Around the house cont.

Getting ready for and going boating.

What fun the kids all had, taking turns going with Daddy in the boat!

Going for a walk around the house with the babies

Around the house

Hey, we're back (though it takes a very long time, so it won't be too often).

Here are just a few pictures from our daily life.

Church Picnic

This year's Church picnic was once again held on Bruce & Elsa's beautiful, park-like property complete with pavillion and firepit, trampoline, woods... and gracious attendants :).

Thanks also to those who organized the games...

It was good to have some fun and social time together outside. Tho it was cold and poured and poured, it stopped long enough to enjoy a BBQ and potluck lunch around the fire!

A number of families were missing, including the pastor's family :(

We had 5 kids with us since Ralph &Sharon were photographing a wedding.

Daniel with his cousin

Don't they make a cute couple!

Things have come full circle for Amy. We have pictures of her as a little girl at our church picnics. Now after years of being in Ancaster... she is back with us again as the soon to wife of Steve!

Congratulations Mark...

As you can see, it isn't easy to get a good picture of Mark. He still can hardly resist showing off, turning away or pulling goofy faces! - even tho he is now officially a teen (or maybe that's the reason?;) and graduated from grade school!

Finally, after many attempts, I got a couple respectable photos of Chris & Maurice's eldest son, Oma & Opa's eldest grandson, and my oldest nephew :)!

Congratulations, Mark on your hard work and perserverance in this past year, completing half of grade 7 plus whole grade 8! I didn't think you could do it, seeing as you only started grade 8 after the Christmas holidays! You've got your Opa's "stick-to-itiveness" as he calls it :).

Now, there's a handsome young dude :)

Congratulations also to the birthday people of June & July not hither-to-fore mentioned:

John - June 14

Oom Evert - June 20

Esther - July 5

Maria - July 11

Maurice - July 13

Oom Evert & Tante Marian - July 20 Happy Anniversary!

More at J&B - Inside

Lizzy showing photo's of their mission trip - sounds like it was a really good experience for them!

Cute!

Thanks for your good hospitality!!

Good bye! See you at the cottage!!!

John & Betty's

J&B invited both sides of their family to their temporary villa on the river!
What a nice place & what fun!

The spacious house has a large deck over looking the river.
Here we are relaxing after a delicious lunch (had to literally hang on to your food lest in blew to the next person)
Thanks all and Randy for his fine BBQing!

A number of the kids and kids-at-heart went rafting on the river

Caught any fish yet?? See Ralph&Sharon's blog for the "real" river adventures :)

June visitors

...backtracking a little here...

Chris' family dropped in on Mom's birthday - minus the 2 girls who were off on their first mission trip! South Dakota

Dear "Tante" Corrie drove up to visit. She's a dear friend of Mom & Dad's and lately me also - such an example of contentment in trials. She always has interesting stories to tell and together they love to "clets" about the good old days when her husband, John, was still alive & they lived near us in Rexdale.

(I forgot to take a picture :( )

+ + + + +

Dear Tante Tena also made the trip up with Nelly to visit. This was quite something for her as she hasn't been getting around much anymore. She is really weakening quickly - hard to watch! She endures a lot of pain -needs our prayers!

Thankfully she was feeling well enough that day to be able to really enjoy herself and the change of scenery/air. It was a special time for us all.

Tante Tena is a tante/aunt (quite removed) of Mom's - can you see the familial resemblence? ;)

Nelly is a wonderful help to Tante Tena and a very interesting lady. It was nice to get to know her better. (sorry this isn't a very good picture of her)

More visitors the following week:

A couple from our church.

Here's Mr.B. playing my pump organ

very nice!

More Birthday party pics At M&R's lovely looking place

Nice spot you found, Anneke & Josh!

"Would you like some cake?"

Rose gardens

Anna & Kenny playing among the roses - careful you don't get pricked!

Isn't this beautiful? All these different looking roses are on the same bush!

Sisters - missed you Betty et al!

Yup, that's Ralph's lens you see on the edge

Bovaird House

Some more pictures of our visit to Bovaird House

Some handmade toys the kids (& adults) had fun trying out



The stairs had embroidered peices with each of the owners going up

Happy Birthday, Opa & Oma!

On Saturday, Maurice & Rachel invited everyone who could make it
to come celebrate Dad & Mom's birthdays, which are both in June.
Actually, today is Dad's birthday -- congratulations!!
We love you both, and thank God for you!

a visit to the historic Bovaird House nearby...