Konnor at Six Months

This has been a bit of a milestone month for Konnor who is already half a year old! Crazy how fast it goes!  He is definitely growing up and doing some not so infantish things.  This has been lots of fun and of course everyone is so proud every time he starts something new or accomplishes a new trick!

We started him on food! As you can see by the picture, it wasn't such a hit.  We started with rice cereal like we did with all the kids and it was a bit of a fight to get it down every night.  After the rice was gone, we moved on to wheat cereal and that has gone a lot better, but I don't feel like he is really loving it. He usually cries for half of it, but we get it down quickly.  He doesn't care for applesauce at all. I've tried that around lunch time and he makes it very clear that it is yucky!

 Konnor enjoyed Port Burwell and was a champion camper once again. He was really easy most of the time . . . though the first night there I thought he was going to be trouble . . but I did eventually get him to sleep and he was slept well the rest of the trip.  A crying baby in the middle of the night at camp sounds a lot louder to its mother than it probably actually is . . . so I am grateful that he was so good.

 He had a good time hanging out with his cousin Jackson . . . well . . .maybe next year!

  This month we have heard over and over that Konnor is changing his look.  I'm finally seeing it. I'm not sure who he resembles . . .but it's not Kade so much anymore.  He is getting his own look . . .but still lots of similarities to the others!

 Do you see what I see?  Yup. The first two teeth came through the same day - August 4th. They didn't seem to bother him at all . . . but he does his fair share of drooling!

 At six months Konnor:

• has two teeth
• has started eating solids 
• loves his exersaucer
• just started using the jolly jumper and LOVES it!
• actually has somewhat of a schedule!! He has a good nap in the morning around 10 - usually an hour or some days even 2 . . and then in the afternoon the same thing.  He still has little naps here and there, but does not do a lot of sleeping for a baby. He is usually down to bed around 9:30 or 10ish and sleeps till 3ish.  So it might not be a typical baby schedule, but I kind of like knowing he'll sleep for a stretch for his naps.  It is my time to go gang busters and get things done!
• definitely loves his mom best! I think he is too young to play strange - but he definitely makes it quite clear who he loves best :)
• is getting around! He is not crawling contrary to what Jonathan thinks . . but he is definitely scooching around.  If he sees something he wants, he will make his way over and grab it.
• has fairly good eye hand coordination . . . though we haven't tried cheerios yet which is always the true test in my mind! He has no problem going after and getting his toys anyway and he can generally get his soother back in his mouth if it falls out.
• loves it on his tummy now. If we lay him on his back, he will roll over instantly. He can take in a lot more of what is going on in the world this way!
• has a great laugh. It is not very loud,but he has great giggles.
• loves peek a boo.
• loves his soother
• loves his toys. I like to have a few with me where ever I go to keep him occupied.
• is such a grabber. I cannot do most of the things I used to be able to do with him in my arms . . .like type or eat.  He will swipe at whatever he can . .  and he is quick!
• is doing a lot of talking . . . and gets fairly noisy too!
• is loved.

 We're thinking he has outgrown this bouncy chair!!

 He's not doing the relaxing thing too well.

 More mosquito bites from camp . . .though they really weren't bad at all! They seem to find him.

Hey . . I know you!

 Bouncing away! The kids got good laughs out of the way he bounced the first time he went in. They thought it looked like he was doing the one legged jig.  He can do some pretty serious jumping now and its only day 2!

 This picture is not the clearest, but I like it anyway.

 Such a happy camper!

We love you Konnor!

Soccer 2015

Another year of soccer has come and gone. (sob).  I do so love the soccer season. I anticipate it with great anticipation, savour sitting on the sidelines, and then sigh when it is all done and over with.

 Kevin had another fairly good year.  He missed quite a few games with all his holidays and field trips this year, but when he was there he was usually able to contribute.

 His fancy footwork and ball control are his strong points. His "go get 'em" and "fight" seemed to be a bit lacking this year.  We like to bug him that there are a few girls on his team that are a whole lot less scared of the ball and the opponent than he is!

 His team did well and came in second for the regular season.

 Then they had their year end tournament . . .

  . . in which they won two games and tied one  . . . gaining them a spot in the finals . . . 

  . . . and then they won!! 2-1 so a close game.

 So first place in the tournament . . . here is the team!

 Kevin and his fellow PRCers who all played on the same team.

 Kade had a super strong year and had a super good team. Maybe the fact that his team was so good helped him out a lot, but he played really well and was VERY fun to watch this year. 

 He was able to help his team out with lots of goals and assists and he was able to strengthen his game a lot since last year.

 It's neat to see it really become a team sport at this age, and Kade's team did really well in this area. They were a very good passing team.

 He also had the same coach which was great - except that he made Kade go in net a few times which Kade doesn't always appreciate . .  but which he does just fine at! It was good for him to take his turn at all positions. He'd be a forever forward if he had his way!

 Kade in action . . . 

 The highlight of Kade's soccer year was when he headed it in off a corner kick and scored.  Sadly I missed it, but I had another parent come and tell me all about it.

 The team came in first place. They only lost one game all year - the game we missed while we were out in PEI. Coincidence?? Maybe:) Kade doesn't think so:)!

 Kade and the trophy.

 Kade and Kylie with their medals on the last night.

