence.

 There was plenty of relaxing  . . . .

 Games, games, and more games - every night!

Fun in the sand . . .Hunter, Judah, and Owen.

 Opa playing with Mackenzie, Summer, and Kylie

 Kade

 Fun in the beach sand . . .

 Mountain climbing . . . Kylie, Summer, and Brooke.

 Josh took a bunch of kids on a hike and a picnic.  The kids loved it!!  Maaike took the littlest ones on their own picnic a little closer to home. They thought that was pretty special too!

 I don't have pictures of head hunters, but this was played a few times this year, and was a favorite.    Opa and some of the Dad's would go hunting the woods, cliffs, and bushes for all the little ruffians!  What fun!

The tubes were a favorite with young and old, though I have no pictures to present of the old ones!

Kylie and Brooke

  . . . .laughing hilariously.

 Hunter

 Judah

 Jeremy

 Kade, Ryan, Christiaan, and James

 Isaac

Uncle Richard, Kade, and Jeremy

  . . . and a bunch of others. King of the raft was another favorite activity.

 Kylie didn't swim often, but when we actually got her out there, she loved it!

 Owen

 Mackenzie

 Ryan

 Josh and Kylie

 Kylie and Summer with their "one buns"!  (Kylie asked rather often for her hair to be done in a "one bun like Aunt Stephenie!")  though I think Mare gets the credit this particular day . . .

 Richard and Savannah (what a delightful baby to take on holidays . . . I'm not sure I heard her cry once!)

 Kevin, Titus and Ryan . . .Kevin loved holding/playing with Titus.

 Hunter after a long afteroon apparently . . . (photo courtesty of Christy)

 Awwww. . . . (again credit goes to Christy)

 My Ky!

Not sure how these got on my camera  . . . actually I do. David took them:)

(so . . . photo credit goes to David!)

 Jeremy celebrated his 8th birthday this year at the cottage.  We all sang to him. His face changed so many times during the one verse of Happy Birthday . . . he even plugged his ears . . . and I thought it sounded so nice!  He was pretty cute to watch! (I wouldn't want to be the center of attention like that!!!)

 Lots of boys!! (and I've gotta say, I have hardly any pictures of Dan and Sarah's five!  I never seem to pull my camera out much at the beginning of the vacation and that is the only time they are there!! Too bad:(

Hunter.

 Jo had the fantastic idea of doing pictures of each age group each year so we can see how they've grown/changed. 

Jesse and Maaike are the oldest grandchildren. They have both grown SOOO much in the last year.

Jesse is going to Gr.8 and Maaike to Gr.9 (though they are only a few months apart)

 Allison and Holly

 The kids of 2001 - Kate, Tim, Ryan, Jonathan and Kevin! 

  . . .with their muscles. Don't worry Kev. If you are anything like your dad, you'll catch up to the rest of them (someday) in height and muscle!!

 My camera battery died at this moment, so I borrowed this picture from Bethany (thanks Beth:))

Jacob, James, and MaryBeth

 Jeremy and Christiaan

 Those born in 2004 . . . Kade, Joshua, and Faith

 Love this shot!

 and the new Kindergardeners!!! Brooke, Isaiah, Josiah, and Isaac (he cracks me right up . . . Jo says its b/c he reminds me of my own kids in pictures!)

 Kylie, Summer, and Mackenzie - Three beautiful girls - and they all have clean faces!!!

 I believe this is my all time favourite picture from this year . . . Owen and Judah.  What handsome little boys!!!

 And b/c we'd never get these three to sit on their own . . . Hunter, Jonathan, and Matthew with their Ma's.

 The patriarch and matriarch of everyone . . . .

 Sarah and Mom

 Becky and Christy

 Jenna and Christy

 MaryBeth and Christy

 My very strange in-laws.  This is the best they could come up with!:)

 Actually they are all incredibly beautiful - inside and out!

Steph and Brooke

 And the family pictures . . .

Dan and Sarah

 John-Michael and Becky

 Steve and Jo

 Us

 Josh and Steph

 Richard and MaryBeth

 Stephen and Jenna

 Nate and Beth just had professional family pictures done, so they escaped the after church photo shoot.
The couples . . .

Dan and Sarah

 Steve and Jo

 Us

 Josh and Steph

 yeah . . . I think that's why he was smiling so broadly above.

 Matthew, Christy, Mom, Dad, and David . . the picture shrinks every year . .

 The men.

 Summer and Mackenzie

 Kylie and Summer

And that's the end.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.