Finishing up

Just a few last pictures of vacation week at Beulah. Dick has a golf cart which was a lot of fun for kids of all ages.



Taking the garbage to the dumpster. It only takes one child to throw it in, but why just let one child have all the fun? It's a group effort.



Nothing quite like holding onto daddy's neck while swimming around.

Festival time

Gaëlle hasn't been able to climb up to the top of the wave statue at the waterfront. Last night we went downtown for the African Heritage Festival and the kids spent some time climbing the wave. And she made it to the top for the first time.



Climbing...



Peter can easily make it to the top now. He doesn't have any problem at all and wants the world to know it.



We ate some yummy food at the African Heritage Festival. Altho Peter and Gaëlle's reaction to this is always so interesting. They see all the brown faces and they initially want nothing to do with it. Gaëlle especially is full of ... I hesitate to describe her reaction. Let's just say she is hesitant.

But Robin and I ate and loved the food and the kids eventually did too.



I let Peter take the camera and get some pictures. This is what he came back with. We only saw some groups singing. Once again, I loved it, but initially the kids just sat back and watched. And we only had a few puzzled glances at us. This crowd is mostly immigrants and they are much more likely to look at our family with open and complete curiosity. Whereas local NS blacks just look at us like anybody else.

We missed the African dancing and drumming. This is just a little festival but I"m glad we went and maybe next year we'll be able to take in more.

Biscuit fun

Ahhh... the beautiful St. John River.

Water, water everywhere

The kids had the chance to go to Catons for an afternoon and they were thrilled to find the slip and slide operating. It's one of their favorites.



One afternoon, there was a water event in the field by the playground. It was billed as a family afternoon but when they arrived, it was really geared more towards teens. However, they let the younger kids participate.



Our L'il Mountie is soaking wet and loving it.



I'm not quite sure what Peter is doing but it looks like fun.

Rainy Day Fun

Grandpa Doan bought a clock at a yard sale at the top of the hill Saturday morning. He wanted to use the parts to fix another one in the cottage. He pulled out his tools and Gaelle plopped herself down. "Can I help?" And he managed to find a job for her. He gave her a tool and told her to line up the screws. She worked hard at it and it was too cute.



Playing games and coloring. Great rainy day activities.



Donna had started this bird puzzle and then didn't get a chance to finish it. Peter was determined to put it together and worked on it for several days. Others joined in but he was the primary puzzle person. He finished it today altho it is missing a few pieces. Oh the joy of 50 cent yard sale puzzles.

Vacation snapshots

On our way... We're all so excited to finally be off to Beulah camp.

I finally have a chance to share some of the photos from our camera instead of Robin's phone.



We drove through Sussex to pick up a few things and we ran into the Canada Day parade. The kids watched it while I was in the store. I don't think I was there 5 minutes and by the time I got out and tried to take a picture, the parade was over. But Peter and Gaelle got candy and so they thought the parade was great.



Just to prove I was actually here for a brief time. Robin managed to take one picture of me.



This is down by the beach. I'm not sure what is so fascinating, but it looks like all of the kids are enthralled.



It's a July 4th party. Grampa Doan had July 4th napkins and plates and a tablecloth. So they invited the neighbor kids and had a party. Whoo Hoo!! Go USA!



Apparently it was one party after another. Uncle Al, Aunt Claud, and a friend also came over for a pizza party.



Gaelle is absolutely loving Danny. When she is at the cottage, Gaelle just wants to be with her.

All together now

one row
6 kids
3 sets of siblings
all adopted
all various shades of brown

Does it mean anything that they all sit together during VBS?



One of the games. It looks like a really simple yet cool obstacle course.



And, here's Gaëlle.



Gaëlle met another little girl from Haiti today. By all accounts, they are quite the pair. A real match. 2 peas in a pod. Both forces to be reckoned with.

July 5th Snapshots

Robin sent me several emails today at work with pictures of the kids at different moments. Isn't technology great?



He sent this of Gaëlle at VBS because she was just having so much fun. He couldn't get anything but a blurry picture.

Beulah Fun

This is like a "Where's Waldo" picture. Except it's "Where's Gaëlle?" Well she's the one fully engaged and raising her hands. Today somebody described her as forceful. That is a great one word description of Gaëlle.



And what would my one word description of Peter be? In this photo, he is intent.

Robin, Peter, and Gaëlle are currently at family camp in NB. I was there during the weekend but had to come home last night. So Robin sent me these pictures. I wish I could be there, but I'm thrilled to know they're having so much fun.