Well, it looks like I am down to a post a month. I hope to get at least that much in because this blog is a good place for me to put more family photos up for my family and friends. So, away we go. Kaylin will start her final year of nursing school this September. She has already ordered her study book for her RN exam after she graduates. No rest for the weary.
You can take the man out of the mounties but you can't take the blackberry phone away from the man. For the past 12 years or so, Robin has used a blackberry phone at work. It has a unique keypad that he has gotten used to. Once he retired the blackberry phone went, and he started using a cell phone that a friend loaned him. After a bit, it became obvious that he needs that BB keyboard. So, he bought his Haiti phone and it is a Blackberry Classic. He loves it.
We had a great weekend in Prince Edward Island in July. We spoke at Island Wesleyan Church which was fantastic and we loved it. We also enjoyed a bit of sightseeing.
We went for an evening stroll at a local beach with our hosts, Joel & Vicky, and the kids absolutely loved the red sand. Great memories.
One day Robin had to run an errand by the Dartmouth waterfront so we all went along. The kids and I discovered a pavillion commemorating peace around the world. There were rocks and pieces of walls and building from different famous places around the world. There was even a piece of rock from a famous prison in Haiti.
August began with one of our favourite family activities; Caton's Island Family Camp.
There are always group games where the families are put on different teams. In the above picture 2 of the team members had to get doused with a bucket of water while we took their photo. Gaëlle volunteered for that.
There was also the pie making afternoon. Gaëlle and I made 2 lemon meringue pies and one vanilla pudding pie which she decorated with candy bars.
Getting ready to bid on the pies.
The pie Gaëlle made and decorated.
The kids always enjoy the campfire songs. On our final morning I could hear some singing and looked over to see some kids singing campfire songs by themselves. No campfire. Just some kids singing at the top of their lungs.
After family camp we came home and immediately went to work moving out of our house. Robin and the brilliant idea to rent a storage space for one month. Emily may take some of our furniture so until she comes and decides, it is out of the way.
Kaylin was a huge help. She not only packed, and moved, and cleaned, she also amused Gaëlle and the dog. We couldn't have done it without her.
As I would empty the bedding, Snickers would take it over as her bed. Any soft material on the floor became a temporary bed for her.
There were some items that we knew we didn't want to part with. But there were some decisions that surprised us both. Tim gave the older kids these clay creatures on rocks many years ago. They are works of art. Robin didn't want to part with them. So they were gently packed away.
By the end of it, we had an empty clean house and many years of great memories.
We are in Val's house in the interim and now Snickers has a friend. For the most part they get along, but they do not play together. I guess they tolerate each other.
Last weekend we headed back to Caton's Island to pick up Peter, clean his clothes, and send him off for a week of teen camp. Gaëlle and Robin were trying to find the perfect skipping rocks.
Robin helped Dick put the roof on a new porch.
On Sunday we went to Jonesport, Maine to speak at the Wesleyan church there. We arrived a little early and spent some time admiring the beauty of the fishing community. What a great day.
During our time living in St. Andrews and Grand Manan, we discovered how much we loved blueberries from McKay outside of Blacks Harbour. Robin took some time to stop and get a blueberry pie and some rhubarb jam. He's a happy camper.
