Saturday, 16 July 2016

SPRING/SUMMER 2016


Spring found us trying to spend some time outside, even when the weather was cold and windy. We took a few hikes to Swallowtail (a favorite place to go) and to the Anchorage to just play in the sand and walk Cooper.



Sherman had his hand operated on for carpal tunnel, and decided he needed a project to help get things back in working order. So, he took on the fireplace...

old
new
Well, the major accomplishment this spring was that someone finally mastered pedalling. I cannot adequately convey here how excited he was to be able to finally do this. He said, "I can do what all my friends can do." He wanted me to take a video to send to Sherman while he was fishing and Brady while he was at school, and he got me to invite Neenie and Pa up to watch. We went to Home Hardware and bought a new bike because he really wanted one with a handle brake. He's still not fluid, and we're a ways from taking off the training wheels, but he got to ride his new bike down the hall in the school to show his therapist and he's pretty proud of himself.

Of course, he still loves heavy equipment. When they came to resurface our driveway, he got to go to the pit in the dump truck. I had to get dad to come up and wait for him and bring him to school because I had to leave before they got back. He had stories to tell that day.
This was something he found in a parking lot that he just had to sit in.

He's also lost two teeth this spring, although this picture only shows one, as well as the one that was hauled almost two years ago. The first tooth came out without him knowing, and we found it in the very last bite of roll he'd left on his plate. The second he lost while eating lunch at school and again, didn't know he'd lost it until I told him when I saw him right after he'd finished eating. Lucky thing the Tooth Fairy comes even when you eat the tooth.


A NEW DIGGER FOR THE SANDBOX

A CATNAP WITH COOPER


COUSIN LAURA'S GRAND MARCH

CHECKING OUT THE RIVER WITH AUNTIE JAN
He had a good year at school. He enjoyed going and had lots of friends. He worked hard and learned lots, and was especially fond of lunch and recess. His report card was pretty good, and quite positive. Mrs. Jones was the perfect kindergarten teacher for him.

A HAPPY "LAST DAY OF SCHOOL" SHOT

SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE ON OUR FRONT DECK, AND COOPER

BRADY GRADUATED FROM NBCC MIRAMICHI IN JUNE


As soon as school ended, we headed to Moncton to visit Trent, Tralauna and the girls, and to go to Brady's graduation. While we were in Moncton we went to a splash park in Dieppe. It was the one thing Kellan had wanted to do since last summer. We were there all afternoon and the kids had a great time.
















CANADA DAY FUN
 Laura wanted her graduation barbecue on Grand Manan. While they were home, some of the fam went for a hike to Jack Tar's Cave. Kellan had never been there so it was quite an adventure for him.





LOBSTER FISHING IN THE YARD WITH EASTON

A TRIP TO THE WHALE MUSEUM AND THE GRAND MANAN MUSEUM WITH KEELY AND KEYAUNA

ADDING WOOD TO THE FIRE FOR HOTDOGS AND MARSHMELLOWS

LOVE THESE BOYS!!!
Kellan and I both got kayaks and today was his first lesson. We went to Big Pond and stayed in very shallow water so he wouldn't panic. He caught on pretty easily with his paddle: how to go forward and turn to either side, stop and back up. We had a few tense moments, but ended today really strong and by the end he was more relaxed and pretty proud of himself. Keely and her mum, and Keyauna and her mum have them too. All three kids had their kayak initiation today. The goal is to be able to go around the pond or along the edge of the beach together. It's such a great way to spend time together - family and friends!
On Tuesday he starts swimming lessons. He's worried about it and actually sort of begged me to not make him, but he needs to be able to swim, and lose or lessen his fear of water. I've talked to the instructor and we're going to work together to try to help him make that next step. He's come a long way with this fear. But there's still a ways to go. I do not want him to be limited by it.