I'm just having fun playing with pictures when I need to be hanging wash on the line.

For all of you who wondered about the sanity of those camping in April. Please remember, we are citizens of BC not Ontario or Alberta where it - I hardly dare point it out - still snows at this time of year. Also, please be notified we are not bonified campers in the sense of piling our 7 family members in a tent. We had a handy, dandy tent trailer with a fully functioning furnace. It kept us toasty all night. Then don't forget to check the pictures for the daily weather conditions. 'Nuf said, especially for those enjoying spring break amidst the snow storm. The twins did spend a lot of time bundled up in the stroller or snuggled by kind volunteers. April is really a wonderful time to camp because the campgrounds are sparsely populated compared to the summer months.

I changed this photo in Picasa. There may be other things that are wrong about it now but I really wanted to see Sam's expression. This ability to manipulate photos amazes me. It would be a pleasure to know the tricks and rules for procressing pictures "correctly."

I get to go spend a bit of time in the "craft room" aka the babies room. They are up for a bit yet and content so I think I'm going to see if I can pull off a card!

Day 2

Before I get into the camping trip I have to mention last night's supper. Greta (mom of 2 year old twin boys!) kindly made supper for me on a busy day last week. We weren't able to bake it that night as we had people walking through the house during supper time so I was able to use it after people had gone through our house yesterday afternoon. Very handy, a HUGE thanks, Greta. Anyway, I was encouraging Sam, our slow eater, to get eating and all of a sudden he gobbled his supper down. Now how am I to interpret this. "That was nummy supper, Mama. I thought it had come from you!" So, do I just not make nummy suppers? I asked him but I didn't get a straight answer.

Back to this camping trip.

Cody and Cara were delighted to wake up and see all these people they love the most all around them. Unfortunately for them I am NOT into a one bedroom per household lifestyle. I am very thankful I don't hear every toss and turn every night.

We drove to Rosario beach for the day and spent a gorgeous day getting sun burnt noses and enjoying every minute.

Leah ran back and forth with the kite sailing behind her.

Sam's expression is one of pure delight in seeing his kite in the air.

I think lunch tasted even better because of the scenery! And smokies fresh off the grill taste pretty great on the beach.

Throwing rocks into the ocean can occupy hours of time.

We had two surprise visitors come rolling in on Friday night. Special especially considering Gramps had only come home from China the day before and we hadn't seen him for a few weeks!

I think my settings were off today on the camera as the colors were really dark. Maybe once I get Adobe loaded on the computer I can figure out how to fix some of these pictures.

A few favorites from Day 1

We went camping Thurs, Fri and Sat at Deception Pass State Park and it was wonderful!

Not only did Sam practice throwing a baseball...

But he practiced catching it as well... I think he's in love :)
The kids did a lot of biking.

And discovered the incredible joy of dancing with the waves.

There was so much to see... and most of it thoroughly gorgeous.

A nice big group to camp, explore and enjoy the sun and ocean with.

A smore is the perfect addition to a warm campfire.
Days 2 and 3 will come next week, after the wash is all folded and I've caught up on some sleep :)

Love my Boys!

From the other day at the park!

Willy, maybe I should conscript you into helping me get caught up!! :) It's a dream for sure.
Hope to upload some camping pictures soon!

More special times

First of all I have to thank my cousin Teresa for the wonderful surprise visit yesterday morning. I sent Sam to check out who was at the door and told him, "if you know who it is you can open up the door." "It's Aunty Marianne," he quickly told me. I knew it was a few too many weeks early for that! Anyway, Teresa's surprise visit brought a batch of chocolate chip/skor? cookies and caramel shortbread squares. All fantastic, thanks, Teresa!

In the afternoon Sam and I watched/listened to the thunder/lightning/hail/rain/wind storm together. We stood at the back door watching the dark grey clouds racing by and the rain approaching. Then we stood there until we were pelted with enough hail to make us head over to the side patio door where we couldn't get wet anymore. We learned lightning comes first because the "light goes faster than the sound."

I really wanted to update this last night but my Dad was too far away when I really needed him! In other words, my internet connection was down and I couldn't phone Dad in China to say, "help, what do I do?!" Aren't you glad you missed that over the phone fix it session, Dad?

Anyway, this afternoon after Steve came home from working we went with all the kids to the park to play for a while. What a hoot! We certainly got our fair share of second glances with a stroller for the twins, a stroller for Cam, a doll stroller with the second set of twins and Sam on the bike! A few of the best moments...

Helicopter ride for Leah's doll. I love this picture and wish I knew a bit more about Photoshop and post processing.

Everyone, including Mama, got some piggy back rides! It was first one circle walking around the equipment and then a second circle at a gallop. Mama's ride didn't last long and certainly didn't include speed. Not because Papa wimped out but because Mama couldn't handle all the jostling.

We then had a few rounds of follow the leader and one of Leah's moves was head first through the monkey bar/ladder. We all made it through and Mama's glad she's in charge of the camera :)
Cam, of course, found a puddle and delighted in it.

Cara woke up and so got a little turn in the swing. I LOVE the mutal affection those two have for each other. (Tonight Cam was throwing a ball around and jumping off a stool and I got some video of Cara giggling and giggling - lovely)

All in all a wonderful, sunny afternoon.

Last night Cara and Cody slept from 10;00 to 7:15 this morning. Mama slept, without moving, from 10;15 to 5:15. It has been a long time since I had 7 consecutive hours of deep, uninterrupted sleep. And that, friends, was the Lord's tender and undeserved answer to prayer.

