2,000 miles from here

We started homeschooling yesterday and though the photos look idyllic, it was a crazy day that, if I'm honest with you, ended with most of us in tears.  I know a large part of the frustration was due to how much I had worked up "the first day", to make it an extra-fun-packed-wonderful-day.  And a large part is due to the fact that I had to assert my authority as "the teacher" for the first time...which didn't go over well with "the student".

Anyway, today was a little better, and included Luke's first day of piano lessons which he says he enjoyed (rather unusual for him to admit on the first try!).  And to really ice the cake, this afternoon I got to sit and edit photos.  Oh boy, there is such a backlog of photos!  And the ones I really really wanted to share with you are the ones that made me smile so big, like remembering something that happened ages ago...but which are really from 9 days ago.  9 days ago we were in California celebrating my sister's marriage to Stephen.  Here are a few highlights of that trip.

According to some (short) people, the whole reason for our trip was to see this "Sweet Ginger-Peachy" girl.

Everyone pitched in to help set up.

And people who work hard, play hard.

 

 

This is pretty much all anyone saw of Seamus all night: a wet blur, and a squirt in the face.  He ran around shooting complete strangers with his water gun, laughing and giggling to burst.  Thankfully it was hot and nobody really minded getting wet.

The beautiful Sabrina lights.  Can you believe my parents live here?!  Like, every day.  They wake up and this is where they live.  Man, some days I am so jealous.

Even Grandpa Walter got out on the dance floor!

The bride didn't sit out a single dance.  It was an unforgettable party.

 

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.

Dear little corn cob

After a long hot summer of watering and weeding and watching, perhaps my favorite thing to harvest is sweet corn.  On the BBQ.  Fresh off the stalk.  Still in it's husk.  Mmmm.

This week we are told our dear little one is the size of an ear of corn, inside my uterus that has expanded to the size of a soccer ball!!

Dear little corn cob, we already love your little ears.  We love to watch and feel your movements (even when they're keeping me awake).  We are happy to watch your silk ripen, and wait for that cold Winter day when we get to meet you face to face.  We all love corn, but not as much as we already love you.

What a wonderful treat to harvest, prepare and enjoy sweet corn grown in our own backyard!  What a delight to be so intricately connected to the process of growth from the very beginnings of a tiny seed, to our growing family's table fellowship.  What an honor to know you before you become the fullest You.  To know you while you're still a part of me.

24 weeks.

What the Garden Grows

 This Spring I was far too sick to keep on top of my garden.  But I managed to toss some seeds in the ground, and we have all delighted in the growing things in our yard....even the weeds.  This year it really feels like a "hobby garden", with barely enough produce to feed ourselves, and sometimes not quite enough.  But what I love most of all is seeing the boys enjoy it, and begin to understand where our food comes from.

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.