Another speedy wonderful week at the cottage has come and gone. I am pretty sure this week is one of the fastest weeks of the year every year. We love every minute of it and are so thankful for this amount of time to spend with family. Though we had perhaps less sunshine than usual, we also had very little rain. This just meant we had to get creative and do things instead of just working on our tans;)
Here is the ENTIRE group! I think it's been 6 years since we were all in the same place at the same time . . .so although you may not see EVERY face . . they are all there . . .somewhere!!
And . . .our yearly cottage family pictures:
Dan and Sarah
John-Michael and Becky
Steve and Jo
Jonathan and Denise
Josh and Steph
Nate and Beth
Rich and Mare
Stephen and Jenna
Jeff and Christy
David, Dad, Mom, Elizabeth and Matt
Maaike, Christy and Holly
Brooke and Owen enjoying a hot chocolate.
Kylie
Hunter and his frog.
Titus . . . and in case you can't guess what he is saying, it was "You get outta here!"
He is so much fun!
Isaac
Reese
Jonathan
Karter
Brooke and Mackenzie
Owen, Kylie, Judah
MaryBeth and Holly
Off for a run . . .
Isaiah
Karter
Jonathan and Karter
Karter was a bit of a danger this year with the water. He had no problem just wandering right in . . . and twice he had to be rescued!!
Nate and Beth out for some fishing
Kade with his finest catch
Kade, Christiaan and Jeremy
. . throw Mary Beth into the mix and this group is complete. They have such fun together!
Kylie did really well with the water this year. She was jumping and swimming and even canoeing this year!!
Jacob
Joshua
The dock is always a popular place . . . .
. . . just not necessarily a calm place . . .
. . especially when Uncle Jeff comes along!
Becky and Jonathan
Mason
Beth and Jonathan
The playground is rarely quiet! The kids just love this area!
Savannah
Badminton was perhaps the sport of choice this year!! Lots of good doubles games!
Not every moment is a happy one . . .even at the cottage:) Can't remember what the issue was here . . but I thought it made for a cute picture;)
The five 2001ers
Kate, Tim, Ryan, Jonathan and Kevin
Kate and Kev
Opa playing catch with the kids. Opa played ball with Karter a LOT this week and Karter just loves anything that has to do with a ball!
Volleyball was still a hit and lots of good games were had.
There is no doubt at all who Savannah's favorite aunt is!!!
Hunter and Mackenzie
Summer, Kylie and Mackenzie - now in Grade 1!
Hunter, Summer, Kylie, Mackenzie and Isaiah
Kevin and Titus
Isaiah and Marshall
Watching a volleyball game . .
Karter loved these trucks and spent many hours pushing them around the yard . . .and bothering other kids:)
Mason
(I think this is my favorite cottage picture this year!)
Karter
(also really love this picture)
Hunter
Mason
Hunter and Karter
Kade and Chris
Jonathan and Karter
Christy and Savannah
Jonathan and Karter
Becky, Mare, Marshall, and Matt
Keziah
Summer
Kylie
While we had a fabulous week away from home, we were quickly reminded how important it is to treasure each moment and to love eachother deeply. Hours after we arrived, we received the news that our pastor had passed away in an accident. This was shocking and terrible news. Though we were away from our church family, it was good to be together with family during these times. We will miss our pastor, but we have hope and joy knowing he is with our Lord and Saviour in heaven. Our prayers are with his family!
Family and vacation are gifts. We are thankful for the hours and hours our children can play with their cousins . . some who they see often and others who they see only a few times a year. The cottage is where they connect and they pick up so quickly where they left off the year before. It is really special seeing each group of kids growing older . . though it goes way too fast. Maaike was already off to Tamarack with her uncles! We are thankful for the time we spend with our brothers and sisters and brothers and sisters in law. What a crazy mix of people . . .yet it works!! We seriously have a blast together! We are thankful for mom and dad who love and pray for each one of their children and grandchildren. And of course we thank Uncle Klaas and Auntie Ann for letting us come and have all these moments and memories!
(My laundry after we got home. . . b/c that is how vacation ends right??)
Looks like you had a fabulous time! Where do you guys go?
ReplyDeleteThe cottage is near Bancroft . . . about 1.5 hours north of Peterborough.
DeleteLoved the pictures Denise!! And yes, we just have such a good time all together! I was saying to one of the sisters, how each sister-in-law just feels like a sister, and that makes it so special to be all together! It was such a good year again!
ReplyDeleteGreat Pictures Denise!! Such good memories! Our kids also enjoy looking at all the cottage pictures from the last 5 years or so.... Fun looking at how everyone is changing and growing up!! (kids mostly):) You always do a great job in "capturing the moment"!!
ReplyDeleteSteph