September Photos

Ahhh, the carefree days of summer, when you could hang out on the driveway with cardboard boxes on your head.  In our home, cereal hardly has a chance to stay in the box... the bag ends up in the cupboard and the box ends up as somebody's armour

And at long last, Aaron's first day of Kindergarten!  He looks a little nervous here, but he's been really enjoying his time at school

Different clothes from the real First Day at School picture above, so I can't really pass this off as the First Day of School picture I suppose.  I was told the bus would come at 8:30, so we were just heading out the door to take a few relaxed early morning waiting-for-the-bus photos when the bus was stopped at the end of the driveway.  An unfortunately rushed start to the school year but the boys have adjusted very well and both are excited to go to school in the mornings and cheerful when they get home again.  

 

Waiting for the bus

Back home again, but we're still having a home Biology lesson about ants

A lot of work for tiny critters

Can't forget Mike's "First Day of School"!  I can't remember why he went to school dressed in shorts and no tie, as it's usually quite formal attire for him.  Must have been a fun initiation day or something.  Gotta love Aaron's borrowed Spiderman lunch pail as the finishing touch to his outfit, haha.

Industrious boys helping me peel and chop apples for apple crisp.  This kitchen is SO MUCH BETTER for having small children helping with baking or cooking.  Did I mention it is SO MUCH BETTER?

These clouds almost made me think we were back under the escarpment again

A moody storm rolled in one evening and the skies were incredible

 More skies.  I think I did warn you a few posts back that you'd better get used to them!

Who wants to just take a boring old regular selfie where you look all glam and beautiful?  Those shots never work out for me anyways so I might as well just have fun with the camera's photo options :)

More frogs and toads!  They're not really allowed in the house, but these kids are so HAPPY with their jumping critters

Sweet baby!  Or not so baby I guess.  He was feeling much much better once the chicken pox had cleared up, although unfortunately he will have quite a few scars, including one on the middle of his forehead.

Aunt Carol snuggling Martha at the baby shower we held for Danielle at the beginning of September  

While we were having the shower, the Dads took the older boys fishing - more like "catching".  It took no time at all for them to catch something, so they really enjoyed themselves.

William and Sadie's baptism

This picture is a little fuzzy but it captures the love that our older boys have for Stephen.  They love playing with him, reading to him, and taking care of him.  It is incredibly sweet to watch!

I believe this is a katydid of some kind - I love the bright green

Happy birthday Nate!  Our third boy is FOUR!  

We had a somewhat different-from-planned day, as you can see from the background of the picture.  Just a few days before this, Mike had been doing some cleaning up in the yard and he had an unfortunate trip-and-fall incident involving the hammock, his knee, and the corner of a patio stone.  He had a good number of stitches put in that day in the ER, and was in quite a bit of pain by the evening.  Over the next few days, the pain did not improve and finally he went in again fearing infection.  Turns out he had a serious infection and the doctor decided he needed surgery to clean out the wound to prevent any arthritis from developing.  Mike stayed two nights in the hospital and was on a double dose of antibiotics to get over the infection.  We are thankful for good, prompt healthcare and the subsequent healing of his knee!  We couldn't get over how he ended up having surgery for an "owie".  It was a good reminder that we are not in control of our plans, but that the Lord is the author of our lives. 

The boys are still entertained for hours and hours by the Lego table downstairs.  Peter built this without step-by-step instructions but just looking at a picture in a book.  I was definitely never this motivated when it came to Lego.  Lots of moving parts, it's neat to see their creativity in play!

We had a wonderful laugh over Aaron's first entry in his Kindergarten journal.  "My pal".  Hahahaha!  The triumphant one with the red hair standing with the "club" is Aaron, and the defeated figure is Peter.  Aaron's explanation is that he is having a pillow fight with his brother.  What a pal!

Aaron was looking forward to "C" being the letter of the week so that he could bring in his Cicada Collection.  I hope the teacher doesn't have a weak stomach!  (I thought perhaps since his collection also includes a butterfly that he should bring it in as his "Creepy Creature Carcass Collection" but maybe that's a bit too morbid)

Mike and I went out for dessert for my birthday

Tante Tineke and I.  She and Tante Annie came for a two week visit at the end of September/beginning of October and I went to Hamilton one day to spend some time with them and make some jelly.  It was so nice to visit with them!

