Swimming and football

A few snaps of the summer. The kids reluctantly completed a week of swimming lessons. Finn too, but I didn't get a pic of his badge!

Luke is playing football this fall for the cowboys. They have had one pre season game and their first game is on Monday. He is playing free safety. He is excited, nervous, and in awe. It is a different game then he is used to playing. He likes pick up on the school yard with his buddies. This is a whole different ball game so to speak. The equipment for one is rather tedious and cumbersome, however we are hoping he will adjust and love this season as much as he loves playing football with his friends. It's great discipline and his coach is a very good role model, while requiring much of the kids, but still not belittling or badgering. They really look up to him,literally and figuratively. He is a former Bronco and Stampeder, so his passion and knowledge of the game is pretty obvious. Go Cowboys!

San Diego

Had a wonderful week with my family in San Diego at the Welk Resort in Escondido. We'd been planning this for months to celebrate my mom and dad's 40th wedding anniversary and my dad's retirement from General Motors. Thanks to my sister in laws astute planning, we all managed to be together at one really nice resort for a week. The cousins had sooo much fun... they swam, played golf, fished, went to Sea world, watched the Disney channel (we don't have that!), played, ate a lot, watched the Disney channel, swam, etc... it really is a kids life... but they made great memories and laughed a lot, and enjoyed their extended family. My parents were thrilled to have their whole family together for one week, and my mom didn't have to cook (much) or clean... it was great. The only bummer was that it ended. WE hope we don't wait until their 50th to do this again.

Football starts!

So now that baseball is over (see a few posts down!), football has begun in earnest! Luke has had a busy summer with two football camps and baseball, but now he is starting tryouts for the local football team. It is too bad that they have to try out, but there are 100 kids and 45 spots. I think they should split he division and let everyone play,, but no one asked me... anyhoo, Luke has been through one week of tryouts, and we shall see... He is hoping to play "free safety." I didn't know what that was either! (For all you moms!) But it is a defensive position that tries to tackle the runner and possibly intercept!) LUke has an absolute passion for football, which is neat. I have a few reservations about broken bones and concussions and things... but I am praying about that! Will keep you posted if he makes or doesn't make the team. It is quite a commitment, but LUke would really like to play, so I hope he does make it.

Look what's in the driveway mom!

Our neighbour's ripped up their backyard, and used the bobcat to do it! Yeah for Finn! As soon as he heard the beeping, he was flying out the door! The neighbour finally gave him a ride after we sat on the curbside (treats and all!) watching him work for over an hour!! I told him he could have charged admission! He was very excited and it was in the driveway for days, so mommy got to spend all her time watching Finn climb the bobcat and walk around it lovingly and excitedly examing it, and talking all about it! We learned about hydraulics and how many wheels there are, etc...
It's unreal how into "diggers" Finn is... we have another bobcat by the park and we spend all our time there too! Fun!

The final game!

This is Luke right before the championship all star game. (I didn't go, I get to nervous!!) They held the other team neck and neck until the 6th inning, and then the other team got a bunch of runs, and our guys couldn't get the bats going the last inning. They had a great season, and learned lots! Luke played an awesome second last game, where he was sent in to pitch the final inning. The score was tied and the other team got last bat! (I was up to high doh!) He was cool as a cucumber and they managed to hold them,, so it went to overtime.. actually two innings of overtime. They held them and won the game!! It was very exciting, and Luke pitched the best I've seen him! He had other games where his pitching wasn't right on, so this was a nice way for him to end the season.

An American GIrl at the movies

This is a pic of Bethany before we went to see the movie, "Kit, An American Girl..." Bethy and I just love reading all the American girl books. They are so well written and teach sooo much history. I love them! (Even LUke is pretty interested in them, but wouldn't be too excited to know I had posted them,,, the point is they are very interesting..) We have been learning lots about the depression. The movie was quite different from the book, but still maintained the excellent interest and quality I have come to expect from the other movies. We watch them all the time.
Bethy went with some friends from school, who also brought their American Girl dolls, and when we walked in there was another pocket of girls carrying their dolls. Of course everyone had to ask which doll they had,, etc.. It was cute! Bethy was the only one dressed like her doll. Bethy's is a look a like (except for the freckles!) and the matching dresses are from Winners!

Bay of Fundy and Acadia

Here we are on the last day of our vacation. I know this blog thing is published backward to the actual events of our vacation. If I was smart, I would have entered everything from the last day to the first,, anyhoo,, no comment. We enjoyed seeing many friends on our two days in Halifax. It was so neat to connect with them and share a few hours getting caught up, and seeing their lovely families. We were so blessed during our time living there to have so many wonderful friends.
On our last day we headed to the Anapolis Valley, to check out the low tides on the Bay of Fundy and the museum at Grand Pre. This again was quite a history lesson, that tied in with another "Our Canadian Girl" book, I just happened to bring along for reading to the kids. This one is about the resettlement of the lands by "planters" after the British explusion of the Acadians from Nova Scotia, around 1755. Another sad chapter of the treatment of a minority group, in the history of Nova Scotia.
It rained the whole time and Finn was in fine form, but nevertheless, we saw a neat film on the history of the Acadian explusion, and many other well done exhibits.
On our way home, we stopped at the Fort that the "planters" would have landed near and used, and which housed the Acadians who were trying to return to their homeland. The fort is mostly just a hill now with a look out and a few cannons, but we had a beautiful view of the Bay of Fundy which of course boasts the lowest tides in the world. Luke was particularly impressed and wanted to "walk" the ocean floor. We opted against this, but were glad the timing was right for him to see that!