Falcon Lake with the Toews Family

Our morning coffee break view.

Last weekend we went camping with some very good friends of ours.  They have to be very good friends to go camping with us crazy people, don't they?  Because of course we couldn't just go camping.  We had to drive to the city first and rent a kayak!  And figure out how to tie a kayak to the top of the truck!  And figure out how to get the kayak to the water!  And figure out how to lose our glasses when the kayak tips over (okay that wasn't on the camping trip, that was just last night....but you see how troublesome we Thiessens are!?).  The Toews family puts up with us, and even seems to like us despite it all.  We like them too.  They're silly.  Like this:

Karen and Danika :)

The boys LOVED the boat.  They fought over who got to go out with Dad.

Who's captain of this boat anyway?!

Breakfast.  I just happened to capture that peaceful moment before all hell broke loose.

Another Thiessen adventure.  We packed up in a thunderstorm, which was good.  It was the boy's first shower in three days!

The whole get-up and proof that I was there.

Long Weekend @ Clear Lake

warm sunny naps

campfires at dusk

marshmallows

waking up to the sound of wind in the poplars

adirondaks

bike rides

sandy children

cold water on feet

splashy boat ride with a baby muttering all the way home about getting wet sitting in the front of the " 'toona boat" (as luke called the pontoon boat)

ice cream eaten outdoors

the argument:  Madelyn says, "You will marry me!"  Luke says, "I won't!" Madelyn says, "You will marry me!"  Luke says, "I won't!" Madelyn says, "You will marry me!"  Luke says, "I won't!" devolving into the cliche childhood bickering match, "YES!"  "NO!"  "YES!"  "NO!"

sun salutations

fabulous flea market finds

red wine

BBQ chicken and au gratin potatoes with corn and poblanos

olympics olympics olympics

friends

Warm Berry Days

We went berry picking.  My shoulders are now as red as our berries.

Some of us ate more than we picked.  Others enjoyed catching toads more than hunting for strawberries.

One of us stained his outfit so badly that it will most likely end up in the rag pile...red!

The pile of hulls was greenly gratifying as a result of using my new pinchy tool.  Very little berry lost to the knife!  It's true what my Dad always says, "Use the right tool for the job".

Now for some jam.  This is one recipe that never disappoints.

The party party

 

 

The birthday boy:  Seamus
The birthday:  first
The weather:  perfect
The food: hot dogs
The cake:  chocolate
The friends:  talkative
The children:  sandy
The dog:  stealing food
The party:  the best