A few of my handsome men

Sunrise and fog over the back field

We've been hiking a few times at the Komoka Provincial Park, which we have really enjoyed.   It's close by, beautiful, and no paying for parking. 

We took the double stroller along for Stephen (it's a three-wheeler with bigger bicycle-like tires) although I think I may ask to borrow back our old backpack carrier from Lauren.  Mike described the terrain as "a little rough", as evidenced by the rocks and tree roots below.  Not exactly stroller-friendly.

Looking for faces in the trees...

We've been losing lots of teeth over here and keeping the Tooth Fairy busy!

Aaaand at the end of the month, Peter fell off the monkey bars while on a class trip and broke two bones in his arm.  He was super brave about it and didn't cry - we were really impressed with how he handled himself.  Three and a half weeks with a cast and it came off last week (Oct 22).  He wanted to keep his cast, which is now laying in the back of the van until such time as I get around to throwing it out... it was pretty soft by the time it came off - the nurse took it off with a strong pair of surgical scissors.  He fell in a mud puddle with it on, and then had a bloody nose all over it so it was pretty disgusting after three weeks.  I would recommend a fibreglass cast from the start if you've got an active six-year-old boy, especially when you find them up in a tree the day after they break their arm.  

August Photos

As I peruse the pictures from this summer, I came to the realization that I didn't take a single photo of Nate in August.  Poor kid!  So this is one from the end of July, sporting a lovely fat lip from falling out of the van onto Opa and Oma's gravel driveway.  Ouch!

Stephen absolutely loved playing in the fenced area of the backyard this summer.  Freedom from the four walls of the house, fresh air, different toys, and all-you-can-eat mud!  What could be better?

We took a trip down the road to the Longwoods Conservation Area and saw the Ska-nah-doht village there.  The park was pretty empty and it started raining shortly after we got there, but it was neat to see

Inside one of the longhouses, which were built quite close to the traditional way

 Midway through August, I went to Hamilton to spend some time with my sisters and their new babies.  While I was gone, Mike was super brave and took all four boys camping - with some VD family help.  It certainly didn't go without a hitch as he had to do a few middle-of-the-night or early morning long walks with Stephen to try to make him fall asleep but it was nice to have a change of scenery. 

 Late night trips

 And this would be our little creature-lover catching fish!  Love that smile!

Late night cuddles with baby Martha

One of her first baths at home - I don't remember her being too impressed but she seems okay in this picture. 

Hey baby!  You're supposed to be napping!  The look she's giving me makes me laugh.  

Mama was taking a shower or a nap or something or other, and I got to watch the little ones.  Wow... I thought having one newborn was a lot of work!  I am SO amazed by parents of multiples after getting just small doses here and there and watching Tom and Lauren with their kids.  You should totally get a trophy if you manage to get through the first month (and two, and three etc) with all the hair still on your head.  

 Attempting a selfie with Benjo and the babies

Our little naturalist had no hesitation with picking up this garter snake

I'm not really sure what's going on here, but I'm sure it has something to do with exploring or hunting or fort building.

Enjoying a campfire in the yard

Trying out the jacuzzi tub downstairs!  

And then the Chicken Pox hit our household!  First Aaron got it, and it wasn't too bad.  He had a few spots but they weren't really itchy and they cleared up pretty quickly.  When Stephen got them however, he had a pretty bad case.  He hasn't had the vaccination and I guess won't need it now anymore.  He was so incredibly sad and grumpy and sore-looking.  Poor kid!  He did enjoy the bath, so it was nice to be able to give him some relief. 

Our days were filled with a lot of this

I don't know why this photo flipped sideways, but it makes me giggle.  Poor Martha is getting eaten by her cousin, haha

Opa snuggling with little Sadie... no shortage of babies to cuddle these days!

I went for coffee with Heather and Shirley one August morning.  There were quite a few kids running around in the backyard, and they had a good time playing with each other.  

It was so nice to catch up with these ladies again!  We really don't do these coffee dates often enough.

Shhh, don't let the secret out... we know where Superman lives

I did some work on the front flower beds with Mom and Dad M's help.  I love that big hosta!  I hope it will come back ok in the spring, as I split it this fall.  

Rick and Elaine came up with their family for a Saturday at the end of August.  It was SO nice to visit with them!  I think our kids spent three hours in the pool in the afternoon and we adults joined them after a while.  We really appreciated visiting with good friends.

One, two, three, JUMP!

Martha's baptism

Lotsa babies!