Halfway through summer?

Today is my last day of child care.  It's been lots of preparing food, cleaning and time-outs.  Somewhere in between we've visited beaches, parks, and water parks.  I have just enough seats in my van to carry all six kids.  I love my van.  I actually cleaned it a week ago but you'd never know it.

Coming home after these days is so nice.  The kids jump in one of the pools or jump on the trampoline, even Molly gets in.  She got pretty wet yesterday, we'll see if she returns today.

Amazing what a little bit of sun warmed water will do.

The pond was just too green and murky.  It's gotten very low.

Now to plan for holidays and possibly a road trip...

Shawnigan Lake

The berry pickers are right on top of the berries this year.  There have been many arguments over raspberries.

We were invited to a day at Shawnigan Lake.  This was a lovely spot.

The boys fought over this boogy board.  I should've brought their life jackets.

When the owner warned everyone about "sink holes" Chloe was DONE.  She got changed and asked "when are we leaving?" every fifteen minutes.

David still won't swim without a shirt.  I haven't had to put sunscreen on the boys this year, I must admit I am trying to avoid it. The boys love being in the water.  This is not from their mother who hardly even gets wet at the lake.  I'm glad they have each other.

Tah-Dah!  Our new toilet!  Lookit all those pipes!

This is quite the machine.  Pretty soon Clive and David will have their own room in the basement.

Family boat trip

We spent last weekend at Sydney Spit, (David calls it "Cindy's Spit"yuk).  It was like a Caribbean vacation!

David swam in the icy ocean water

and then warmed up in the boiling sand.

We rafted with Graham and Jacob.

Clive was sent out almost right away to catch some fish for crab bait.  This is what he came back with.  Clever boy!  We ended up with 15 crab between the eight of us.  Yum!

David learned how to paddle the dingy.  He amazed onlookers on the beach.  A lady gave Clive 5 bucks to paddle her to her boat but Marc took her instead.  We got to keep Clive and he got to keep the 5 bucks and Marc got a sore back from rowing to her boat a long way away!  It is hard to watch my little boys paddle away, let alone with a stranger!!

Then, of course Matthew wanted to learn.  We tied our dingy to Grahams' and Clive pulled Matthew about while he played with the oars.  Clive is sooo patient!

The Schoyens came for a little visit on Sunday, then sped past us on our way home.  Clive and David went with them.  David was in the back and politely asked Dan if he could slow down.  David was moved to the front and felt much better.  Then he needed to pee...it all ended just fine with a little ocean water to clean a bit of pee.

Uncle Mark

Uncle Mark came out for a quick visit.  The boys warmed to him immediately, and Kelly was so pleased to have her dad around.

Pierre continues to work on the drywall.  It's getting a little dusty...

Molly!

This is Molly's favorite hangout.  When the dishes are dirty she licks them clean, and when the dishes are clean she has a little steam bath and cleans herself.  So... wanna come eat at my house?  We've always considered it lucky to find a cat hair in your meal.

The trees

It was a busy couple of weeks with the french family.  I took them to a country fair where Clive was performing and we all had a lovely time.

Clive was very tired but got up and played while I did funny faces to try to get the scowl off of his face.

Stephanie cut back the lilac bushes so that now they look more like trees.  It gives a light and airy feeling, I'm so pleased!

The golden raspberries are starting to make an appearance.  They are VERY good, I may favor these to the red ones.  Hope to get enough to sell one day.  The strawberries would be great, but, even though they are totally WRAPPED in netting, they all have a bite out of them.  Jerry thinks it's the caterpillars.  We have been enjoying his strawberries instead.  The boys are itching to pick fruit, and I've realized we may be away at the peak harvest time!

hmmm...

Another difference Stephanie made.  This tree's branches used to touch the ground so you couldn't see the trunk.  Now there is a nice little spot underneath with a few flowers.  Again, she has lightened things up and the attention to detail is so nice. I would never have thought to do things this way, I am glad I gave her free reign it has opened my eyes!  She also created the beginnings of a Mediterranean garden, with my new cooking skills I am very excited to have these herbs right outside my back door.