Huntsville Singing Trip

 We were asked  by some friends up north - the Strongmen's - to come sing at one of their summer evening concerts in Huntsville. We all tried to get a bunch of practicing in - gathering the siblings into the fold, :)whenever it worked out for them, and went up to sing on the 17th of July.

It was a bit like the "olden days", when singing with my family. Getting the music binders all ready, trying to get a colour combination so we all looked coordinated - kinda.... :) working on some new songs, and getting back to my banjo, mandolin and piano days. :) (even though I was rusty, it's amazing how the my fingers instinctively knew the chord formations...) 

Katelyn colouring on the way up. We four went with Rob and Mark in a borrowed mini van.

Erik, being quite adorable. He did quite well on the way up.

Once we got there, and set up, we had a long soundcheck - more like a practice. Mr. Strongmen kindly looked after us on the soundboard, and had to listen to us as we tried to make sure we had it sorta together. :) But we got it - mostly. And are thankful for the practices we got in!

Singing up front. It was an incredible hot night, and I felt for the guys in their suits, but they looked great. :)

Tim played a couple songs on the bass.

 Sarah and Laura Strongmen were such a HUGE help with the little ones. Watching them almost the entire afternoon and evening for us while we had a sound check, praciticed and later on, sang. They are so good with children.

Sarah visiting afterwards

William and a friend.

Me and my darling Katy - both tired, warm and looking the worse for wear. :)

Sarah and I in our "matchies"

Right before we left, we got a group shot, thanks to Emily and her sister- soime friends up there.

Then a few of us started the 3.5 hour trip home, and a couple others stayed up there for the night. A wonderful time, and a blessing to meet others, hopefully encourage, and also be encouraged.

Garden Party

A friend of ours from our church - Wendy B. - was having her 80th birthday last week.

It worked out for us to help out with the party fun, which made for a rewarding and full week.

Wendy is such an amazing women, and we all love her dearly.

 The birthday woman - Wendy

 Everyone singing together around our keyboard player - different hymns and songs. 

 Singing Happy Birthday all together

 James and Mrs. B

 The memory/guest book for everyone to sign

 With the birthday cake

So thankful to have such godly examples of what a joyful, and keeping on woman should be like.

Two incredible women who helped this party work out! Thankful for Jeanette and Isobel's help!

Sunday Evening at the Windmill

A couple of Sundays ago, we had the evening service at the Windmill - starting with a walk down the trail, (some to the fish ponds, others the other direction), followed by a potluck supper, fellowship, singing and a devotional. We also used this opportunity to say goodbye to a dear woman who had been coming to the chapel for a long time, but since moved to be closer to a daughter of hers.

 Walking along.

 Dear Mr.Avey - at age 93, even he went for part of the walk. Some of these seniors amaze me...

 Dear Ruth - saying our official chapel goodbyes.

Mrs.Burchell (who turned 80 later on that week) at the piano during our sing time. One of those sweet English women, with royalty in her blood...physically and spiritually. A gracious woman.

Just a smattering of pictures from the last bit.

just like her daddy...

Learning to kick the soccer ball (in crocs) while her daddy almost scores a goal on the soccer team. Pretty cute. Hopefully she'll actually know how to play the game, unlike her mommy. (as Uncle Timothy will testify) I never got into soccer...though I enjoy watching James play, and maybe, he'll show us both how to play. Until then, we'll just kick and laugh at whatever way the ball goes...

...til we can be just like daddy.

Farewell to Nel...

July 7th was the last day to have Nelly around - the next day she was headed to Japan for a 7-week mission's trip with a brother/sister team from her church in Toronto. Nelly will be teaching English and helping out the local church there...I'm excited for her. She's got such a sincere other's-centered heart.

Before she left, we had a little goodbye dinner for her at the Windmill.

 Nathan and Nel - with the ice-cream dessert - that James decorated.

 A bunch of nieces and nephews (and James & Sarah) with Nel.

 Not so happy that she's going... :)

 Sarah and Nel

 Never mind that it's a out of focus/dark picture...it's me and Nel, whom I'll miss lots...

Having her around so much more this summer, has been a luxury

One last goodbye kiss

Saying goodbye to James in the bakery...

Katelyn prays for Auntie Nelly every morning...all I have to say is, "Help" "help" "Aunty" "Aunty Nelly".... in Japan... it's pretty sweet.

Anyone who wants to can check out Nelly's blog that she and the brother/sister team are updating every so often... www.englishsummerinjapan.blogspot.com And join them in prayer too...

Re-decorating :)

Our bedroom has been dark brown for a long time - which has worked beautifully - but this summer, I really wanted it to be fresh and light...and to do it without having to buy anything or much. :) 

I remembered I had a my old vintage white bedspread that fit lovely - and looked great after a wash. The brown curtains we had, need to see some time in storage, so they were exchanged for some white fabric I had leftover from our wedding. All I needed were blinds and pillows... time to go shopping. :) The blinds were from Lowes - and the pillows from Wal-Mart and The English Butler. :) 

 The finished product at night. I'll have to take some daytime shots - it looks so refreshing.

My pillows. :) 

Love the change.

