More Puppy Pictures

The puppies are now 8 weeks and are starting to go . . . one by one.  This is a bit happy and a bit sad.

With the warm weather, a garage full of puppies starts to smell . . . uh . . .less than pleasant . . . and they seem to attract flies too.

But of course it is sad to see them go. So far its been not too bad b/c there are still five . . but I think once we get down to two or three, the kids will get sadder and sadder.  They don't make very good sales people. They prefer to just keep them all.

It's funny how I look back on my other puppy post and I don't even find them that cute at that age any more. Now THIS age is CUTE!!! 

Though they do get a little wild. They wrestle constantly, biting eachothers tails and rolling over and over in their quest for fun?!

They also chew.  Puppies chew. We all know that. But now we are seeing lots of it. I keep telling the kids that they cannot leave their shoes lying all over the place.  So far there hasn't really been any damage . . .but I don't expect that to last for too long!!

When the pictures below were taken, the puppies all trotted along behind Karter and he sometimes would trip over them in their frenzy to be near him.

But he really enjoyed them and always had a smile on his face and a happy shriek on his lips!

Now, they are too much for him and if there is more than one at him, it is no longer a fair battle.  The poor guy gets pushed right over!

The puppies spend a large part of the day outside and it is fun to see the kids playing with them!

In case you missed it in the picture above . . . that IS a kitten in Kylie's hand.  We were originally going to get Kylie a kitten for her birthday . . .but then the puppies were all born that day and we were very glad we didn't.  Then last Saturday the kids went out to the woods and on the way home they found this kitty in our field. He is now named Flash and he has had quite the welcome to our home. The puppies treat her a bit like a chew toy and she just takes it.  Taz also was suspicious at first, but the kids really guarded her the first day and then they were all friends after that.  Jonathan thinks she is the ugliest thing ever.

But the kids love her and she is no trouble at all . . . so she stays.

Turkey Point 2013

Wow! I am really behind on this blog, but am going to plod away and try to get a bunch posted in the next bit.  Summer is officially here and things just don't slow down. I am loving every minute of it though!

First up is our annual camping trip with Mike and Jenn and family.This year we headed off to Turkey Point and really enjoyed it there!  The weekend was cooler, but we still had lots to do and lots of cozy campfires. We didn't get a lot of rain . . a bit on Saturday and then a bit more on Sunday night and Monday morning.  That may sound like a pretty crummy weekend, but it really wasn't too bad. Rain really doesn't faze us too much anymore. We are pretty much experts at camping in the rain and packing in the rain. And it never poured, so that was helpful.

Karter showing us what camping is all about.

Hanging out at the campfire after crawling out of bed.

Kevin and Kade doing dishes. Kevin really wanted me to post this to show what a hard worker he is!:)

We went for a hike on Saturday morning. (we saw a deer, but it didn't stick around. Can't imagine why!)

These two have a lot of fun together.

Boys will be boys.

There were also some great biking trails here - for beginner, intermediate and experienced. Jonathan and Mike took the boys on a couple of them. I'm not sure if they had time to explore the experienced one, though the boys really wanted too.  I think they must be pretty good trails, b/c we saw 'real bikers' come through the campground - probably a bit of a detour as they took the trails.

We went to the beach twice. (I loved this beach. You park right close and just unload your stuff and set it out - all within a couple metres of your van and the water. No lugging huge loads!!) The weather was nice enough for swimming if you were brave enough . . .which the kids always are . . . and Jonathan went in a couple times too.

There were lots of other beach activities too -- like chair jumping . . . .

 . . .which then progressed to rope jumping.

Can you tell they just did track and field the day before??

There was the balance beam . . . .

Sand castles . . .

 . . .baseball grab . . .race to get the ball that Jonathan was throwing . . .

 . . . and just enjoying the sand and water.

 

There was also a pretty nice park in the campground which was close to our sites and which was a hit with the kids too. Karter loved the swing.

So did the other boys!

Kylie and Devin on the monkey bars.

Kylie, Ian, Kade, Ashley, Kevin, and Devin.

And b/c a goofy picture is practically a necessity.

Karter also loved the slide . . . and this was a REALLY high one!!

Back at the beach the next day . . .

Jordan, Ian, and Kade . . .

 . . . and Kevin made it in!!!! (or is about to anyway!!)

(as he ran in, he yelled, "I'm too young to die!" Ya. He is not our biggest water kid.)

Volley-ball.

Fun in the water.

Karter got a molar this weekend and did not sleep well at all. We didn't figure out what was going on till we got home.  He also was blessed with diaper rash and I think I went through probably 60 diapers that weekend.  Fun stuff. He did enjoy the camping experience -- though I imagine he would have LOVED it if he was feeling better.

Sand castle smushing.

Relaxing!

This camping tradition is one I am so glad we keep. It has now been five years and it has been great. Every year, it goes through your head that it might be too busy, but we just go ahead and reserve sites and then it is just officially on your calendar and you just do it!! And we are always so glad and thankful we do. Camping for a weekend sometimes seems like a lot of work - packing, setting up, taking down, unpacking, laundry etc. But it is totally worth it. We had neighbours in the campsite beside us who came in the afternoon one day - a mom and dad, two or three grown (in their early 20's?) kids and a younger kid (grandchild?).They packed up the next day and they had a tent trailer, a tent, blowup mattresses etc. Seemed like a ton of work for one night, but I got thinking that this is family time. It is quality . . not quantity.  We don't know their story, but maybe this mom and dad don't see or get to spend much time with their kids/grandkid and this was a way of making it happen.  Whatever the situation was, it made me stop and think.  We have to enjoy these days when the kids are here with us. . . the days when we can get in the van as a family and spend time with friends. The time is short! We see this all the time. So we thank Mike and Jenn once again for coming out for the weekend and hanging out with us. We love all the chats, all the coffees (or tea), all the relaxing, the campfires . . .and we even love watching the kids try to lure raccoons into traps right?!!!