Cameron, Lisa, Alanna, Megan and Cadence came to spend a week and a half with us, which was really an honor. It meant a lot that they would spend their vacation here in Mount Pleasant with us little Heikoops. They also went to visit a friend in Ohio, so it worked out great for everyone.
One of the first things we did was go to St. Jacobs Market. We actually did the market first and then spent some time at the mall. Here are the girls at the Lego Store.
I stayed with the four girls while Cam and Lisa had a few minutes to shop. So neat to spend some time with the girls and getting to know them better.
The beautiful couple.
At the market, the girls went on a pony ride. Megan loved it a bit more than Alanna but it was fun to watch them go round and round.
The Fehrs at the playground one evening.
Lisa and Alanna - I so appreciate Lisa as a sister in law, and so neat to watch her as a mom in the day to day life. She is always so calm and enjoys her family so much.
At Niagara Falls...after a picnic, we walked back to the van to see the falls and area. The guys walked back with little Cadence on the cooler, and Katelyn held by James. Wonderful daddies.
The thundering Niagara Falls.
Maid of the Mist...Cam took a bunch of these lovely photos. :)
At the falls - it was perfect timing, as it wasn't too busy there. We first got quite wet with a misting rain, and then went on the maid of the mist together. My first time as well. :)
Horshoe Falls (the American side)from the Maid of the Mist.
All decked out in our blue plastic poncho's. The girls looked so cute in their 'raingear'.
I actually managed to keep Katelyn dry, but our heads were pretty soaked. :)
Later on in the day - outside the closed butterfly conservatory that we didn't get to in time. :) But we enjoyed the beautiful grounds.
Us three.
That night, Cam and Lisa took us out for dinner - so special, and we had a lovely meal together.
Our side of the table.
We had Rob and Mark over for Sunday dinner with Cam and Lisa. Table pictures are always a must when you have people over. :)
The girls slept in the office which worked really well. Then the rest of us were upstairs - like James said, "we have 8 people in this (small) house, but it doesn't feel like it". Of course some of those people are little people, but it was kind of neat to fit more humans into our little home.
Megan with cousin Kate. The girls would pile Katelyn and the swing with toys, and that was the first time Katelyn took a toy and started sucking on it. And it happened to be a baker doll...one of those Philisbury Dough boy dolls. How perfect for a bakers daughter.
We went to the playground a few times. I enjoyed it a lot too. :)
Lisa and two of her girls. I like this picture.
Cameron driving some of his girls to some exotic land.
At the Windmill for lunch one day.
James playing "Simon Says" with the neices one evening. They kind of got it. :) We also danced and twirled around with them which was pretty cute. Megan got the whole feminine twirl thing, while Cadence had the rythm down and Alanna was quickly twirling around the room. So fun to see their personality's come through and get to know them more.
We managed to get to a different butterfly conservatory nearby, and spent the last afternoon there, looking at all the amazing butterflies, moth's and their displays of insects around the world.
James holding a 'sick' butterfly on his finger. It wasn't going anywhere too fast. Maybe it had a stomachache. :)
An atlas moth - the biggest of all moths.
Studying the butterfly kinds. Alanna was pretty good at that.
Katelyn and a butterfly.
Two cousins in the stroller together.
A bee home under observation.
Cam helping James at the Windmill one afternoon - getting trayed up for the next day.
The girls coloring some "Princess" coloring pages on their last evening with us.
Cam and Lisa - driving to the airport to say goodbye. Sure love those two and their darling family.
One last picture and away they flew....saying goodbye is getting perhaps a bit easier, but I still have tears with everyone, and am so tired of saying goodbye. It's not that I don't see a lot of family, which I do! (and am so grateful for) But it's knowing that it will be a long time till I see that particular individual/s again. But we're in God's hands, and I'm so thankful for the memories we shared together. Thanks for coming!!
It was such a special evening - of course, we're not allowed to take pictures of the evening, so these are from cbc.ca website. (which I hope is alright to do...if not...I'll take them down)
All of them are excellent actors with wonderful voices. The children were all very cute.
And then a treat came after the show, because a friend of our family's, Cathy C. got us in contact with her cousin who played Uncle Max in the show, Keith. (the man on the right) He then, showed us around backstage and answered a bunch of our questions for about 40 minutes. It was such fun and so neat to see how it all worked. We saw the wig room, the dressing rooms, the orchestra pit, walked on stage - one of the world's deepest stages, saw how it works together....a really neat experience. Keith was very kind and took so much time for us. And we so appreciated Cathy even thinking of getting us in contact with him.
We got a picture with him after he showed us around. Then it was back to pick up Katelyn from her first babysitting experience - (thanks Aunt Nel!) and head home.
During the time we had with James and Heather, we played a couple games, one of them being "Match of the Penguins" which I have to say is my favorite game. :) The others were so sweet to come down to my leval and play a few rounds of it.
We watched one of James' soccer games...kind of hilarous and neat...cause a couple weeks ago was the start of the finals, and their team is the worst of the league. But they ended up beating the best of the league, so they made it to the semi-finals, which they also won! (and every time elimating the other team!!!) So this coming week, will be the championship game, and it would be just such a perfect movie moment if Kia of Hamilton actually wins! If not, they sure are getting better!!
On the last day with James and Heather, we went to Toronto again, and they took us to a Blue Jays Game. It was a neat experience to see it all, and how it works. So much to take in and try to figure out.
The pitcher for Toronto.
The Mariner's at bat - James Fehr's favorite team. I didn't know which team to cheer for... :) So they both got my hooray's, though I wish the Mariner's would have won. Kind of fun cheering for a team that no one else is cheering for.
Aren't they the most adorable pair?
James and Heather, my dear brother and sister.
Trying to get a family picture...
Katelyn and a bobblehead. :) When I came in the stadium, I was given a little book for her - and if you go around with your child (has to be under 14 yrs) and collect 3 stamps around the stadium at different stations, you'll get this Adam Lind bobblehead free. :) So we two walked around and got this little bobblehead. :) And it was kind of neat, cause in the end, it was the same guy - Adam Lind- that not only got 2 home runs for Toronto, but won the game for the team. So a fun souvenir.
Auntie Heather and Katelyn. What fun it was to have her here, and have her a part of this world. We've spent so much time together in the past, so having her in Mount Pleasant and talking and being together was very special. 
The five of us after the game. The score I believe was: 5:4 for Toronto.
You'd think we be cheering for the Jays with wearing blue shirts. :)
Afterwards we had a few hours to wait before they headed off on their evening flight home, so we went to the CN tour. I had never been before so that was pretty special.
At the top with Katie - and yes, that is glass in front of us.
Laying her on the glass floor. :)
Sitting around for a bit.
The view from the top. It was so neat to see the clouds go through below us...
Us two with the view of the city below.
On the glass floor.
A few mintues before they left at the airport...getting a quick bite all together. And then another goodbye. I sure have been blessed to have so much family visit us this year. God is so good to us. Loved having you two - you mean so much to me.