Six Months!

Honestly, it's been six months. I still was saying "he's 5 1/2 months old" last week...I guess I've been holding onto that 1/2 a month. But he continues to grown, to cry, to laugh, and to be cute. :)
Thankful for our little man.

Erik's latest and greatest:
Rolling onto his tummy and waking up in the night
Screeching when he's happy (and when he's not!)
Now into a bigger car seat - goodbye bucket seat - still rear facing :)
Still adorable

The Cottage Vacation

June 30-July 4th - our family vacation. :) And what a lovely holiday it was. The whole Heikoop clan (minus Henry & Heather's family was there), so it made for a lively, full and fun few days together. It was one of the first long weekends the Windmill crew got, for a long time. (other than Rob, who sacrificially stayed behind a couple days to manage the Windmill) We headed up northish - Bancroft area - to a cottage, Deanna's grandparents owned, and graciously lent to us.

(all these pictures were taken by various members of the Heikoop family :)

The cottage: cute and we all fit rather well, with three tents, and the little sleeper room James and I used.

Getting to the cottage at 1 a.m. on the Thursday night/Friday morning was eventful... trying to find your way to a cottage without the exact directions, was interesting, but eventually we all found the right signs to guide our way. :)

James and my little home. :) It was super nice to have this little house to ourselves with the kiddo's. It had two beds, and we set up our playpen for Erik. Perfect place for the kid's naps and all. So thankful for it.

Erik and the well played with blocks.

The deck got lots of use.

Brad's boat. We all enjoyed it, and the wake boarding/skiing that came from the use of this machine. :) Brad was so nice to share it with us.

On the first day I discovered my favorite thing to do at the cottage: take the sea-doo out and practice diving from it. I just love embracing the water...sigh....too fun. I'm a terrible diver, but I did improve. :) And not being the greatest swimmer (but enjoying the deeper water) having the sea-doo close by, was handy. I would draft any other free siblings out there to "enjoy" the moments with me. :) Thankfully, Nelly, James, Diane, Rob and a couple others were obliging. :)

Katy loved visiting the other "homes".

She's "pretending" to sleep with Will for afternoon nap.

William took some gorgeous sunrise pictures... I was sleeping. :)

Diane resting with Erik.

All the family was so good about the children, helping out, playing with/holding them - which was awesome. They may have gotten more attention than normal/or overly healthy for them, but it was all worth it. :)

Katy "sleeping" again in Brad's hammock. A couple of the guys brought their Filipino hammocks to relax and sleep in.

Erik got some good "Uncle Tim" time in.

Canada Day evening - everyone but mom and dad (who sweetly watched the kids for us) climbed aboard Brad's boat, and we drove to the other side of the lake, and watched the fireworks with a bunch of other motorists. (along with the mosquitos)

It was a good show too - about 20 minutes or more.

Diane cooking a breakfast. We all took our turns making at least one meal and cleaning up afterwards, working out really well. The meals were excellent: sausage gravy breakfast, baked potatoes with chili, chicken a la king & Caesar salad, pizza, taco salad & corn on the cob, burgers with a asian salad and a Greek salad.

All around the table

Ice-cream cones for dessert

Play time with Sarah and Diane using Katelyn's new birthday tea set from Oma.

My two favorite guys together.

Sisters on the cough right before we all watched "Sink the Bismark"

Beautiful Nelly...on her way to Japan today to teach English and do some mission work with a brother/sister team for the summer. We'll miss her, but excited for this opportunity.

Brad the new uncle to lots of nieces and nephews.

Dad got some good reading time in this weekend.

Erik the teether.

Some of us got some bad sunburns, but Tim topped it all. Poor guy.

Lovely Sarah

Katelyn got a few sea-doo rides in with Sarah, William and me.

Deanna - love this picture of her - hard to believe that in a couple weeks Lord-willing, will be holding her own darling baby!

Tim's picture. :) It is pretty.

 Cheesy smile for Tim.

 Nelly and I soaking it in - using a pool noodle and a life jacket to relax in the water.

 Diane the gorgeous - in her hubby's boat.

 Cruising and spotting for the wake boarding behind her hat. I think it was William wake boarding at the time.

 Yup, it's Will catching a lot of air. The guys did great on the board - Brad was quite impressive...sigh...and I couldn't even get up on the wake board. At least I succeeded with the water ski's. :) (for the first time)

 Sisters

 Rob on the board

 Playing Fast Scrabble.

 Ben blessing his wife's heart. :)

 Erik the chubby

 So cute...

 Trying to get a family vacation picture - which didn't work so great...but we tried.

 Katy wasn't a big swimmer - mostly played on the dock, but that's alright.

 Tears to prove she was "all done".

 Erik, when used to the water, enjoyed it for a bit longer than his sister.

 Mommy/Son time

All of us sisters - except for Heather & Marlene.

 Brad the BBQ-er

 Mom and Dad

 Then right before leaving, we tried to get a family picture taken...

 Then Tim lit a fire cracker...

See the smoke....? And then finally...

...we got at least one decent one. :) Then most of us headed home. ( a few left the next morning)

Lots of great memories.