Summertime fun!!

We found this pretty little frog sitting on our beans one day. We were all so fascinated!! we picked him up and the girls had fun showing him to the neighbors, and then we put him back. We didn't see him again, but hope to next summer!!

                          We had some icecream fun happen at our place. Our girls haven't made ice cream before...sad as that is! So when our friend Ashley Brewer came and brought an ice cream maker for a party, well, we had ourselves a time!! There were so many noses stuck over that ice cream dish poor Ashley hardly had room to work, but she was a trooper, and the kids had so much fun. We even had cousins over to get in on the party!!

                     Sky, Eva, Elle, and Elin watching that ice cream freeze.

                            I'm not sure if "Watch pot never boils" applies to this ,but it took a very long time to thicken!

                       I think all the warm little puffs of air from many little crowding bodies maybe made for some not so perfect freezing conditions, as it was still quite runny when finished, but oh my, was it ever yummy!

                                                   The happiness was very evident!!! I think it was a success!!

                    We had our friend Ashley Black stay with us for a few days, and Emmy love having a "big sister" around to do things with!!

                         Jake loved having another human to snuggle with!!

                                Here the girls had been to our Summer Ministry Team's park ministry, and got more than their faces painted!!

What a Week We Had!!

 

 My Sister Jenny and I had been planning a trip to Mommy and Daddy's  for months, and it finally worked out for us to be in Wickham for almost a whole week together with our 10 girls!! We had so much fun and the girls played and played. We had great weather, and made so many memories that week! This is Jenny walking with a "few "girls to church Sunday morning.

 Elin getting big kisses from baby Cameron

                           All gussied up for walking to church!!

                    While at church Cammie who had been feeling out of sorts fell asleep all snuggled into Jenny.So cute!!

                            Hot days were leisurely spend making waves and splashes in Grammie's pool! It got a little crowded at times, but the girls made do!!

                      Up and early making sticky buns for a trip to Uncle Josh and Aunt Andrea's

         We celebrated Josh's upcoming birthday and Andrea's past birthday because we were together and love to celebrate!! In our not so small family there usually is someone's birthday just around the corner!!

           Bottoms up!! Lots of fun on the boy cousin's trampoline . Uncle Josh set a limit of 5 cousins on at a time, and there were only a few times that we counted and dispersed  more than that!!

                     Frog catching and enjoying!!

The older 4 cousins playing Skip-Bo with Great Grammie and Grampa Karl.

                                          Lots of food and grins!!

                              This is a sad tale I'm about to share. It is the story of Little Peep. Dear Cassie was playing out side when she heard the cries of a fledgling Yellow Finch who had left the nest but couldn't fly well enough yet. His parents were not to be seen and Cassie's mother heart took compassion on this seemingly abandoned baby. All the girls were enthralled by this friendly, flea covered little guy, and Jenny and I looked at each other and decided to give it a go and try to help Cass raise her little orphan.

                                        When I first held him he hopped and climbed atop my shoulder and ended his loud, strident  chirping, seeming to be content , perching happily in the sunshine.

                                           He stayed,

                         And stayed

                                              And stayed and the girls squealed and giggled .

 We made a comfy place for him to be although his incessant peeps seldom stopped. We dug worms and fed him every 20 min as we had researched  a fledgling needed to be fed.

  We picnicked inbetween feedings and there was usually always a girl or two hovered around this poor little fellow.

                    Sadly the little guy didn't survive long in Cassie's loving, careful ,well intended care.We did learn after a while of feeding him worms that his kind were the strictest of vegetarians, so we tried to switch his diet accordingly, but the next day he seemed weaker and sadly passed from this hard life that evening, The tears were there, the goodbyes were hard. The lessons that we learned were many,  but as we read on a bird website "Nature is not always kind, but it is perfect" . I'm not sure if we should leave well enough alone next time, but the oh  fun  the girls had in trying and who knows the next little rescued baby might survive. In the meantime we will be heartened to know that we did our  best to look after God's little creature for its last few hours on His green earth, and that he passed surrounded by many loving hearts and sad tears that he wouldn't have had all alone in the wild.

 Happier days !! Picnic snacks outside while waiting for Grampie to get his huge slip'n' slide ready for lots of hands to help set up!!

 The hay "bumpers" are all in place, none of this losing folks off the sides!!

                                Placing the plastic in place!!Many hands make light work as they say!!

        Then the fun began!! They had quite the times sliding all the way down the hill!

Jenny and I were having a rest when both of our 6 year olds decided to join us. The sun was so warming, and we were content to let the world rush by. There is nothing quite like being "home" with Mommy and Daddy, no matter how old we get, or how many little ones come with us!!

                                                  On the hunt with Aunt Jenny for frogs and toads. There were plenty!!

                             Watching a movie after baths, all snuggled together.

                         Meanwhile Mommy, Jenny and I were sewing up a storm, making 13 orange sundresses for all the granddaughters!! What fun we had sewing all together again!!

Meanwhile unbeknownst to Jenny or me, a surprise had been making its way from Quebec to spend the last 2 days of our "Wickham Getaway" with us. Our sister Julie came and brought her 3 little ones to join the fun!! Here is Phoebe snuggling with Gramps . Happy to be out of that van!!

                       Grampie trying to get some devotions in....the quiet places and moments in the house were few and far between

             Skyler and Eva, two buddies, enjoying the bounty of Grampie's gardens.

                    Eva sewing with Grammie

                     This was quite an event....all the able cousins "helping" Grampie put in his winters wood! They were huffing and puffing, and pulling and tugging....and eating cookies all at the same time! I'm sure Grampie would have gotten the job done quicker without all the little bodies underfoot, but he didn't complain, and did they all ever feel important!!.
   It was home again the next day for us, Poor Ryan was one lonely man!! Jenny and I already have another get-together in the works. and we can't wait!!

Emily's Baptism

 One of the biggest blessings of our summer was seeing Emily follow the Lord in baptism . We had a picnic planned for after the morning service,and the Lord gave us a beautiful sunny day.

     The girls having fun on the playground.

              We planned to have the baptism at our local park in town so that those around would be able to see the testimony of Emily and another lady who had chosen to be baptized as well.

                    Emily was so nervous,dear girl, but very ready for this

                                                

                 She gave her testimony to all those gathered.

                           and Ryan had the privilege of baptizing her.

                                       Dear girl ,we are so thankful for how we see Jesus working in and through her little life, and our prayer for her is that she will continue to follow and love her saviour all her days on this earth.