Camp

We had another first in our family. Last week Micah went to camp for the first time!

Turtle Mountain Bible Camp had a Pee-Wee camp for 2 nights and my 6-year-old nephew Liam was already registered. We talked to Micah about it a few times but he was unsure, and we decided not to push it. Then, when he saw all of his older cousins heading off to camp the week before, he told us that he would like to try to go to camp too.

Since Micah has always been our anxious child, fearful of new and/or unknown situations, I wasn't sure how it would go. I was a little worried when his older cousin came home early from camp the week before due to homesickness. But it didn't seem to deter him. Then, my other concern was that Micah and Liam don't always see eye-to-eye.

But when camp day came, they were best buddies.

Two short nights later, we drove back to pick them up - mildly surprised that we hadn't received any homesick phone calls.

They were still smiling!

Micah told me that he hurt his arm falling off the swing but didn't seem too upset about it. It helped that the camp directors are sort of related to us (their son married Erik's sister) and they made extra-sure that Micah had a great time at camp. He even got a "Get Well" note with an extra treat from the tuck shop :)

Micah also told me that he felt lonely at night and that it was hard to fall asleep, which doesn't surprise me. I think 2 nights was just the right amount of time for him. Any longer and I'm sure his camp experience would've felt too long and lonely.

And I'm glad these two 6-year-olds were able to put their differences aside and enjoy their first time at camp :)

Poolside

Silas has spent some of his hot summer days cooling off in the froggy pool on Granny's deck. He isn't put off by freezing cold water. And true to his "I'm-a-3rd-child-and-I-can-do-everything-that-everyone-else-does," he's become a "jumper" -- off of stairs (like 2 at a time) off of kitchen chairs...

And off the edge of his pool...

Whoa! Was that ever fun!

And true to my "this-is-the-third-child" parenting style, I let the kid jump.

Nomads No Longer

Over the last few months a lot has been happening for us - moving out of our house and in with Erik's family, traveling to Manitoba and then living with my family.

We've been like nomads; a family of wanderers, drifting from place to place, without a home to call our own...

OK, that's a bit extreme.

But there has been a sense of "homelessness" and the feeling of looking forward to getting our things out of storage and settling into our own space again.

The good news is that as of the end of August, we WILL have a place to call home. Because at the end of August, this beautiful piece of British Columbia will be in the possession of Erik & I, along with Erik's parents:

The four of us started looking at a property to buy together back in the spring and when this one came up, it had a lot of the qualities we were looking for: 5 acres of flat (useable) land, a shop, located on a quiet street, close to the kids' school, close to town... and LOTS of potential. Our offer was accepted the week before we left for Manitoba and Erik's parents' current house sold very shortly after.

(The property includes this field behind the barn - what we will do with this space is yet to be determined.)

The "new" house itself leaves a lot to be desired. It will be a "make-do" kind of situation for now until we decide on permanent changes. But we'll be able to create two separate living spaces that should work for everyone involved - at least for the short-term.

(back of the house)

Here's the space between the house and the barn.

This is the side of the house looking down the driveway towards the street. We're right at the end of a cul-de-sac, which I love.

This is the green space to the west of the house/shop/barn area. I'm excited to imagine the kids playing outside in this space as opposed to this space.

I'll share some indoor house pictures once we move in (let me just say the house wasn't the main drawing card for this property). So, stay tuned as we embark on this new adventure. Hard to believe we'll be living there just over a month from now!

Morning Walk

Silas' sleeping has been all over the map since we've been here. He started off sleeping well at night and having 3 hour naps every day. That has been demoted to sleeping poorly at nights and having 45 minute naps. And then there was this week when he flat-out refused his afternoon naps.

And the boy is up early. Usually around 6 am.

Yesterday was no exception.

But the temperature read 28 degrees and it looked like there were storm clouds looming in the distance, so Silas and I went in search of some thunder.