1 + 1 =2

Cody was so willing to share, he passed on his ear infection to his sister. Maybe he thought she was missing out or maybe he really wanted her to feel more sorry for him. Whatever the case, he has still been very grouchy these last few days and today Cara joined him. Grouchy as not wanting to lay down for naps/night, grouchy as in wanting to be held all day long. You understand why this blog has been so neglected? Even now, they are laying on the kitchen table (they absolutely love to lay on the kitchen table, always have...we all have our quirks, ain't so?) anyway, on the kitchen table, NOT in bed.

This is "one of God's wonderful creatures" as discovered by our dear daughter. That snail is now "Sally" and she let it slime and slither all over her sleeve on Monday.


A bit of a sad/glad moment. We now are sporting a for sale sign on the lawn of the cutest house on Young Road. Okay, so we love this place but it's starting to stretch at the seams.

Yesterday morning Mom O came for a while so I could take the boys out for a walk. We went down to the slough (one of the huge reasons we love where we live) to hunt for rocks to throw in. If there ever comes the day when the Chilliwack Progress runs an article on the crisis state of erosion on Hope Slough at Corbould Park I will have a tough time not feeling somewhat guilty. We also got some time at the park with swings and slide etc.- reason number 2 for loving our location. All in all, special times.

This afternoon we went for a walk with my friend Greta with her twin boys and ended up at the same aformentioned park for some sunny day fun. What a comotion we made, two moms, 7 kids and one doll stroller also carrying twins. I hope I can load up some pictures of that in the next couple of days. When the medicine kicks in and we all get a bit more cheerful!

I am so thankful these last few days were so gorgeous. I think the sun did a lot to keep me sunny on the inside too! God is gracious to give us spring again.

Ever get that sure-wish-I-could-get-my-toes-in-my-mouth-feeling? Can't say I do but Cara is all for it. And then there's poor Cody. He looks part pretzel as his toes, fingers and arms somehow usually end up in Cara's mouth for her to gnaw on.

I'm sure one of the best sights in all the world is seeing two grinning cookabuckers (pinecones for some) when you open up the bedroom door! Cam sure thinks so! It seems as though the bond between these three may be quite tight. He still loves to give them a smooch, making sure to kiss both) and they love to have Cam around.

Papa worked for a while today but this afternoon was for settling the bike issues. Leah went up a size thanks to the generous donation of a past neighbor and Sam is quite cheerful on Leah's old bike. Now for some black paint and we're all good to go.

Thankfully Cody seems to be past the painful part of the ear infection and it's his teeth that are really bothering him now. I think I'm full into the busy part of this five precious children set up and this week was one in which I didn't get too much done. Now, all I have to do is realize the reality of it and settle (even deeper) into a "this too shall pass" mindset.

Dear Bird Brains (you know who you are), you will be delighted to know I have had a handsome, rusty chested hummingbird of some type zipping through my back yard for the last couple of days. You will be disappointed to know I do not know what type he is nor have I done anything to encourage his return.

As for the rest. It boggles my mind that for 3 days in a row we had to go upstairs to wake Leah (and therefore Sam also) for school at 6:40 but this morning when the opportunity was ripe for sleeping to 7 and beyond, they jumped out of bed raring to go at 6;15. And I needed the extra sleep too. Cody does have an ear infection to go along with his cold and so we've been sleeping in fits and starts. It's amazing how quickly the antibiotics kick in and I'm hoping tonight will already be much better.

Catching Up

It's been a little busy here the last few days. All the books I've ever read about twins (which I admit are fairly few in the whole scope of things) but the ones I have read all said the first 3 months are the toughest until the twins reach 18 months. Not one of them wrote about cranky teethers with a cold to boot! I've done a lot of holding and cuddling. Not a bad thing when they grow so fast. (I'm trying to finish this post this morning and I'm thinking I should have sat at the computer to read that last comment last night. There were a few moments when I was not at all cheerful to be holding and cuddling and trying to convince two very grouchy babies to go to sleep...between 12 and 2 :) )

A few noteworthy moments... Carolyn and Brody shared exciting news with us. They are expecting a little one for the beginning of October!!! We hope and pray everything continues to go well (or even better as she's been quite sick). Looking back over their visit I'm a little disappointed with myself that I didn't get more pictures. They're on their way home again so I won't be getting anymore anytime soon. Lots of stories read over the weeks, lots of cuddles, special times.

Last Friday we had the extreme priviledge of sharing Opa and Oma's 50th wedding anniversary. It was a very special day which I didn't get a single picture of :( We made a CD with probably between 70--80 family members in the morning, a family picture with Opa and Oma, their 8 children and their spouses, 57 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren with four on the way in the afternoon, and then shared a delicious meal and memories together with some of their friends at night. I could write and write thoughts about this blessing of commitment and time given by God...

Yesterday (actually two days ago) was a gorgeous day which we spent a good part of outside. I was somewhat disheartened to realize our back yard smells of the business end of the neighbor's dog. In all the times we've cheered Cam on in his excitement of watching the dog waiting to be let back in the house, it didn't occur to me there was a downside to this cheap entertainment!

Thanks to Gramma, my kids cheerfully go play outside to "get some vitamin D." We have a bit of a spectrum. One extreme to the other...

Sam must of wanted to increase the surface area available for soaking it in.

Cara and Cody both enjoyed some time in the swing and some gum numbing freezies! (Camera was put away by the time Cody came out)

Finest Form of Entertainment

Cam is amazing! He can run, he can jump, he can hop on all fours etc. We think he is the BEST and we often end up giggling at him. Cam the Ham thinks this is great and does all he can to encourage us.