Off to watch the Vikings vs. Packers game. Oh dear. This could get ugly.
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Well, well, well. Last week kind of got away from me, now, didn’t it? Is it just me, or does it seem to take twice as long to recover from vacation than it does to actually go on vacation?
It’s probably just me. That weeks worth of laundry almost got the best of me.
But, I survived
Anyways…here are some highlights from our camping adventure…
Hanging out at the pool.
Visiting the petting zoo on the way back from the pool.
Campfires, of course.
And when the bugs got too bad during the campfire for the girls, cuddling together in a sleeping bag while watching a movie.
And then the boys piled in. (Noah was asleep in less than 1 minute.)
Eating outside. (I set up this shot…’cause the photographer never gets to be in any shots! 
I guess everyone looks kind of stunned. He he.)
Watermelon! I love the juicy droplet in this picture.
Swinging.
And most of all? Never knowing what time it was!
Seasonal Pets
Tis the season to bring home any little critter you can find. We’ve had a turtle, some kidnapped baby birds – which I ordered my eldest to “Put back!” – lots of earthworms, and my favorite, little green inch worms…
They’re very photogenic.
And here is the story of the critter that got away…
The other day I came outside to find Noah almost 15 feet up a tree, precariously teetering on a flimsy branch and poking a stick down a knothole in an attempt to capture the baby squirrel within. Crazy little boy! As I approached the tree to tell him to “get down before he broke his neck,” the poor baby squirrel came scurrying out of it’s hole and ran furiously around the tree trunk a couple times, almost setting Noah off balance. Elijah and Zeke, standing at the base of the tree, thought this was hilarious. I, on the other hand, did not. All I could picture was Noah plummeting to his death.
Boys. I’m sure they must have 3 or 4 guardian angels as opposed to the one that a little girl probably has!
I’ve told Noah to stick to catching inchworms as pets.
Father’s Day Camping Trip
What fun! A bunch of dads at our church organized a camping trip for this weekend. (Elijah and Zeke opted to stay home, since they were much older than any of the kids going, in favor of having a longer trip with a couple of their friends later this summer.) Phoebe and Noah were so excited!
Hockey Night in the Canadians’ Apartment
Elijah and Zeke had a few of their friends over last night for the final hockey game of the season. Ironically, my mum, the only “real” Canadian (She’s here visiting from Canada for the next two weeks. Yay!) amongst the hockey fans pictured here, was rooting for Boston. And actually, so was I! “Why?” you ask. My oldest brother, Todd, has always been a Bruins fan, and so we always were as well. Elijah, Zeke and Dave, though, cheered for the Canucks. It’s always good fun to watch sports with opposing fans together, eh? (See, I’m still a Canadian.)
Mighty Machines
We’re in for a treat this summer! (Think positive, right?) Right outside our front door is where some serious construction has begun… And will continue for many, many months. Roads are being torn up, trees uprooted, townhouses torn down and then, finally, some apartment buildings being built. Exciting stuff.
P.S. Tune in later this week for some pics of our Ukrainian Eggs. We’re working on some this afternoon while we talk about the first Passover. It’s easy to forget this, but I am so incredibly privileged to be able to spend my days with my kids…and teach them and disciple them. And just love them.
From August 2007
More good memories…
Soundbites and Snapshots from Summer Vacation 2007
Hope these little excerpts from our vacation will bring a smile to your face, as they did mine…
‘Bite #1: Me-me too! Me-me too! – Noah. Noah’s mandate right now in life: Do whatever his brothers do.
Elijah and Zeke slept in the bed over the cab, and Noah slept down on the little “table bed.” There would have been room for him to sleep up with Elijah and Zeke, but we didn’t think it was good idea. Our doubts were confirmed when he feel out of bed on the first night, and just about every other night as well! They had fun up there together during the day though. I love this picture…
‘Bite #2: No, actually that wasn’t a tee-pee, it was a wig-wam. Tee-pees were made out of furs and animal hides, and wig-wams were made out of birch bark, like the ones we saw. Wig-wams were more of a permanent structure, and tee-pees were more portable… – Elijah, to some fellow visitors at Fort Williams Historical Park,* when he overheard them talking about the “tee-pees.” I still haven’t figured out what to do with my little walking encyclopedia in situations like this. Should I tell him to be quite and mind his own business, or just pretend I don’t know him?
Zeke being thrown in the air by Daddy in the pool. Look how high he is!
‘Bite #3: Waaaa-haa! Noah ate one of my Shreddies! (loud wailing for about twenty seconds) Noah ate one of my Shreddies…and I’m NOT tired! – Zeke, near the end of our camping adventure. He was tired…as we all were!
Noah, throwing stones in the little fishing pond at our second campground. One morning, the boys caught seven little fish in it.
The inevitable flaming marshmellow…
‘Bite #4: Ahh-goo! - Phoebe. My interpretation: I’m a “happy camper!” (I know, I know…corny, but I couldn’t help it.)
*Fort Williams was the North West Company’s inland headquaters from 1803 – 1821. Today, it’s a living history program (kind of like a big museum, with people dressed and acting like people from that time period). The North West Company was a rival to the Hudson Bay Company in the fur trading business. The Hudson Bay Company, as we know, eventually won the battle. Elijah said the historical park was his favorite part of the vacation. (Zeke, on the other hand, said the tim-bits were his favorite part.) It was really cool…a very effective way to learn about history.
Oldies But Goodies
Well, in honor of celebrating my 5th blog birthday, I’m going to repost some of my very favorite blog posts over the next few weeks. Fun! No? Well…I think it’s fun.
Here’s one from January 2008…
Ga-ga-ga-gargle
Overheard last evening…
The sound of running water, and the whir of electric toothbrushes coming from the bathroom. Then the sound of someone gargling.
Zeke: Eli*…how do you do that? How do you gargle? Can you show me?
The sound of water being spit out.
Eli: Oh…Zeke, you just get some water in your mouth and then make the “G” sound. Just go “ga-ga-ga.”
Zeke: Okay.
A few seconds pass, then came the sound of the attempted gargle, then peals of hilarious laughter from Eli.
Eli: Zeke! You’re getting water everywhere! You’re supposed to put your head back! (more laughter and attempted gargling) Zeke…stop! Stop it! You’re making a mess.
Zeke: Oops…c’mon, let’s go to bed. Can you read me a chapter from The Magicians Nephew**?
Eli: Okay.
*Zeke started calling Elijah “Eli” a few months ago. Strange sounding to me. I guess we knew that he would probably eventually be called “Eli,” and actually, we intended to call him that, but he just always seemed more like an Elijah to us.
**We got the Chronicles of Narnia box set for Christmas, and the boys and I have been loving the The Magicians Nephew. (Which I now know is the “wrong” book to start with, but once we started it, we just couldn’t stop!)
