Danika's Our Excuse for a Boat Ride

Back in September, when the leaves were first starting to turn, we went to visit baby Danika in the NICU.  Since this photo was taken she has left NICU and come home!  She has some future medical treatments that none of us look forward to, but for now she is doing well at home.  And we are so happy to have her nearby.

What we got to do AFTER visiting Danika is just one of the perks of being homeschoolers. We got to go on a river tour of Winnipeg with Grandma Helene and discuss how most large cities are built on or near some sort of water source (after reading the book, Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans).

Both  boys even took turns captaining the ship!  Seamus was hesitant at first, and only wanted a short turn.  Luke would have steered the boat in circles for hours!  His erratic driving made a lot of people laugh (turning sharply towards the bank shouting, "Look at those people on the racing boat!").
  
 

Manitoba Legislature Building

Provencher Bridge

St. Boniface Cathedral

Seamus and Fall Colors

Last week I harvested all my zinnias because there was a risk of frost, and I didn't want to lose all the marvelous color before I had to.  The colored glass in the South window showed off the zinnias quite vividly in the Fall afternoon sun.  Seamus and I had a little photo shoot just for fun.

Baby Teeth

My sister pointed out to me today that my first boy is losing his baby teeth, just as my third boy is growing his inside his gums.  Yes, Luke has begun to outgrow his baby teeth.  His "bear trap" as my Dad calls it, will become a little more frightening as those adult teeth grow in.  For now we just have an early Jack O' Lantern in our house.  And a curious mother needs to know how much baby teeth are going for these days, because the tooth fairy didn't leave very specific instructions. Anybody know?

First Day of Kindergarten

This morning started with a phone call to Grandpa to chat about what's expected of a kindergartener.  Then we ate Apple Spice Waffles with apples from our very own tree (Simply in Season), and Derek came home from work to celebrate with us.  Luke is in Kindergarten!  And that makes me a kindergarten teacher!  Whew.  We are in for an adventure, I think.

A Little More Sunshine

Luke and Ally go way back, so even though Ally is uncomfortable with most children, she puts up with Luke's hugs and sweet, "I love you Ally"s.

Who doesn't love working with a pickax that's bigger than yourself?

Considering sprinkler problems in Auntie Sarah's backyard.

Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors!!  Grammy's fondest wish.

Picnic in the Reedley Park.

Trying to catch minnows.  This boy was undressed as soon as he saw water.

Everybody loves you John-Mark, you can stop being so adorable.

To wade or not to wade, that is the question.  Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous name calling (lily-white legs!!) or bare legs against a river of troubles, and by opposing, end them.

She's got it, she knows it, yeah yeah yeah.

We all thought we were rolling up our pant legs so they wouldn't get wet.  We didn't take into consideration the splashing four-year old who, every few minutes, came running up to us through (his) hip-deep water.

We later figured out that the poles went inside the tent...what kind of ridiculous tent-designer designed a tent you have to be inside of to erect?!

Seamus's turn on the family heirloom rocking horse.

Luke says, "I wanna show you my skateboard tricks, Plain 'Ol Grammy!"

*LOVED*

VERY bold.

For sure it was warm enough to slip and slide in California, while in Manitoba there was confectioners sugar scattered all around...it was sugar, right?

California So Far...

We are one week into our California trip and I have just had four rolls of film developed!  This trip is totally digital-camera-free.  It is somehow freeing to know film is all I've got, I do my best, I catch the moments I can, and I let the rest of the moments live on simply in memory. 

My cousin's wedding (the excuse for the trip), was the first wedding I've attended in a long time where I wasn't working, so I took what I considered a bit of a risk and brought only the Pentax K1000.  What fun I had!  And the anticipation of getting film developed only increased my delight when I discovered I had done a pretty great job even without the reassurance of an instant-view LCD screen.  So fun.

We're having a good time, although Seamus is having some trouble adjusting to the time difference (especially since we keep waking him up and hauling him off to do fun stuff!).  And in our remaining week, we have plenty more fun stuff, so perhaps by the time he gets adjusted to the time change it'll be time to go home again.  Poor kid. 

So far on this trip we've gotten to see Aunt Carol and Uncle Phil (Seamus and Aunt Carol share a birthday among other things like their appreciation for dark chocolate), we've attended a wedding, visited Plain Ol' Grammy, seen tons of family, made the wedding programs, went to Bravo Farms, Simonian Farms, played in the water in Grammy and Grandpa's backyard, finished shingling the roof of the shop, listened to a thunderstorm and rain on the patio's tin roof, played with innumerable dogs (each of whom Luke claims to love the best in the world), and eaten lots of great food.  I'm not sure what could be better than eating great food with people you love...except maybe having ALL the people you love in one place at one time.  

We miss you Derek!