All in a days play

Summer is almost here, but school is finished and we have chores that keep up busy, as well as lots of play time.  This spring has been exceptionally windy making for some indoor days between all the outdoor days.  If you were to pop by here on an average day this is what would be keeping us smiling! Lucky for me I have an exceptionally (ahem, me being biased) fun little toddler following me around all day long.  One with a little girly voice and big blue eyes, who loves all things pretty.  She gives me a reason to sew with white and indulge in baby necklaces. 

One necklace isn't enough... all three needed!

Some lucky kids got a playset!

This will be a challenge all summer I think. {Keeping her from falling}.

We got a new flock of chicks yet again. 

...and for some reason not one of them is letting Rowan pick them up. ;)

Two days old!

Our sheep got shorn {finally}! 

My little shadow.  Walking in the weeds - no worries Andy is spraying as I type.

Rowan got the new wagon for his birthday, Abby obviously thinks it was made for her.

Shop time! We needed another rabbit cage, so I decided it was something we could make together.

So much fun and learning happened!

Within a few days of putting the bunnies in it - we had babies born. Perfect timing.

The bunnies in the old cage. Adorable little fluff balls.

And considering two years ago there was no deck, no garden and no trees here, I think things are looking good!

Smile!

Another year - wedding anniversary

 How's this for a bit of fun?
Andy and I celebrated nine years of wedded bliss May 18, 2016! 
 

Faces. Friendly & Familiar. Family.

The end of my Ontario dialogue. 

Two weeks of fun, two weeks of visiting, sleeping all over, single parenting for one week. 
Two weeks jam packed with emotions, feelings, impressions. 
Two and half years gone from the only place in the world you've ever called home, then going back after making your home in a new but totally different part of the world. I've compiled a list of a few funny things that hit me hard, but hit me non-the-less.

Alberta needs Ontario's Red Hots.  How I've missed them!  Gaah.

I could drive for hours and hours in Ontario without encountering a single cop out to get someone for going a few km over the speed limit.  How refreshing.  I think I suffer from a bit of OCD, but *sigh* it's so refreshing to be able to speed a tad and not think of the police!  ;)

Stores and lots of of them, all being competitively priced is also a great thing.   I'm waiting for the wild west to be more populated for that to happen. 

Slow 80km per hour roads, filled with curves and cars!  I did not miss them!  Give me 100 or 110km per hour on a straight road anytime.  

The sunshine and dry air here, resulting in quick drying tea towels and face clothes.   I like that new found freedom;) 

All in all, it was a great trip, it was good to be there, it was good to come home.   Thanks to everyone for their warm welcomes and outstanding hospitality.  I feel blessed and loved and thrilled to know you all.

 *I wasn't able to get photos of everyone, and to those who I missed; you are just as special!

Cousin Henry treated Abby with much sweetness.

Cousins Derrick and Henry.

Cousin Douwe and Abby finally got to meet!  They are the same age down to two weeks. Special.

Sunday baking with cousins Sacha, Hailey and Aldrik.

Seth was thrilled to visit Silas

L-R, Niko Rietema, Tristan, Abby, Rowan and Alex Rietema.

Cousins Sydney and Norah

Great Pake Viersen and Uncle Micah. 

Amy and Elgin Hennessy - Drayton friends & awesome old neighbours

Ben and Tristan

Ben and Seth

Some Bijlsma and Post friends - too many names:)

Three lifelong mama friends got together and here are the kids: Rowan and Tristan with Tahlia and Michaela.  Abby and Denver Oostdyk.  Fun to have our kids together.

 

Fun with the Freemans!  Drayton besties. Erica and Seth, friends since birth.

Seth was happiest working with Uncle Micah collecting eggs. Quality time.

Wiener Roast with Opa and Oma - we had to! It's tradition.

And then... time to head home.  We were a tired bunch and ready to see daddy again.  After all that adventure, there's nothing quite like our own little corner of the world. 

Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home

 A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there

Which seek thro' the world, is ne'er met elsewhere

Home! Home!

Sweet, sweet home!

There's no place like home

There's no place like home!

Early morning flight meant breakfast from Timmies in the airport!

It was a good flight - Rowan had his head in the clouds:) 

Sister time

A trip to Ontario wouldn't have been complete without some quality time spent in one of my favorite and most beautiful places in Canada, Owen Sound.  It helps that my favorite middle sister lives there with her pretty awesome husband and kids.
I looked on Pinterest to find some good quotes about sisters and came up with waay too many hilarious (to me) ones, or one that only my sister would understand, so here are a few just for you Tash that show the depths of my feelings for you :D

1. Sisters are like thighs, they stick together.   {ahem, but them thighs!}
2. A sister is a little bit of childhood that can't be lost {right?}
3. We are sisters. If I'm mad at someone, you are mad at them too. End of story. {We are sisters}
4. There is no problem that sisters cannot confront, combat, plot against, ignore, make fun of, drown in chocolate or, drive over with a car.  {drive over with a car... so you;) }
5. Side by side or miles apart, sisters will always be connected by heart! 

I'm so glad we could spend some time together with our muchkins even though our one evening out got cut short by *someones* adorable screamer.  One more thing that proves we are sisters - pressed for time we have mad shopping skills;)  It was fun.
 

The boys, hempies and all.

We took our traditional trip to Harrison Park.  Always a good time.

And we both have little girls now! It's kind of sad we can't have them side by side more often, but this was almost too much cuteness for us to handle so this is where it's at. Side by side on a photo. 
Abby and Kyrie.

And before we left for Niagara again we had ice cream and fries for lunch.  Just because we could.

Look at that bunch of crazies!  Lots of smiles and giggles. Ice cream does that.  

Thanks for everything Huttens! We can't wait to come again!