Our 6th Anniversary

James and I were able to get away for a night to celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary. Ben and Deanna watched our three at our house, with their three, and we took our little Amy along. 

We decided to go camping - real tent camping - a first for us since we've been married. :) It was grand fun! We went to The Pinery Provincial Park a couple hours away off Lake Huron, and absolutely enjoyed the 25 hours away, from everything else. 

So happy to be together

 My handsome man. 

 Just before getting to the campground, we stopped at a restaurant - Grog's - for supper. 

 Enjoyed a nice supper on the patio with our little chaperone. :) 

 Such squishyness

The supper:  James' shrimp Penne Alfredo. 

 And I had my usual burger. :) Always happy with a burger, and it fills me up. :) 

Putting up our tent. 

Then we drove to beach on the first night, and just enjoyed the sunset. We went for a nice walk along the beach with Amy in the Ergo later on, to get her to sleep. 

Me taking a picture of him, while he... 

...takes one of me. :) See Andrew and Rebecca - still wearing my Chaco's from you - been 6 years, and still using them. :) 

James encouraged me to take a few shots of this cute little girl playing in the water, so I did - her mom was great about it, and I had fun. 

Me and my littlest girl. 

Daddy and daughter

And me and my little girl. 

James' sunset picture from his phone. It was such a perfect evening. 

Then back to our campsite for a bonfire and some sleep. 

The next morning, we got up, and went to the beach for another nice long walk. Felt so spoiled. 

James looking so cool with the Ergo. :) After this picture, his phone died, as well as my camera. Which was good in a way - as we just enjoyed everything with no pressure to document it. :) We had lunch there, went for a 13 km. bike ride, and an awesome swim - jeans and all - in the water. I loved, loved, loved that. :) So refreshing and fun. :) Then we grabbed some ice-cream from the store, and headed home.

This picture is reminiscent of our honeymoon, when we followed a semi truck being towed as well... :) 

Just like the good old days. :) 

Very thankful for the time away, and for the awesome 6 years God has given me with my best friend!

Working on their G2

 Our kind neighbor girl brought her car over for the kids to drive one night, and they were thrilled. Katie's driving was a bit scary, so James or our neighbor girl had to be close by, but thankfully everyone was safe.

 And she took Laura for a ride too. :)

 One day, that's how it will be.... Katy driving Laura to piano lessons...or shopping.... :) but hopefully not in a pink Barbie car. :)

And this is how he felt when the car battery died.

Devestated. 

Poor kid. :) 

Of Juice and Jumps

I had a van a bit last week, so I took the kids to the Windmill and to the park for a picnic. We brought their bikes and scooter so they could play at the skateboard "jump" area.

Nelly and Mom shared our little picnic, which was fun to be together. 

Loving her juice box - a rare treat. 

 Erik was given a scooter from a neighbor boy that didn't need it anymore, and Erik was thrilled! His scooter is his best friend. He does amazing, and loves it. 

 Working on my panning shots. :) 

 My three year old.

So proud of him. He is already riding his two-wheeler bike - no training wheels. James just put him on it, pushed him and away he went. :) Katy had to work a bit to catch up, but now they're both doing the real kid bike thing. 

Off he goes!

The End of Swimming Lessons

After 8 weeks, Katie and Erik finished their first swimming session. They did really well. I was quite proud of them. So neat to watch them learn something so valuable - and not even having to teach it to them yourself! So awesome to see your children start to succeed - almost makes you have a few tears. 

This is what Laura would do during the 45 minutes of swimming lessons...go up and down, and back and forth, freaking out all the "safe" parents with her antics. :) She loved to practice climbing the stairs, and made a bunch of people smile over her cuteness. 

Erik with his teacher. 

I loved the setup here - the city's Aquatic club puts in on, hosted by the Ross McDonald Blind School. Almost every child (especially the younger grades) has their own teacher, which is awesome. 

Laura sweating it out, as she waits and waits....

 Waving at mommy.

Love how Katy and Erik are both in this shot - one on the back, and the other on the front. They always were so glad to see each other during the lessons!

Katy was so determined and loved trying hard. She put her whole self into it!

With their teachers at the very end. :)

After getting the kids changed one last time, I brought them up to the spectator gallery so they could see where James and I sat with all the other parents. 

Showing off their progress cards. 

Big backpack - little boy...

Great friends most of the time. :) 

Off to be picked up by a great daddy, and two other little sisters in the waiting van. 

Start of Summer Days

At last... I can send the kids out in shorts and barefeet, and they can enjoy the warm, humid summer days!

My little boy - having a great time with a neighbors scooter. That kid has got incredible balance. 

One of Laura's normal looks... :) 

And another of her normal looks. She is such a cutie. 

The other day she comes down the stairs saying "Where's Daddy" - holding her hands out in question... of course it sounded more like "whas Daddy?" - but so cute to hear starting to ask questions and say sentences. 

And she was okay with knowing Daddy was at work.:)

Glenda's 50th Party

Dear Glenda was turning 50 this year, so a few of us friends got to together to plan a surprise party for this special woman. :) It was arranged that I would have her come to my house for dinner, the day after her exact birthday, where a small group of friends would be waiting. :) 

And hooray! She was totally surprised. A fuzzy picture, but you can see her surprise. :) 

We just visited for a bit, and then Debbie brought over an amazing Chinese dinner for us all!

Then a chocolate cake, and other snack foods later on. 

Then we played a bunch of "Headbandz" the iphone way - it was absolutely grand. I LOVE party games, but have only been able to have a few really great game times in quite a few years. Lots of laughing was done by us all.

Some of the group. 

Truly thankful for Glenda and her friendship in my life. Sure love this woman. She is a great encourager, server, and one who truly cares about other's needs, even if she is going through a challenging time, she'll still be there to help build you up. 

High Tea Bridal Shower

James' cousin Theressa, is getting married in a couple weeks! But before a wedding, there's always a bridal shower, and we Heikoop wives were invited to her High Tea Bridal Shower - complete with hats. :) I borrowed a few from a dear woman in our church who owns some darling hats. :) I was going to wear this one, but switched to a pink fascinator in the end - with Diane's approval. :) Little Amy came too, wearing her bonnet. 

Aunt Em, Theressa - the bride, Aunt Mary and Aunt Nel. 

Some of the elegant food that was prepared. You felt like a proper lady eating all those delicacies. :) A neat shower, and so beautifully planned.