Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Wow!!! Another Wonderful Year at the Cottage!

If vacations were measured in terms of weather alone, this one probably would get a 9.8 out of 10! What a wonderful week. After a day and a half of clouds and rain, we enjoyed nothing but SUN!! (of course the sun did go down in the evenings, but it was back up to greet us every morning) But of course a vacation DOES depend on more than the weather. It must have good fun, good food, and good fellowship. And all these elements were there - at their best. So this vacation ranks high on the list of GREAT VACATIONS - but then I have a hard time recalling a rotten vacation. Anyway this one was really fun and sped by with great speed as vacations tend to do. What follows is a whole wack of pictures. They are the proof of a spectacular time -- that and the memories which are of course still very fresh. But since memories do tend to fade - here are pictures that will allow us to hold on to good times yet a little longer. Our yearly family picture at the cottage
Josh and Steph and familyBrookeMackenzie
Holly James
Isaac
BethanyJosh taking his boys for a canoe ride.Who would have thought . . . . ! ! !Timothy, Jonathan, and Ryan Isaac taking in the happenings.
Dodge ball was a favorite with the kids and adults. You could also find them engaged in a soccer game once or twice a day. There are a whole bunch of up and coming soccer stars in this group!
Maaike and ChristyMaaike, Mackenzie and KylieOwen Kylie
Mackenzie and Kylie splashing And of course there must be the yearly volleyball competitions. All hot and ready for a swim.
Refreshed.
David and Timothy Christiaan with one of his frogs. Kade and Christiaan with their frogs. Frog catching was another favorite pasttime for the boys.
Jeremy celebrated his 6th birthday while we were at the cottage and I must say his reactions to all the birthday celebrations and gifts was just priceless! Brooke and Isaiah
Holly and Maaike Isaiah, Christiaan, Jeremy, Kade
Off to do some rock jumping . . .
Jeremy
Summer
And . . . Richard is most definitely back . . . .
Christiaan - always with a big smile on his face.
Kylie and Mackenzie
Kylie
Bethany and MaryBeth
Mackenzie
Kade and Jeremy
Ryan
Kylie, Hunter and MaryBeth out for a paddleboat ride.
Kade ready for some snorkelling.
Kade and Jonathan snorkelling.
Jeremy and Kade
Kevin and James
Kade and Jonathan. The boys love fishing and are becoming quite the experts at it.
Kevin, Tim, Kade, James and David.
Timothy and Kevin
MaryBeth, Kade and Jeremy
Brooke
Jon and Josh

Opa splashing and being splashed by Summer, Kylie and Isaiah.
Kade and Christiaan
Jonathan and Kylie. Kylie was afraid of any type of boat at first, but once pursuaded to try it out, she loved it and became quite a willing passenger after that.
MaryBeth taking Summer and Kylie out for a ride.
Kade and Jeremy

Kade - I love pictures of kids in lifejackets.
Ryan, Kevin, and Jonathan
Brooke and Kylie.
The swings were a favorite for Kylie and many of the other younger ones.
Kevin
Kade the fisherman. He always wanted the fishing rod in his hands before the picture was taken.
Kylie and Isaiah. These two were very amusing to watch. They played and fought and fought and played . . . Kylie met her match!!!
James
Isaiah - what a cutie - I just love this little guy - he's a grand mixture of fiesty and sweet. Reminds me of a little girl I know . . . .
Hunter
Dad and Jonathan reading and relaxing.
Nathan and Mackenzie
Allison enjoying her book in the sun.
Me and my Ky.Kevin and Kaitlyn - these two could often be found together too - they were dubbed the other set of twins. They do have their similarities.
Owen and James.
In age order from left to right - Kate, Tim, Jonathan, Ryan and Kevin.
Becky and Judah

What a gorgeous little girl - Mackenzie!!!
Josh and Steph
Brooke and Kylie
Allison and Holly
Nathan, Bethany and Mackenzie
Josh and Steph and the troops.
Mom and Dad Stephen and Jenna
Jenna, Stephen, Mom, Dad
Matthew, Christy, David
So many thanks to each and every family member for a great time. And of course we missed you a lot Dan and Sarah and gang. And especially thanks to Uncle Klaas and Auntie Ann who let us use their cottage each and every year. We are so thankful for the opportunity it gives us to get together like this.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

What to do . . .

. . . with this adorable little litter of kitties??? They are at the cutest stage ever I think. They rough and tumble, wrestle, pounce, play, and just look really cute. BUT - the fact that they are this cute right now and are eating hard food etc. means that this is really the prime time to get rid of them. But the mere suggestion sends my children into conniptions. But really - do I want four kittens and one cat around my house? The quick answer is "Absolutely NOT!" But they really aren't too much trouble . . . . and did I mention the fact that they are really cute.
All this from me - who doesn't like cats!!!