New adventures

This summer has been crazy busy so far.  Everything has happened in the first couple weeks!  I imagine that now things will slow down to a dull roar since holidays are over, wedding completed, and Oh, no big deal, our house is up for sale.  Gulp.
I really really love the house that we have made home.  But the time has come to move on.  Literally.  Although it is exciting it is also bittersweet since this is Andy's and my first home.  All three boys were born here, and they probably won't remember it.  The countless hours spent playing on the driveway with neighborhood friends and countless coffee breaks on the front porch. Dreaming about paint colours and planning the "perfect for us" backyard.  Drayton, we love you!  I really must stop being so sentimental since it's not even close to being sold yet! (who knows, maybe no one even wants it?). 

July 12th - Tineke weds Pieter

What a beautiful day it really was.  After a rainy start to the week things cleared up and you couldn't have asked for nicer weather to celebrate the wedding of Andy's youngest sister Tineke to Piet Agema.  The day started with a big picnic at Victoria Park in Elora where we took family pictures, This is where these were taken. All except the last.
Do you ever get that feeling that everything was almost too good? And think Why Me? All you want to do is Praise God for his wonderful blessings, so abundant, by giving us loving spouses, big families, cute kids, health, sun, delicious food, the list goes on.
For lack of any other way to put it, this song to the tune of Edelweiss was going thru my head as I went to sleep,
"Thank you Lord, on this day for your blessings abounding
Thank-you Lord, with us stay hear our praises resounding
Glory to God may he guide us on, guide us on forever
Thank-you Lord, on this day, for your blessings abounding!"

Seth Jurgen

Tristan Haaye

Rowan Carl

The Dudes all together

My favourite big man and little man.

All the cousins - 17 under 6.

The "originals" :)

Can you guess who?

And last but not least, to welcome Piet into the family, Sinterklaas and his helpers (traditionally known as "piets") came to show him what his new role would entail.  It was quite a job convincing them to come all the way from Spain to this country of Canada, but they did it for us, and it was great.   Since laughter is the best medicine we should all be healthy for quite some time! 

What are little boys made of?

What are little boys made of?
Snips and snails and puppy dog tails
That's what little boys are made of.

Oh so true. I bought a butterfly net at the dollarstore since I had promised to do so if I ever saw one.  I don't know what made me think boys would catch butterflies when it would work to catch toads with the same net.  Andy told them to sweep it across the lawn then if you see something jump up off the grass it could be something to catch. low and behold it worked. Seven times over.  It gave hours of entertainment, and a short life to the toads since there were a few experiments as to how to keep them alive (hmm what happens when you hold them under water?? or place a rock on top of them so they won't keep climbing out of the bucket??).

A new rule has been made, Seth and Tristan may play with toads as long as they are far away from the interior of the house, and as long as hands get thoroughly scrubbed upon entering the house.  This way, everyone is happy:)

Fun in the Sun

The first week of July brings the annual Bijlsma Family Day.  We start out with a big breakfast for everyone at a local eatery - this year we dined again at the Crossroads in Elmira, simply because you can't beat their buffet and the great price.  YUMMY!!
Then it was off to Conestogo Lake, which is only 10 minutes from here, and since this has been such a wet spring and summer, the water level was high as well as the water clean (YAY!!).  Wobbe and Liesbeth are here with their three littles so it was extra fun. The family keeps growing - what blessings!  The kids played all day long while the adults chatted and ran after the babies.
 Ahhh, Summer. 

Chillaxing with buns for lunch.

Seth has discovered his wet side!

l-r, Uncle Tyler, Haaye, Uncle Auke, Uncle Marten, Uncle Wobbe.

Mem always brings ribs for with supper. mmmm.

Heidi and Rowan

The WHOLE shibang.

Tristan, Mathijs, Sacha

Sweet little Micheala

Aunt Carina and Uncle Auke - we love them:)

Tristan and Ben

Mem surrounded by grandkids!

Oh Canada!

Happy Birthday to our country!  Every year, Drayton puts on a full half hour of fireworks, and we've made an effort to go as long as we've lived here.  I love fireworks. There's something about it. Crowds.  Flags.  Festivities in the Park. Late Night.  And my own necessity, red licorice.

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. "

 

Summer House Park - July 2-6th

Dare I even say it?  We went CAMPING!  I know, I know, we are not campers.  But we did it.  And we might even do it again. Not soon, but once we learned to relax it was even fun.  We had Summer house Park in Tobermory Ontario (Bruce Peninsula) recommended to us and we now recommend it to you.  We rented their Cozy Tent, which was for people like us who wanted to have the benefits of camping while still sleeping in a real bed. This is it:

Seth and Tristan were so excited and so over tired - but still they had to roast marshmallows before bed. :)

After a delicious breakfast we headed up to Cyprus Lake, where there was a 3 km round hike to see some Rocks and Trees (I'm sure there was a better name, but that's a good summary).

Relax time on the front porch - Yup, we're really roughing it here:)

You could even rent skelters!  Right up Seth's alley.

Uncle Ken and Aunt Natasha came for a visit with Gavin and Tanner.  Always extra fun when they are around!

Love Seth's face here - Marshmallows can burn?

My sweet, fun loving, busy, stinker of a boy Rowan.

On the Glass Bottom Boat to the Flowerpot Island in Tobermory.  Seth and Tristan were so excited about the glass bottom they literally had their noses right on it.  "Dad! Did you see that" Dad did you see that? This is the best day ever!"  The poor tour guide finally asked them to move over so others could have a look too!

 We came home filled with fresh air, exhausted, smokey, sun burnt, and filled with memories.  Even though not all moments were golden,  the boys repeated said "Thanks for taking us on the best camping trip ever!"