After waiting 10 minutes for my camera to "de-fog" from the humidity, I was able to take a few shots of our little walk.

Dee-dee and puppy had to come along of course.

How can I resist this sweet little face...

Heaven

Today marks another year since Erik's brother Nathan was taken from his earthly family. There's not a day that goes by that we don't remember him or feel affected by what happened on that day. It's forever changed us. It will always be a marking point in our lives. We refer to things in terms of whether it happened before the accident or after the accident. It is an event that is irrevocably stamped in our history. And we still wish it wasn't so.

But there is a bigger picture. A greater story. And as much as I know in my heart that Heaven and Jesus and all of it is real, I think it can still feel very distant and disconnected from the here and now.

But then I read this book. In fact Erik and I both read it in less than 24 hours.

It wasn't hard.

It has really affected me since then... in a really good way. And I love what God spoke to me through it all - that God hears our prayers... that he really, REALLY loves us... and that Heaven is a real, tangible place. More than ever, it makes us want to be there and see Nathan again, but even more than that - to meet Jesus face to face.

I Spoke Too Soon

Remember when I said I hoped we would avoid injuries like head lacerations this year?

Well... last week Keziah's head met with a windowsill.

And today Silas' head met with the metal base of an office chair.

At least we don't have any broken bones.

Yet.

Fireside Supper

We've got some more cousins visiting this week. And with the men working overtime at the cabin, we needed an entertaining way to pass the hours before bedtime.

So, it was time to build a fire.

The kids worked hard to gather sticks for the big blaze.

Liam was determined to cut this thick branch with his pruning shears.

No branches were too green for these boys to add to the fire.

Breaking for a tire swing ride.

Then it was time for a supper of hot dogs, chips and pop.

(Liam & Micah)

(Cassidy & Aidan)

And dessert?

S'mores of course :)

Canada Day Weekend

Canada Day celebrations started with a parade in town.

Expectations were low. But we were pleasantly surprised...

There were horses, dogs, shriners in miniature cars and several familiar characters including Spongebob, Blue, Dora, Strawberry Shortcake and Elmo.

Even Mickey & Minnie came through in their carriage.

Oh. And big tractors.

This is a prairie town, after all.

But no parade would be complete without some candy scrambling!

Silas held tightly to his special bag - a gift from Smokey the Bear. And as per usual, his commentary of events was in full volume. His raspy voice could be heard calling out, "I see Elmo!" "I get da can-y!" "I see da big big truck!" He is generally entertaining for all people who are within earshot - which is quite a few considering his vocal range.

On Sunday we headed to Lake Metigoshe with some of the Harder family to enjoy a hot afternoon at the beach.

The kids bravely donned their life jackets and had no fears about jumping into the lake.

Even after Micah was bit by a turtle and had a bit of a panic attack, he still went back in. And that was actually the 2nd turtle incident that day. Erik got a nibble on his toe as well.

They don't call these the "Turtle Mountains" for nothing.

(Those are Smokey the Bear tattoos on Keziah's legs... just in case you were wondering :)

Silas loved the water.

We headed to the cabin for a BBQ supper. Here is the back view of the cabin where we drive in. This roof will be getting replaced very soon!

Here is some of the work that Erik completed on the cabin when he came to MB and left me as a single-mom for 3 weeks last September.

Here's the same view of the cabin taken about a year ago when renos had just started.

Crowded on the deck... and it was H-O-T.

Then it was time for the annual fireworks over the US side of Lake Metigoshe - celebrating the 4th of July. It's a highlight for everyone, but it takes forever for the sky to get dark enough for them. The kids were up until midnight that night.

Licorice "smile".

Josh.

The ever-animated Judah.

Kailyn - the boat-decorating co-ordinator.

And you all know this girl.

Not sure what the expression is for...

Besides these events, we celebrated Erik's 31st birthday, caught the Boissevain fireworks on the 1st, and did both the worship music and children's feature in church on Sunday morning. It was a FULL weekend!