Jammy party

Ursula, Jonah, Alex and Nessa watch a movie in the family room after coming home from the riding camp. The weather wasn't that great, but all 4 kids had a great time.








After supper, we went over to our time share and had fun in the pool.....












.....which was mercifully open after many times this winter when it has not been. Kids and water.....they love it!!!











Then it was outside to the hot tubs where they had more fun......











And even walked through the cool ocean water to the island off the point.....where there were a ton of Canada geese, so Alex called it Goose Island.....










Brrrr....we all walked along the beach and back to the hot tubs to warm up.....kids never notice the cold, tho - Jutta and I were the ones with blue feet.....











They had fun at the playground on the way back to the tubs......











and Jutta and I enjoyed soaking in the adult tub......mmmmmm! All 4 kids slept in the guest room - 2 to a bed - Jutta slept on the window seat and Mary Lois slept in the recliner....her favourite place. Full house, but lots of fun and laughter. Alex and Ursula head back to Indonesia soon - see you again next year!!

Bluebird Riding Camp

On the last day of camp, the kids decorate their horses, and each one parades out in whatever costume they dream up.








Jutta, Jonah, and cousins Alexandra and Ursula came up to watch the parade and stay overnight at our place.












Here the girls are waiting for Vanessa to come out of the barn with her horse.......












Most of the girls did princess, wedding or Hawaii themes, but our little tom girl decided she would be a gold prospector, so donned a pick, old clothes - even a beard - to make her look authentic.









All the kids paraded around and then stood in a row for photo ops and for parents and family to come see them.











Our little prospector......!

















After the parade, the kids put their horses back in their stalls and came back outside to receive their certificates and trophies.











Alex, Jutta, Ursula and Jonah examine all her treasures.
















She was so happy that we were all there - including Mary Lois all the way from Victoria!!!

Vanessa's week in Parksville

Miki continued her physio after arriving home in Parksville, this time at Trillium Lodge, an extended care facility with an out patient physio department.











She works hard there twice a week, and does her daily exercises as well, so is progressing really well. No more walker, no more cane.....just gentle exercise, extra strength Tylenol a couple of times a day, and better every day.












Vanessa came up for her riding camp week, and enjoyed taking Chiik for his walks around the house while she was here.









We went to the Tuesday evening market one night, and were able to buy her a new bike at the local bike shop, so Jonah now gets the one we bought her last summer, which is the perfect size for him now. This one is going to be turqoise when we finish with it - pink is just not Nessa's colour any more.....:-)










One evening we went skating at the local rink. Miki was our official photographer, of course.....she is not that much better.















I had not been on ice skates for a hundred years (well, maybe 20), and Nessa had fun pushing me around the rink, but by the time we left after an hour and a half, I had gotten much better.








The Bluebird Riding School is an awesome place for kids. Nessa goes for 5 days, 9 - 3 each day, and rides, mucks stalls, learns about tack, biology, animal health and even got to do some vaulting, which she does every week in Victoria.

Canada Day!

We left Victoria post surgery on Canada Day, and Mary Lois displays the fabulous flag capes she bought to go sing Jenny and Sharon Oh Canada! A good 20 people showed up to cheer Jenny and continue the tradition.
















After we got home, I donned my cape and got ready to go to a Canada Day party in Parksville.

















Pretty cool, EH.....????















We were invited via this coming winter's house sitters, to attend Howie Meeker's annual bash in Parksville, which also honoured Howie on his receiving of the Order of Canada for all his work in broadcasting, hockey and humanitarian work.







Over 250 people showed up to wish him well and congratulate him on his Order, and it was a beautiful day, so the lawn was set up with catered appies and snacks and a bar.











The group was diverse - people from all walks of life and many from Howie's media background.










Views from the deck were lovely.......













and people sat outside, inside and on both the front and back yards.













A sunroom was a poplular spot to chat......












The kitchen was a busy place with caterers keeping everyone fed and happy.....











The oceanside den is a favourite place for Howie and Leah to while away the hours.












A jazz trio played in the living room...............












The garden beds were ready to start veggies, but it has been such a cool spring, they were not yet in.....











The back yard and decks were full of happy guests. It was a wonderful party, which Miki had to miss this year, as it was only a week after her surgery.

KATIA!!!!

The newest member of our extended family is Katia, daughter of Marnie Kim and Amaury. She was 5 months old when this was taken in June, and is a gorgeous girl.










Katia, ate, slept, gurgled, burped, smiled and visited.












She is a very mellow little thing - gentle energy and very interested in the world around her.











Great god mother Daf fell in love.......













so we had to have lots of cuddles.......
















she enjoyed getting to know Miki, too......


















and doesn't Marn look amazing.....motherhood certainly suits her!

















It was so good to see Marn and finally meet little Katia, who was born while we were in Mexico.

Visits in Victoria

The week after Miki's surgery on June 24, we stayed at Mary Lois's gorgeous condo on the Gorge waterway. Lots of great things to watch, like seals, ferry boats, rowers, paddlers, kayakers, herons, seagulls...very healing.








Vanessa and family came for a visit there, and Nessa decided to compose some music on Mary Lois's keyboard....she got right into it.











Then they discovered they could just pick a song and it would play it, so Jonah and Vanessa danced themselves silly to the music.











Andrew and Jutta spent some quiet time on the deck enjoying the sun and the views.....












and there is nothing like the love of family to help heal the body and soul.