Kevin turns Eight

Kevin celebrated his 8th birthday this past Sunday. His birthday always happens at some point during our family camping trip with my side of the family. I personally don't love it - but he seems to think its great! I find it hard to celebrate it as a birthday and not just as another fun day, but Kevin just figures the camping is another one of his gifts. And since his birthday is supposed to be about him and he's happy - I'm good with that too.

This is the one and only picture I have of any birthday going ons - and that is thanks only to my mom. We didn't do cake this year either, but we didn't skip out on the presents - that just may have been pushing it too far . . .

And now for a few thoughts about this dear and oldest son of mine. Kevin is and always has been a boy with lots of energy - on the go all the time. (except when it comes time to unload everything from camping - all of the sudden his energy is drained!) He is generally a very hard worker, although lately he is definitely having moments bordering on laziness. But when he puts his mind to a task - you can be sure it will get done and that it will get done well! Kevin is an athlete. He loves sports and does well at them. He is also fairly competitive - though the competitiveness generally shows itself more at home and less on the playing field - I suppose there is good and bad in that . . . Kevin if full of attitude personality lately too! I'm not sure if that's just a growing up and getting older thing or what, but we are working on nipping that in the bud! Kevin is a very good brother to both Kade and Kylie. He is protective and helpful to them and me. I can usually trust Kevin to keep an eye on things for me if I am busy elsewhere. But my absolute favorite thing about Kevin and the one that gives me hope on a trying day, is Kevin's heart for the LORD. Kevin loves the Bible. His favorite subject in school is Bible. He soaks it up and remembers more than I do often. He is a quick memorizer as well. We have just finished going through the Kings of Israel and Judah. Kevin will recall details about a certain king that I have no idea about. So I will flip back a few pages to check, and he is almost always right. We also finished memorizing the names of all the kings (with the help of Jamie Soles) and Kevin mastered that quickest of all of us too. Kevin loves King Josiah - because it is his middle name and because Josiah was just eight years old when he became king. Our prayer for Kevin is that he may live a life like King Josiah as it says in 2 Kings 22 vs 1,2

"Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign . . .And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left."

2 Kings 23: 25

" And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him."

We gave Kevin his own Bible this year for his birthday and he was quite excited to get it as he had been wanting one for a while. In it we wrote something along the lines of, "We hope that this will be your longest lasting, yet most used gift and that you will treasure it and read it every day." So on the way to church, I thought I'd ask Kevin which of his gifts he liked the best. He responded that he liked his laptop (a vtech thing I picked up second hand), and the k'nex. Jonathan decided to prompt him a little, mentionning something about a book I think, to which Kevin responded, "Oh yah!!! I forgot all about the Hardy Boy books . . . !!!" Ahem. After a chuckle and another hint, he did get it right. But he has been eagerly reading it and I do believe that he will treasure it.

So that is a glimpse into our Kevin. We love him dearly and are thankful to God for this son of ours. We pray that he will continue to grow in God's grace and ways and that his life will be a testimony whereever he goes. We love you Kevin!!

We've been busy . . . .

. . . enjoying our summer. Here is a sampling by way of pictures:
. . . at the beach -- actually this is during our time chaperoning YP camping. We haven't made it to the beach as a family yet - but vacation is coming right up!!
. . . gardening. Jonathan informed me that I was bragging - simply by taking a picture of one of my gardens - so I thought I better prove him right by showing it off even more:) I love my gardens - and I love spending time in them. I like pulling weeds and trying to keep it weed free. I like the end results (well actually I don't eat a large portion of my garden as it conflicts with my taste buds, but the rest of the family enjoys it!) . . . enjoying our baby kitties. They now have their eyes opened and are starting to look a little cuter. This picture below is about 2 weeks old.

. . . enjoying Josh and Steph's kitty - and getting a little attached to it during the few days we had it.

. . . swimming lessons - not the warmest summer to do lessons, but they survived.

