Another Summer has Gone

Another summer has gone and the kids are back in school. Summer went by so fast, I don't feel like we accomplished much. The weather didn't make it easy to do things either. Between cool weather or rain we fit in some swimming and fishing.
Near the end of June my brother in law and soon to be sister in law came for a visit. The kids were excited and we had lots planned. During the first few days we hung out then we had a nice day and headed to Mont Cascades water park. We were a bit disappointed but the lack of slides and the kids were not to happy to be there. Once they went on a couple slides they were better. Kiera loved going on the kiddie slides and Riley liked the carpet race slide.


As for having summer free of injury, we didn't disappoint. My soon to be sister in law Becki, ended up have a pancreatitis attack early Monday morning and had to be driven to the hospital. Once there they admitted her. She was in the hospital for just over 2 weeks. Most day we spent going with Sean to visit her. At first she was on meds for pain. Then they thought she had some sort of infection and put her on antibiotics. Her white blood count didn't get better and they sent to her to one of the city hospitals for a ct scan. They said they saw something on her pancrease and would be moved to another hospital in the city. When she arrived there they did another scan and saw nothing so she was sent back to Carleton Place hospital. Then the told her she was very sick but had no idea what was wrong. She was then put on a very high dose of antibiotic and needed to be at the hospital. Eventually the hospital gave Becki day passes where she could come to the house for about 5-6 hours then go back get some antibiotics then come back to the house for a few more hours etc... During this we went to the children's museum, a movie and celebrated Ron's birthday. While this was happening they were to have gone to Montreal and be back at home. Not a very exciting trip for them but we were glad they came.


A few days after they left my mom and dad came down. Everyone had been bumped for vacation time, so they arrived Monday. We spent a couple days with them then headed to Sandbanks with our friends to camp. Camping was great except for the day it rained. I hate camping and rain. they don't mix well. We had fun at the beach, around the camp fire, going through the dunes etc... Once we were home we visited with my parents. We went shopping, went to a few small towns, down to the states to shop, went to the balloon festival and even to the drive in. Then it was back to school for the kids. Kiera and Riley started on Sept 8th. Both were happy to go back and see their friends. Both kids love their teachers. On Thursday Sept 10th my parents left for home and we were a family of four again. Now a little break before we have more visitors. Although Sept is so busy with planning Riley's birthday party, running the schools meet and greet, Riley starting hockey and drama club, Kiera starting sparks and gymnastics, Ron's hockey and my cake decorating class and school council stuff. It will make for a busy year.

Gone FIshin'

Here are some of the fish we've caught this week.





Here are some of the fish we've caught this week.

A day of fishing

We spent most of the day Sunday on lake Mississippi. We went out at 10am and the kids did pretty good catching pumpkinseed fish. Then Mel and Kiera went in to get some lunch and some warmer cloths for Riley and I. Then they went home while Riley and I fished until about 2:30.

Riley finally managed to catch his first bass. A nice smallmouth that was quite the battle for him. No matter how much I tried to convince him, he would not stick his thumbs in its mouth to hold it for the picture so we had to make due like this...Can't say I would have done any different at 6 years old either!

And lucky me...I had to let the kids reel in all the fish I caught :)

Mel and Kiera came to pick Riley and I up and while we were putting the boat on the trailer, Riley grabbed his rod ( as if he hadn't had enough fishing ) and started fishing off the dock. Of course hey caught about 5 fish in about 2 minutes....so we spent the next 2 hrs fishing for tiny sun fish and perch off the dock! Funny when our boat is sitting right there and we could have been on the lake catching fish 10 times the size but oh well they were happy! Also we actually managed to catch a few small bass. Here is Kiera's first ever bass



And I think Riley overtook Mel for the smallest fish ever trophy!

Backyard Remodeling

This year we said we were not going to work in the pool area. We would take a break. But then the grass and weeds grew, it got nice out(sort of) and we decided to do a few projects. At first it seem not too bad. Put in a patio, a hedge and maybe put some river rock around the fence. A month and 1/2 later we are a little more than half way done. This weekend, Ron and I were able to edge, put landscape fabric and lay the river rocks down around half the fence and Ron was able to finish laying the patio. It was a very productive weekend.

Before

DuringAfter

After

After but not done yet.

While Ron and I worked the kids played with Mikey from next door. They were occupied all weekend. Ron laughed that Mikey was like our babysitter, since we didn't really hear much from the kids all day. On Sunday they did a little work of their own, painting the house Ron made for them 2 years ago. it is going to be their club house.