Campfire - Day 2

Although the sky doesn't look it yet - we had a major downpour first thing in the morning (just in time for breakfast actually) - but that was the last of the rain - the clouds left and we had beautiful weather.

Beautiful sunrise (we were up at the crack of dawn, making pancakes for the campers)

 One happy camper!  Anna was thrilled to sleep on the top bunk of course..

Anna with her cabin pack enjoyed some action songs

Even though Anna has her bathing suit on, I don't think she actually went swimming!  She was too busy catching frogs and other critters at the beach.

As cooks we survived our second day - we cooked for 125 campers and counsellors - and became pretty comfortable in the kitchen.

We also decided to play a bit of a prank on the kids.  You see, at every mealtime, the cooks are called out to be thanked by the campers with some sort of tune (I believe it was different every time!).  We are asked to stand up at the front, turn around and face the wall while all the campers and counsellors quietly gather around us and decide on which thank you song/rhyme to say.  The the campers yell "cooks!!!!!" in order for us to turn around and accept our thanks from them.

Well, today we decided to dress up in crazy costumes and pretend to be "visitors" (the cooks had mysteriously disappeared!).  The added extra surprise was that we hid water guns in our pockets, so after we turned around, we sprayed the campers and counsellors and chased them around the room.  It was a blast...we did scare a few of the kids, and I hope they've recovered - but the rest who enjoyed the prank will have a lasting memory!

Campfire

I had the privilege of going to Campfire with Anna - Anna as camper and myself as cook!  I have been looking forward to this for quite a while, and the few days I was there was fantastic!  It was great to be a small part of a great ministry!

 The chapel

The cook's home for a few days...great kitchen to work in

Very thankful for a dishwasher to help keep up with all the dishes

The cooking staff for the week - we had a great time together!

Married!

Congratulations Becky!  We wish you God's blessings with Jeff in your married life together!

30 Years

Congratulations Dad and Mom - 30 years is something to strive for and we thank the Lord that He has blessed you for so many years already!

Goldfinch

 I'm not sure what he was doing

 All puffed up and "furry" looking!

 But he made for some good entertainment

 for me and the kids today...

this cute, little 

goldfinch!

Black Eyed-Susans

They add such a beautiful vibrant yellow to the garden!

Bunk Beds

We said good-bye to the crib - Anna and Sara have moved up to bunk beds (and Esther has her own room). Lots of changes around here!

Poor Spider

Good thing he's got 7 legs left!

Post Traumatic Stress

Becky and I enjoyed an afternoon at Dundas Driving Park with the kids.  They all had a great time - even Sara, despite the fact that any noise seems to bring her fingers to her ears.  Today it was the lifeguards blowing their whistles (we had to leave the pool as there was lightening spotted).  So, there she sits, happy, but in her own silent world!

Trumpet Vine

You never know who might be hiding in your trumpet vine flowers!

Rose of Sharon

Teeny Tiny

The last time Alvar's fish was pregnant we either didn't get her out of the special tank in time and she ate all her young - or they were so small they fell through the cracks and became little snacks for the rest of the fish in the tank.

This time we were better prepared, put some panty hose in the bottom of the box so the baby fish didn't slip through, and we got the mother out in time as well.

This round there were about 30 baby fry - and a couple days later, another batch was born - another 20 were added to the group!  Currently they are swimming happily in Caleb's tank - all 50 of them - would anyone like some cute baby platys to take home?



Home Made Tortillas

I had heard that you could easily make tortillas at home for a fraction of the price - and finally got around to trying it out.  They turned out pretty good - a bit small - but probably with a bit of practice they will get better with time!

Early Scorcher!

This would be the time on my microwave clock...

this MORNING. 

The bottom number, 30, would be the temperature outside - in the SHADE at 5 minutes to 9 this morning.  Wow...if this is any indication on how hot it's going to get today - I'm staying inside!!!

More Cuteness

We definitely heard these guys before we saw them - and there was no mistaking there were cardinals somewhere in our backyard.  It was extra nice to see both Dad and Mom feeding their two babies and working on their flying skills for us to watch!

Little Bit of Cuteness

There was a whole lot of "awwww - he's so cute!!!" going on around here this morning!

Hints

Not only is the leap frog an education toy, it is also informative too!

Hiking at Albion Falls

Although we didn't really do much on Canada Day, since Alvar was home on the Monday we went out for a hike at Albion Falls.  Being one of the very few places to go for free (they are hard to find around Hamilton!!) - we tend to go here a lot!  It's a quick hike down to the falls, then we follow the riverbed down until we decide it's time to get back up to the car.

 We didn't even make it down to the falls and came across this guy...dead as a doornail...but I think it might be a boa?  Obviously a pet let loose - and thankfully dead (I am not a fan of snakes!!).

 We purposely put sandals on the kids so they could walk around on the shelf of the falls.  The water is really really low - when is the last time we had a decent rain??

 The water is dribbling off the falls in some areas - barely a drip!!

This was the river bed most of the way down, lots of green, not much water!!  I do hope we get some rain soon - especially with the temperatures climbing this week!