. . .church picnic-ing - and I only got as far as the kids games before I got busy and left the camera behind. The church picnic was a wonderful day of fellowship once again. With a weather forecast that predicted nothing but rain, we weren't sure how the day would play out, but other than a drizzle during kids games (and kids don't notice anyway) the day was quite nice! Thanks to those who did all the planning! We enjoyed the day a lot!

. . . and just playing and enjoying eachother.

The boys got Kylie dressed up in this new "princess garb" and informed me that I needed to do her hair to make her a real princess.

. . . and doesn't she almost look like one?!!! Though she is not the most impressed by the whole idea at this point.

So that's some of our summer in pictures. We're busy - and we love it!!

Update on Kiggy!

I’m not really a cat person. Really I’m not. But here comes my second post dedicated to our cat – affectionately called “Kiggy” – and not just by Kylie. That’s her name. I think we have a bit of a record going here. I mean – the cat is still with us. She hasn’t run away – at least not for a long period of time. She is actually a wonderful pet to have around, because she is gone a lot of the day, but always shows up two or three times for food or to see the kids. She really does seem to like the attention the kids give her – when it’s in moderation. She really doesn’t make a bother out of herself – except for the few times I found her in the house – and even in my bedroom which is about the farthest IN my house you can get. THAT was pushing my cat tolerating limits. I usually encouraged her in a hasty and slightly forceful manner that it would be in her better interest to STAY OUT OF MY HOUSE!!!! But other than that she is nice and cozy. Kylie still gets very excited every morning when Kiggy walks up the sidewalk to the deck.

Like I said, Kiggy endures much - she was pretty much handled like a doll this day - its no wonder she takes off and hides under the deck when she sees Kevin running for her at breakneck speed! She makes herself cozy whereever convenient - like I said, I'm not always a big fan of her cuddling up on clothes that may be left lying around outside - or my stroller. Anyway, lately we had been noticing that Kiggy had been putting on a lot of weight - a result of our good food??? We had our suspicions. But when I saw her this week and she was as skinny as ever, I went into detective mode and solved the mystery in a few short minutes. I used my observational skills and noted that I had seen Kiggy climb up into the boys clubhouse rather often lately. So up I went and . . . . .

Awwww! Really - I don't love cats - but kittens??? Anyway they sure are cute right now and I'm thinking that I have a few months till they get ugly. The boys are enthralled once again and love climbing up and checking up on them. I originally told them that they couldn't touch them for three weeks, but its been three days, and they've been holding them and petting and just watching them for at least two . . . I suppose they are a wonderfully simple form of entertainment - and I'll take that!

The Pit

Today we headed out to Thamesford in the rain. Except that by the time we got there, it was no longer raining, and was in fact shaping up to be a very beautiful day. The reason we were there was to watch Jeremy (my dear nephew) do some motocross racing. Jeremy is nine years old and loves racing his dirtbike. They have a track behind their house, so he gets plenty of hours in. He has just started racing – today being his third race day – and he already looks like a pro. You’d think he’d been at it for years.

The spectators - Kylie and Meika. Also there to cheer Jeremy on were Kevin, Kade, Opa, Oma and Uncle Evan, though they escaped the camera. I think being a spectator is a very difficult job. I found it very scary myself though I'm sure you get used to it. It is not uncommon for kids to wipe out, but they are resilient, and every one I saw fall, got back up and finished the race.

And we can't forget Timothy who loved it too and when asked where the bikes were, was quick to point them out!

Lining up for the start - Jeremy is second from the right.

And off they go! Jeremy is #156 (bike) or #9 (on his back).

As the ground dried up, it got very dusty - this was during the race in the afteroon.

Doesn't he look amazing?!!

Jeremy, we were very excited to watch you and proud of your great races. Keep up the great work! Kevin and Kade are already wondering when the next race is . . . and Kade is wondering when he can have his own dirtbike!