 Kylie moved up to the big nets this year which was exciting for her and me especially. I was so ready for her to have space to run so that the ball would be in bounds more than out of bounds.

 Kylie played the same night as Kade so watching time was split between the two of them - maybe fairly . . . maybe not always.  If things went well, they would play close enough to each other that I could park the stroller and see both of them. But there were many games that they were just too far away.

 Kylie's game continues to improve. She is still a watcher. She is always busy taking everything in .. .and not always the game.  

 She thrives on encouragement and if I cheered as well as Aunt Mare, she probably would do a whole lot better;) 

 She really enjoyed the game this year and had two really great coaches too. Though she never ended up scoring a goal, she came close a few times and is getting the hang of being somewhat in the right place. 

 In action.

 Kylie and Summer got to be on the same team this year which was special for them!

 Their team came in second place!!!

 Karter loved Tuesday night soccer b/c his friend "Olnanna" would be there.  He would ask for her right when we got there. That was the highlight of his soccer experience.

Karter and Savannah.
Another year come and gone, new things learned, new friends made, and good exercise had. . .and all three kids got medals - placing either 1st or 2nd! Bet that won't happen again for a long while.
Can't wait for next year;)!!

Port Burwell 2015

We had a really great year this year at Port Burwell!  We didn't have real hot weather, but we had a bunch of really nice days - starting out cloudy, but ending up quite beautiful. We had one afternoon of rain from about 3-6:30ish and it did come down good and hard and it was a bit miserable and wet for a bit, but other than that it was dry and that is such a huge factor when camping.  I personally felt like I nailed camping this year. I had a bit of meal prep done at home before we came, I packed a little lighter and smarter, and b/c we only had the one rain, I was able to stay fairly neat and organized and you know  . . . .  that makes camping quite a joy!!

We did make it out to the beach most days. There were a few when we were still at camp at 2ish and we were humming and hawing about whether it would be warm enough and worth it to still head out to the beach or if we should just stay at camp and do activities. But we went every day and though there were some dark skies, it usually ended up being really nice!!

Spencer and Karter

There was a Canine Presentation in the park the one day and it was quite interesting  (though a bit long for the kids) It was neat for the kids to see examples of "different" jobs out there. Kevin thought this might be something he would like to do -- except for with the police rather than a conservation officer.

These two get along super well and were found hanging out often!

Spikeball was the game of the year. Kev got it for his birthday and it was a hit with young and old, laides and gents and boys and girls!  We even had a little tournament organized so that was really fun.

Opa playing with the boys in the park.

Kylie enjoying (or not) breakfast. She was eating Shredded Wheat which she told me was "nasty". The greeen beans were super yummy though. It kind of struck me as funny.

I guess this is as good a spot as ever to talk about the poison ivy.  Over half the kids broke out in poison ivy halfway through the camping trip. It put a bit of a damper on it for some of them. Some of them got it pretty bad and so that was kind of sad for them. Kevin and Kylie both had it pretty good and Kade had only a tiny bit which he very willfully did not itch and hence disappeared quite quickly. Kevin and Kylie couldn't resist the itch quite as well and it took about 2 weeks for it to be mostly gone.  I think they will be a little more careful next year!

Out for a ride!

Mom and Dad with 18 out of 22 of their grandchildren. The oldest four were no where to be found . . .

Beach fun.

Saige, Ella, Kyra and Savannah

(Three of these girls graduated from their training wheels this week!)

Jackson and Konnor

I  have never seen Port Burwell water look as nice as it did this year.  The sand/beach is another story  . . .but the water was actually quite beautiful for Lake Erie!

These were the kind of clouds that made deciding to go to the beach or not a bit of a challenge!

Karter and Savannah

I called these girls the box bike kids. They started this trend where they tied boxes (cereal or whatever!) onto the front of their bikes.  The trend caught on really fast - with all the cousins anyway- and by lunch time I think most of the bikes had some box or another on them!!

They had little pinecone pets that they carried around in them . . amongst other things.

Kylie, Summer, and Anna

Karter learned to ride his bike just before camp and he flew around there a bit maniacally. We kept wondering which day would be the big wipe out.  It did come on the second last day and he got a good scape, a good bump, and a good cut from his spill.  I think I'll spare you the bloody picture that I took :)

Singing with Oma.

Coffee around the fire - cozy times - Meika and Kade.

Kyra and Savannah

Marshall

Kylie and Summer practicing their dives . . .

Wave jumping

Spikeball on the beach

Landon

Kade

Because of the "au naturel" beach, there is lots of sticks and stuff with which to build forts and stuff.

Tim and Karter

 It is so beautiful so see Ella here and playing and having a great time. It was a year ago that she had her accident and was in hospital for so long. Things have gone so well and she is doing amazing1 Praise God.

Tim, Hunter, Savannah, Kyra, Karter, and Ella

Savannah and Karter in their tubs.

Konnor's monthly beach picture:)

Karter - this was the afternoon of the bike spill.

Marsall, Blake, and Spencer.

Konnor

Thanks wonderful family for another great year. It really was a good year and the kids had just so much fun. The kids all really played so well this year which made it nice and relaxing for us adults too. Thanks to the family man too for reminding us what it is all about so often:).  Family is a gift and  we are thankful to God for blessing us with  ours.