Fabulous Summer (#3)

The Civic Holiday Weekend is set aside for camping with the Aunts, Uncles and Cousins on my father's side. Although we don't always make it out (because it is held in Cambridge...6 hours for us but 1/2 hour for most of the others) we LOVE it when we are able to make it fit in our summer schedule.

We went up a day early and treated the kids to a day at African Lion Safari, and honestly, FABULOUS is the best word to describe our day. It is such a well laid out park, with lots to see and do, and our children seemed to be just at their targeted ages. They, well, actually, we ALL loved the bus tour through the game reserve, the different animal shows, and especially the splash pad which made a fantastic cool down intermission.

Camping was equally great, with only a few quick showers on Saturday afternoon (it's all about the rain this summer!) The boys made fast friends with their second cousins and spent the entire weekend playing Star Wars in the bush, or riding their bikes down the paths, leaving lots of time for us to sit and chat and catch up with the adults.

Family, Fun, Fellowship....FABULOUS!!!!!

You'll REALLY like the water Daddy! Come on. PLEEEEEEASE!!!!!

Couldn't NOT put in a picture of the Lions!

"The Dark Side" ready for battle.
There were 4 more boys similar in stature already in the bush posing as the Jedi...

Fabulous Summer (#2)

Our first camping trip was also a repeat experience, and one that I'm sure will be repeated several more times in the years to come.

We headed back to Camp Mishewa, on Round Lake (up near Pembroke) for a week of "family camp". Mishewa is owned and run by the Evangelical Missionary Church and during family camp they offer programs for the kids and study sessions for the adults. Several other families that we know (and love) went as well and we calculated that our collective children accounted for about half of those there, so we basically never saw our kids...except for meals and snacks!

In the morning the children learned new songs and bible verses as they studied the Fruit of the Spirit and the adults were challenged through a video series by Andy Stanley (son of Charles) entitled "Go Fish." Jesus calls us to be his disciples...not so that we'd become better people, not so that we live happier lives, but to make us fishers of men. Challenging series...fabulous speaker!

Afternoons were spent with unlimited SUNSHINE down at the beach. We enjoyed 7 days with only 2 teeny, tiny, sprinkles of rain during the day. Considering the summer we've had...a true miracle!

The Beautiful Beach of Mishewa

Brent and his buddies came in third in the sand castle competition. They recreated China, including the "Great Wall,"a working waterfall, and a star lake!

Devin spent an evening fishing and came back with a 5 pound big mouth bass!

Fabulous Summer (#1)

A lot of catching up to do ... we've been having soooo much fun!!!

We celebrated Canada Day by returning to the Museum of Civilization. We discovered this gem of an idea last year and couldn't resist a repeat experience. The museum hosts the Children's Museum, which the kids absolutely LOVE and on Canada Day admission is free! So while the kids and I had a great time exploring inside, Mark staked a spot out on the lawn outside amidst the gathering crowd, and quietly read his book...think we may need to reverse roles next year...

The museum closed at 9pm so we had just enough time to gather and bathroom everyone (we went with some friends) do the limbo train through the crowd, and eat some snacks before the big show. FABULOUS!!!!