camping May long

May long weekend has become a bit of a tradition. It is one of those camping trips that I love and look forward to, yet each year is so different. This year the numbers grew again and the weather was a bit cooler. Not as many people actually swimming but we managed to have a amazing fun time. We had a canoe this year which also was new.

Camping with 13 families and 30 children there is always some one at the fire. There was also always someone riding circles with their bikes - some of them, from the moment they woke till bed time. There were great times of watching kids run and play, bocce games, or football on the grass. Loads of time spent on the beach digging and pouring water and having fun. There were even times while sitting at the beach people were wrapped in blankets to keep warm.

We all went to the local playground and the kids had a game of 500 with a few of the Dads, there was an partially organized game of soccer with adults and older kids and a small game of soccer with the smaller ones at the same time.

A branch fell off a tree and hit the Reimer's trailer...luckily no damage. The branch became a great place for hiding or playing camouflage

ZIPLINE EXPERIENCE

The day before Mother's day...this blog is continuing from the previous blog. These are some amazing photo's thanks to Wally (Grandpa Peters). First you climb the ladder, then the rungs of the tree, next you get yourself onto this small platform (note how Mark is holding on...I was holding the rung behind me 'cause I couldn't let go of the tree), next you get off the platform (easier said then done!). The rest is a rush!! Oh, and to get down they throw you a rope to slow down and bring you to the landing pad. There is a ladder (one of the worst parts) and once unclasped.....you get yourself down off the ladder backwards....

Here I go...scared to death just to climb the ladder never mind the tree rungs...
I'm glad Trudy went right after me and so proud of Mark for doing it too!

WHAT A CRAZY MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND EXPERIENCE...ONE I WILL NEVER FORGET!!

A Day at Gardom Lake

What an incredible day. Gardom Lake is a Bible camp that is connected through our church. A camp that Ray once worked at, Mark attended last year and will again this year and that I have spent many retreats at. It has been our tradition for the last five years to participate in their fundraiser day of Walk, Run, Bike. Ray has done the 70km bike the last few years with his Dad (who beat his time by 2mins this year I head)but this year we decided to split up and Ray and Mark biked the 10km with his brother and cousin Kaden. They actually did 7 or 8 by accident by taking a different turn but it's not about the 10kms it's about the fun ! Kyla biked 5km and walked/ pushed with her. She did great just needs to use less breaks going UP hills!
The kids also had the chance to climb the wall, archery, and try the ropes course. We were so proud of Mark to over come his fear of heights and completed the ropes course with a small zip line....












the most amazing thing was standing up looking at people coming down the large zip line. I turned to my Mother-in-law and said -I'm scared to death but it would be a dream come true, want to try it together? OK, I can't remember exactly what I said first, but the conversation started something like that and somehow we were walking up the hill to the top...even at the top of the hill we were watching each person going down and talking ourselves out of it. Some how the harnesses were being checked and we were looking at each other wondering how we were going to do this. "It's 26 seconds of your life" someone said - it's not the zip line I was worried about, it was climbing the tree and getting off the platform...
Kids were going up no problem including our friends kids and one nephew, something about seeing them go should have made it easier but it didn't somehow...
I started to climb and the ladder alone I would have avoided in any other situation, never mind the rungs in the tree... I held onto the one rung while sitting on the platform not sure how I would let go "can't be a tree hugger up there" I heard someone yell... slowly, and I mean slowly, i moved myself to the edge...only one way down they said...Ryan (camp staff) couldn't/ wouldn't push me off so I managed to find a way...
it was actually fun...it was a 300ft zip line. when I bounced off the tire at the end and I wasn't expecting that but otherwise, it was fun!
The ladder up, getting off the platform and getting down off the ladder at the end when they had thrown me a rope at the landing platform were the most difficult parts of the whole experience.

Mark also went and so did the Simon being the youngest person the camp has ever let go on the zipline alone...I'm proud of you Simon, Kaden, Mark, Trudy, Sam and Cady and of course of myself!!
One more thing checked off my "bucket list"!!

Birthday Month

In our family of 4 we have 2 birthday months. March is one of them. I celebrated mine with family for dinner and Mark invited 4 friends for supper at a restaurant and cake and a pinata afterwards. It was a blast. Pink Panther was Mark's "theme" for the cake and the pinata was meant to be a bomb like on the shows.
Fun times had by all.

Mark's creation

Mark has been creating a "roller coaster" and many many vehicles lately. His creation is a combination of Popsicle sticks, dowels pop lids and the special component is from Grandpa and Gramma's piano. Yes, that's right, even his teacher didn't believe him when he brought it into show and tell. They disassembled their piano. A box of the insides were given to Kaden and Mark for Christmas and there is many more where they came from. This has been hours of fun for Mark. I mean HOURS!!! Oh, don't get me wrong, this boy has had to learn the lesson the hard way how to use a hot glue gun (small finger burn once was enough to realize what "be careful" meant). He's is our aspiring architect I think.

Olympic Fans

Mark's school was lucky enough to have the flame come running right past the school yard. We all came out to cheer and watch. Everyone waved their flags and it was great fun.

We all watched regularly and with much spririt. Even the kids were excited and into it.

One of the local centers had a chart up posting all the medals as they were won. This was great to keep checking while I was working and showed the kids.

Valentines Day Fun

Ray and I celebrated by going out to the local Actor's Studio. It was a Christmas gift that we waited to enjoy with our choice of productions. The night was ON BROADWAY. It was AMAZING!!!!!

The kids enjoyed a gift that brought a smile to their faces...as they wanted to show you here!

I enjoyed a "love day" party at Kyla's school as well.

Daddy Time

First time skiing

cuddle time

Grandma Time

Peters Christmas

The day of family time started with all the men making breakfast. What an amazing idea. THANK YOU MEN!!!!

When it came time to open gifts from Gramma and Grandpa, all the kids had to lay down and calm down. It was amazing how fast and well it worked.

Dressing up for the Nativity Story...Grandpa and Gramma build and put on a Nativity Story play with the grand kids earlier this December

reading with Auntie Karen

Dad made amazing bird houses from the piano

The boys got piano pieces to build with

Kyla (and Avery) got their very own Cabbage Patch dolls

Visiting time...

Mark and Kaden
Wrestling with uncle Levi

Playing....